Underwater world

[R.J.]

What do you all think of an underwater world in RMXP?

Think Atlantica from the Little Mermaid. An underwater world, where you don't walk but only swim. How would I go about making the underwater effect more realistic, like adding bubbles or something? The big problem for me is, you're supposed to be swimming, so there's not really a floor, but that doesn't work out with the topdown-front view RMXP has.

I was thinking about adding something like this to my project, but it seems really difficult. Any tips, comments, or whatever I could use?

 

[Soupnazi]

Well I know that there's a script out there that is a time thing, but also has a bubble effect, but that's all I really know that I can help you with.
But this sound like a cool idea, and if you can pull it off right it could turn out really well.
Oh, and to get the swimming effect you might want to try making custom sprites that have swimming motions instead of walking ones.

 

[Sol_Fury]

You'd probably need some kind of 3D to realize it properly, since swimming is all about three dimensions, diving down to hidden tunnels, coming up for air, generally that extra layer of freedom.

You could perhaps cheat a bit - maybe render the whole thing using pictures in a fake 3D where you move up and down, side to side, and turn, but forward movement - which here would be moving into the screen - would bring up a new picture to represent one unit of forward movement.

It can be done, but it would be quite tricky to pull off, and would be quite resource intensive if you used pictures.

 

[Brismail]

you could just part a passage way of water, that would link to different maps in this underwater world.
this would mean you just need a sprite of a sideways sprite who is kicking his legs, and if you press up and down, the sideways image moves up and down the screen to be able to get to different locations.
sort of like dolphindash, but with a little char, instead of a dolphin.

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/dolphin << flashgame of dolphin dash, to get the idea.

 

[R.J.]

Hmm, but that's more sideview then topdown view. I did have sideview in mind, but wouldn't it stand out with the rest of the game? There's also this Sega Genesis game The Little Mermaid who uses this view, and it does look pretty good.

 

[Brismail]

just as long as you use the same graphic style, and aren't in the water from hours on end, no one will notice the difference, but if you are in there for yonks, the player might get to use to the control, but it will only take a millisecond for them to remember, so don't worry.

 

[Crystalgate]

You'd want to use a lot of underwater caves since only things with roofs can realistically block a swimming character.

As for swimming over things, you could simplify it to two modes, swimming high and swimming low. Swimming low is generally the interact with stuff mode while swimming high is the swim above things mode. The player can ideally switch between them with the press of a key.

 

[R.J.]

That's a pretty good idea. I'll remember that. As for field limits, I was thinking I could just let the end of the screen be the end that "blocks it off". The whole background is ocean, and you can go up or dive, go left or right, but when the screen ends you can't go any farther.

Caves seem like a good idea also, but I think I'd have to watch out not to make it too crowded, so people don't get annoyed with the controls, or something like that.

 

[Ares]

Have you ever played the early The Legend of zelda games? There is a pretty simple yet pretty cool swimming system in it. It's platform-styled.