Has anyone played Stars! It''s an old Windows game with few graphics, but good window design. I want to know how he did half of those damn windows, status bars, and dialog boxs. If anyone knows what I''m talking about and knows anything about what the programmer of that game did, plaese help!

What ever you do, dont copy the user interface of stars unless of course you want your game to suck like stars did.

Playing stars can be likened to playing a spread sheet. The user interface and crappy windows and lack of graphics made the game as much fun as MS Excel. I would suggest you stick with more tradition game interfaces, which if you havent noticed, there is no tradition one, they only thing they are is not a windows interface. So make a GUI like Imperium Galactica 2 has or like Age of Wonders.

Possibility

I did not say I wanted to make a game interface like Stars! I just want to know how the programmer of Stars! created his dialog boxes. They are good for info display and seem versitial to use. This is not a Stars! bashing post, but a question. Please take it as such.

I don''t understand where the problem is... well speaking of making such an interface in Delphi at least (I don''t use VC),throw some dozens controls on a form, and perhaps one hour after your interface is done.

Well seriously, games are most than just an interface (GUI or not). Stars! was and is a great game. Thousands of gamers proved this by buying the product. It sports multiplayers features and gameplay concepts not seen yet in the recent sci-fi releases.

Now if you don''t believe me, pay of visit to Stars II (called supernova). The authors sold sufficiently enough stars! that they are able the make a sequel that will rock. MOO III will have no chance.
www.crisium.com


I''m in no way affiliated to Mare Crisium. But people have to understand that a game is more than bell and whistle. Ever heard of the concept of gameplay?

There''s a sequel to Stars! coming out called Stars! Supernova. It looks pretty cool. Check out August issue of Computer Gaming World for a bit of info.

--Buzzy

So games that look like a spreadsheet are no fun eh? maybe you should tell the guys who wrote all those football management games that? They probably check there email between buying new ferraris

http://www.positech.co.uk

Oops -- wrong post