Visual editor

[joeliwan]

Teaserator.com has a flash tease program that is already capable of much of what you guys are talking about. Granted, that's a pay site, and I know milovana doesn't want to go that route. (Thanks, by the way!) I can also tell by what's been said already that this editor you're putting together has the potential to both look and function exponentially better than Teaserator.com.

But the one thing I really like about the editor on Teaserator.com is the ability of the tease creator to name the buttons specifically for each page. I noticed in the first flash tease here, most of the time the button either says continue, or there is a 'yes' and a 'no' button. But then the writer has to clarify what 'yes' and 'no' equal in this specific case.

You guys have probably already addressed this, but I wanted to make sure it got said.

[seraph0x]

But the one thing I really like about the editor on Teaserator.com is the ability of the tease creator to name the buttons specifically for each page. I noticed in the first flash tease here, most of the time the button either says continue, or there is a 'yes' and a 'no' button. But then the writer has to clarify what 'yes' and 'no' equal in this specific case.

You guys have probably already addressed this, but I wanted to make sure it got said.

Yep. Just look at the room selection in HoT2. You can do any amount of buttons with any label if you want.

Thanks for the suggestion, keep 'em coming guys!

[Xenophobe]

Hey, just wanted to add my $0.02:

I understand that for many people, a visual editor might mean the difference between creating some content and simply leeching but, I'm afraid that it would also reduce the ability to make content with more sophisticated options. For example, many visual editors (not for flash but other programming languages) I've seen make using variables or arrays extremely convoluted (if they're even available at all). If you do go the route of a visual editor, could you still provide the option to edit the tease using a scripting language for the more advanced users? And, this has been my assumption all along, but if you go the route of a scripting editor, will there be some functionality for variables (I'm imagining that they could be used to store things like user responses on previous pages, the delay between presentation of a page and a user response, etc...)?

BTW, I've been lurking for a long time but I can't wait to start making stuff using the flash editor. Great site!

Thanks,
X

[alpahde5]

yes there will be both, scripting and visual. as for all the technical details about storing information, you'll have to ask seraph0x.
but it looks to me like you have to create a separate page for an answer to a question, if that makes sense, but don't take my word for it, ask ph0xy

[Xenophobe]

Yes, that makes sense. The trouble is that the number of pages you need increases exponentially as you add more variables.

[alpahde5]

i shouldn't think that will be to much of a problem with some patience.

[mae0314]

Actually, it kinda is. For example, to keep track of 8 yes/no answers, you'd already need 256 pages. If you could save the answers in variables and check them whenever you want to, 8 pages are enough.

[Binary]

Actually, it kinda is. For example, to keep track of 8 yes/no answers, you'd already need 256 pages. If you could save the answers in variables and check them whenever you want to, 8 pages are enough.

Instead of thinking of the tease like a tree, think of the tease like a flowchart.

Different answers break off the path, and can rejoin them again at a later stage.

[seraph0x]

Guys, you could've just waited for my response.

No need for 256 pages. ( )

There will be variables and you will be able to do calculations and everything. This will not be in the first version that's coming out soon, but it'll be the first feature we will work on after that.

[eteased]

Sounds like a pretty serious undertaking, so first I'd like to thanks the team for putting in all the work necessary to make some sort of Flash Editor possible.

Personally, I'm not really interested in learning a new scripting language that's used exclusively for web-teases. So, I'd rather see some simple drag-and-drop type features added, such as the basic multiple choice and timer functions you described. As you can see by the tease I posted today, I also like the idea of some sort of metronome and, in general, the ability to add sound to the teases.

I like the idea of tunable widgets. Someone mentioned puzzles, i think. Not sure how that would work, but it has really interesting potential. Think of a tease like "stroke to the edge, then cool off by solving this sudoku..."

[Xenophobe]

Guys, you could've just waited for my response.

No need for 256 pages. ( )

There will be variables and you will be able to do calculations and everything. This will not be in the first version that's coming out soon, but it'll be the first feature we will work on after that.

Great! Thanks for the hard work seraph0x!

[seraph0x]

Personally, I'm not really interested in learning a new scripting language that's used exclusively for web-teases. So, I'd rather see some simple drag-and-drop type features added, such as the basic multiple choice and timer functions you described.

The thing is: To add a feature to the scripting language takes 1-2 hours. To add the same feature to the visual editor can take 2-10 hours. Really depends on the complexity of the feature of course, but generally we'll always add features to the scripting language first and some will always be too complex to do visually.

I guess the way we're going now is a fine compromise. The less technical authors can write their teases multiple choice style using the visual editor and the technically inclined can use the latest and greatest features in the scripting mode.

Great! Thanks for the hard work seraph0x!

Yeah, looking at porn all day and calling it work. Poor me.

Next round guys, questions, suggestions... Keep 'em coming! I'm only warming up here!

[joeliwan]

What if we could do multiple images per page? I guess it'd probably work like a slide show with a variable for the amount of time each image is displayed. That way an instruction like 'Tell me when you get to the edge' would only need one page, but you could get a different picture every 20 seconds or so.

Just a thought,
-joeliwan

[seraph0x]

What if we could do multiple images per page? I guess it'd probably work like a slide show with a variable for the amount of time each image is displayed. That way an instruction like 'Tell me when you get to the edge' would only need one page, but you could get a different picture every 20 seconds or so.

Just a thought,
-joeliwan

Hmm, this can be done by simply putting this:

Code: Select all

edgeTime#page(
"Get to the edge, click continue when you're there.",
pic(),
go(edged#),
delay(20sec, edgeTime#)
);

This would display a random image, the text and a continue button. But after every 20 seconds it would jump to itself again. Because everything is the same except for the picture changing, it would look like a slide show to the user.

[seraph0x]

Currently I haven't got the mind to work on the editor, sorry. I am however monitoring this thread, so if you have other ideas or questions that you wanna discuss go ahead.

This is proving to be the most ambitious endeavor for Milovana so far, but hopefully we'll get something released in August.

Thanks for your support, everybody! Wouldn't be half as exciting without you guys!