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Car modification script

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 7:09 am
by Parody
This is to do with images. I was wondering what I would need to do to create a real-time car modification script. By that I mean something that can allow the user to modify a car, I was going to try and use flash but I was wondering if there were any better or easier ways to do it :?:[/url]

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 7:45 am
by JAM
I'm about to buy a new car, or so I tell myself neverless, and all sites I've been to is indeed using flash or similar. But I guess that depends on the complexity. Exchanging images dynamicly could be sufficient (as discussed in your other thread).

Don't think there is "THE way" for these things. Those being fluent in macromedias software might not agree but.

On a personal note, I'd like to see the results of what you manage to create if you stick with any non-flash solution. So do please post progress results here.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 2:22 pm
by Parody
Unfortunately it is for an internet game, so if I do at a later stage post it here, you will have to sign-up to see it. Maybe I will make a non-connected version. I'll get back to you. But if anyone can model me some cool cars in 3d or realistic pictures with modifications and without. Please email me:

thehoodedexecutioner@hotmail.com

Thanks

(That email address is also my MSN address.) :D

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 2:43 pm
by JAM
Thanks.

Volvo uses something that "looks" easy enough. Same car (after choosing a model that is) with edited hue effects for colors and later exchanging rims.

Flash tho, but would give you more ideas. I think that images of cars can be found simply by asking the manifacturers friendly. :wink:

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 2:52 pm
by Parody
Can I get street racing modification pictures from the manufacturers of the cars?

I would be amazed if I can :) :D

Thanks

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 3:18 pm
by JAM
Ah, street racing, ie. custom work... Missed that in your first post. No, I think not. :lol: Stock models rarely change hence the "looks easy enough" part in my post and I correct myself.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 3:25 pm
by Parody
Its Ok.

So, my quest to find a 3d modeller that will work for free continues.

ianhnre80yr08nh98nfh9n98fsh98

(Smashes head on keyboard)

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 3:31 pm
by Burrito
back to your original question...you're going to have to use flash or java for a "realtime" update of the stuff you're changing on the cars. The alternative would be to pick a color (for example) then submit to the server, and reload the page with the car the new color. It would make for a much better user experience to do in flash or a java applet (flash would be my preference) however.

go pick up a copy of swishmax or try out the flash mx 2004 demo. It's pretty easy to pick it up after playing with it for just a few mins really.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 3:53 pm
by Parody
First I need to know if I can get the pictures which I am in the process of doing.

With flash can I intergrate php into it? So if a tickbox was ticked it would output something in php?

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 3:59 pm
by Burrito
you can use actionscripting to make it populate client side vars and then submit them to send them up to the server. I believe the only way to make flash talk to a server directly is to have a flash server (forget the buzzword for it) running on your server...this usually requires that port 1935 and 443 be opened on the firewall to your server though so the server can communicate with the client, unless you wanna use ip tunnelling which will slow everythign down pretty significantly.

check out MM's site for more info on the flash server. Otherwise just use actionscripts to populate client vars.

Flash, believe it or not, has a pretty good forum here

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 4:00 pm
by Parody
Ok, I will explain everything this script needs to do.

Display an image of a car
Use tickboxes to add or remove things from the image of the car
Check the final selections
Output the selections into a MYSQL database
Redirect to another page upon the output to the database

End Of Script

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 4:03 pm
by Burrito
ok, most of that should be done in flash:

create the checkboxes in the flash "movie" itself, and when they are checked, update some client side hidden form vars using actionscript. As soon as the car is the way they want it, have them click "finish" or some such which will then submit the form to your server and you can capture all of the info and dump it to your db.

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 5:17 pm
by Parody
So do I need one of those FLASH servers or something to do what you just posted?

I would have thought that would all be client-side. And then just run a php script with the options chosen at the end?

Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 7:22 pm
by Burrito
if you do what I suggested in my last post, you do not need a flash server. You're populating hidden form vars with actionscript and then submitting the form (just like regular html) and then you can dump whatever the values are of the hidden form vars into your db...