User talk:DrGaellon

Pokemon tables

Nice work cleaning those up :). They seemed like a lot of work to clean up last time I looked at them :P. -- Prod (Talk) 23:39, 19 August 2007 (CDT)

GSC maps

If you are going to upload GSC maps, please just use the ones from here. They are cleanly edited and complete. We haven't separately categorized any game's maps in the past, so don't be surprised if someone undoes the new category that you recently created. I intend to revamp the GSC walkthrough as I have done with RBY, but I was overloaded between Link to the Past, and the work I'm doing to complete the early Super Mario Bros. games. Procyon (Talk) 15:02, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

No problem, thank you very much for the meticulous job you've done with all of the spelling corrections. I am unfortunately a notoriously poor speller. If you are interested in helping out with categorization, consider signing up with the guys on the StrategyWiki:Cleanup_project. Procyon (Talk) 15:47, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

Sure, if you wouldn't mind trying to gather those maps, that would be great, they will definitely be needed. However, I've got a tip for you. Go here and grab that goldmap utility. Load your Pokemon Gold or Silver ROM into it, and you can screen grab every map in the game without having to actually play the game. Just pick a region, and choose Tools->Save Picture of Map... from the menu. The only problem is, the utility saves these images in double the original size, so they need to be sized down. Do you know how to do that? Any image editor should work fine. Also, I guess take the pictures with either the "Day" setting or the "Indoor" setting (found under View->Palette). Lemme know if you need any assistance. And don't worry too much about the page content, I can add that in as you go along. I'll work on Cherrygrove and Route 30 before the end of the night. Procyon (Talk) 18:00, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

That's very interesting, I had not considered using Goldmap as a utility to determine Pokemon encounter rates before. I get my values from a Japanese strategy guide, which I had always assumed to be fairly accurate. They claim to base their findings on actual appearance rates from 100 random encounters which, while scientific, is not necessarily accurate. It may just be that the information provided by Goldmap is far more accurate, and I should consider taking data from it instead. Procyon (Talk) 19:53, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

Just to let you know, one thing that this walkthrough will need (and what the Pokemon RBY guide still needs) is screenshots of important moments throughout the game. I don't know if that's something that you're interested in doing; playing through the game and screen capping your progress. It's the one thing which is preventing Pokemon RBY from being considered a featured guide like Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. One of the guidelines for becoming a featured guide is that there must be at least two screenshots per page. I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to pass on that, but if you're interested, let me know. Procyon (Talk) 15:44, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

Bulbapedia templates

First of all, there already was a move one at {{bpm}}. Secondly, we should ONLY link to bulbapedia for the stuff that we don't already cover here (mainly the Pokémon themselves, as that was the only thing decided upon when the partnership was made). Since we already have stuff about types, we don't need to link to them for it (unless they start linking to us more than once on each of the main game pages). The first mention of Pokémon on a page is more than enough links to them, and was the only terms for us to do linking-wise to satisfy the partnership. The move dex and type charts are covered here just fine and bp doesn't deserve such links outside of those pages. That is why I've undid all of those changes and deleted those templates. I hope you understand, if not, feel free to contact me on my talk page (but don't expect a speedy response). --Safety Skizzerz ^{Talk · Contribs · Spel Chek™ · VFG · RTFM} 20:41, 20 August 2007 (CDT)

PKMN Crystal screenshots

That would be wonderful if you wouldn't mind doing that. What you want to capture are images that compliment the text that is present. So for example, for the New Bark Town, the pivotal moments that are pointed out by the walkthrough are obtaining your PokéGear from your mom, and selecting your start Pokémon from Professor Elm. On the Route #29, a picture of Tuesday's Child, and picking your first berry would compliment the text. If you could take screenshots of those precise moments in the game, they would enhance the page tremendously. Since the player sees the combat screen a ridiculous number of times throughout the game, you'll want to limit the number of screenshots you take of those to the exclusive and very rare Pokémon fights. Between the two of us, we could get the Gold/Silver/Crystal guide to the level of featured guide before even the Red/Blue/Yellow guide.

As for your emulator question, I happen to like the GB emulator KiGB very much. It provides a way to emulate linked GBs and GBCs. However, there is an unofficial build of VBA which allows linking, although I don't know if it's for every GB, or just the GBA (which I suspect is the case.) You can find that version here. Personally, I would stick with KiGB. It's a little more primitive looking than VBA, but it is touted as the most accurate GB emulator in existence. See their compatibility page. Let me know if I can help you in any other way.  :) Procyon (Talk) 18:09, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

lol, sorry about having to start over with KiGB :) I made a funky border out of a real GB photo to use with KiGB in full screen mode when there's no Super Game Boy border if you'd like it. I will do my best to make steady progress on the walkthrough. I can't promise too much too quickly. Actually, it would probably work best if you lead the way by uploading each of the maps. Then I will come after you and populate the text, then you can come after me and upload the pictures. In that way, we'll keep each other busy at an even pace. :) Procyon (Talk) 20:24, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

Regarding the size of the maps, as long as they are 1:1 pixel ratio (not double sized or stretched in anyway), you do not have to resize them. In fact, you shouldn't. We can control the size that the map displays in on the page. But yes, if you can trim unnecessary "fat" around the edges, go for it. I'm going to stitch the Route 30 and 31 maps together for the Route 31 page since you can't fight any of the trainers the first time you visit Route 30. Regarding the PCX format, that is unfortunate, I had forgotten all about that. If it's not too much trouble, it would be great if you could convert them to PNG format. Don't use JPG for anything but photographs since it is not a lossless compression format. PNG is lossless. I'm not even sure if PCX is supported here. Image viewing programs like IrfanView can save images from one format to another fairly easily. I have to put some finishing touches on the Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan) guide tonight, but then I should be full steam on GSC. Thanks so much. Procyon (Talk) 20:44, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

If you know you're way around Photoshop, then you'll be in good shape. I tend to stick with IrfanView for smaller tasks since it takes far less time to load, and there's fewer dialogs to navigate. Before I answer about the maps, I try to make sure that I don't give anyone the perception that I think I own any part of the guide or that I think I'm the "boss" of it's development. I have no right to tell you what to do, or to ask you to do any more work than you're willing to do. (That's good therapy for the control freak in me.) Having said that, I would like the maps to be in their original unedited size ratio. If you don't mind reworking them, that would be cool. If any of the maps between GSC and RBY are identical, then there's no need to recapture them (although, the colors would probably be different.) I'm glad that you are working on this as well, since you seem to be very passionate about the game, and that's what helps the guides turn out best. I just happen to be passionate about writing guides ^_^. Even though you don't IRC much these days, you should pay a visit to #strategywiki on irc.abxy.org if you have some time. I'm usually there with Prod and Skizzerz and whoever else drops by. Otherwise, I'm on AIM and Yahoo as "ProcyonCoon". Cya! Procyon (Talk) 21:28, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

Wow, you work fast :) This is a scary-awesome source of sprites for you to use. I'm pretty sure you'll find everything that you need. And yeah, I surely wish there was a faster way to upload pictures, believe me. For all the content that I upload, I haven't found a better method unfortunately. I'll be back to arranging things tonight when I get home. Procyon (Talk) 12:36, 22 August 2007 (CDT)

Screenshot Enlargement

VIAGRA, CIALIS... oh... that's not what you want... <_< >_>... Ok so I'll let you in on a special way (I figured this out on my own) of enlarging things in photoshop with no blur/anti-aliasing crap that happens when you transform an image.

What will happen instead is that rather than having images made up of single pixels, the pixels will be grouped by say, 4 (if doubling the width/height of course). So what you do is first take the screenshot. Then, create a new document with dimensions preferably a lot larger than the screenshot (enough to fit a fully enlarged image of the new size you want, maybe four or five times the dimensions, whatever).

Paste the screenshot, then merge it with the layer below (make a new one, just use white or something not the same as the screenshot's boundaries). Now, with the square/rectangular marquee tool (thats what its called right?) make a selection around the screenshot with some of the background with it, it doesn't really matter. Now copy and paste that (make sure its on a new layer of course). Now transform it however you want. Before you hit accept or whatever, first move the pivot point out of the center, then hit Print Screen and then make a new document and paste. Crop the image to fit the screenshot, then, if you did it right no other modifications will need to be made. If you didn't give enough background behind the screenshot, you might have the little corner/midpoint boxes that appear when using the transform tool. If so, you'll have to shop them out using your own skills (black screenshots ftw). Good luck. --Notmyhandle (talk • contribs) 00:08, 22 August 2007 (CDT)

Umm... NMH... didn't you ever try Scaling the image with no interpolation set? I can't believe you would go to that much trouble just to enlarge an image without blur. I forget the the exact setting in Photoshop. In GiMP, you just set the Interpolation to "None (Fastest)". It's nearly identical in Photoshop, you just get more interpolation options (like Bilinear) but the top option is no interpolation. Plus, if your image is an indexed palette image (non-RBG), it's typically forced not to blur. Procyon (Talk) 00:43, 22 August 2007 (CDT)

Yeah I never found the setting, and I always use RGB. All the ODJ characters were made using this technique, and so were the two victory shots for Mega Man X.... --Notmyhandle (talk • contribs) 00:57, 22 August 2007 (CDT)