Suggestion for in game Menu

OpenGL Development
#1

I’d like to put together a menu structure similar to Quake, Doom, etc, where you can hit esc and save, load, quit, setup video, etc. I’m wondering if there is a standard way of doing this, or if anyone has some suggestions. Is this something to even do within OpenGL, or should I step out of GL and use regular Java2D?

My first thought was to simply throw up a background image using a textured quad that filled the screen, then draw some text (again using textured quads) over that background. I’m concerned that that is overkill and there is a simpler solution out there.

PS: I like how Alien Flux’s menus look… Cas? ;D

#2

In TT, we use quads to draw our entire GUI, which look like this:

http://oddlabs.com/screenshots/screenshot44.jpg

From a skin image looking like this:

http://odense.kollegienet.dk/~naur/gui.jpg

We divide all GUI elements into corners, edges and center such that the edges and center can be sized by stretching the quads.

It’s simple and it works very well.

  • elias
#3

That’s a pretty cool method. Did you have someone design the widget graphics for you or were you able find them somewhere for free?

Anyone have other ways out there to do this?

#4

Yeah well, we have a talented guy that handles the design :slight_smile: But my point is that you can get a long way through clever use of OpenGL and texturing.

  • elias
#5

Point taken. Was just hoping to gather any alternates for more choices. :slight_smile: I like the idea a lot though.

Much thanks!