Add color palette selection to menu and configuration
techknight opened this issue · 1 comments
techknight commented
Summary
When I saw the #IFDEF LCD preprocessor directive in video.c, I got interested in adding a color palette that similarly replicates my own original experience with Sopwith, except on an amber monochrome CGA monitor.
Idea
If it's not too big of a change, I'd like to promote that color palette option from preprocessor directive to full configuration option in the menu.
Example
I roughed together a quick example of what this feature could look like, by adding a new configuration option with a new type:
{"conf_video_palette", CONF_INT, {&conf_video_palette}},
(press the play button to see the colour palette change)
Questions
- Would it be more in-line with the spirit of things to simply add my own preprocessor directive instead?
- If added, is implementing a
CONF_INTthe best way to do it? - Since the configuration menu is filling up in terms of numbered options, would a submenu accessed using a letter be preferable? (Similar to how keybindings has its own submenu)
fragglet commented
Nice :) I approve. To answer your questions:
- No #defines, please just add it as a full feature.
- Yes, CONF_INT is fine.
- No, let's stick with the one menu for now - there's plenty more screen space for more options for the time being, and we can always use other keys beyond the numbers. Though I do want to be selective about the features we add.
A few thoughts:
- Brainstorming on palettes: we probably also want ones for:
- Monochrome
- Green screen
- PC convertible (LCD, but black foreground)
- Tandy 1100FD (black on green)
- Gas Plasma - used on some older laptops before LCD technology matured
- Reversed versions of the LCD versions (the Toshiba laptop I had could have its mono screen reversed via a special keypress)
- Alternative CGA palettes? Let's not bother with the "low intensity" versions though.
- Let's make sure there's enough contrast to see things properly - the amber scheme in your screenshot makes it look like the two darker shades are hard to distinguish
- Can you locate the palette option on the menu next to the other video options? They're loosely (at least) arranged by function.
Thanks!