How would I implement a character selection menu?

AWildeDove

First, I apologize if this is the wrong section to ask in!

I'm curious as to how to implement a working character selection menu?

While I can set up the graphics and layout of the buttons we'll enough, I am confused on how to call the correct character to each level scene?

I have each character saved as an individual scene to allow me to reference them, but I am unsure of how to reference a specific character to the scene depending on which one was previously selected.

Any advice/help is appreciated!

duane

@Nerdzmasterz is working with a really nice character selection menu, which I got a glimpse of recently. Maybe he could help?

Erich_L

You just need to connect the chosen character and the scene for that chosen character. One possibility would to have a string for each selection for which you paste in the path to the character’s scene. Save that in a singleton as a global “chosenCharPath” then load it up when the game starts.

Megalomaniak

@duane said: @Nerdzmasterz is working with a really nice character selection menu, which I got a glimpse of recently. Maybe he could help?

Just make sure not to use anything from their project without asking for their permission first. ;)

Nerdzmasterz

Here's what I did with the character selection. The label is basically the parent of the buttons, but they could be parented to anything:

extends Node2D


signal change_number(a)
signal start_game()



func _on_Button_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 1)

func _on_Button2_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 2)

func _on_Button3_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 3)

func _on_Button4_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 4)

func _on_Button5_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 5)

func _on_Button6_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 6)

func _on_Button7_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 7)

func _on_Button8_pressed():
	get_node("Label/Button9").disabled = false
	emit_signal("change_number", 8)


func _on_Button9_pressed():
	emit_signal("start_game")
	get_node("Label").hide()


func _on_AnimatedSprite_remove_selection():
	get_node("Label").hide()

And the Animated Sprite:

extends AnimatedSprite

onready var char_num = 0
onready var can_play = false
signal remove_selection()

func _process(delta):
	if can_play == true:
		if Input.is_action_pressed("Up"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Walk_Up")
		elif Input.is_action_pressed("Down"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Walk_Down")
		elif Input.is_action_pressed("Left"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Walk_Left")
		elif Input.is_action_pressed("Right"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Walk_Right")
			
			
		if Input.is_action_just_released("Up"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Idle_Up")
		if Input.is_action_just_released("Down"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Idle_Down")
		if Input.is_action_just_released("Left"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Idle_Left")
		if Input.is_action_just_released("Right"):
			play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Idle_Right")
			



func _on_CharacterSelection_change_number(a):
	char_num = a
	play("Char_" + str(char_num) + "_Idle_Down")


func _on_CharacterSelection_start_game():
	emit_signal("remove_selection")
	can_play = true

I got the assets from Itch.io. Look for Horror City Sprite pack, and you should find the ones I'm using.

Nerdzmasterz

Feel free to pitch in if anyone knows how to shorten that.

Nerdzmasterz

Here's another quick tip. Suppose you want to unlock characters if the player has coins. You could save the coins in //:user whatever file, and use this information to disable the locked character's buttons.

	if get_node("../PlayerStats").has_cook != true:
		get_node("Button3").disabled = true

Obviously, you would also add something like && coins < amount_needed_for_character after has_cook != true.

AWildeDove

@Nerdzmasterz said: Here's another quick tip. Suppose you want to unlock characters if the player has coins. You could save the coins in //:user whatever file, and use this information to disable the locked character's buttons.
	if get_node("../PlayerStats").has_cook != true:
		get_node("Button3").disabled = true
Obviously, you would also add something like && coins < amount_needed_for_character after has_cook != true.

Thank you so much! I was also looking to unlock characters based off if certain levels were complete. That will be an easy modification now that you’ve given me understanding of both the selection and unlocking itself. I appreciate it!!