Hyperspin 16:9 Artwork and Themes (Converted from 4:3)

[Agrajag]

Great work as usual, but...

In the themes that have the video at an angle, it's a parallelogram rather than a rectangle. Is that deliberate or an unavoidable result of the widescreen conversion process?

[Blackened15]

Thanks for the info about the swf convertion, those do make a noticeable difference.

[Blackened15]

And here is my first try at scaling a theme, nothing too special here. Just the first one in my alphabetical list

Click to see full 1920x1080

Might modify it later on, making the video a bit bigger, its at 360x360 (480x360 stretched) atm

[Suhrvivor]

Guess I just learned something again, don't resize Disc picture if you intend on using a Spin animation on them, they will look like an egg rotating. Using regular picture still don't look perfectly right, but much better then an egg. Is there any solution to this that you know about?

Unfortunatly, they won't look good if they have the spin animation. The only thing you can do is modify the theme so they don't spin. The same thing happens with anything that is rotated by the theme, it won't look good when you resize it to widescreen. This thing can be fixed though, just rotate the artwork with a image editor, resize it to widescreen then put it in the theme, (make sure that the theme won't rotate it anymore).

[Blackened15]

Unfortunatly, they won't look good if they have the spin animation. The only thing you can do is modify the theme so they don't spin. The same thing happens with anything that is rotated by the theme, it won't look good when you resize it to widescreen. This thing can be fixed though, just rotate the artwork with a image editor, resize it to widescreen then put it in the theme, (make sure that the theme won't rotate it anymore).

Actually, I got this to work for me. Made my first flash animation ever for it. Made an sfw of the disc rotating, while squishing every frame to 75% width (flash professional does it by itself). The resulting movie is pretty weird to watch when not stretched, but looks good when it is. Also the resulting file is 150kb which is pretty damn good considering the gif version I exported to post a link here is over 2mb.

Click to see rotate, but don't watch for too long, might make you sick

Now I just need to find/create a script that will automatically do the process on a bunch of png, and get a better pc, because the animation isn't smooth in hyperspin.

[BakerMan]

OK, out with the old and in with the UGLY.

I bring to you guys a series of Atari Themes that MANY will think are ugly and a HUGE waste of time,,,,,but you wanna know what?

Screw that... lol haha

I know I'm being weird, but in all seriousness - All of the hyperspin/hypersync Atari Defaults are so boring and ugly that they somehow manage to captivate the boringness, ugly, and dull characteristics of the Atari era....

But they also captivate something else that trumps all of that... and that's the NOSTALGIC VALUE of the Atari series.

Not even the mighty Nintendo compares to Atari when it boils down to straight nostalgic value. And I'm saying that as a guy that loves the crap out of Nintendo.

Anyways.....

Here goes nothing...

Hyperspin Atari 2600 Widescreen Main Menu Theme (Atari 2600)

Hyperspin Atari 2600 Widescreen Default Theme (Atari 2600)

Atari 2600 Widescreen Box Art, Widescreen Cartridge Art, Widescreen Pointer, and Widescreen Wheel Art Included

Hyperspin Atari 5200 Widescreen Main Menu Theme (Atari 5200)

Hyperspin Atari 5200 Widescreen Default Theme (Atari 5200)

Atari 5200 Widescreen Box Art, Widescreen Cartridge Art, Widescreen Pointer, and Widescreen Wheel Art Included

Hyperspin Atari 7800 Widescreen Main Menu Theme (Atari 7800)

Hyperspin Atari 7800 Widescreen Default Theme (Atari 7800)

Atari 7800 Widescreen Box Art, Widescreen Cartridge Art, Widescreen Pointer, and Widescreen Wheel Art Included

Hyperspin Atari Jaguar Widescreen Main Menu Theme (Atari Jaguar)

Hyperspin Atari Jaguar Widescreen Default Theme (Atari Jaguar)

Atari Jaguar Widescreen Box Art, Widescreen Cartridge Art, Widescreen Pointer, and Widescreen Wheel Art Included

Now it's time for the UGLIEST of UGLY. These next themes are all for the Atari 2600 and is all Hypersync has to offer. Most of you may not like them, but I converted them all anyways. Basically, they get love from me. HAha

Hyperspin Kaboom! (USA) Widescreen Game Theme (Atari 2600)

Hyperspin Space Invaders (USA) Widescreen Game Theme (Atari 2600)

Hyperspin River Raid (USA) Widescreen Game Theme (Atari 2600)

Hyperspin Missile Command (USA) Widescreen Game Theme (Atari 2600)

Hyperspin Demon Attack (USA) Widescreen Game Theme (Atari 2600)

Hyperspin Atlantis (USA) Widescreen Game Theme (Atari 2600)

And there ya have it.

[BakerMan]

And here is my first try at scaling a theme, nothing too special here. Just the first one in my alphabetical list

Click to see full 1920x1080

Might modify it later on, making the video a bit bigger, its at 360x360 (480x360 stretched) atm

Beautiful.

I can tell that you tried to convert the special artwork at the bottom as well.

I recently discovered how to fully edit swf's in Flash, it's very quick, but unfortunately doesn't always work. I recommend trying out a Flash Decompiler. They are a little easier to use than flash, can easily extract all images, and so on. Plus, it'll help you with swf's that flash pro won't work on. I can tell that the joystick on your post is stretched.

Believe it or not, I just converted the special artwork today and planned on releasing it tonight along with some boring Amstrad themes.

So without any further ado.....

Hyperspin Amstrad GX4000 Widescreen Main Menu Theme (Amstrad GX4000)

Hyperspin Amstrad GX4000 Widescreen Default Theme

If you noticed, the special artwork in the Main Menu Theme was COMPLETELY converted. You can find them in my Bakerman/16x9Artwork/Main Menu/Images/Special/ folder.

I also uploaded the full Box Art Set, letters, pointer, and wheel art for the Amstrad GX4000 as well. Enjoy.

[ChrisKant]

Actually, I got this to work for me. Made my first flash animation ever for it. Made an sfw of the disc rotating, while squishing every frame to 75% width (flash professional does it by itself). The resulting movie is pretty weird to watch when not stretched, but looks good when it is. Also the resulting file is 150kb which is pretty damn good considering the gif version I exported to post a link here is over 2mb.

Click to see rotate, but don't watch for too long, might make you sick

Now I just need to find/create a script that will automatically do the process on a bunch of png, and get a better pc, because the animation isn't smooth in hyperspin.

From where did you get the Disc Artworks for Dreamcast? In the HyperSync there is a common graphic for every disc plus the Logo.

[Blackened15]

From where did you get the Disc Artworks for Dreamcast? In the HyperSync there is a common graphic for every disc plus the Logo.

There is a few occurance of real disc artwork on the ftp /Upload Here/WallyWonka/Sega .Dreamcast/Disc Art/ seems to have a complete set renamed to database standard

/upload here/Hunk_4th/Sega Dreamcast/Disc/Artwork4/ also has a bunch, but named to scene release, or something like that

[Blackened15]

Beautiful.

I can tell that you tried to convert the special artwork at the bottom as well.

I recently discovered how to fully edit swf's in Flash, it's very quick, but unfortunately doesn't always work. I recommend trying out a Flash Decompiler. They are a little easier to use than flash, can easily extract all images, and so on. Plus, it'll help you with swf's that flash pro won't work on. I can tell that the joystick on your post is stretched.

Those animation I found on the ftp, but they are wrong, joystick missing to the Next System animation. I did try to use the decompiler and then edit it in Flash Pro, but it seems the black hole under the joystick didn't get resized with the rest. This was my first attemp at doing anything in Flash Pro, so I moved on when It didn't work properly, until I get accustomed to the program.

[BakerMan]

Here's a couple of more I did tonight. Hopin' you guys are enjoying these releases.

Hyperspin Asteroids Widescreen Game Theme (Atari Classics (MAME))

Hyperspin Asteroids Deluxe Widescreen Game Theme (Atari Classics (MAME))

Hyperspin Dragon's Lair Widescreen Game Theme (Daphne)

[Blackened15]

Thanks again, I am enjoying it

Edit: Just in case it's an oversight, and not deliberate. You didn't upload 7800's Default and Main menu theme with the rest of the artwork.

Edit2: And another thing I noticed, although you might have nothing to do with it, maybe just something you didn't know, or maybe you did, whatever.

Background seems to be semi transparent, so when a console picture is part of the background, like in the 5200 main menu theme, it looks somewhat weird seeing the wheel behind it. When it is in it's own artwork, it isn't transparent and cover the wheel properly, like the 2600 main menu theme.

[BakerMan]

Thanks again, I am enjoying it

Edit: Just in case it's an oversight, and not deliberate. You didn't upload 7800's Default and Main menu theme with the rest of the artwork.

Edit2: And another thing I noticed, although you might have nothing to do with it, maybe just something you didn't know, or maybe you did, whatever.

Background seems to be semi transparent, so when a console picture is part of the background, like in the 5200 main menu theme, it looks somewhat weird seeing the wheel behind it. When it is in it's own artwork, it isn't transparent and cover the wheel properly, like the 2600 main menu theme.

Thank you very much for letting me know - The 7800 themes are now on my FTP.

Now, as of for the semi transparency... I really can't see what you're talking about. I'm assuming you've tried them out and you're referring to your own setup as opposed to the picture I posted. If you wish to turn off the visibility of the wheel...

Go into HyperHQ, go to Atari 7800 wheel settings and turn the "Alpha" to "0." Hopefully that's what you're talking about. Otherwise, please elaborate further.

[Blackened15]

It's the main menu theme, not the default theme so I would be setting it in Main Menu. The atari 5200 (not 7800 like you said), the console's picture is actually integrated into the background as opposed to be it's own artwork, thus making it semi-transparent like the rest of the background. Obviously I can just set opacity to 0 but that would totally hide the wheel which I do not like (I like seeing the wheel, just not where there is actual art).

Edit: Ill be posting picture, just hit post instead of "Go Advanced". I'm obviously not asking you to fix this, just letting you know. I'll be fixing it myself cutting the console out of the background and putting it as it's separated artwork.

Also, your "Frontend/Images" are still PNG and the quality suffers, I have my own as swf renamed to png, making them much crisper. I can upload them if you want, but that's a 2 minute conversion.

Here's the 2600 which I like, Wheel is visible but behind artwork

Here's the 5200, wheel is mixed in with console (because it's part of the background)

Once again, just letting you know in case it matters to you, so you can keep it in mind in the future, if not disregard. I'll be posting a fixed version if you are interested

And here's mine, although I'll have to redo it because my Pen Tool skills are crap and I was hurrying before dinner to get a picture out.

[BakerMan]

It's the main menu theme, not the default theme so I would be setting it in Main Menu. The atari 5200 (not 7800 like you said), the console's picture is actually integrated into the background as opposed to be it's own artwork, thus making it semi-transparent like the rest of the background. Obviously I can just set opacity to 0 but that would totally hide the wheel which I do not like (I like seeing the wheel, just not where there is actual art).

Edit: Ill be posting picture, just hit post instead of "Go Advanced". I'm obviously not asking you to fix this, just letting you know. I'll be fixing it myself cutting the console out of the background and putting it as it's separated artwork.

Also, your "Frontend/Images" are still PNG and the quality suffers, I have my own as swf renamed to png, making them much crisper. I can upload them if you want, but that's a 2 minute conversion.

Here's the 2600 which I like, Wheel is visible but behind artwork

Here's the 5200, wheel is mixed in with console (because it's part of the background)

Once again, just letting you know in case it matters to you, so you can keep it in mind in the future, if not disregard. I'll be posting a fixed version if you are interested

And here's mine, although I'll have to redo it because my Pen Tool skills are crap and I was hurrying before dinner to get a picture out.

Aw ok, yes that's what I thought you meant. And yes, it is my own personal preference.

I believe the themes look a lot CLEANER without the wheel images in the background.

As of for the .swf .png thing - I need you to elaborate again please. I am aware that you can convert letter art to swf and then rename to png, but I need to know more of what you mean about the special artwork.

Are you referring to the .png images inside the swf? Can I convert all of those to swf, rename them to png and compile them with the swf?

[Blackened15]

No, I'm talking about the file in the Media/Frontend/Images folder, they are on your ftp, but still as regular png (not swf renamed to png). I have mine converted to swf renamed png and like all the other artwork, looks much better.

[Blackened15]

Also wondering, I know video overlay can't be swf, but have you tried converting one to swf and renaming it png?

[BakerMan]

Also wondering, I know video overlay can't be swf, but have you tried converting one to swf and renaming it png?

Everything that you can use in themes I have tried.

Now as of for the Frontend images you just mentioned I never knew that. Very cool.

But anyways, back to theme artwork. I know you cant use it with wheels. YOU CAN with letters. Video overlay's no.

But here's an idea...

What if we started constructing themes in Flash?

You could insert all artwork images into the theme and process it all as 1 swf, video overlay included.

Just don't know how you would incorporate the video into it afterwards... You know, maintaining transparency.

But the Flash idea would change the whole scope of making themes going forward,,, Don't ya think?

[BakerMan]

1 of the things I find myself thinking about is practicality or what is the most "practical" ways of going about converting....??

The word "practical" means "appropriate or suited for actual use."

Well, how do we decide on what's practical, when some people may have different likes compared to mine?

I've learned overtime to think of things a particular way when it comes to this project. These steps that I've come up with have helped me when becoming satisfied with what I setup. Basically I have set certain principles that is helping me sift through everything the Hyperspin FTP, hypersync, and the downloads section has to offer.

I want my setup to be clean. If anyone read the comments back and forth between me and Blackened15, you'll see "preference" as being an issue. He wanted to see his wheel images, but have the console artwork layed over it.

That's fine and I'm sure there are A LOT of people that agree.

But I see things differently. Trust me, I have tried that setup. And in the end, just didn't like it. It takes away from the themes themselves. To me, the wheel images are beautiful to scroll through, but having them disappear adds to the presence of the theme and makes the theme the prime focus. Especially when it comes to "Game Themes."

I know I'm probably not doing to good of a job explaining how "practicality" plays into all of this. Oh well, that's the word that comes to mind. It sticks. And as my setup builds that's the word that appears in my mind once I complete a particular setup from front to back.

Hopefully you'll get what I'm saying right here...

Hyperspin Nintendo Entertainment System Main Menu Theme (Nintendo Entertainment System)

Hyperspin Nintendo Entertainment System Default Theme (Nintendo Entertainment System)

Ya see, once I decided on those themes for my Nintendo setup. Once I was done converting I thought, "practical."

I dont know why, hopefully some of you will agree. In the end I'm not looking for tons of options. I want "the one" that I'm going to stick with.

Also, if you're the type that wants the flashiest designs of all, you'll find yourself NEVER satisfied.

So try out the practical mindset.

I'm just sayin'.

P.S. --- All Nintendo Entertainment System Widescreen Box Art, Cartridge Art, Pointer, Letters, and Wheel Art have been uploaded to my FTP.

[Blackened15]

I might give a try going with No wheel in background, as my join date might show, I haven't tried many thing. I was just going with what was by default, and tought it was fine, and saw that that one theme behave differently. I do think hiding the wheel make the actual theme stand out more. If the responsiveness of the wheel reappearing is good (as I haven't tried yet) it might just be my new settings.

As for full swf theme, interesting idea. I might just give it a try tonight, nothing too special, just to see if/how it works.

[BakerMan]

I might give a try going with No wheel in background, as my join date might show, I haven't tried many thing. I was just going with what was by default, and tought it was fine, and saw that that one theme behave differently. I do think hiding the wheel make the actual theme stand out more. If the responsiveness of the wheel reappearing is good (as I haven't tried yet) it might just be my new settings.

As for full swf theme, interesting idea. I might just give it a try tonight, nothing too special, just to see if/how it works.

You seem to be catching on quick though.

Are you needing any help with Flash? Have you discovered how to edit all shapes and frames within swf's?

[Blackened15]

The extent of my flash knowledge atm (not much) can be seen with what I made with the self-contained squashed dreamcast spinning disc swf in the thread I made in this sub-forum, as far as anything else, I know next to nothing, but I usually tend to figure stuff out by googling about them.

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?40049-Widescreen-rotating-disc-art-question-for-people-who-know-Flash-and-SWF

[Blackened15]

Ok, I did a quick and dirty test to see if Hypertheme/spin supported more elaborate swf. I made a swf with 3 different animation in it, and used it as a background.swf in an otherwise empty theme and added a video to it via hypertheme. Obviously this wasn't exactly what you were talking about, but I was wondering about the feasability of the process.

file is in my ftp folder /Upload Here/Blackened15/Sega Genesis multi animation background.zip

I'm not a really artsy guy and I'm not really used to Photoshop/Flash, so don't expect anything amazing to come out of me from this, I just wanted to see if someone wanted to make some extra complicated theme with more then 2-3 moving part, if it was possible.

Obviously there is some problem with this, background will always be behind video, so no artwork in front of the video, but then someone could use an extra artwork.swf for that, same for overlay. So all in all unless I am mistaken, this is only usefull for really crazy theme.

[BakerMan]

Well, tonight I thought of something I should have thought about a LONG time ago.

If you've tried out any of my wheel sets, you've probably noticed that they are all on templates. If you've read in the past, you would also know that I do that in order to establish a "common resolution" amongst all of my wheel art. It helps the performance of your wheel drastically.

But tonight I thought of something else. Ya see, I always liked the Non-Template wheel art better. So tonight I started with NES, redownloaded the entire wheel set from hypersync, and highlighted all of the images. From there, I checked the properties and found out that all of the images shared a width of 400 and there was no image greater than 175 in height.

So, I setup an automated process in Photoshop to change the "canvas size" of all the non-template wheel art to 400x175. Then, I automated all images to high resolution and converted them to widescreen.

Non-Template wheel images all at their correct aspect ratios for widescreen. I hate how I wasn't doing that a long time ago. Oh well,,,,,,,

I have replaced all of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System Widescreen Wheel Art on my FTP.

I am going to continue this process and I'll update as I get all wheel art replaced.

For now, here's are examples of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System Widescreen Wheel Art

Just to re-iterate, NES and SNES are replaced and overwritten on my FTP.

P.S. --- I thought this was the "practical" way to go about the widescreen wheels... hahahaa

[DrMaxwell]

I like your idea about flash but the problem I see is with load times for systems that aren't using modern hardware or older operating systems. I get slow down when trying to load 3D flash animated carts that I've got in some of my themes and I think if the flash element were larger, it would only slow it down even further.