Thank''s for the replies. I''ll save the page for the other ideas but I think there are two things I might do:

1) I''ll encrypt the file and put a function in the game do decrypt it (I''m working on a encryption algorithm with a friend so I''ll probably use it), then, from the game, save the images back to bmp and load them (I''m using the SDL_LoadBMP function) and finally delete them again. Maybe I won''t need to write them to the disk, there''s probably a way of loading directly to SDL_Surface pointers but I''m sure I''ll figure it out.

2)Use the Toolmaker Pak Archiver, it would be extremely simple and I believe it would work right. Maybe, to make it even more harder to crack, encrypt the file with my own algorithm.

I''ll talk to my friend who''s making the game with me (not programming, he doesn''t know how - he designs the tiles and such and gives ideas) and then decide what is the best solution.

Probably I''ll choose the second one, for it would be a lot easier.

I believe this topic was answered completely, I don''t know if it has to be closed or something by me or by the sysadmins..

If anyone whishes to say something (more), I''ll be coming here regularly so don''t be afraid I don''t get to see your answer / idea / sugestion!

THANK YOU ALL again, it''s so good to know a place where your questions are answered well and quick!

If you find any error or something like that forgive me but english is not my main-language, I''m Portuguese.

Quote from red_sodium:

"Guyaton, couldn't a smart game player then Alt+Tab the game, copy the bitmap and save it elsewhere?"

There are ways of disallowing the alt+tab and windows key (and such) which might give the player that chance.

However, the purpose here is not letting the player replace the graphics: he can do whatever he wants with them, I don't care as long as the game isn't altered.

Also, if none of the keys worked, a smart game player could do a printscreen, so there are always ways of "stealing" graphics.

I've been trying out the pak archiver from Toolmaker but I didn't got on well with it; I believe it used some win32 functions and I want to make a portable (as much as I can, anyway) game. I guess I'll stick to the first option..

[ correction to the 1 option ]
(1) I'll encrypt the file (my own format, as BriTeg sugested, containing all the images) and put a function in the game do decrypt it (I'm working on a encryption algorithm with a friend so I'll probably use it), then, from the game, save the images back to bmp and load them (I'm using the SDL_LoadBMP function) and finally delete them again. Maybe I won't need to write them to the disk, there's probably a way of loading directly to SDL_Surfaces / sprites but I'm sure I'll figure it out.



[edited by - Asclepius on April 15, 2004 6:13:00 PM]

You can.. Should be pretty easy, actually, you just have to implement your own SDL_RWops to read from the pak-file and off you go. The LoadBMP is, as far as I know, just a macro that creates a standard RWop for reading from a file and passes that to the actual LoadBMP-function.

EDIT: Oh, and even if you don't, don't even start to think about disabling alt-tab.. You really annoy your users with that.


[edited by - Wuntvor on April 15, 2004 6:13:11 PM]

Toolmaker, no problem, if it was a win32-only game I would certainly use it.

BTW, why do you *hate* linux? I mean, I use both and don''t dislike none of them.. What do you find so bad about linux? I just started using it a couple weeks ago and I haven''t encountered problems so far.. Have you found lots? A bit off-subject but I was curious as I just started using it and I wanted to hear opinions on it.

Thank''s for your link anyway, I''ll use it if i do an app for windows! I think it''s really useful

Asclepius