The SCUP system

SCUP system (Script Creation Utility for Peris) is the name that we use to refer to all the interface used in the game.

This interface had been modified along the years according to requeriments for the James Peris. games The first SCUP was used in James Peris is the agent 00.5 in 2005:

SCUP 1 in James Peris is the agent 00.5

This SCUP had six buttons for the character actions at the bottom of the screen, next to this was the inventary window and on this the status bar that informs the action selected and the name of item that was been under the cursor. In the top of screen was appear a bar with the score and three buttons, one for options menu (where you could find save/load game, the audio options, text speed, quit game and credits), another button to type cheats and a third one to see info about the game. The menu on top only appeared when you move the cursor near here but the bootom one was allways visible.

The second version of SCUP was designed for the demo of James Peris 2 and was this:

SCUP 2 in the James Peris 2 Demo

In the second SCUP we were made some changes, the action buttons have icons and a level bars were implemented (strongly, intelligence and drunk). the inventory ans status bar were in the same location. The top bar was more large and visible all time in the game. There were a shorcuts as an icons for save and load games, the options menu (when were the volume controls and text speed), the cheat window, the love status window and the Dietary window to take notes. Next to this were the money counter, the score and the button to quit game. In the SCUP 2, you could change the character action clicking the right mouse button.

After publishing the demo of James Peris 2, Carlos A. Marcé, the new graphic artist, wanted to redraw all the interface panels and change as it for the complete game of James Peris 2, we called it SCUP 3:

SCUP 3 in the James Peris 2

The third version of SCUP worked as the previous, only the images was changed.

When the new James Peris project was appeared with more resolution and new engine, we can redesign the SCUP for a better flexibility, we caled it SCUP 4 and it was here:

SCUP 4

The SCUP 4 was designed for the new version of James Peris, we was reduced the size of the panels to make a major vision of the scene. It had the same icons as previous SCUP and the top and button bar were allways visible in the game but it were be hidden in some scenes. It also allows change the character action clicking the mouse right button.

Finally, working on better performances and user experience, we modified a bit the SCUP 4 and made the SCUP 4.1:

Nuevo James Peris

The diference between SCUP4 and SCUP 4.1 is that in the las one, the action icons was delet.ed Now, the action is activated automatically when the cursor is over interactive item and with the right mouse button you can choose another action to do. Making this change, It is more easily for the player and the inventory panel is more large and the user can see more objects at once.