Game intro

*For setting up the player, see Player.*
This page describes the **beginning of games**. This includes the splash screens, the title screen and "Continue/New Game" options, as well as the Professor's lecture.

## Splash screens

The splash screens are the first things to be seen upon running a game. Each splash screen is a picture in the folder "Graphics/Titles", and their names and display order are determined by constants that are defined in the script section **UI\_SplashesAndTitleScreen** in `class IntroEventScene`:

```
# Splash screen images that appear for a few seconds and then disappear.
SPLASH_IMAGES         = ["splash1", "splash2"]
SECONDS_PER_SPLASH    = 2

```

Here, there are two splash screens ("splash1" and "splash2") to display. You can expand on this list and modify the names of the files like so:

```
SPLASH_IMAGES         = ["splash1", "splash2", "splash3", "splash4"]

```

The script section **UI\_SplashesAndTitleScreen** contains the code for displaying the splash screens. They fade in and out, and are displayed in the order they are listed in the line above. You will not normally need to edit this section, but you may wish to change the speed at which the splash screens appear and linger for. To do this, change the values of the constants at the top of this script section.

It is important to note that the splash screens (along with the title screen) are skipped when starting the game in Debug mode. Debug mode will automatically begin a game with the "Continue/New Game" screen.

## Title screen

The title screen, or start screen, is a single picture in the folder "Graphics/Titles", with the name defined in the script section **UI\_SplashesAndTitleScreen**:

```
TITLE_BG_IMAGE        = "title"
TITLE_START_IMAGE     = "start"
TITLE_START_IMAGE_X   = 0
TITLE_START_IMAGE_Y   = 322
TICKS_PER_ENTER_FLASH = 40   # 20 ticks per second

```

In addition, the picture "start.png" in the same folder will fade in/out continuously. Its position is also defined by constants.

The player must press the Use button to close the title screen and open the "Continue/New Game" screen. When they do, a random Pokémon's cry is played.

It is important to note that the title screen (along with the splash screens) is skipped when starting the game in Debug mode. Debug mode will automatically begin a game with the "Continue/New Game" screen.

## Continue/New Game

This screen allows the player to continue their existing game (if appropriate), start a new game, open the Options screen, check for Mystery Gifts (if unlocked), or choose a language (if more than one is defined). There is also a button to access the main Debug menu.

The background image for this screen is called "loadbg.png", which is located in the folder "Graphics/Pictures". If no such picture exists, a plain white background is displayed instead. The graphics for the buttons in this screen are in the image "loadPanels.png" in the same folder.

The code that displays this screen is in the script section **UI\_Load**.

## Professor's lecture

When a new game is started, the first thing that usually happens is the Professor's lecture. This is an introduction to the world of Pokémon, and serves as a way to set the player's gender and name (and perhaps also the rival's name as well).

The introduction screen is found in the map called "Intro". This map should contain the player's starting position. It also contains an event set to Autorun. The most basic form of the introduction event is as follows:

```
@>Script: pbChangePlayer(1)
@>Script: pbTrainerName
@>Text: Hello, \PN.
@>Control Self Switch: A =ON
@>Transfer Player:[003: \PN's house], (025,006), Down, No Fade

```

This automatically sets the player to the first player character (first command), and lets them enter their name (second command). Finally, it transfers the player to their actual starting place (typically their bedroom). The player's character and name *must* be set before the game starts.

There are many ways in which this event can be expanded - Essentials contains a rather robust version in its example intro map.