What is the difference between the HeroMachine 2 Desktop Edition and the free online version at UGO.com?
UGO.com hosts version 2.5 (beta), which contains the first set of expansion items, while the Desktop Edition is version 2.0, which does not include any expansion items. Once the new features are enabled across all six possible bodies, they will be included in the download.
What operating systems will the HeroMachine work under?
The HeroMachine is a browser-based application, which means that it will work on any Operating System that has a browser compatible with the latest Flash plug-in. That means you can use the HeroMachine on with Macintosh, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, and more, with Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer. Although it runs under your browser, it’s located on your hard drive so you don’t need an active internet connection, making it lightning-quick.
Can I use the HeroMachine to create a character from a previously published work, like Superman® or Spider-Man®?
No! Using the HeroMachine to create a facsimile of a copyrighted character will expose you to the possibility of legal action for copyright infringement by the individual or corporation holding the rights to that character. The HeroMachine is like a box of crayons — you can draw anything you like, but if you try to rip off someone else’s intellectual property, you can be held liable for it. Such use would also be a violation of the HeroMachine license agreement you must agree to before downloading the product.
When the application comes up, I don’t see any text, and nothing happens when I click on what look to be the buttons. You probably need to upgrade your Flash plug-in version. Go to Adobe.com and get the latest version (of the Flash Player. This solves most functionality problems with the HeroMachine.
I mailed my character to a friend, but when they try to load it, the application times out and I get an error message asking if I want to cancel the script. Some e-mail applications insert line breaks into text blocks. When trying to load such text blocks, the HeroMachine’s behavior can be unpredictable. If this happens to you, paste your character’s parameters into a word processing program (like Notepad, SimpleText, or Word), and turn on all hidden characters. Remove any paragraph breaks, then copy and paste the result into the HeroMachine’s load box.
I can’t copy the Save Character text. First, left-click in the text box so the flashing cursor is in the text. Then, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) and choose Copy from the fly-out menu. Then paste the text into your favorite editor and save it however you wish. If you cannot copy the text at all, you may have a problem with your clipboard (especially under Windows NT). In this case, open your Clipboard Viewer (under Accessories in Windows NT) and clear the clipboard. It should work then.
What do I do? The HeroMachine is an online character creator. You cycle through different items to outfit and design your character. For instance, you can change hair styles and colors, eyes, noses, coats of armor, boots, weapons, and more!
What do I do with my character when it’s done? You can save your character’s parameters by clicking on the Save icon (the picture of the diskette) on the left hand side of the application. Copy and paste the results into a text editor, or e-mail them to a friend so they can see your creation. You can also print your character (click on the Print button within the HeroMachine — using the Print command from the File menu of your browser will not work). The HeroMachine creates stand-alone images, there is no way to import the character into an online game.
Why doesn’t anything happen when I click on a color? Not all components have color choices available. Some have no colors, some have one, and some have two. There is no way at this time to tell which is which without trying it out, so warm up that mouse and get ready to click! You might also have cleared the current component, in which case there’s nothing to color. Try advancing one item using the arrow key for that component, then try your color.
Can I export my character as a graphic like a .GIF, .JPG, or .BMP? There is no way within Flash itself to export images at run-time to a local drive. There are two workarounds. One is to use a screen-capture utility (ALT-PrintScreen in Windows or Command+Shift+3 on a Mac) to capture the entire screen image (including your character) to the clipboard. You can then open a paint program (like the aptly-named Paint in Windows, which you can open by going to Start - Run and typing in MSPAINT), paste the image there, crop it, and save it as whatever you like. The second is a bit more involved. You have to install a local PostScript printer driver (i.e. the Canon LBP-8III PS-1) and choose to PRINT TO FILE when you print to it. Save the file with a .ps extension, then open it with Photoshop. You will get a high-resolution, color image in Photoshop that you can then manipulate however you like.
Who owns the copyright for the character(s) I create? You own the copyright for the idea and concept of your character, though the actual image you create with the HeroMachine belongs to AFD Studios. Use of that image for non-commercial purposes is granted automatically. If you would like to use the image on a commercial site, please contact AFD Studios. Basically you own the character concept, but AFD Studios retains the rights to each image (including the color scheme) used in that character graphic, individually and in aggregate, as it exists within the HeroMachine. In other words, I can’t claim to own your idea, and you can’t claim to own any collection of images and colors within the HeroMachine, even if someone else uses it to create an exact duplicate of your character. You’ll have to go after them for infringing your copyright, not me.
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