   How to hide the graphics part in your game?
  HI!I''ve made a short sidescrolling game for myself and I''m going to give a copy of it to some of my friends. My problem is, I don''t want them to see all those sprites and tiles that I''ve made (for security purposes). Is there anyway to hide my sprites folder (except for making it hidden, no one would ever fall for that!). THANKS IN ADVANCE!! 
  You could put them into a zip file and rename the zip file to something else to throw them off the scent.  You can use the zlib library (http://www.zlib.org) to read and write zip files.  You might even be able to give the zip file a password (I''m not sure if zlib supports password-protected zips).Or else just make your own packed data file format.  A very simple way would be to just copy all the files together into one file and note down where each file starts in the big file, and how long each  is.  You could easily write some code to do generate the packed file for you and at the same time print out a list of statements giving you the offset and length of each file.cheerssam;  A really easy way to do this is to make a quick program that adds a few bytes to all of your files, then skip the few bytes before reading them in. Of course if you are using filename loading from libraries, you''ll have to switch to a different method.Jiia ;  Are you sure they are your "friends", if you''re so paranoid thatthey''d copy your art?  This is a serious question.   Kami no Itte ga ore ni zettai naru! ;  Either the one file idea suggested above or why not include the pictures as resources? ;  "Security purposes"? Afraid they're gunna hack you with your sprites?   [edited by - ch1pz on February 9, 2004 1:02:13 PM];  If you''re using DirectX you can use the .dds file extension. But they can just change the extension to .bmp if they think of it.   /*I use DirectX 8.1 and C++ (Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Professional edition)*/ ;  If you''re really paranoid I suggest writing a resource managament class.Instead of stroring 100 different pictures, give yourself the ability to package all of your pics in to one file.  You could do the same with sound.If you''re using BMP''s, and you already know the file format, strip the header off of the data.  It will save space (a wee bit) and make the data harder to open.You could also write a really simple XOR encoder.  ie: outValue = inValue XOR someNumber;  To get the original data back do the same thing again.  It''s a simple way of encrypting something. NOTE TO ALL: I did not say SECURE way of encrypting, I said SIMPLE.There are hundreds of things you could do.  In reality doing anything at all will probably be enough to prevent your friends from opening the graphics.Will ;  Programmer16: sorry ot, but the dds file for DX is just a bitmap?    In the making Tread Wars - Tank Battle gamePowered by SKEnginehttp://www.highendgaming.com;  dds=direct draw sprite, I assume.Stan100 