# 🎮 CHARACTER CLEANUP - COMPLETE
**All Character Sprites Removed for Fresh Start**

**Date:** 10.12.2025 23:09  
**Status:** ✅ **COMPLETE**

---

## ✅ **What Was Done**

### **1. Backed Up Character Sprites**
All character sprites moved to: `assets/backup_characters/`

**Backed up files (13):**
- ✅ player.png
- ✅ zombie_sprite.png
- ✅ merchant_sprite.png
- ✅ merchant_new.png
- ✅ npc_merchant.png
- ✅ npc_zombie.png
- ✅ cow.png
- ✅ chicken.png
- ✅ troll.png
- ✅ elf.png
- ✅ villager.png
- ✅ cow_mutant.png
- ✅ elite_zombie.png

---

### **2. Disabled Character Loading**
Updated `PreloadScene.js`:

**Commented out:**
```javascript
// this.load.image('player_sprite', 'assets/player_sprite.png'); // REMOVED
// this.load.image('zombie_sprite', 'assets/zombie_sprite.png'); // REMOVED
// this.load.image('merchant_sprite', 'assets/merchant_sprite.png'); // REMOVED
// this.load.image('merchant_new', 'assets/merchant_new.png'); // REMOVED
// this.load.image('elite_zombie', 'assets/elite_zombie.png'); // REMOVED

// AI-Generated NPC Sprites - REMOVED FOR NOW
// this.load.image('cow', ...);
// this.load.image('chicken', ...);
// this.load.image('troll', ...);
// this.load.image('elf', ...);
// this.load.image('villager', ...);
// this.load.image('cow_mutant', ...);
```

---

### **3. Disabled Transparency Processing**
Removed character sprites from `processAllTransparency()`:

**What remains active:**
- ✅ Environment sprites (trees, rocks, grass)
- ✅ Buildings (house, fence, chest)
- ✅ City content (walls, signs)
- ✅ Voxel assets

**What was removed:**
- ❌ All character sprites
- ❌ All NPC sprites
- ❌ All animal sprites

---

## 🎯 **Current Game State**

### **What Still Works:**
- ✅ World terrain
- ✅ Trees & rocks
- ✅ Buildings
- ✅ Crafting
- ✅ Inventory
- ✅ UI

### **What's Missing:**
- ❌ Player visual (uses fallback)
- ❌ Zombies visual
- ❌ NPCs visual
- ❌ Animals visual

---

## 📋 **Plan for Re-Adding Characters**

### **Phase 1: Player Character** (Priority 1)
**Goal:** Create clean, pixel-perfect player sprite

**Options:**
1. **Generate new sprite** - AI or pixel art tool
2. **Use existing** - Restore from backup
3. **Create sprite sheet** - Full animation support

**Recommended:**
```
Create new 64x64 pixel art player
- 4 directions (up, down, left, right)
- 4 frame walk cycle
- Clean transparent background
- Total: 16 frames (4 dirs × 4 frames)
```

---

### **Phase 2: Zombies** (Priority 2)
**Goal:** Create zombie variants

**Types Needed:**
1. **Normal Zombie** - Basic enemy
2. **Elite Zombie** - Stronger variant
3. **Tamed Zombie** - Worker type

**Recommended:**
```
Create 3 zombie sprites (64x64)
- Same animation as player
- Color variants (green, dark, blue)
- Reuse player animation structure
```

---

### **Phase 3: NPCs** (Priority 3)
**Goal:** Create essential NPCs

**NPCs Needed:**
1. **Merchant** - Trading
2. **Villager** - Quests
3. **Elf** - Special interactions

**Recommended:**
```
Create NPC sprites (64x64)
- Unique clothing/colors
- Idle animation (2-4 frames)
- Different from player/zombie
```

---

### **Phase 4: Animals** (Priority 4)
**Goal:** Create farm animals

**Animals Needed:**
1. **Cow** - Milk production
2. **Chicken** - Egg production
3. **Cow Mutant** - Special variant

**Recommended:**
```
Create animal sprites (48x48 or 64x64)
- Side view (isometric compatible)
- Idle + walk animations
- 2-4 frames each
```

---

### **Phase 5: Special Characters** (Priority 5)
**Optional characters:**
- Troll
- Elf (if not in Phase 3)
- Boss variants

---

## 🎨 **Sprite Creation Guidelines**

### **Technical Specs:**
- **Size:** 64×64 pixels (standard)
- **Format:** PNG with transparency
- **Color:** Pixel art style, limited palette
- **Background:** Fully transparent
- **Origin:** Bottom-center (0.5, 1)

### **Animation Standards:**
- **Walk cycle:** 4-6 frames
- **Idle:** 2-4 frames
- **Attack:** 3-5 frames (if needed)
- **Framerate:** 8-12 FPS

### **Naming Convention:**
```
player_walk_down_0.png
player_walk_down_1.png
player_walk_down_2.png
player_walk_down_3.png

zombie_walk_0.png
zombie_walk_1.png
...

npc_merchant_idle_0.png
npc_merchant_idle_1.png
```

---

## 🛠️ **Tools for Creating Sprites**

### **1. Piskel (Free, Online)**
- URL: https://www.piskelapp.com/
- Best for: Simple pixel art
- Export: PNG sprite sheet

### **2. Aseprite (Paid, $20)**
- Best for: Professional pixel art
- Features: Onion skinning, animation
- Export: Sprite sheets with JSON

### **3. AI Generation (Free)**
- Use: Stable Diffusion, MidJourney
- Style: "pixel art character, 64x64, transparent background"
- Post-process: Remove background manually

### **4. Python Script (Automated)**
Use our `sprite_sheet_generator.py`:
```bash
python sprite_sheet_generator.py
```

---

## 📝 **Checklist for Adding Back**

### **For Each Character:**
- [ ] Create/generate sprite (64×64)
- [ ] Remove background (make transparent)
- [ ] Optimize file size (<50KB)
- [ ] Save to `assets/` folder
- [ ] Add to `PreloadScene.js` loading
- [ ] Add to `processAllTransparency()` list
- [ ] Test in-game
- [ ] Adjust scale if needed (see `SPRITE_SCALE_FIX_GUIDE.md`)

---

## 🚀 **Quick Restore (If Needed)**

To restore ALL characters at once:

```bash
# PowerShell
Copy-Item "c:\novafarma\assets\backup_characters\*" -Destination "c:\novafarma\assets\" -Force
```

Then uncomment lines in `PreloadScene.js`.

---

## 📊 **Progress Tracker**

| Character Type | Status | Priority | Time Estimate |
|----------------|--------|----------|---------------|
| **Player** | ⬜ TODO | 🔴 High | 1-2 hours |
| **Zombie (Normal)** | ⬜ TODO | 🔴 High | 30 min |
| **Zombie (Elite)** | ⬜ TODO | 🟡 Medium | 30 min |
| **Merchant** | ⬜ TODO | 🟡 Medium | 30 min |
| **Villager** | ⬜ TODO | 🟢 Low | 30 min |
| **Cow** | ⬜ TODO | 🟢 Low | 20 min |
| **Chicken** | ⬜ TODO | 🟢 Low | 20 min |
| **Troll** | ⬜ TODO | 🟢 Low | 30 min |
| **Elf** | ⬜ TODO | 🟢 Low | 30 min |
| **Cow Mutant** | ⬜ TODO | 🟢 Low | 20 min |

**Total Estimated Time:** ~5-7 hours for all

---

## 💡 **Recommendations**

### **Option 1: Quick Restore**
- Restore from backup
- Use existing sprites
- **Time:** 5 minutes

### **Option 2: Create New (Recommended)**
- Use Piskel or Aseprite
- Create pixel-perfect sprites
- Full control over quality
- **Time:** 5-7 hours

### **Option 3: AI + Manual**
- Generate with AI
- Clean up manually
- Best quality/speed balance
- **Time:** 2-3 hours

---

## 🎯 **Next Steps**

1. **Decide on approach:**
   - Quick restore?
   - Create new sprites?
   - AI generation?

2. **Start with Player:**
   - Most important character
   - Test with one sprite first
   - Get approval before doing others

3. **Create sprite sheet:**
   - Use recommended 64×64 size
   - 4-direction support
   - Clean transparency

4. **Test & iterate:**
   - Load in game
   - Check scale
   - Adjust as needed

---

**Status:** ✅ **All characters removed successfully!**  
**Backup:** `assets/backup_characters/` (13 files)  
**Ready for:** Fresh sprite creation!  

**Location of backups:** `c:\novafarma\assets\backup_characters\`