Any tips on placing objects for a level based game?

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

I have my game code completed but am struggling with creating the actual levels for the game in code. I am very much a visual person and find it difficult to place a levels items without constant reloading the game and checking if that looks right etc.

I know there is a fireworks script that can help but although I own photoshop I don’t own any other adobe software.

Adding to the above of course is the trial and error for placing points for a shape body on a graphic is a slog as well.

My partner has created an editor to give me the co-ordinates for the shape that I can visually place but its far from ideal.

How do others do it or is it really just trial and error, place then reload constantly, when building a level based game?

Thanks for any help.

Cheers

Mike R [import]uid: 9950 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 305075[/import]

#2

I use Flash, which doesn’t really help you unfortunately. I’ve thought about making a desktop program that is a level/scene editor that will dump out an XML file with coordinates of every object in the level, but if that ever happens it’ll be a project far in the future.

My partner has created an editor to give me the co-ordinates for the shape that I can visually place but its far from ideal.

Why is it far from ideal? Is it because his editor can’t save a project, or because the GUI is hard to operate, or what? [import]uid: 12108 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16698[/import]

#3

Hey mykyl66, for Bubble Ball I just did the levels in code, via trial and error. :slight_smile: Does it work? Yes. Is it fun? No. [import]uid: 8782 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16706[/import]

#4

NayGames, First of all congrats on the numbers of downloads. As you say is it fun manually coding positions of items? Absolutely not.

In fact it is so annoying to me I would rather dump the game and move onto the next one until my partner can complete the level editor.

I guess I don’t have the patience that others do. :smiley:

Cheers

Mike R [import]uid: 9950 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16715[/import]

#5

This thread got me thinking about laying out graphics so I played around with a handful of code and came up with something that could be the basis for a handy tool:

http://gamedevnation.com/video/graphic-layout-tool/

Jay

PS - Those aren’t “official” Bubble Ball graphics in the video, I just took a screenshot while playing and then clipped out some images to have something to work with in the demo. :slight_smile:
[import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16872[/import]

#6

hey that’s a neat idea, thanks! [import]uid: 12108 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16896[/import]

#7

Jay that’s so clever!

Thanks!!! [import]uid: 10657 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16916[/import]

#8

I’ve just made a new topic about my tool that gives you a graphical interface for placing objects. Read more about it here:

Corona Rapid Prototype [import]uid: 13180 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16953[/import]

#9

Lots to think about folks. Some excellent information.

Nerderer, that is very good. This kind of thing is certainly needed to speed up Corona development. Make a second mode and then you could create shapes for the bodies as well at the size required after creating your level.

I now have the ability to drag my items around using a different routine that I will share later and am about to add the real-time creation of the body shapes as required by some objects. Once I have that down I will post up what i have and everyone can tell me that its a very long winded way of doing it and how to make it better. :smiley: The disadvantage is I have a lump of code that I will have to remove before release but it should be reusable in any other games in the future.

All a bit frustrating as I just want to make games and not the tools that simplify it but needs must. :slight_smile:

Cheers

Mike R

Cheers

Mike R [import]uid: 9950 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16959[/import]

#10

I use Lime and it relies on Tiled for the world definition. With a little creativity you can get a lot out of Tiled even if your game is not a platformer. [import]uid: 11904 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 16967[/import]

#11

Well I have finally got the beginnings of an editor that creates the code required for each object in a level.
I am now attempting to create it so that it can be “plugged in” to any game then removed for the final release version of your game very easily.
The advantage is that you can test the level with actual game code you have created and with one click put it into edit mode and tweak the settings as required for that level so no having to pop into third party apps or things like that.

Currently its built right into my main game code and is invoked with a button press that puts the game into edit mode and allows me to move etc all my objects around then switch out of edit mode and see how it plays straight away. No waiting. That’s what I like about Corona, its instant rebuilds so following that way of working I want instant feedback to my edits.

If the level plays well I then have a tiny button that outputs all the code I need for that level in a similar way to how Jay has done it.

I want to try and auto load a set of graphics from the directory that main.lua is held in and place them ready to be moved around as required in my next stage and well we will see how it goes. I will add the code for creating odd shapes for physics bodies that I currently have lve as well so that takes the guesswork out of that.

Its a wee bit of a struggle as I am very new to Lua and Corona but I just cannot work with placing items purely by code.

Any pointers or feedback is very welcome.

Maybe I can get back to creating the game soon and actually try and make some money with this Corona lark. :smiley:

Cheers

Mike R [import]uid: 9950 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 17392[/import]

#12

Jay,
I saw your post on level creator, that is so cool and easy to set up. You are on a roll. Do you want to also try a UI Editor as part of CPM?

cheers,

Jayant C Varma [import]uid: 3826 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 17486[/import]

#13

Jayant,

Thanks. Great idea, but that’s not something I’d talk about in public at this point. Mainly because I want people to buy CPM for what it is, not for what it might become. If I say X, Y, and Z are coming and people buy – and then decide to scrap X and Z for some reason, I have unhappy customers.

So while some kind of GUI layout editor sounds like a cool addition to CPM, I have no comment at this time. :slight_smile:

Jay
[import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 17605[/import]

#14

@Jay great tip thanks…on another note what screen recording soft are you using? (very smooth!) [import]uid: 6086 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 18605[/import]

#15

Rob - I use (and love) ScreenFlow. I even use it for recording stuff in Windows. I run Parallels on my Mac and ScreenFlow has no problems recording the Windows screen as well as the Mac screen.

I’ve tried just about every screen recorder out there and the only other one I’d recommend is Camtasia. That and ScreenFlow are, I think, the only screen recorders with full editors, which means you can clip out all your mistakes, add titles, etc.

For quickie videos that I don’t care about editing, like an answer for tech support or something, I’ll sometimes use Jing, but for anything that’s going to hang around for a while I use ScreenFlow.

Jay
[import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 18608[/import]

#16

I use this its the best and free

http://www.nerderer.com/Gumbo/ [import]uid: 11559 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 18646[/import]

#17

* shameless plug warning *

http://www.justaddli.me

* end of warning * [import]uid: 5833 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 18650[/import]

#18

@Jay

Thanks for the very full reply.

I have been out of touch with Corona developments for quite a few weeks and having just watched your vid for CPM which looks fantastic, realize I should have been keeping my eye on the BLOG!

atb. Rob [import]uid: 6086 topic_id: 5075 reply_id: 19324[/import]