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[Javilop]

[Edited]


After 40 hours working in this, it is finished!
http://gametuto.com/in-game-c-map-editor-tutorial-with-indielib-engine-that-dosent-use-tiles-but-pieced-images-like-in-braid-or-aquaria-games/



[Old post]

I'm currently working hard in a new tutorial. This time I'm using IndieLib in order to create a map editor that dosen't use tiles, but directly images that you can tint, rotate, scale in different parallax layers, with zooms, etc.

This isn't anything new, but I haven't seen a tutorial about that yet.

If you still don't get the idea I think it would be clear for you reading this: http://www.davidhellman.net/blog/the-art-of-braid-part-4/ or trying Aquaria mod editor.

The problem is that I don't have a set of graphics in order to distribute with the tutorial.

And now is when I cry  and I ask you... could you (Alec or Derek) let me use for this tutorial some of the graphical objects of Aquaria? I'll give credit to your work and I will put a big link to Aquaria game. Using your set of graphics the tutorial would be... impresive!

Thanks!

PS: I bought your game the first week you released it and I fell in love with the editor.

[Alec]

I'd be cool with it, but its Derek's art so its mainly up to him. 

[BorisTheBrave]

Why do a tutorial on what is a behind the scenes tool? I just want to find a decent editor that supports this sort of thing, and an easy to read export format, then I'd use that rather than write my own. Unfortunately, everyone just seems to write their own tool, built into the game engine.

[Javilop]

Why do a tutorial on what is a behind the scenes tool?

This will be equally to explain IndieLib sourcode, that is Open Source and you can check out if you wish. I mean, IndieLib gives me all the methods I need in order to have a camera, zooming, rotation, translations, alpha blending, area collisions (grouped using triangles, circles or rectangles), animations, morphing deformations (like in Aquaria game for the plants), etc... in an easy way.

In this tutorial I will just use IndieLib engine in order to create a clean editor, exporting / importing XML files. I think is the appropiate way of abstraction, in order to keep things easier.

This way it would be cleaner than using OpenGl / Direct3d / SDL directly. But as I said, you can still check out certain methods (like collision methods) on IndieLib sourcecode, just in case you want to have a deeper insight.

It is different if the tutorial is about... a Tetris clone for example. When I made the the Tetris clone tutorial I focused on game logic, and I only needed to blit rectangles, so I used SDL. I dind't need a better engine for this task.

I think there is no need of reinventing the wheel on each tutorial making everything from scratch. Furthermore I want to test IndieLib, just to checkout its capability for rapid game prototyping.

[BorisTheBrave]

In this tutorial I will just use IndieLib engine in order to create a clean editor, exporting / importing XML files. I think is the appropiate way of abstraction, in order to keep things easier.

Awesome. As I say, I don't think there's a decent editor that already does that, let alone a tutorial.

[Derek]

I'd be cool with it, but its Derek's art so its mainly up to him. 

It's cool wit me, too!

[Javilop]

I'd be cool with it, but its Derek's art so its mainly up to him.

It's cool wit me, too! 

 

I LOVE you!

For me this is like if Steve Vai let's you play his guitar!

COOL! Thank you very much to both of you!

Derek, could you PM me in order to know how to get the set?

[Steve Swink]

For me this is like if Steve Vai let's you play his guitar!

ha ha, that is such an awesome reference. 

[Javilop]

ha ha, that is such an awesome reference. 

 

The editor is starting to work quite well. I'm just waiting ansiously for that graphics!

[Eclipse]

hey loover! i'm starting with opengl to write a 3d renderer for my engine, maybe we could try to make an opengl renderer for indielib?

[Paul Eres]

If you own v1.1 of Aquaria, just go to the game's directory under the gfx subdirectory, it's all there. Kind of obvious :D

[Paul Eres]

As an aside, I created a similar level editor for my next game -- it works basically like a tile-based level editor except that the tiles can be of any size and they can go anywhere, and you can edit their properties individually, instead of having to put them in a grid. I wouldn't think you'd need a tutorial on how to code one, because if you can code a tile-based level editor you probably could code one of these, no? Still, would be good to read to see if there's anything I missed.

[Javilop]

If you own v1.1 of Aquaria, just go to the game's directory under the gfx subdirectory, it's all there. Kind of obvious.

I own Aquaria, but I don't know yet how to get the update. In the Aquaria forum I saw that:

// Derek: Actually, hold off for the time being until things are cleared up with them.

(Talking about Plimus).

I hope I will be able to get it soon Any advices? Furthermore I can't found the emain with my Plimus number :S

As an aside, I created a similar level editor for my next game -- it works basically like a tile-based level editor except that the tiles can be of any size and they can go anywhere, and you can edit their properties individually, instead of having to put them in a grid.

That's exactly what it is. Just a list of entities with different attributes. Using IndieLib entites is a piece of cake.

I wouldn't think you'd need a tutorial on how to code one, because if you can code a tile-based level editor you probably could code one of these, no? Still, would be good to read to see if there's anything I missed

Yep, and if you can code this, you probably can code Quake 6. But there are always people that are still learning and tutorials are helpful for them. Like you can read in the title of gametuto.com: "Game tutorials for smart beginners and meek geeks". I really want to give something back to the community. And I enjoy making these tutorials.

hey loover! i'm starting with opengl to write a 3d renderer for my engine, maybe we could try to make an opengl renderer for indielib?

Wow! That's will be a challenge! Having you working on IndieLib would be great! I have some ideas of how to export the render into a plugin. Do you dare to do it?

[Paul Eres]

It was released last week -- seems like you missed the release announcement. Just email Alec with your purchase information and he'll reactivate you Plimus download.

[Javilop]

Just email Alec with your purchase information and he'll reactivate you Plimus download.

Thanks! I found my receipt from plimus in my old email account. And the release announcement. Shit! I have forgoten about this email account.

But I don't now if I should disturb Alec whith this, because Derek said on the forums: "Actually, hold off for the time being until things are cleared up with them."

rinkuhero, how did you get it? Writting to Alec?