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The Great Escape Level Editing Tutorial |
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Note: If you make a level you are
proud of PLEASE SUBMIT IT TO US!!!!
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| Contents: | |
| Getting Started How to use the Level Editor Some Restrictions Setting the Appropriate Track Path Saving a Map Testing a Map Loading a Map Loading a Completed Map Submitting a Level Why Submit a Level Questions or Comments Note: The word "Map" and "Level" are used interchangably throughout this page |
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| - Unzip these files into the SAME FOLDER as The Great Escape (Note: If you have previously downloaded The Great Escape then unzip the files into the SAME folder where you have The Great Escape on your computer.) | |
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Then
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| - Run MapMaker.Bat and begin creating your own levels! | |
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The Buttons:
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Note: Keep Caps Lock OFF
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Mouse Button 1
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In the tile selection screen it selects the tile for the left mouse button. On the map screen it places the left mouse button tile where the pointer is. *For a description of all the tiles and how they work or what they do, consult the In-Game help in the Great Escape game.* |
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Mouse Button 2
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In the tile selection screen it selects the tile for the right mouse button. On the map screen it places the right mouse button tile where the pointer is. *For a description of all the tiles and how they work or what they do, consult the In-Game help in the Great Escape game.* |
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Tab
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Brings up and hides the tile selection screen |
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Space Bar
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Places an "S" to represent the starting position of player, it is placed where the mouse pointer is. |
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c
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Loads a completed map *See Below* |
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l
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Loads a map |
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t
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Tests current map on screen, allows you to play your new map |
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s
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Saves a map and a completed map at the same time *See Below* |
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n
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Creates a new, plain map |
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b
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Border, when asked for tile number, press a number from 1 to 7 and then hit enter. This changes the border of the map being worked on. |
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h
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On screen Help |
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Esc
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Quits level editor |
| 1. Level names may only be 7 characters long and may only contain the characters A-Z and 0-9 (uppercase or lowercase is unimportant) | |
| 2. The border of the level may only be wall tiles, water, sewage, and lava (The program will not allow anything but this) | |
| 3. Levels must contain a start position (press space bar to place this), at least 1 exit, and must be SAVED before they can be tested. | |
| In order for a level to work, the bomb has to be able to get from the start position to the exit, while charging all the generators along the way. The appropriate track path is the path the bomb follows. When a level is created by you Save it, when you feel it is at its best, Save it again (using the same name). Then lay down the appropriate tracks in their appropriate places on the map and save the map again (using the same name). The editor will count the number of tracks you have laid down and what type they are and it will add them to the toolbar, then it will remove them from the map. When the level is loaded into the game those tracks will not be on the map, but will now be in your toolbar and the level can be played. Now your level is complete and it should be tested, to make sure that path indeed works. If so send it in, otherwise edit it, set the path again and re-save. The path must be set each time before a save in order for the editor to know how many tracks are needed. (Note: tracks do not HAVE to be laid before each save, but before the final save they must be laid so that when you send the level in, we know how many tracks are needed for that level.) | |
| 1. To save a map press the "s" key | |
| 2. Type in the 7 or less character name for the map | |
| 3. Press ENTER | |
| 4. Input the time limit you want for that level (in seconds) | |
| 5. Press ENTER | |
| Note: | |
| You must save a map before it can be tested. Once the appropriate track path has been determined by you, you must then place the tracks in their appropriate places on the map and save the level with all the tracks in their place. (you do this by pressing TAB to bring up the tile selection screen, then choosing the appropriate tracks and placing them on the map). The level editor will save your map in two folders. In the "EdLvls" folder the editor will count the number of each track on the map and the add them to the toolbar for when the map is loaded into the game, then it will remove them from the map (the purpose of this is so the game knows how many tracks to allow for that map). In the "CLevels" folder the editor will save the map as is with all the tracks in their appropriate places so you can view it later, incase you forget hoe to solve your map. | |
| The purpose of testing your map is to determine if your level works and if it can be completed in the time allotted by you. | |
| 1. After a map has been saved or loaded (but unedited) it can be testee by pressing "t" | |
| 2. Play the level just like playing the game, check the middle of the screen on the far right to see if testing is working, if so you should see the word "TESTING!!" | |
| 3. If the level works or if your bomb explodes then testing ends. If you press Esc the "y" during testing while bomb is not in motion, it will end testing as well. | |
| 4. If the level is a success then Submit the Level to us! | |
| 5. If the level is not a success then correct the problems, lay the tracks for the appropriate path AGAIN and save the map once again. Then re-test. | |
| Note: | |
| The tracks must be re-laid each time the map is edited and must be re-saved. If the tracks for the appropriate path of the bomb are not laid the editor will think that the level does not need any tracks and thus will not add them to the toolbar. | |
| 1. To save a map press the "l" key | |
| 2. Type in the 7 or less character name for the map | |
| 3. Press ENTER | |
| 4. The level will load and can be tested until it is edited | |
| Note: | |
| Loading a map in this fashion shows how the map will be loaded in the game. To check out what the answer to your level looks like then see below. | |
| 1. To save a map press the "c" key | |
| 2. Type in the 7 or less character name for the map | |
| 3. Press ENTER | |
| 4. The completed level will load and can be tested until it is edited | |
| Note: | |
| Loading a map in this fashion shows the map along with the appropriate track path. When this is tested, the trackless map is tested, as above. | |
| 1. Make sure the level works 100% and make sure it has been saved with the appropriate track path set | |
| 2. Write us an E-Mail and attach your level file and your completed level file to it. They can be found in the folders "EdLvls" and "CLevels" for example if your file is named GoodMap then you would attach the file GoodMap.map found in the "EdLvls" folder and GoodMapC.map found in the "CLevels" folder. | |
| 3. Make the Subject: "Level Submission" and mail it to us | |
| We here at Shattered Realm Productions welcome ALL submissions, and your level WILL be posted on our site along with your name. We give credit where credit is due | |
| Write us an E-Mail with any questions you may have about this contest and/or the Level editor. | |
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© 2002 Shattered Realm Productions
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