| 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
Questions or Comments
Note: The word "Map" and "Level" are
used interchangably throughout this page |
|
| |
| Step
1 |
| -
Goto the Downloads Section
or Click Here to download
The Great Escape (Note: This step is unnecessary if you
have previously downloaded The Great Escape) |
| Step
2 |
| -
Goto the Downloads Section
or Click Here to download
The Great Escape Level Editor |
| Step
3 |
| -
Unzip these files into the SAME FOLDER (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.) |
| Step
4 |
| -
Run MapMaker.Bat and begin creating your own levels! |
|
How
to use the Level Editor |
|
Button |
Note:
Keep Caps Lock OFF |
| Mouse
Button 1 |
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. |
| Mouse
Button 2 |
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. |
| Tab
|
Brings
up and hides the tile selection screen |
| Space
Bar |
Places
an "S" to represent the starting position
of player, it is placed where the mouse pointer is. |
| c |
Loads
a completed map
See Below |
| l |
Loads
a map |
| t |
Allows
you to play, or test, your new map.
Note: Your level must
be saved first |
| s |
Saves
a map and a completed map at the same time
See Below |
| n |
Creates
a new, plain map |
| b |
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. |
| h |
On
screen Help |
| Esc |
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 else) |
| 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. |
|
Setting
the Appropriate Track Path |
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, when you feel it is at its best, Save it. 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 before each new final 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 (or try to test
it), the engine knows 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, if you happen to forget how 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 tested 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 followed by "y" during
testing while the bomb is not in motion, it will end testing
also. |
| 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 re-save
the map. 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 solution to your level looks
like then see below. |
|
| |
| 1.
To load a "completed" 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: "Great Escape
Level" and mail it to us |
|
| |
| Write
us an E-Mail
with any questions you may have about this contest and/or
the Level editor. |