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Different Engine
#81055
07/12/06 01:59
07/12/06 01:59
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 796 U.S.A. Michigan
exile
OP
User
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OP
User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 796
U.S.A. Michigan
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Maybe I have the wrong idea, but I feel that the "Noobs" who buy this program should have the option to literally click togeather a game. I say this because the noobs who first open this program are very intimidated by it.
If 3DGS had a "Beginner mode" not only would sales go up, but more people would buy it because of it being beginner friendly. Think like the program, The Games Factory. When I first purchased the program, I wasn't intimidated at all since the commands were so simple.
Over time, I began to grow and develop more complicated things until I mastered the engine. I know that when I first purchased 3DGS when I was 12, I was VERY intimidated by what I saw. All those big grids and those scripts that looked like jubberish, I was going to loose my mind. I even waited a few years before I even put a block in the level.
My point is that most of the people who buy this software have little to no knowlage of it. If there was a "Beginner Mode" where users could literally point and click togeather a game in mere minutes, then people would have that "Whoa this is so cool" effect. Then as time goes by, they move to the advanced mode (the current 3DGS we all use now), where they are dropped in the engine with no point and click buttons, and must do nearly everything themselves.
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Re: Different Engine
[Re: exile]
#81059
07/12/06 19:17
07/12/06 19:17
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 8,973 Bay Area
Doug
Senior Expert
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Senior Expert
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 8,973
Bay Area
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Quote:
Well at least conitec is on the right track with this. They should make it easier to find though. The average noob would get frustrated trying to locate it.
Let me know how to make it easier. Maybe launch the manual when the user first uses WED?
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Re: Different Engine
[Re: Doug]
#81060
07/12/06 20:19
07/12/06 20:19
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 338 Brasil
Filipe
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 338
Brasil
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there is one thing, but i think it would be a little difficult to implement. in programs like Flash or Google SketchUp, you have step-by-step, illustrated tutorials inside the program itself. it tells you exactly what button you should click, when you should click it, where is that button and what exactly it'll do. maybe a tutorial like that would be hard to really put inside WED, but as far as i can tell there isn't a really good, step-by-step, illustrated and informative tutorial. the ones i've seen when i started were outdated and/or incomplete and/or skipping steps that the author thought i should know it already and/or simply bad. getting inspiration from the flash and google sketchup begginers tutorials would be a good way to make GameStudio more 'begginers friendly'.
Note: i don't think that making GameStudio more 'begginers friendly' should be conitec's top priority. i am really liking the steps conitec is taking to make it more 'professional developer friendly', as making the engine as a dll to use with an engine sdk, and creating a more powerful scripting language like lite-c. i'm just giving out my opinion on how to make it more 'beginers friendly' if someone ever decides that this should be done...
EDIT: Note2: to be honest, it's been awhile since i last looked at any GStudio tutorial, so it's possible that a good tutorial has been writen since then, i just don't know. sorry if i'm being unfair to any recent, good tutorials.
Last edited by Filipe; 07/12/06 20:48.
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Re: Different Engine
[Re: ulillillia]
#81062
07/13/06 05:56
07/13/06 05:56
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 796 U.S.A. Michigan
exile
OP
User
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OP
User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 796
U.S.A. Michigan
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Filipe is on the right track with this one. When the user first uses SED, MED, or WED, there should be an illustrated step by step walk through tutorial. It would teach people the basics like importing textures, using textures, creating shapes, using the tools, and other such things. There should be a dialogue box that first appears when you load up one of the editors that says, "Would you like the guided walkthrough for this program?" There should be a Yes button, No button, and a Don't show this on startup checkbox. This would teach noobs about the basics of the program, and cut back on those very simple to answer posts in the forum. I also thik that there should be "Lessons" for SED. Like "Lesson 1 - The basics". I am aware that those already exist in the manual, but noobs hardly ever read the manual.
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Re: Different Engine
[Re: exile]
#81063
07/13/06 11:25
07/13/06 11:25
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818 Minot, North Dakota, USA
ulillillia
Senior Expert
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Senior Expert
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818
Minot, North Dakota, USA
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My 2D game's interactive tutorial might be a good start. It explains how to use each of the special abilities and other features in the game. Although 13 lessons may seem like a bit much, they are short. At the end of most lessons is where you can try out what you just learned. Gamestudio could have something similar.
"You level up the fastest and easiest if you do things at your own level and no higher or lower" - useful tip
My 2D game - release on Jun 13th; My tutorials
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Re: Different Engine
[Re: Doug]
#81064
07/13/06 15:50
07/13/06 15:50
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,427 Japan
A.Russell
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,427
Japan
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Quote:
Maybe launch the manual when the user first uses WED?
Don't be silly, who wants to read the manual?
I think this is already in the works, but an interface that conforms to Windows' UI design rules and principles would be helpful for newcomers. (I have heard there is such a thing, but I haven't actually searched it out and downloaded it. It is somerthing similar to an ISO document).
For the completely clueless you might offer a walkthough or popups, but I don't know how far you want to go.
You could also guide them to the forum, where we RTFM so they don't have to!
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