Well of course you gotta know what you actually want to do before you start doing just something.

"Start with" was more or less ment for the point where you know what you want and you are in front of the decission of creating levels first and look how you can bring them to life or you start with simpel test levels to create your functionallity and then just replace the environment when it works.

I think the second one is better because the environment can be replaced more easily.


Of course I had a quite specific vision in my mind when I started creating Dragonrise.
I had a basic storyline and my main characters and the important points of the story where those characters meet and what results from those situations.
On the other hand I was quite sure what kind of game system I want to have (well this slightly changed after 2 years, for better without having too much to change).

So based on this (storyline, characters and game system) I started making those technical thoughts I described above.

Before the first level there will be a few cut scenes and onscreen text introducing you to the world of Harry Potter and to how he got to Diagon Alley.

Tutorial – The Death of Lily and James Potter
This level will be where you can play as Lord Voldermort. You will begin by starting outside lily and James Potter’s house, here you will be shown how to move and perform a spell that will destroy the front door of the house. Once this has been done you will need to enter the house and perform the killing curse on James Potter, then you will need to go upstairs (downstairs blocked by the broken door), once up stairs you will need to unlock the door using another spell then you see a cut scene in which Voldermort kills Lily Potter and tries to kill Harry Potter but the spell backfires and blasts Voldermort down the stairs.

Level 1 – Diagon Alley
This level starts at the entrance to the leaky cauldron pub. You will then see Hagrid and Harry enter the pub and Hagrid walk to the bar, you will then have control over Harry and are able to walk around the pub and talk to the characters. To proceed to the next area you need to walk to Hagrid and begin a conversation with him, he will then introduce Professor Quirrell to you. You will then be led, by Hagrid, outside to the back where he will reveal the entrance to Diagon Alley. Now you will see the long winding street of Diagon Alley, once the cut scene showing Diagon Alley finishes you will see Hagrid walk towards Gringotts bank, you will then regain control and be able to follow him, all the shop entrances will be blocked by crowds of people. Once you reach the bank and talk to Hagrid you will enter a cut scene where you enter the bank and the camera pans around it to show it off. Then the scene will show Hagrid and you approach the goblin and get escorted to the cart. Once in the cart you regain control of yourself, here your job is to steer the cart, when it begins you will be going slowly and have a lot of time to steer as you get further in the cart will gain more speed making it harder to steer. The direction to turn will be indicated on sign posts on the track with the vault numbers on, therefore you must remember what vault number you are going to. Once you have got to your vault there will be another cut scene of money being withdrawn, then you will be led to vault 713 (still in a cut scene) once you arrive you will be shown the vault unlocking and the package inside, then the screen will go black and you will appear back outside the bank. You will now be given a list of items you must purchase for school and be free to wander around Diagon Alley to purchase them from shops.
The items are;
Uniform:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
This will all be purchased at in one store at one time


Books
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
A History of Magic
Magical Theory
A Beginners’ Guide to Transfiguration
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
Magical Drafts and Potions
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
This will also all be purchased in one at one place
Other
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales

Once you have collected all the above items (excluding wand) you will be given access to the wand shop Ollivander’s, but before you can go there you will need to meet Hagrid at the Owl Emporium to see a cut scene of him purchasing an owl for you then you can access Ollivander’s, here you will be given wands to try and be able to perform a simple spell to test them (this will act as a reminder how to use a wand). Once you have found the perfect wand you will need to meet Hagrid back at the leaky cauldron where there is a cut scene in which he will explain about Quidditch and the school houses. Once the cut scene is done the screen will again go black, and then say a month later. Now you will see yourself in Kings Cross Station and you will be free to walk around until you find the Weasley’s by the platform entrance. When you find them you will see a cut scene where Mrs. Weasley will tell you how to get onto the platform then you will see three of the four boys pass through the barrier to the platform and then it will be your turn, you will need to run into the wall, once you have passed the barrier you can walk around the platform before boarding the train, which to do you need to walk towards the train carriage door. Once you have boarded the train you can walk around the carriage and enter the empty compartment. Now another cut scene will occur.