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Tutorial - how to make levels in MED (and quickly)
#50278
07/26/05 23:18
07/26/05 23:18
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818 Minot, North Dakota, USA
ulillillia
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Senior Expert
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OP
Senior Expert
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818
Minot, North Dakota, USA
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This tutorial will explain not only how to make levels in MED, but how to do it at high speed. It's 80 KB for just the HTML document alone, so it's a big tutorial and it's comprehensive as well. Since I'm devoted toward speed as, to me, "speed is the name of the game", I've given some techniques on how to make this 4096x8192 quant level:    in under one day! This tutorial is complete with 48 screenshots. This level also has a hotel with 76 rooms (without the beds, nightstands, etc.; just the walls). The tutorial itself is done, but I'd like to add a pros and cons section as well to explain what advantages and disadvantages there are to doing it this way and it's mostly on the advantageous side. A tips and tricks section is also planned as well that reviews the tips and tricks as well as the shortcuts. Edit: Fixed a mistake with typing - not HTML formatting, but HTML document
Last edited by ulillillia; 07/26/05 23:20.
"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: Tutorial - how to make levels in MED (and quic
[Re: bupaje]
#50282
07/27/05 00:12
07/27/05 00:12
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818 Minot, North Dakota, USA
ulillillia
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818
Minot, North Dakota, USA
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@ Rhuarc: I spent about 2 1/2 days writing the tutorial. In fact, I spent more time writing the tutorial than I did actually making the model associated with it! It's the biggest single HTML document on my website, almost 55% bigger than my next biggest (a story at about 53 KB). Don't forget that you CAN download the actual model I created as well to really look at it up close!
@ Toz: Even if you were to look at the actual document, the scroll bar is tiny in both the HTML document in Wordpad (my HTML edittor), and even smaller in a web browser (due to the images). Like I said, it's comprehensive.
@ bupaje: What do you mean by "pencil sketches". Could you give a more detailed example on what you mean?
In fact, if you think that this tutorial is good, do you think it might be a good idea to list it on the Conitec download page (as a CHM file download instead of on my website)?
Yep, that's how familiar I am with MED. It adds to my potential of beta testing it (hence all the bug reports I've submitted for MED).
"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: Tutorial - how to make levels in MED (and quic
[Re: ulillillia]
#50283
07/27/05 00:26
07/27/05 00:26
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,692 California, USA
bupaje
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,692
California, USA
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Many people are more 'visual' and so by pencil sketches I meant you could simply do a quick sketch and scan it if it will help clarify a point. All that talk of sizes, polygons and triangles is a bit confusing for me which is exactly why I play with WED more than MED. Some points just nned to be no brainers. Example: Quote:
...If you were to stick to 128 for a square size (in quants), you'd need 192 polygons. 768x2048 means 6 by 16 and two faces make a square. Do all the multiplication and you get 192. However, a larger square size is better for the poly count. Increasing it to the recommended 256x256 square size, you cut the number of faces to only 48. A 256x256 ...
Huh? Guy like me says how does 128 x 128 quants = 192 polygons, how does that then become 768x2048 etc etc - in other words you are making an assumption that the reader is comfortable with all the numbers but chances are many of those interested in tutorials are beginner to intermediate and a percentage will be lost.
Again, I get enough to see value in the tutorial and I'm not suggesting a rewrite, just perhaps that as time allows you think 'hmmm.... maybe a picture here would help clarify this a bit for math challenged guys like Burt ...' 
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Re: Tutorial - how to make levels in MED (and quic
[Re: bupaje]
#50284
07/27/05 00:41
07/27/05 00:41
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818 Minot, North Dakota, USA
ulillillia
OP
Senior Expert
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818
Minot, North Dakota, USA
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Ah, I see your point. That shouldn't be too hard to make. Just copy from MED and my final version. I'll definitely add that as I see a lot of advantages in doing that. I'll add that along with the two things I've had in mind as well.
"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: Tutorial - how to make levels in MED (and quic
[Re: ulillillia]
#50286
07/27/05 09:28
07/27/05 09:28
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 290 Latvia
Leonardo
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Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 290
Latvia
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Very nice tutorial, though I stil like making levels in WED rather than in MED, but that is just my opinion. If I were to make levels in MED, I would love this.
"Things of the mind left untested by the senses are useless."
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Re: Tutorial - how to make levels in MED (and quic
[Re: Leonardo]
#50287
07/27/05 10:45
07/27/05 10:45
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818 Minot, North Dakota, USA
ulillillia
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Senior Expert
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,818
Minot, North Dakota, USA
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I just updated the document given bupaje's idea - an image of the plan. It's not a pencil sketch, but drawn on my computer using the GIMP. I also added the list of pros and cons (as I had planned), but haven't gotten to the tips and tricks section yet.
"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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