The wonderful adventures of Level Design & I!

Newbie & Debugging Questions
#1

Hi there,

So, ever since I started game development I’ve used a certain type of system for level loading and design. That is, have a 512x512 blank image and paint/pixel… then read each separate pixel and place the block based on color of pixel. Now, whenever I actually get somewhere with the game, or at least the point in which I design levels, it either becomes to laggy or just… doesn’t fit. I need a new system, the best, if possible.

Here is where JGO comes in, I suppose. Please, for the love of all that is holy, link me, tell me, etc… about any tutorials for the closest to best system of level design. I want to create worlds similar looking to super meat boy, fez, braid, etc. I understand the art would be on me, but how do they design the levels? Do they load from maps? Surely they don’t add an each object per coordinate set. Seriously, how does this stuff even work?

I’m good at mechanics and the engineering aspect of game development, but the designing. Good gosh, I just can’t grasp the best concept. Please, help me.
I’m asking specifically for how I should create my levels…

Thanks!

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#2
#3

Tiled is a popular map editor that exports to a readable file format. There are a few Tiled map parsers if you don’t want to make your own, the one I’ve used in the past is the one in Slick2D. If you want, just look at the Slick2D source and rip out their class. If you’re using LibGDX, I think that has its own Tiled parser.

#4

More of… how do develop your own system for this type of level design… rather than how do design a level for super meat boy. xD Thank you though!

#5

I’ve seen Tiled, yes. I may take a look at that. However, I’m honestly using the default Java2D. I haven’t really wanted to crack into any libraries… I’m afraid to be honest. I’ve just because used to java’s preset library.

#6

Just to let you know, you don’t have to address one person / post. Try to keep your reply in one post, and instead prefix the answer with their name so we know who you’re talking to. Or, you can quote the person and then reply to it.

#7

I did program a simple platform game in Java2D it that you can look at here… (Mario - cut & paste in IDE)

I’ve been programming in Java2D for a long while. Java2D is only going to give you more problems as you go along. There is literally no game library support for Java2D. If you build something, it’ll be from the ground up every time. Good for “learning the language”, but horrible if you just want to make games.

I throughly recommend that you pick up a library like suggested, read more tutorials, and pick up LibGDX if you can get through the process. Java2D will take you months to learn at this rate, and it may not be worth it if you just want to get games up and running quickly.