How to Create A Training Level
By Lazarus of CapriceVision/Neonair April 6th, 2004

Many professional and many Click games have training levels. This article will go over A) Why have a Training Level?, B)What should I put in a Training Level? and C) How do I make a Training Level? All right, lets get started!
WHY SHOULD I HAVE A TRAINING LEVEL IN MY GAMES? Well, there are many answers to this question. For one thing, having a training level adds professionalism into your game. It also introduces the player to the controls and special abilities a character might have. It will also introduce the player to the nature of your game. A training level might also help the player with any difficult controls in your game. For example: What if in your game, you don’t use shift for your jumping key? (This is used in most click games). What if you have a double jump that will be activated with a series of buttons (Shift twice+ the up key)? And what if you need to kill an enemy in an original fashion? Well, these are all reasons to have a training level, foo!
WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN A TRAINING LEVEL: This is an easy one. In most training levels, there is a character that you have to talk to that will tell you what to do. For Example: Your character walks up to the training guy. You press up on your keyboard, and a dialog box pops up with the message: “Welcome to the Training Room. Lets start with something simple. Press shift to jump!” You continue through the level, meeting various Training guys who explain what to do at the section of your level. IDEAS FOR
IDEA’S FOR TRAINING LEVEL MESSAGES:
“This is a spring! Jump on it to get into high places!”
“This is a baddie. You can dispatch of these by stomping on them!”
“Look out for these lava puddles. Falling into them will cause you to loose one life!”
“This is one of the many weapons you will receive throughout the game. To shoot a bullet, press control!”
“This ammo box will give you 8 bullets. Use them wisely!”

Tips:
*In a training level, you should add a baddie that can’t hurt you. Have your training character instruct you on how to destroy them.
*In a training level, add example perils.
*Add example guns and springs so that the player can try them out.
*If your character can swim, show him/her how to do it!

HOW TO MAKE A TRAINING LEVEL:
Check this out: http://capricevision.sphosting.com/tutorial_image1.bmp

All right, the black dot represents the character, the big black dot represents the help guy. The green blocks are the obsticles, the blue ovals are springs, the red circle is a baddie, and the big blue block is the exit. First, set up the engine. If you don’t know how to make an engine, there are tons of examples in the Engine download section that can help you out!
Here’s what happens: Player comes to the first Help Guy and presses up. Text comes up: “Welcome to the training zone! Let’s start with something easy: Press shift to jump up this wall. If you come to a high wall, press shift+ up for a double jump!”
Player must jump and double jump up the walls. Player comes to the second help guy: “Very good! Next, try out these springs. They will perpel you to great hights! Don’t fall though! Falling will make you have to restart the level!”
Player completes the spring corse. Next, player comes to the third Help Guy. “All right, this is a baddie! You can stomp on him to kill him. Further on in the game, you will get weapons that you can use on him!”
Player defeates baddie. Player comes to last Help Guy. “Well done, you have completed the Training corse! Go through the exit to go to the first level!”

You don’t have to make it like this, though. Add your own touches, like wall jumps, weapons, lava, you name it, you can do it!

I hope this example helps! Here’s a quick rap up:
Add training levels to add professionalism and to explain to the player how to play!
Put example obstacles, baddies, and perils in the level!
All right, well, go and make a training level. Be free! Leave! Go! Go! GO!

::By Lazarus CapriceVision