Single-frame game design advice

Hi David,

I just use a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. Try to be as frugal as you can with creating individual active objects. For instance, I've used one single AO for all my tile sprites, making use of the different directions and animations and the values corresponding to them are then stored in the array.

Steve

Hey David,

I have built many (most) of my engines and client engines purely using the one-frame method. I'm sure you're already aware of the doors it opens in terms of manageability and convenience. When it comes to managing stuff, it really depends on how well you code your level editor. I tend to work in reverse initially. I design and develop the level editor first (always handy for testing out levels early on) then start the engine development (with the ability to load up levels and test from the off). Both INI and Array are fine for the level loading, I would say Array is a preference over INI but each to their own.

Steven's tip is great, I do that myself. For backdrop objects, I use one Active and a whole host of animations/directions/frames. You could practically contain all your backdrop objects to a single active object as on level load, all you're effectively doing is selecting the animation/direction/frame and pasting it into the background.

I would steer well away from Global Events and try and steer away from Behaviours (only if possible). Having your engine contained to one-frame means you can use Qualifiers much more efficiently, labelled and you now have the added bonus of unlimited Global Values and Global Strings.

I could go on all day, there are so many avenues that will open up.

Here for answers to any questions!

I also only develop in one frame now. It can easy be a bit "messy" and hard to navigate after a while though.

I have posted some suggestions in the bugbox for things that would make it a whole lot easier:
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Btw, DavidN, you are not planning to do any dev videos for the new game? That would be really interesting to follow the creation of it

I've made quite a lot of (unfinished) games that have single frame gameplay, I try to make everything structured perfectly so I don't have to clean it up afterwards.
That is, the events, objects, group qualifiers, and using as fewest actives as possible (For Printing tiles, I use an active with backdrop's images and paste it into a backdrop)

My game is at 400 events and that will double in the next few days, it is still manageable because I have everything in event groups:
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400 events seems very manable. My current project have 2000 events and will probably have at least 3000 once it is done

I think I'll be handling cutscenes in a separate frame as it will give me a lot more flexibility I think. Although it will make it more difficult as I'll need to re-create a dynamic level in a new frame... so we'll see.

Everything else will be in the one frame though.

Cutscenes could be handled in another frame, but displayed as a sub-app, that way, you don't have to re-render the level-load again upon frame switch...

Good thinking Batman.

Where do you keep all the objects though? I think that's awesome that I could build a game on one frame, but where the heck would I keep the backgrounds and active objects?

Would a game like Mega Man on the NES be able to be programmed on a handful of frames rather than 100 of them?

Outcast, 400 events is my new record, mainly because it's the most developed game I've done.

A MegaMan game could be done in one frame, with a level editor

Bartek, do you create folders for your objects in the event editor? it doesn't look like it from that screenshot, I find it helps alot.

I don't, but I definitely should (I've never touched folders for an unknown reason)

How do I create folders?

Right click on the frame in the properties window and add a folder.

haha, you should make it a habit - for example in your screenshot above you could put all the string objects in a folder, then keep it closed and only open the folder whenever you want to work with them, it makes it all more readable.

Of course, I'm still hoping CT eventually let us create icons for these folders.. that'd be a nice feature.

+1 for icons on folders... It would be definitely helpful to keep code organized

I didn't know about folders! I'll be adding that tonight. Will make it much easier!

Quote from DaveC

Bartek, do you create folders for your objects in the event editor? it doesn't look like it from that screenshot, I find it helps alot.

Th- th- there are f- folders? How long have they been around for? I've used Clickteam products on and off since Klik & Play and never even noticed!

::tears of joy::