Sprint #15 - 11/09 to 11/23

Well, the internet installers have failed to show up twice now. We're looking at other providers, but in the mean time, things are still not really settled enough for me to really put in much work on Xana. That said, I did try and think through what I want from the level editor.

Goals:

•  The editor should work on mobile.
  • It should work in all the places the game itself works.
•  The editor should use the same form factor.
  • This follows from the above. I can resize the window on PC, but not on a phone.
•  The editor does not need to limit itself to the same inputs as the game.
  •  In particular it can use mouse/touch controls.
  • If I want to try a console port though, I may still have to deal with controllers, but I could use the extra buttons.
  • The editor controls should still be remappable.
•  Levels should be shareable.
  • This will likely be limited to level codes, but perhaps I can look in to setting up a database somehow.
•  The editor should automate things when possible, but provide overrides.
  • Autotiles should be a thing, but you should also be able to place individual tiles.
•  You should be able to pick music tracks.
  • Probably won't be adding extra tracks though.
•  You should be able to make level sets.
  • Probably will need a separate editor for laying out a grid of levels. Not sure yet how you'd fill in a cell though.

Tasks (in rough priority order):

•  Make a level serializer/deserializer.
  • Needs to take all the tiles and objects and mash them down into a string or number. For sharing, I'd prefer something base64 coded, or the like.
•  Add a new room for the editor.
•  Add a button to the menus to access the editor.
•  Add a play-from-code room.
  • Need a way to pass a code in when loading the room.
•  Add a button to the menus to play shared levels.
  • Probably an input code box.
•  UI layout for the editor.
•  Add basic tile editing.
•  Add basic object editing.
•  Add level exit controls.
•  Add test level function.
•  Add save/share level buttons for the editor.
  • Make sure the code is copyable.
•  Add load level button for the editor.
  • Make sure codes are pastable.
  • Should share code with the play level button on the main menu.
•  Add autotile sets.
•  Add level set maker.
  • Also need a way to remember a whole level set and the player's position in it while playing a custom level.

Starting this sprint, I'll be trying to check these off the list.