Construct Classic
Construct Classic is a Freeware Direct-X based game creation tool, Which allows the use of Python script. Not to be confused with Construct 2
This program Shares Similarities with Clickteams Multimedia Fusion 2 In terms of its Event editor Dialog. However, Like anything else, It can take some time to get used to if you are a first time user.
There are also several extensions and plugins made for construct Classic. This tutorial may reference some that do not come with Construct Classic, on the event that any are not linked to, these can all be found Here
But first thing is first, We start with:
Contents
The Basics
This tutorial will only cover the bare basics of making construct work, the rest is up to you.
Creating a new Game
To start things off, We need to create a "New Direct-X Game" This is actually an easy part to get mixed up, because there are 3 options: New Application New Direct X game New Template/Example
For this tutorial, We want "New Direct-X Game"
Once you have created your new Direct-X game: You should have something that looks like This:
Creating and Placing objects
To create a new object, Simply Right Click inside the open frame, This should bring up a Small Menu Dialog, The option to "Insert a new object" Should be right on top.
This will bring up the "Insert new object" Menu.
This is a list of every object that can be placed inside your game. Much like in Multimedia Fusion 2 some objects are used to do different things, Such as playing music. For this part of the tutorial, we want to Create a new "Sprite"
Once selected, Your cursor will look like a large + or Cross-hair, Click anywhere inside your level to place the object.
If you are placing a sprite, or Tiled backdrop, This will bring up the "Picture editor" window
It is advised that you Simply use your favorite graphics editor for graphics, and simply paste them in to this window. For now, We should use something simple, Just draw a circle or something, this will be the placeholder sprite. Click the close button (The X in the corner of the window) You will be asked if you want to save, Click "Yes" You have just placed your first sprite. Do this again with the "Tiled Background" only fill the tiled background with a square. You now have 2 objects One sprite, one Background, with this, we can now move on to making them work together.
Behaviors and Attributes
once you have objects to work with, you can now set attributes, and behaviors to them. lets start with the Sprite, Click on the sprite, and on the left side of the editor, you should now have access to its Properties.
Click "Add" to bring up the behaviors menu.
For now, Lets click on "Platform" and Click "Insert" the behavior is now inserted in to your object.
In the object properties, you should now have the settings for this.
These are the available settings for the platform behavior, You will want to adjust these to fit for whatever you might be making, For now however, It isn't important, Lets move on to the Tiled Backdrop.
Click on the tiled backdrop, and you will see the same properties list as was available for the Sprite. This time however, you will want to look for "Groups" and "Attributes"
Here are the attributes, here you will find a few useful options, But for now, Lets just tick "Solid"
Now, Test your application, You should find this Option on the Top of the screen under the "Project" tab.
You now have a usable platform engine, and you STILL don't have any events, or coding. Feels great don't it? :D
Now, Lets create one more small sprite, nothing fancy, just make sure its different than the object you are playing as, why? because we move on to:
The Event Sheet Editor
This is were it all happens, If whether you want to flatten your enemies, or pick up coins, change the weather, or make your stupid minions smart, It happens here! You can also use this for Python Script, Just be sure to include Python25.dll with your game.
You will find the "Event Sheet editor" tab at the bottom of the level editor. Starting should be rather self explanatory, as at the top of a blank event sheet, you will see "Right click to begin" On right clicking, you should see the following.
Insert Event: the main event setup, gives you a list of everything that can have an event, and all possible events that could occur.
Insert Script: Enables Python Script if Disabled, and allows you to enter Python script in the event editor.
Insert Comment: Just a simple note for keeping track of your events, so that you dont forget what they do.
Insert Group: For sorting events into certain groups, to help keep the events from becoming confusing.
Include Event Sheet: For including the event sheet from another frame, or event sheets that were created without a frame.
For this, We are keeping this simple, We want "Insert Event" This will bring up the "New Condition" window.
you will find every object you placed in your level (or in the case of an event sheet without a level, every object in the game) You should understand for the most part how this might work if you are familiar with programs Such as Multimedia Fusion 2 You will also notice the Tiled backdrop from before is in this list, thats right folks, The background objects CAN have events on them.
For those who dont understand, Lets say, We want to make that red box get destroyed when it is run over by the blue circle. Click on the object you want to start the condition with. This will bring up the available object conditions.
This is a list of everything you can do with the particular object you selected, As a reminder, We want to make the red box get destroyed when it is run over by the blue Circle. Since this is for the blue circle, we want "Is Overlapping Another Object"
This will bring up the properties for that condition, simply select the red box, and click finish.
Congratulations! You have just made a condition! But now we need to turn this in to an event, because, well, you have the conditions, but not what is supposed to happen. Click on "+New Action" and you will see the same object selection window from before, This time select the Red box, You will see a list of all the available "Actions" for this object.
Look for the command "Destroy" and click "finish" now test your application.
if done right, your blue circle will destroy the red box when they come in contact.
Final Notes
Now, This was just an introduction to the interface and dialogues available for Construct classic. There is a massive list of things that can be done, all it takes is a bit of exploring, and some imagination.
