Planning the Level

To work out the logic of playing level 1 of the game, I drew a contour map of the level using Paint Shop Pro and printed a bunch copies. Next I used colored markers to indicate the placement of the main objects and played the level with my pencil and my imagination. On the third try, the way I wanted the level to work became clear in my mind.

Next, I assigned names to all of the objects that would be required - things like bridges, stairs, locks and barriers.

Finally, I used the Plateau2 version of the program discussed on the previous page and with my finished map in hand, I added the needed objects to my level and saved this object set as Level1.
 

Basic Objects Used in Level 1 of the Game

Stairs - allow movement between two levels of the plateau world.

Post - the upright part of a gate. Colored later to match the key color.

UprightKey - positioned against one side of a post, this is where a key must be placed to operate a gate or other key related item.

Rod - this protrudes from most posts and blocks the way until the proper key has been used with the related uprightkey.

Key - keys are scattered about the landscape for the user to pick up and use with the various gates. The keys are colored to match the gatepost color of the gates they will operate.

AppleTree - this is just for pretty, as the Amish say.
 

Barrier - blocks the way until you step on a Plate. Used to enforce one-way movement on a level.

Slide - allows one-way movement from a higher level to a lower one.

Bridge - allows you to cross a valley.