Tutorials

Tutorials

These tutorial videos will show you how to code many of the elements commonly found in text-adventure games. Information on exporting your game to vintage hardware is at the bottom. If you need a tutorial on something and don't see it, email me at evanw@tcdupage.org and I'll make one!

Getting Started

Creating a map using Trizbort.exe

Creating a map using Trizbort.io

Importing a Trizbort map into Lantern

Containers, Supporters, Scenery (setting properties after importing)

The world model

Scenery objects

Lantern interface overview

Lantern programming syntax

Keyboard Shortcuts to speed up programming

Adding new verbs to your game

Adding a sentence with checks to your game

Adding custom verb checks

How to use 'Events' to update your game's state

Has and Sees (testing containment and visibility)

How to save a TON of time while testing

Containers/Supporters

Making a desk the player can open/search/look in

Making a box/chest/safe you need a key to open

Making a container you unlock with a combination or code

Desk with multiple drawers

Searching an object for items (search a body for items, a couch for coins...)

Sneaking an item into a container just before the player searches it

Doors

Making a door that is unlocked with a key

Doors with multiple locks

Door with a key card

Making a door opened with a button somewhere else

A force-field controlled by a switch/button

Doors with access codes

Light Sources

Making a flashlight or lantern

Making a flashlight that requires a battery

Making a candle you need to light with a match

Remote lights (A switch that turns on lights elsewhere)

Killing the player if they're in the dark for too long

Manipulating the Map

Elevators (changing room connections at runtime)

Enterable objects (a barrel, a shed, a car)

Move Something to revealing a secret passage

Open a secret passage by putting something on something else

Making a passage collapse behind the player (example: a cave-in)

Break a wall to reveal a hidden passage

Bridging a gap with an object

Requiring a map or compass to navigate through an area

NPCs

Talking to NPCs

Giving stuff to NPCs/Trading with NPCs (to get something in return)

Modeling a computer terminal (menu driven conversation)

NPC Combat

Having enemies block exits

Killing enemies

Having monsters attack the player

Resetting the game after player death

NPC movement

How to make an NPC follow you (if you have something)

Making an animal follow you by feeding it

How to make a NPC follow a cyclical path

Making NPCs follow a path, then stop

Making an NPC wander randomly

"Freeing" an NPC and having them start following you

Clothing / Disguises

Require a disguise to pass a person/checkpoint

Require protective clothing

Other Game Elements

"Instant death" Rooms (use sparingly)

Machines you can turn on and off

Changing object/room descriptions in-game

Modeling a status panel whose information changes

Modeling a PDA that displays the player's objectives

Tying a rope to something, then climbing down

Requiring the player to push buttons in the right order

Digging to find something

You need to stand on something to do something

Taking something out of reach with a stick, hook...

Timed puzzles (hunger / thirst / cold)

Puzzles involving the weight of items

Creating a taxi system (for a game with multiple regions)

Teleportation spell example

Things that go boom

Bomb activated by a remote detonator

Defusing a bomb with three wires (doing things in the right order)

End Game

Detecting when the player reaches the last room (escape scenario)

How to detect if the player has completed all the tasks

Tips for debugging

Instantly putting objects in your inventory (purloin)

Printing where objects are (whereis)

Easy way to spell-check your game

Nice Touches

Customizing "You can't go that way." messages

Backdrops (scenery visible in more than one room)

Using events to make NPC seem more alive

Printing random environmental messages

Creating a sense of space with 'before' sentences

Customizing the way actions are reported using 'after' sentences

Adding a scoring system

Adding a help/hint system

Title Screens

Easy Apple 2 title screen using MS Paint

Creating an Apple 2 title screen using GIMP

Making a floppy disk packaging (examples)

Graphics

Adding Spectrum Graphics

Adding DOS graphics

Exporting to Vintage Hardware

Exporting to Amstrad CPC 464

Exporting to Apple 2

Exporting to BBC Micro (Beeb)

Exporting to CP/M

Exporting to PC / XT / AT (16-bit DOS)

Exporting to Raspberry Pi (Linux)

Exporting to TRS-80 Model 1,3,4

Exporting to Sinclair ZX Spectrum / Spectrum Next

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