Welcome to the Serious Sam: Sidescroller Editorial Guide.

In this guide I will explain a couple of basic things which you must apply to your levels, if you want to make any.

 
     














 

Version 0.2 Updates:
  • Levels must now be orientated at 0 degrees. In other words: in the top left view in Serious Editor, the camera will be on the right side of the view when you start the game. The player will point up. See the Example level if you don't get what I mean :).
  • I have added a new entity, which controls the camera distance. You can set the value to whatever you like. For example, you have a level that starts in a small corridor, and then you enter a huge room. You can trigger the SidescrollerSettings entity with anythin you'd like (touchfield, enemy death, etc.), and it will change the camera's distance to the player to whatever value you entered. Sadly, atleast for 0.2, you are adviced not to use static cameras. Due to the complexness of the crosshair code, I haven't found enough time to addapt it.
  • Since sidescroller no longer uses corners, there's no more need for touchfields!
Introduction:

First of all, thank you for sharing the interest in creating levels for this MOD. I will explain some of the very basic requirements, which I guarantee, are very basic :).


Ok, let's begin. As I've stated in the Changes section, you now have to create your level in one specific direction. The code has been simplified, so the player will only be moving along the Z axis from now on. Be sure to remember this when you start on making your levels, or you might find yourself having to perform neet little tricks to rotate the entire danged map.

Next, you can create your maps like any other basic serious sam map, only these levels don't have corners. The only other thing you need to know about for editing levels, is the SidescrollerSettings entity. It's real simple:

Step 1. Decide if you need the camera view to be changed to a greater/smaller distance.
if you decide you must change it, proceed to step 2, otherwise continue mapping.

Step 2. Drop a SidescrollerSettings entity into your level (if you haven't loaded the virtual tree I put in the VirtualTrees folder yet, do so now).

Step 3. Set a neet little camera distance. Don't e-mail me with questions on how big the distance should be!

Step 4. Test the map
if you are not happy with the result, go back to step 3.

Step 5. Continue mapping until you find your map to be in need of another camera distance change.

If you'd like to see the SidescrollerSettings entity in action, take a look at the Example_party.wld file :). (note: don't take that example serious, I didn't know what else to make... :D)

The end.

Ok, so this guide wasn't really needed anymore.. so sue me (that was a joke). If you have however found some mapping issues that are related to this mod (unlikely), don't hesitate to send me a Private Message (note the private) at the Seriously! forums (forums.seriouszone.com). I go by the name Armern there. Of course, Private Messages about how much you like the MOD are more than welcome :D.

I hope you enjoy mapping, and until next time:

Have fun fragging y'all!

-Sean 'Armern' Stellingwerff.