C2 Learning Curve

0 favourites
  • 10 posts
From the Asset Store
Game with complete Source-Code (Construct 3 / .c3p) + HTML5 Exported.
  • Hello,

       I'm new to construct 2 and so far I think it is awesome. However the learning curve is really high for someone like me without a programming background. This software seemed like it was kind of marketed for those without programming knowledge or background. I can tell you as a new user with this software that it just isn't the case. I have been going through tutorials left and right but the information is really all over the place. Half the time the capx no longer exists.

       It would be really awesome if you guys could do in depth video tutorials going over all the features and how to use them. When you would use one tool versus another. For example the dictionary object. What am I supposed to do with that? When would I use that? How do I set it up? I really would love to purchase a full license for this software and get going putting my game idea together but I feel like the learning curve for non programmers is still really high.

    Regards,

    Future license purchaser

  • Have you looked at the manual entry? It seems to cover what you want, is it not clear? scirra.com/manual/140/dictionary

    There's also going to be a free live class that might interest you. scirra.com/forum/topic65550.html

    I'm afraid there's going to be a learning process for any game creation tool, as game development, even simplified with a tool like this, remains a complex thing. If you get stuck on anything though, you can always ask here on the forums for any clarification you might need.

    Also, searching the forums and youtube, it seems there are some video tutorials already available:

    scirra.com/forum/search

    m.youtube.com/results

  • Hi Twitch, I come from a graph designer background, and I find SC2 easy to use.

    what's your background?

  • Thank you for the reply. Yes I did read the section of the manual for dictionaries. But this is exactly what I am getting at in my original post. If people didn't already know what this was then they wouldn't be able to do anything with it in this software. For example it says that a dictionary is for storing strings and numbers. What kind of strings? What is a string? what kind of numbers would I store there? Why would I store them there? How is this function going to benefit me? What can be done with this? How would this be manipulated? I do intend to watch the c2 school videos that will be coming out. And I have watched quite a few of the other videos that you listed. While yes they are videos, they are generally pretty short and don't go real deep.

    I am trying to make a vocabulary quiz game with a leitner box system for spaced memory repetition with a battler as the UI with a storyline. So, I have a large list of vocabulary and the player gets quizzed with a kanji character and need to input the phonetic for that character. Based on the answer being correct or incorrect they take dmg and the vocab word is placed in the proper spaced repetition box.

  • Thank you for the reply. Yes I did read the section of the manual for dictionaries. But this is exactly what I am getting at in my original post. If people didn't already know what this was then they wouldn't be able to do anything with it in this software. For example it says that a dictionary is for storing strings and numbers. What kind of strings? What is a string?

    Strings are text. They and their use are described more in depth here: scirra.com/manual/78/expressions

    A basic example of use is the part about the score in the beginners tutorial: scirra.com/tutorials/37/beginners-guide-to-construct-2/page-7

    what kind of numbers would I store there? Why would I store them there? How is this function going to benefit me? What can be done with this?

    Well, it's a very open question ? it's sort of like asking what you can do with a stick. You could use it to prop something up, build something, draw something in sand? The dictionary object can similarly be used for many things, anything from simple value storage (money, points) to more advanced uses like dialogue storage for an entire RPG.

    If you're familiar with the concept of an array, it's sort of like that except instead of using numbers to retrieve a value from a grid of values, you use text (a string) to retrieve it instead. Because of this, it's very flexible and you can dynamically create keys with events in ways that would be cumbersome with an array's method of a numerical grid location. It's also easier to read, as you don't have to remember what value is stored where in the array. Compare:

    Set points to array.at(0,2)

    Set points to dictionary.get("score")

    I find the easiest way to think of it is as a dynamic variable object. You can't give a sprite new variables at run time, but you can give the dictionary new keys (keys are basically variables with a different name) at runtime.

  • Try Construct 3

    Develop games in your browser. Powerful, performant & highly capable.

    Try Now Construct 3 users don't see these ads
  • I have been using c2 for about 2 weeks now, and find it very easy to use and learn. I am working on a complex game, and when ever i come to something i cant do or understand I first search the tutorials and if nothing there helps I search the manual, if that dosent help I post a question in the "how do i" forum and useally get an answer within a few hours

  • Hello Twitckun, the videos that Arima reccomended are very good. ConstructDude in particular is excellent on showing all aspects of the tool and how to build things. I also found the Breakout Tutorial very well done, it was by Lee Stemkoski, I suggest you watch all of their videos, very practical good quality for the beginner and advanced users alike.

    Thanks

    Brett

  • Hi,

    Just like to say that C2 has to be the best software to create 2D games i have ever come across and the money spent on the license was well worth it.

    There will always be some effort required however and there is no button marked " Make my Game for Me "

    One of the best things about C2 is the superb forum and its very generous and friendly users.

    Stick with it and i guarantee you wont regret it. <img src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

  • I think Twitckun makes a very valid point, To read and understand the manual, you need a basic idea of the terminology used and general understanding of how a computer "computes".

    Even when you have this knowledge, you will usually get stumped at some point (The forum is 90% help requests )

    But saying that, the manual is probably pitched at about the correct level, A car maintenance manual, or any manual,for that matter dealing, with any amount of complexity, has to assume a certain amount of competence, or it would read "put spanner on nut"..."Pull", "remove spanner from nut"..."rotate spanner around nut"..."place spanner on nut"...

    Twitckun it is worth persevering,keep at it...

  • Twitckun

    yes I understand exactly what you mean. I have no understanding of the jargon used in creating games/ and using computers at all. Whilst reading the manual I stop and ask my partner what does this and that mean. I think if it wasn't for him and reading threads in forum I wouldn't have got this far.

    I want to learn however I am learning from the basics and taking each step at a time.

    People on here are always happy to help

Jump to:
Active Users
There are 1 visitors browsing this topic (0 users and 1 guests)