In this class you'll learn how to create a platform video game using the online game creation software at sploder.com. The class was designed for kids ages 6-13. It's a fun way to introduce kids to level design for free.

1. Platform Game
Design with
Sploder!

2. MAKING A PLATFORM GAME: WHAT IS IT?
A platform game has both horizontal and vertical
stages (up, down, side-to-side). They have blocks, or
“platforms,” that the character can jump and run on.
Mega Man II
(1988)
Rayman Legends
(2013)

3. www.sploder.com
Sploder! lets you make lots of different game types
and share them with the world.

4. Joining Sploder!
Username (NOT a
REAL NAME)
Password
Email address
Joining is OPTIONAL
Join to save
games & share.

5. 2. Click on
[Platformer Creator]
1. Click on
[Make a Game]

6. You can create in “Demo mode,” but you won’t
be able to save your games.
To save you must login to Sploder.com

7. This is the design area.

8. You can create new games, save different games,
edit games you’ve made, and share games from
the Top Menu.
Add / Delete
Levels
Copy Current
Level
Edit Level’s
Name

9. THE GAME DESIGN EDITOR (GAME ENGINE)
Notice that the bottom will tell you what the buttons do.

10. THE CONTROLS (RIGHT SIDE)
GRAPHICS: Drop in custom graphics
DELETE: Remove the selected object
SELECT: Use to select objects
DRAG: Use to move the stage (background)
ZOOM IN: Get closer to the playfield
ZOOM OUT: Move away from the playfield
ZOOM ALL: See the entire playfield
BACKGROUND Edit Menu
TILE Edit Menu

11. BLOCKS AND TILES
Blocks & Tiles are what you walk,
jump, climb, and swim through.
There are many different blocks
and tiles: some can be destroyed,
others have special effects.

12. WALLS & DECORATION
Walls and decorations let you make
custom backgrounds for you stage.
Some of the decorations include
characters and objects that have
animations.
Notice: You can LAYER objects over
each other.

13. SWITCHES AND DOORS
Switches let you activate parts of
the environment (objects)
Doors can block your path, or can
be the goal for the stage (called
Level Doors)
Notice: Some doors need keys.

14. POWER UPS
There are power ups, weapons,
cars, robots, and other items.
You can have many power ups at
a time for your character.
Notice: Some weapons need ammo.

15. ENEMIES AND HAZARDS (BAD THINGS)
There are many enemies and
dangers you can add.
The hazards will hurt your
character.

16. EXTRA OPTIONS: Game Background
You can change
the background
image and colors.
Lighting effects and 8-bit
graphics can speed up
the game.

17. EXTRA OPTIONS: Game Background
You can change the look of many tiles by
selecting them and then hitting apply in the
Tile Explorer Menu.
Click the Tile Menu
on the Right

18. MAKING YOUR FIRST STAGE

19. Start by putting down the floor.

20. TIP: Hold SHIFT and then CLICK to select
more than one block or tile.

21. TIP: Hold SHIFT and then DRAG selected
tiles and blocks to copy all of them.
Copying saves
you time!

22. Add some Walls and Decorations.
You can’t touch walls/decorations, but they add
light and other effects.

23. Add some blocks and tiles to jump on.

24. Add an enemy, or two, for our hero to fight.

25. A simple level.
FINISHED LEVEL
Don’t forget to add the LEVEL DOOR. Beating
the monsters will open the door.

26. Test your game by pressing the button.
Enemy
Count
Lives Energy

27. CONTROLS
Use the keyboard to move and attack with the
character.

28. FAIR USE NOTICE: This presentation contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always
been specifically authorized by the copyright owner, including but not limited to logos and product
images. Such material is made available in an effort to educate the public through illustrative
examples and to properly identify content.
The use of this presentation for educational purposes is held to constitute a 'fair use' of any such
copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this presentation is distributed without profit to those
who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this presentation for purposes of your own that go
beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
International License
Originally created by Rino A. Landa,
June 14, 2014.