In-game level builder/editor

[ich-net-du]

Currently it is only possible to create or modify a level via Unity or by editing the JSON file.

Being able to place objects like gates and billboards in game would make this much easier and accessible to a wider audience.

[jukibom]

For a first pass for this, is an in-game (as in, within the ship - like fly to a location and drop checkpoints) editor the right approach? Or, seeing as many actions (see below) would be impossible, should we go all-in and have an actual editor with full input etc and if so what would be a good experience for this?

To consider:

• How to activate the editor (jump to it from in-game? May be a better experience this way when finding locations in terrain worlds)
  • Disabling this in multiplayer
• Manipulation of the in-game camera (+ floating origin handling)
• Placing and rotating objects
• Manipulating object metadata (e.g. billboard type, booster length)
• UI for setting level metadata (name, music track, author)
• Ability / requirement to set an author time
• Disabling leaderboards during level creation and testing

[ich-net-du]

For the beginning I would also tend to an in ship editor. The object could be fixed around the ship or in front of the ship. (maybe adjustable distance)

The editor could be opened from the ESC menu instead of (Copy location to clipboard).

You could choose between the objects like in a first person shooter

I think if you anchor the object to the ship the whole manipulation like turning can be done with the known control maneuvers.

You would then have to release it and fly to the next location to place a new object or manipulate an existing one. It would be possible to just press a button during the flight and place a gate in front of you. The next gate would be ready immediately in front of the ship.

An unfinished level could be stored locally as JSON to continue it later on.