This wiki has been moved to https://github.com/SuperTux/wiki into the mediawiki branch.
Editor Guide
Contents
Intro
Let's face it: Nobody ever gave you a clear explanation on how to make a SuperTux level.
It's sad, but true. So, why are you crying over lost cake? Guess what: I made a better one. What I'm going to do, is show you how to make a nice, proper SuperTux level using the Microsoft .NET extension. But probably the best thing about this guide, is with your cheese burger, I'm holding the nerd-sauce. Now your probably waiting for me to stop making odd food metaphors, so let's begin.
Get the tools
Keep in mind, sadly, the editor does NOT work on Mac, and this editor is intnded for Windows XP. but there are a few ways you could fix that. The best would be getting Parallels Desktop for Mac (Which is what I use), from the website. You can get a free trial, but after 30 days, sorry. Well, if you bought it (which would be fantastic) or if you have windows, keep going.
First of all, you'll need the "Microsoft .NET framework." There is a good link right HERE
After that, get the Mono Framework which can be downloaded (WARNING! Will download on click!) HERE Just follow the instructions, and download the latest version. On the bottom there will be a link that will say something like "Download Mono and GTK," so get that one.
Lastly, we can't be running around with no editor. So download the latest version (the one at the top) HERE. make sure it says "Windows, 32bit, .NET, GTK# 2.10" or something towards the end of the link in the page.
SKIP THIS IF YOU ARE NOT USING WINDOWS SEVEN OR HIGHER: There are a few extra steps for Windows 7 and up. Complete the following steps here, made by SK1LL: Link
Now launch "supertux-editor.exe" in the editor's folder you just downloaded, and we can begin.
Setup
Now that it's launched, a little window should pop up telling you to select the SuperTux directory. This is so it can get the images for the tiles, the music, the sounds ect. You also need to select the SuperTux Game's .exe file.
So select the two directories. It should look something like this for the data directory: "C:\Program Files\SuperTux 0.3.3\data"
It should look something like this for your Executable directory: C:\Program Files\SuperTux 0.3.3\supertux2"
Once you've done that, we can finally start some editing!
Basic Editing
Placing Tiles
Now restart the editor, and it should now look like this.
So click the button on the top.
It should have a forest background. If not, then click this:
Select "Preferences" and redo what I told you to do above.
If you see a forest background, great!
There should be a bunch of tiles. The tiles are the little squares you put down.
Lets make a basic level. First, select the little drop down menu above all the tiles, then select "Snow."
Afterwards, while holding down the right mouse button, drag the cursor down so the snow brick thing is highlighted in blue.
Then place it on the map below the thing that says "Spawn Point"
Now, to see the level, click the "Play" button on the top left, shaped like a triangle pointing to the right.
You should fall out of the sky and land on the snow.
Good job! You can use many other tiles. You can individually place them by left clicking one, and placing it on the tile map. (The area where you placed the snow.)
Placing Objects
Now you're going to learn how to place objects, such as enemies, (Badguys) moving platforms, script triggers, ladders, and more. First, you'll want to make some more snow. So add another snow platform. This time, make it longer. First select the "Objects" button.
Then, select a snowball (Like the one on the icon for the objects) and place it on the new snow you made. It should look like this:
Test the level again, and kill the snowball!
Snowballls:
Snowballs walk around.
When they come to the end of the platform, they fall off.
They can be killed by you jumping on them, and if they
walk into you, you will be downgraded or killed.
Frankly, there are lots of enemies like the snowball. If you have played Mario, then you will notice a lot of enemies are like the ones in Supertux. The Icecrusher is like the Thwomp, the Snowball is like the Goomba, the Icecube is like the Koopa, oh, and big surprise, Tux is Mario, and Penny is Peach.
So since you tried it, if you didn't kill the snowball, it probably bumped into the wall, turned around, and fell.
Now we are going to learn about advanced enemies. An example is the fish. In order for the fish to work, (jump out of water) you must have water for it. So go back to the tile selection screen and click on the snow one (If it isn't already selected) and make three snow bricks for the water to be contained in.
I guess it doesn't have to look like that, but for the sake of simplicity, this is what I'm using. So next select some water from the drop down tile menu. Click "Misc" and you will se something like this.
Now select the water. You'll notice one is slightly darker than the other. That one is more translucent, so you will be able to see through it a bit. I will be using that one.
Now, you need to put some water in between the bricks.
It doesn't look very clean, but hey, it works.
Now go back to the Objects menu and select the fish and place it.
Okay, now that you did that, you can test it. It should be like this. (The snowball is falling in the water because I put the three bricks right next to the first part of the level, therefore, he wanders over.)
So now you've learned how to make fish work. If you spawn them above the snow, they will face plant in it and wont do much, but if you touch them, you die.
The best way to learn how to use Badguys is experimenting. So, lets move on.
Advanced Tile Techniques
So now we're going to learn how to use Advanced Tile Techniques.
So first we are going to make a basic "Staircase" type thing. First make sure you are in the snow selection screen from the drop down, then, select this part:
I'm assuming you are building it out of the water bowl thing. Now, place it on the edge of the brick, like this:
Next, you'll want to put this part above that little thing you just placed.
And put it above the actual snow, and then you want to put some of the parts that fit on the side there too. It should end up like this:
Now, you need to fix the top part. Select two of the top right corner pieces on the brick above.
Now place it above the in complete part on the top, replacing one of the tiles, like so...
Now the other side, with these two tiles...
And place.
Now, on the right side, us the right piece,
And fill in the right part of the "Z."
Now, we need to finish the bottom. So, get the bottom part of the snow brick.
Now, place it underneath that bottom right part of the "L" shape.
Then, you need to select the part right next to the bottom right corner piece, that will look like this:
And finally, get the middle piece, that is in the snow brick,
And it is finished! You just made your first stairs!