Flash Game Tuts - Free Flash Game Tutorials in AS2 and AS3

How to Create a Platform Game in AS2 – Part 2

Part 2: Creating the Level

Now, we have to set up blocks on stage that will account for a level. We’ll use an array to accomplish this manly feat. We’re also going to create some other level variables. Place this code at the top:

//LEVEL VARIABLES
//the current lvl
var lvlCurrent:Number = 1;
/*The key for the level arrays:
1: Regular Block
X: Main Character
*/
//this variable will hold the character
var X:String = 'MAIN';
//the array for level 1
var lvlArray1:Array = new Array(
	1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,X,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
	1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1
);

This is a pretty big array, but it won’t be too hard to understand, I hope. The next thing we have to do is to actually make a function which creates the level. We’ll make some more variables for this as well:

//current row that we are creating
var row:Number = 0;

Next, we have to create a MovieClip that will act as the block. I’m just going to make it a 25×25 white square without borders. Name it mcBlock, then export it for ActionScript:

Finally, we can do some more coding. Now, we have to define the function that will place the bricks on stage. Place the following code at the end of the frame:

//creating the level
//this empty movieclip will hold all of the blocks
_root.createEmptyMovieClip('blockHolder',_root.getNextHighestDepth());
function createLvl():Void{
	//finding the array of the current level we're on
	//this is just a way to dynamically select an Array within the document
	var lvlArray:Array = _root['lvlArray'+lvlCurrent];
	//we have to find how far this level will span
	//this will be used so we know when to move to the next row
	//there will always be 16 rows, so this is how we find it out
	//of course, this will make the level formatting very strict
	var lvlColumns:Number = Math.ceil(lvlArray.length/16);
	//now we can create the level
	for(var i:Number=0;i
This is some pretty intense code. Look it over for a bit and try to comprehend it. This type of code is what you need to make if you want to become a better developer.
This concludes this part of the tutorial. Next time, we'll add some code to these blocks and make them interact with the character. Stay tuned...