I’m working on another cool Corona SDK thing along with the book: a SVG based level editor for Corona SDK!
By just dragging and dropping rectangles in an Inkscape* document you can have game levels with physics bodies deployed instantly.
No more manual physics bodies positioning and tuning! Take the pain out of level creation.
* Free and open source vector graphics editor – http://inkscape.org/
Demonstration and level creation process video
Want to know more?
This is still a work in progress, so if you want to hear more about it when it is ready, you can follow me on Twitter: @KarnakGames and/or signup to my Corona Newsletter:
Disclaimer
This is not intended to be a competitor or replacement to the excellent Lime. Lime is totally based on Tiled. My level editor is based on Inkscape and SVG parsing (which is a XML file). Although I make use of Tiled, I don’t use the Tiled map itself, I just use the IMAGE exported from a Tiled map (File, Save as Image…).
We are Alfred (programming & art) and Débora (ideas) and we are passionate about games. Karnak Games is our indie iPhone and iPad games development studio. 
Josh
/ March 19, 2011This looks awesome! Im willing to beta test if you need testers.
I want to thank you for all of your awesome posts! I recently changed from codesion to dreamhost for my svn hosting after reading http://karnakgames.com/wp/2011/01/how-to-setup-a-complete-project-management-subversion-and-issue-tracking-ecosystem/.
It was easy to do and will save me a ton of money over the course of a year!
Also I followed your steps for outsourcing graphics (http://karnakgames.com/wp/2011/01/how-to-outsource-art-for-your-game-using-freelancing-sites/) and I was able to find an awesome artist quickly! Im still working on the game but it looks great!
Thanks again for all of your posts!
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ March 20, 2011Josh, I’m happy that you liked my posts! Thanks for the kind words. Words like these keep me going on the writing :)
Rodrigo Souza
/ March 20, 2011This is amazing! I was looking for exactly this kind of tool some weeks ago. I ended up using Lime + PhysicsEditor.de (I’m writing a tutorial about this), which is a pretty good combo, but I still missed the flexibility of Inkscape.
Now, I’m curious about the SVG parser:
- Will it tessellate concave polygons (as PhysicsEditor does)?
- Will it support Bézier curves (as LevelSVG does)?
- You talked in the video about supporting levels larger than the device. Will there be support for large images that don’t fit entirely in the memory? Some mechanism to split images and load them on demand?
- Will it be open source? Free as in beer? Paid?
Don’t get me wrong: I think that, even if the SVG parser supports only straight lines and convex polygons, it’s still an amazing product, that can be used to create tons of great games. You can even think about writing a short paper about it for SBGames, which will be held here in Salvador this year (see http://www.sbgames.org/sbgames2011/index.html).
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ March 21, 2011Thanks, Rodrigo!
As for your questions:
1) No tessellation. For complex bodies you will have to input the vertices in a configuration. It will be very easy, but will still require the use of Vertex Helper or another similar tool.
2) Yes, bezier curve support is already implemented. I’m still having a bug on positioning the bezier curve, but the support is ready. The same for all curves, as well spirals. Another teaser post will come soon, but you can see some in action: http://karnakgames.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SpiralCoronaBox2D.png
3) It will be launched supporting just one bg image, but auto splitting is planned already and it will be released on future updates.
4) It will be paid, with a nice discount to early adopters.
5) Great idea for a SBGames! Since I’m also writing a Corona book, I can mix some subjects, thanks!
Pedro Valentini
/ March 30, 2011Very good tutorial and website.
I’m loving lua for games.
I’m not found informations about SVGParser, it is a public library?
Will be great if you explain how do you get the svg file and use it in the lua code.
Thank you and congratulations.
Pedro Valentini
PS.: Where are you from? Brazil?
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ March 31, 2011Pedro, thanks! The SVG Parser is not public, I’m developing it, that’s what I’m showing on the video :) Keep following, because once I finish it it will be notified here. And yes, I’m from Brazil – PR, and you?
Pedro Valentini
/ April 5, 2011Thank you the answer.
Do you use Lime too? Your svg parser will be open source? If yes, I wanna help.
PS: Eu sou do Rio, nunca tinha ido a Curitiba, fui este fim de semana para o festival de teatro, adorei a cidade.
Abs
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ April 14, 2011Hi back Pedro! I have Lime but never used it. Actually it won’t only be a parser, but a level editor solution: Corona SVG Level Builder, which will feature game templates, game elements (hero, platforms, etc), as well the parser. It won’t be open source.
PS: I love RIO :D
Lyzbeth
/ May 14, 2011TYVM you’ve solved all my prombels
David Brennan
/ March 31, 2011I can’t wait to try this out! I’m still a Corona n00b but this might help me out immensely !
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ April 14, 2011I’m trying to make it very straightforward to make any kind of game :)
SleepWalker
/ April 11, 2011Hey Alfred please release a beta version or something i really really want this tool i’m ready to purchase – any news send me a e-mail this is my real e-mail !
Note i’m from Brazil too – See ya friend !
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ April 14, 2011Thanks for the interest! Trying to release it before the end of this month. So please if you want to follow, just sign up to the newsletter :)
Hendrix000007
/ May 15, 2011Awesome!
I have set up all the graphics and everything is ready for export but I need the class SVGParser
pleeeease let me know when I can download it!!!!
waiting desperately
;D
SleepWalker
/ April 15, 2011Ok good to go just point me in the right direction !
Ahmed Kandeel
/ May 5, 2011Followed, this is brilliant, especially the bezier curves! Is there any chance that you could create curved levels i.e. like a concave shape?
Anyway, I’m definitely interested in beta testing this. One thing that I may add is please find someway of offering a trial. Lime, to my dismay, doesn’t.
Ahmed Kandeel
/ May 5, 2011Sorry if this double posts, my post seemed to disappear off the face of the earth.
I’m really liking the look of this software, and would be proud to make a game using it in the upcoming month, if you are looking for beta testers sign me up :)! Seems to provide distinct advantages compared to Lime, especially the Bezier curves business!
Daniel Lee
/ October 14, 2011Hey, it seems that there are no activities… when can we expect example files? People are getting impatient with the late release of example files… including me.
Thanks.
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ November 23, 2011Hello Daniel, you should have received the update email that was sent by around 20/Oct?
Daniel Lee
/ December 7, 2011Hello Alfred,
Sorry for late reply. I have been so busy at work… ^^;; I don’t believe I have received the email but I read somewhere what you are planning with your level editor.
Anyways, if you would, please send me the email again. Much appreciated. Thanks!
Daniel
Alfred R. Baudisch
/ December 7, 2011Hello Daniel,
The next release is about to happen this week with the new updated parser (more than 30 new features), examples and tutorial. Then you will get everything at once :)
Thanks!