Table of Contents

Power Game Factory Overview

  About Power Game Factory
  System Requirements
  Installation and Removal
  Version History
  License Agreement

Power Game Factory Tutorial

  Creating a Game Project
  Designing a Level
  Adding Characters
  Designing a Second Level
  Connecting Levels
  Testing and Building

The Elements of a Game

  The Title Screen
  The Status Bar
  Levels
    Level Objects
    Backgrounds
    Solid Material Mask
    Music and Sounds
    Intro and Ending Pictures
    Routines
  Characters
    Character Types
    Character Sets
  The Player
    Player Types
    Player Sets
  Animated Scenery
  Contrails
  Doors
  Force Fields
  Hot Zones
  Items
  Lighting Effects
  Message Panes
  Switches
  Projectiles
  Respawn Locations
  Shell Casings
  Weapons

Game Production Tasks

  Managing Game Projects
  Using the Tool Bar
  Using the Content Library
  Common Production Tasks
    Using Image Wells
    Object Type Management
    Editing Property Lists
    Editing Sound Collections
  Using the Image Editing Window
    Opening an Image
    Image Editing Window Modes
    Animation Controls
    The Color Palette
    Image Editing Tools
    Image Manipulation Controls
    Multiple Undos and Fading
    Mask Editing
    Image Editing Limitations
  Content Creation Applications
    Image Editing Applications
    Sound Editing Applications
    QuickTime Movie Applications
    Icon Editing Applications
  Game Interface Design
    Main Menu Design
    Dialog Box Editing
    Game Icon Editing
    Intro Cut Screen Editing
    Interface Sound Effect Editing
    Specifying Additional Properties
      Specifying Basic Game Behavior
      Editing the Default Preferences
  Status Bar Design
    Health Display Editing
    On-Screen Number Editing
    Map View Editing
    Editing Other Displays
    Status Bar Placement
  Level Design
    Levels Window Navigation
    Creating and Deleting Levels
    Level Background Design
      Standard Backgrounds
      Tiled Backgrounds
    Adding Level Objects
    Level Object Manipulation
      Selecting Objects
      Moving Objects
      Renaming Objects
      Resizing Objects
      Duplicating Objects
      Deleting Objects
      Finding Objects
      Editing Object-Specific Properties
        Player Start Locations
        Characters
        Ammo Packs
        Power-Ups
        Weapons
        Projectiles
        Animated Scenery
        Contrails
        Lighting Effects
        Doors
        Switches
        Force Fields
        Hot Zones
        Message Panes
        Respawn Locations
        The Camera
    Level Parameter Editing
      Intro and Ending Pictures
      Level Ending Cut Screen
      Music and Sounds
      Level Routines
      Additional Properties
    Solid Material Mask Editing
    Level Routine Editing
      Routine Action Editing
        Level Actions
        Set Player Properties
        Control Player Behavior
        Set Character Properties
        Control Character Behavior
        Apply Force to Character
        Create Character
        Damage Character
        Contrail Actions
        Door Actions
        Force Field Actions
        Hot Zone Actions
        Item Actions
        Lighting Effect Actions
        Message Pane Actions
        Precipitation Actions
        Projectile Actions
        Scenery Actions
        Scrolling Actions
        Sound Actions
        Switch Actions
        Variable Actions
        Perform Additional Routines
      Routine Performance Condition Editing
  Character Creation
    Character Set Editing
      Character Set Animation Sequences
      Character Set Sound Editing
      Character Set Additional Options
    Character Type Editing
      Character Type General Properties
      Character Type Additional Properties
      Editing Character Routines
  Player Creation
    Player Set Editing
      Player Set Animation Sequences
      Player Set Sound Editing
      Player Set Additional Options
    Player Type Editing
      Player Type General Properties
      Player Type Additional Properties
  Animated Scenery Creation
    Editing Scenery Animation Frames
    Editing Scenery Sound Collections
    Editing Additional Scenery Properties
  Contrail Creation
    Editing Contrail Animation Frames
    Editing Contrail Physical Properties
  Door Creation
    Editing Door Animation Sequences
    Editing Door Sound Collections
  Item Editing
    Editing Ammo Packs
    Editing Weapons
    Editing Power-Ups
  Switch Creation
    Editing Switch Animation Sequences
    Editing Switch Sound Effects
  Projectile Creation
    Editing General Projectile Properties
    Editing Projectile Animation Sequences
    Editing Projectile Sound Collections
    Editing Additional Projectile Properties
  Shell Casing Creation
    Editing Contrail Animation Frames
    Editing Contrail Sound Effects
    Editing Shell Casing Physical Properties
  Weapon Creation
    Editing Weapon Behavior
    Editing Weapon Appearances
    Editing Weapon Icons
    Editing Weapon Sound Collections
  Adding Music Tracks

Testing and Building

  Test Running Games
  Building Games

Reference Information

  The Preferences Window
  Menu Items
    The Application Menu
    The File Menu
    The Edit Menu
    The Level Menu
    The Window Menu
    The Help Menu
  Measurement Conventions
    Distance
    Time
    Speed
    Acceleration
    Weight
    Object Display Order
    Sound Volume
  Optimizing Game Performance
    Limiting Spatial Tolerances
    Limiting Object Quantities
    Limiting Parallax Layer Quantities
    Limiting Available Screen Sizes
    Harnessing the Compiler
    Optimizing Graphics
    Optimizing Character AI
    Optimizing Lighting Effects
  Playing Finished Games
    Navigating the Title Screen
    Special Game Controls
    Using Game Controllers
    Managing Saved Games
    Setting Game Preferences
  Troubleshooting
    Problems With Testing
    Problems With Saving

Additional Help

  Sawblade Software Web Site
  User Forums
  Game Design Examples
  Game Design Literature

  Credits