Build Your First Level on Levelhead with these Tips and Tricks

All right hello There! I'm Sam, the founder of Butterscotch Shenanigans, and today I'm so excited to share some tips and tricks for jumping off your creativity to our platformer Levelhead. Be careful, though, or you can turn it into what society once feared it would be: a level designer.

Levelhead it's about building and sharing levels, starting with the most complex game planner – Workshop. You can build everything from short, simple platformer to full metroidanians, even pinball.

Levelhead Workshop will give you access to a complex set of elements to use to build your levels. There are shipping sharks, blasters, keys, sensors, switches, bumpers, springs, taxis – you name it and it's probably there.

All of these options can be huge. If you try to use them all at the same time, you can end up doing a really good quality,…. as follows:

Especially as you build your initial levels, we recommend choosing just a few elements and trying to come up with a compatible level design using only those elements. This keeps you focused and has the effect of making you look like you have built that level on purpose!

If you are not sure which to choose, do not worry – we have already selected you! Each day brings a new Daily Build challenge for the whole community to participate in, with a limited set of features. This can get your creative juices flowing if you feel stuck.

Hey, you've chosen the themes you want to focus on, you have a vague idea of ​​what you want to create… now?

Many new builders think that sketching their level is the fastest way to name it, but when they build an image-like quality they find that it doesn't play well. Why is that?

Because the levels are ignored based on looks – they have information based on the sequence of interactions the player has with the level.

In other words, standards are not images – they are news!

This is why one of the best ways to build quality is to write it off as a story. Instead of thinking of your level as a structure or a place to draw, think of it as a series of experiences that you put together. Once you know what a player is going to do and what you want to have, the formation of that level presents itself as magical!

For example, maybe you have this as a sequence for your experience:

1. The player sees a pack behind the Golden Key Gate, with a goal above it. They intend, but cannot enter.
2. The player must make a Sprint Jump over the Spiketron pit. If they're not, they won't do it!
3. The player must keep sweating to jump up and back up to the next platform, created by Slippy Goo.
4. The Slippy Goo platform has a security vision.
5. The player must make two small spikes connected.
6. After the lump wake, there is a power and checklist.
7. The player has to make an immediate impact on the roof, and the lack of a roof is like the death of Spike!
8. The gold key follows the Ceiling Hang section.
9. The player must return the key back through all obstacles… in reverse!

As you read the list, you can begin to think about what the distance is, and all you have to do is subtract. Here's an example of how that list evolved at the level – see if you can see different experiences.

You may notice that a few new things come in, like that blast. As you begin to build this level, you are undoubtedly thinking of some fun things to add. That's the beauty of building standards – you'll be amazed at the views as you go.

So you built your level and played it to great – now what?

Time to share it with the world, of course! Once you've hit your level you'll be able to publish it, making it available to players around the world. We've built a play-exchange called the Marketing Department that lets you collect hundreds or thousands of games, no matter who you are.

Building standards are great, but to see people play and talk about them is much better. You are welcome to join our wonderful community at Butterscotch Discord and share constructively, ask for feedback from others, and get a great team of creators to find inspiration from.

There are many tips and tricks to get the most out of it Levelhead – This is just the beginning. Take a game today, and I'll see you in the workspace!