This is my final tree sketch, drawn on three layers. The middle layer contains the trunk and tree branches, and I used the other layers either side to apply leaves in front and behind the main structure. The background image which I will make for the game will work in a similar way. Part of the image will act as a background, and part will act as a foreground image, so that the player walks behind the image at various points. As well as this, I hope to create sprites from certain areas of the design so that they react when the player walks over them. To help work out which parts work, I applied the image to a Game Maker project and added a playable character to explore the level design:
The familiar character sprite is a palette-swap version of the Final Fantasy V sprite I used in my last video! The first part of the video is just to get a feel for wandering around the image. The second half reveals the two paths I will set in order to get to the ground. It seems like an easy task, but as you can see at about 3:06 I got lost even thought I was secreting following the trail in the background!
Being able to explore the image in this way helps uncover the natural path the character would take, which parts would be in the foreground and which parts will interact. I will use this to help me work out where to place the invisible walls and create a set path for the character, as well as work out what scale to work to.
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