I'm trying to make a tutorial for begginers, and eventually want to have topics for intermediate users. I'm trying to be as detailed as possible, and get the user to interact with AGS as they read the tutorial. What I have here is an indepth tutorial on how to create a new game file. Tell me what you think.
http://www.geocities.com/millsjross/AGSTut.zip
-MillsJROSS
Pretty in-depth and comprehensive... very good! :D
You might want to add in some screenshots along the way as you explain different sections and stuff... the large amount of text might make it difficult to follow.
I thought about adding pictures, but my desire was for people to follow along with AGS. I felt that if I added pictures people wouldn't do this, because they'd see everything layed out before them. In general, when learning things people will be as lazy as they possibly can. Additionally, adding pictures would make the tutorial much larger. Of course, if I get enough oppinions to the contrary, I'd consider it.
-MillsJROSS
I vote for some images. If not screenshots then perhaps characters from games and other AGS-related images to make the text a bit more lively. Anyway I suggest you to do first the "meaningful" part (the text) and maybe afterwards add the decoration and maybe make it as a pdf-file.
Text itself seems quite thorough, which should only be a good thing.
I'm a complete beginner with AGS and I completely understood everything you were saying, so in that respect your tutorial was very good ^_^.Ã, I also liked the friendly tone you had, which made it easy to read--it does make a difference!
Some pictures might be beneficial, but I don't think they are absolutely necessary (at least, not for this particular section).Ã, I would suggest breaking up the text a bit, though.Ã, For example, making larger spaces between sections (or starting a new page with each section), or perhaps putting the exercises in a box such that they are easily differentiated from the rest of the text... simple stuff like that.Ã, Like Mikko suggested, adding some characters might make it more lively as well.
This tutorial is a nice idea, I hope you continue with it ^_^
I recommend you make this an html file or a pdf (html would be easier) so you can integrate the pictures into the explanation as you go. As an added bonus, someone could easily host it for you as well.
Alright, I took some of your suggestions and this is a newer vs. of the first Tutorial. The zip doesn't contain the files for using the Tutorial (the original one still has this), but I'm more concerned with layout right now. Any comments would be helpful.
http://www.geocities.com/millsjross/AGSTut2.zip
-MillsJROSS
It looks good to me.