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Topic: Quick Starter Guide (Read 12026 times) previous topic - next topic

Quick Starter Guide


    To introduce new players to Simutrans quickly, how about if we putted some
    quick starter guide? In game instruction are great but they are dispersed.
    Many would teach themselves by reading them but some won't read. To give maximum
    reference ****istance, all in one picture and diagram heavy quick starter guide could be
    added as of release of important version. (starter guide or reference card)
    (have seen some of that kind in many commercial games)
 
    This small guide will tell game's flow and what to build in which order to establish
    first industry chain and some p****enger network.

    Including this starter guide in bundle including major pak sets could enhance the
    approachability of Simutrans.

    I plan on making it jpeg image files to make it small volume wise.
   Ideal would be adobe files.

    Fact, I will have more time available to start to work on this from next week and ask
    people here to correct or advise on it.

   What do you think?

Re: Quick Starter Guide

Reply #2 –
Detailed documentation is always needed.
The matter is that people tend to avoid rather lengthy manuals and start playing without knowing too much anything about it.
It also happen naturally they get bored or frustrated because they don't know.
I mean we need shorter quick started mini card type reference.

Re: Quick Starter Guide

Reply #3 –
Oh! in that case I support it. Perphaps you want to have a look at some short tutorials available in PT and ES subforums:

I think some of these resources may inspire you for the Simutrans Reference Card.

Re: Quick Starter Guide

Reply #4 –
Ah! Thanks for links. They will definitely be a good sources. Thanks a ton! ;)

Re: Quick Starter Guide

Reply #5 –
Do you think is possible to put all info needed in just one page by both sides? imho, that would be the optimal length for that kind of document.

Re: Quick Starter Guide

Reply #6 –
Yes, depending on what all you want to have there. I would use schematics (?), not screenshots as that would be too big. And bullet lists etc. In a way, it seems similar to presentation...

My projects... Tools for messing with Simutrans graphics. Graphic archive - templates and some other stuff for painters. Development logs for most recent information on what is going on. And of course pak128!

Re: Quick Starter Guide

Reply #7 –
*breaking the silence*

Someone thought of Simutrans Wiki...?

Ah! Simutrans Wiki... ;D

Why couldn't we use the Wiki? Our wiki hasn't received any edit or changes in last 100 days (besides my minor edits).

http://en.wiki.simutrans.com/index.php?title=Special:Recentchanges&days=100 Shame.

We could make some DIDACTIC tutorials that DIDACTICALLY helps the player. This is an example: http://en.wiki.simutrans.com/index.php/Tunnels

The current format, In My Humble Opinion, was made under an experienced user approach or under programmer point of view. Think if today was your first contact with Simutrans and you face following texts at the first time:

http://en.wiki.simutrans.com/index.php/Traffic_congestion_control
http://en.wiki.simutrans.com/index.php/Install_and_configure
http://en.wiki.simutrans.com/index.php/Start_Simutrans

The texts are good but scare any new player, or else the player doesn't find what he want: http://forum.simutrans.com/index.php?topic=1635.0 (please read whole topic, it's small).

We could shameless copy some tutorials from Starter Guide and translate those tutorials that Vilvoh pointed out; last, we adapt them into Wiki format in a way that helps the player to be introduced in Simutrans: game goals, installation, setting Simutrans, building a road, a track, a channel, an airport, creating lines, editing the map... and so on.
 

Re: Quick Starter Guide

Reply #8 –
Another way to add tutorial could be to take the help text from the game. They aren't very good for a wiki but its a very quick solution. They could be improved later. Doing this could improve help in the game too.