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Often considered the backbone of all of zOMG's woes, The tutorial which is supposed to equip all zOMG! newcomers with the knowledge to make it through the game has instead devolved into what cannot even be called a shell of its former self. That being said, the older tutorial though very explanatory drove away more players before they were even done with it. So now it's time to find some midway between these two extremes. How would you optimize the tutorial keeping in mind the following points:-

1) It needs to be concise - Teach only that which needs to be taught. This might require doing away with simpler details that the user can figure out on their own or perhaps cutting down on the story itself.

2) It needs to be less on resources - We want to try and lessen the burden on the devs so trying to make use of existing areas might be a better idea.

3) It should have the following three rings awarded to the player - (attack ring, healing ring and a buff)

In my opinion, most people are always eager to dive right in when presented with a new game so it's understandable that they'd want to have nothing to do with the tutorial. In such a case, it would be a good idea to give the player the choice to skip the tutorial if wanted so that they can try and explore and understand the game on their own. If and when they do feel like they're missing out on some info, they can always repeat the tutorial as many number of times they desire.

>Skipping

Eh, maybe if the thing is too long...
edit: Actually, YES!!! No more people getting stuck on the tutorial due to bugs!

>Playing the tutorial again

Glorious! Brilliant! Masterful!



Actually, here's two things I often say about the tutorial which are:


1) Progressive Learning
We should give info incrementally and let players figure things on their own in between. The downside is relying on players to get back to the tutorial on their own. Since they often skip content, they would skip any warning that a tutorial area had a new section unlocked.

Likewise, several, and a mean A LOT OF GAMES, use progressive tutorials. the more you go in the plot, the more tutorial you're given. While this is a great idea on its own, i falls prey to content skipping.
Thing is, I don't trust people to figure things on their own 'too much'. I do believe a lot off users would skip a tutorial and still forget things later. I think we need a safety net to catch them just in case.


There was an experiment once with that. The hypernet were stations that granted progressive hints and important information the further you got in the game. You'd receive hints towards Rage Ranks on Bill's ranch. Buffs for zen gardens and Crowd Control on the Lake. Or something along those lines. It made sense and it wouldn't be too much info at once. However, as myrielle puts it... people skipped that content. For gold. Yep.
Personally, I think the time the hypernet had been up for a too short time (maybe like, a week) to be even considered a good experiment on its use, but still, people were indeed abusing it, so that matter had to be taken care of. Shafted the poor robots were. crying
May that lesson sink in on the dangers of giving too much free access to rewards in incremental tutorials. If the hypernet model ever returns, make the hypernet or its replacement unusable until the previous area quests are full completed.
Also make them NOT ugly and choppy as hell. Heck, copy paste Azurea instead of the towns robots if you have to. She's fapp- I mean, she's good looking and would fit anywhere.

Another model I had for progressive tutorials would be to take advantage of the loading screens. I had a thread about it here-there.
Thing is simple. Give areas random pieces of advice, much like trixie's random blurbs when you die on the one place users 1 - Can't Skip and 2 -Won't feel pressured to not read. Not as wordy and obnoxious as the one I had in that example, and definitely better at pointing the important part, but still, something that gets the point across! And of course these tutorials would be random pictures among regular pictures on loading screens, so they wouldn't really nag a user too often.

2) Tell and Show

Users will often be extensively be explained how to use rage. By a person. They will get three different metaphors for "holding the mouse key" and still fail.
However, a lot of users seem to learn effectively after being brought to the sewers, where there's pictures. Once again I point to the points I made with the loading screen tutorials: People learn best when they see something done! This is one of Valve's main focus on gaming design:

>Show player how to do something
>Let player do that in safe environment
>Make player use that action in a dangerous enviroment

We need two things:

- A tutorial that can check when a user successfully does tasks such as using rings of the right type, target a monster using mouse and keyboard, attacking said monster with both options, moving around with both options, healing a friendly player, using rage... Players need to DO what they're supposed to do before proceeding. If they're allowed to skip that and still complete the tutorial, then the tutorial has failed.

- We need visual input on what each task is meant to be. An idea - Using NPC that can mimick, or just outright use, ring effects, to show the difference between RR1 and RR4. We could use some intractable NPC's again as actual part of gameplay, but in case that would not be possible, at least a picture showing say, a RR1 Solar Rays compared to RR4, during the "Using rage tutorial", would be nice.

1) The tutorial is disjointed. There's odd amounts of time between tip screens where you're wondering if that was it or if there's more to come. If you're switching screens and a tip box appears, you'll miss it because you've suddenly changed squares and there's no way to get it back up again unless you re-start the tutorial.

2) No-one knows about it. I mean, there's a grey dot on the Barton Town map but it's easy to miss and doesn't really tell you that 'OMG YOU CAN LEARN THINGS HERE!!'. Might be better to have an NPC (Frank? 8D ) standing outside the sewers with an explanation of what's down there? Maybe change the colour of the dot to something more noticeable? Maybe have a notice come up on a newbies screen saying something like 'Find Frank in Barton for your special ring training!' or have it come up as a tip on a loading screen.

You guys have already picked out my main issue with the tutorial (Aside from it's near-uselessness): Frank. He needs to be the one to give you your first ring. Maybe when he does, a player can choose several dialogue options such as accepting the ring without question, asking what it is, and why he/she needs it. A brief overview of the plot is to be had if questions are asked.

From there, the tutorial can move on to using the ring, using Rage, and so forth.

1) Progressive Learning

I absolutely loved this idea and I am definitely pushing it through to s2 every chance I can get. xd Especially the loading screen parts.

Progressive learning could also be implemented during the main game itself in the form of popups appearing in select screens in the VG area or every time a select action is done (Eg: showing how to select q to toggle between enemies when the player selects an animated or explaining the stamina bar when it runs out). More intermediate lessons could be shifted to further areas. razz

2) Tell and Show

This sounds good too. Maybe we could have NPCs in each area that gave tips and then require you to perform them as part of a quest in order to receive the usual rewards?

With all that said, it would certainly be nice to have the story also interjected into the starting of the game without proving too heavy as I was totally confuzzled at how the it was practically non-existant at the beginning but ended with being dumped with a ton of backstory! xp

The announcement asked for some sample dialogue, so here's a tidbit.

- Scene opens on the train -

Frank: So, heading to Barton?
Player: Yeah. You?
Frank: Just passing through. You might want this though, if you plan to stay a while.
You have recieved a new Training Ring!
Player: A ring?

• Thanks!
  
• What's so special about it?

*Asks what's so special*
Frank: You mean you haven't heard?
Player: Heard what?
Frank: About the Animated! Objects like plungers and garden gnomes are springing to life and attacking people. Regular weapons don't even phase the Animated, but that Ring seems to do the trick.

*Accepts ring with thanks, or continues from above dialogue*
Frank: So do you want to get in some practice before we reach the station?
Player:

• Sure, a little practice couldn't hurt.
  
• No, I think I can figure it out.

Et cetera, et cetera.

The original tutorial had you be taught to interact with the enviroment. You'd need to move two screens left and then click on the train's controls to make it stop. That would at least have the player teach themselves how to move and that they can interact with stuff by clicking.
Likewise, we have the current chest and the OMG's a screen away. That tells player they're expected to use the mouse to interact, and heading to the edge of the screen spans it.

That is something done right. We need something click-able to interact with at the very beginning of the new tutorial. Doesn't seem important, but, letting the player realize this while they don't still have freedom is quite important, before someone has to go in the null and doesn't realize how they can. Maybe make Frank have to be talked to the first time as well, with some HUD indication of how to speak with a NPC. Maybe a window that opens when you approach him.

With that thought in mind, and hooking on what the above posters are going, the tutorial also needs at least one example of something that has to be targeted with a ring and handled that way. I don't know if the train scenario is feasible, but in case it is, it would be about time we created a blockade or something on this game that has to be destroyed to get access, to show the destructive capabilities of rings.

Just another heads up. I'd rather not lose features off the tutorial on the way of making a bunch of other new ones.



... I keep thinking about this video whenever the tutorial is mentioned. I suggest everyone see it. Very... educational.