Weekly Update: New Skin, New Experience

Hey everyone!

It's been an exciting month, and I'm thrilled to share some major updates to the Platformer Essentials Cookbook. Thanks to the support from last month's funding campaign, I've been able to completely reimagine how you experience the book.

The Problem with PDFs

Let's be honest, PDFs are stuck in the past. While they served us well for years, reading technical content in PDF format has always been frustrating, especially for longer-format content, like code blocks. The major problems I found are:

• Broken page layouts: Nothing kills the flow of learning like code blocks getting awkwardly split across pages. It makes following along unnecessarily difficult.
• Limited interactivity: PDFs can't handle rich media like embedded videos, interactive elements, or dynamic content that could enhance the learning experience.
• Outdated format: PDFs simulate a physical book. a format that made sense decades ago but feels restrictive today. Books are great as decorative objects, but for practical learning? We can do better.

A Better Way Forward

Looking at modern learning platforms like Udemy and Teachable, there's a clear trend: HTML-based content has become the standard, with PDFs relegated to supplementary materials like worksheets and exercises. There's a good reason for this: web-based formats are simply more flexible and user-friendly. On top of being easy to maintain and update.

Over the past year, I've been using Notion extensively and discovered it's the perfect platform for creating and sharing game development educational content. The recent launch of First Line to First Dollar in this format received fantastic feedback from the community, which gave me the confidence to move forward with this update.

You Asked, I Listened

This update actually started with you. A while back, a Platformer Essentials Cookbook customer reached out asking if the book could be made available in HTML format. Their reason? The exact issue I mentioned: those frustrating page breaks that split code blocks and disrupt the reading flow.

That feedback stuck with me, and with the funds raised from last month's campaign, I finally had the resources to make it happen.

What's New

Using Notion as the distribution platform, I've completely reorganized and modernized the Platformer Essentials Cookbook. Here's what you can expect:

• Improved navigation menu: The Cookbook now features a dedicated navigation system that makes it easy to jump between chapters and find what you need. Plus, there's direct access to our community and a support ticket system if you encounter any issues.

• Seamless chapter navigation: Moving through the content is now smooth and intuitive, with buttons to return to the home page or continue your learning journey without friction.

• Better reading experience: No more awkward page breaks or split code blocks. Everything flows naturally, making it easier to focus on learning.

• Future-proof format: This new structure allows me to add rich media, updates, and interactive elements as the book evolves.

How to Access the New Version

If you already own the book: Head over to the book's itch.io page, click the download button, and select Platformer Essentials 2.0. You'll get instant access to the new Notion-based version.

Don't have the book yet? Now's the perfect time to grab it. When we finish this transition, the price will be increasing to $29.99, so this is your chance to get it at the current rate while supporting ongoing improvements.

What's Next

This update is just the beginning. The new format opens up exciting possibilities for adding video tutorials, interactive examples, and community-driven content. I'm committed to making the Platformer Essentials Cookbook the best resource it can be, and your feedback has been instrumental in getting us here.

Thank you for your continued support, and I can't wait to hear what you think of the new experience!

— Henrique Campos