Leave the Training Level for Last
The training level is the place where players learn all the basics of gameplay. It teaches players the game’s basics. It provides players with their first impression of gameplay. It stokes their enthusiasm19 for the rest of the game. You’d think that this is the most important level of the game.
You’d think!
Unfortunately, the training level is often left until the end of the game’s production. Now, I know why this is done. Developers will argue that you won’t know the most important lessons of the gameplay until everything is in the game. They will insist that because gameplay elements are often added during development, they should build the training level last after all the elements are set.
They state that by the end of the game’s production, the art team is capable of creating the best-looking art and effects for the training level in order to give the first level of the game the biggest bang for the buck...