What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

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What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

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Postby MessengerOfDreams » January 22nd, 2012, 7:20 pm

Hello, everyone and welcome to WITBLO11. Our nominee list is official, and it's the editing round occurring right now. To see the entries that are officially ready for WITBLO11's judging round, here's the Vault. WITBLO11 Level Vault

The judges this round have also been officially announced.
Master1.0, a well known LDer on site and in portal
Volcove, who needs no introduction
SuperMIC, a rising star in Level Designing with an eager levelplaying eye
and MoD, also known as myself. ^_^

Here's a list of the nominees. These were decided after a marginal amount of research on my part. I looked for levels that had a large amount of skill, some notoriety (not necessary though) and an impact on level designing. I also did this from a detached point of view so I could be completely fair and I am comfortable with myself having 2.5 entries in WITBLO11, because they all had some level of impact. But favortism plays no role in my choices, as personal favorites have missed out just because of the outlying reactions. This list is, to be assured, very fair, this I swear. ^_^

Dimension Infinity

Creator: Star king
Notable for: Winning the 12th LDC by a sizable margin.
Type: Space, Alternate Dimension
Description: Taking advantage of glitches from the Worst_master age, Star king brought forth a subtly crazy alternate dimension full of glitches, tricks and abnormalities to capture a truly out of control feel.


Impossible Treasures

Creator: Doram
Notable for: Winning the 13th LDC, beating out Star king and AwesomeJRFD’s collaboration and a Volcove level.
Type: Beach
Description: Staying true to his down home charm, Doram surprised everyone with an LDC win via a clever treasure hunt in the skies and under the seas.


Goomba Valley

Creator: King
Notable for: Winning the 14th LDC over 23 other contenders, beating out Volcove, Star king, MICrophone and NanTheDark.
Type: Platformer, Garden
Description: Simplicity was the game in the 14th LDC, and King delivered in an impeccable level that captured the essence of an non-gimmicky, non-tampered platformer level.


Stone Tower Temple

Creator: Volcove
Notable for: To Volcove’s surprising chagrin, his level beat out stiff competition to take victory in the 15th LDC and cemented himself as the best level designer out there.
Type: Sky, Tower, Castle, Garden
Description: Using a clever incorporation of level flipping, Volcove took players through a well-designed Stone Castle in the skies- and then flips it upside down, having you traverse the whole thing again without falling up.


Destinations

Creators: MessengerOfDreams and Venexis
Notable for: Coming out victorious in perhaps the most heated LDC in history since the 7th LDC, the famed duo of MessengerOfDreams and Venexis were the only collaboration to win an LDC- twice.
Type: Dream, Castle
Description: Mario’s prophetic nightmares of the world’s destruction leads him to Crossroads Castle, and to Neil Du Mal, a retired magikoopa who knows just as much as Mario does, if not more…


Ghostly Grove

Creator: DarkBlaze
Notable for: Winning the 17th LDC over a tight top three, consisting of himself, a SuperMIC/MP3 Amplifier and MessengerOfDreams.
Type: Snow, Platformer
Description: DarkBlaze showed that basic platforming levels still can best detailed, tricked out entries and heavily story-driven levels with a drop-dead gorgeous winter level inspired by Donkey Kong Country 2.


Ghostly Cave

Creator: Nworlds
Notable for: Attaining a large following even though it only placed 4th in the 16th LDC.
Type: Cave, Haunt
Description: One of the best uses of unnatural materials since Level of Darkness, Nworlds incorporates level transitions through his level for his platforming and items in a cleverly difficult platformer cave level.


Secrets of Earth and Sky

Creator: Master 1.0
Notable for: Seamless incorporation of new tile usage discoveries through his bronze medalist of the 15th LDC.
Type: Castle, Puzzle, Sky, Space
Description: Following the well known style of goofy humor and light yet heavy story, Master 1.0 caught people’s attention with great usage of tile disabling while still keeping true to his style.


Realm of the Heavens/Parallel Spires

Creator: Volcove
Notable for: The only levels of the same ‘series’ to span two different LDCs (14th and 16th) Volcove’s impeccable castle levels took home second place in both their respective contests.
Type: Sky, Castle
Description: Volcove’s keen platforming eye and gorgeous castle design set the stage for this clean, exhilarating level duo that wowed judges twice.


Journey to the Arctic

Creators: MP3Amplifier, SuperMIC
Notable for: The second highest placing collaboration of all time, this miniseries took home a tie silver medal in the 17th LDC.
Type: Winter, World Travel
Description: Made by two promising designers who narrowly missed placements in LDCs for various reasons, the duo seemed to make up for each other’s flaws while using their collective voice to make a quirky, fun miniseries with many neat tricks up its sleeve.


Mushroom’s Edge

Creator: NanTheDark
Notable for: Using a unique style to gain 4th in the 14th LDC.
Type: Parkour, Escape, City.
Description: Even if it only gained fourth place, Nan’s entry is arguably the most memorable of its LDC, taking place among a uniquely designed city and opening itself to multiple ways to speedily traverse its streets and rooftops.


Roaming Celsius Luminary

Creator: MessengerOfDreams
Notable for: Being the other silver medalist of the 17th LDC, leagues ahead of the other entries.
Type: Snow, Space
Description: One of the three entries that truly owned the 17th LDC, MoD's best solo effort relies on a silver star hunt with intriguing characters of a nomadic planet that is melting from the inside out.


Plastic Beach

Creator: Star king
Notable for: Third place in the 16th LDC (Musical Moods)
Type: Beach, Factory, Ship
Description: An impressively crafted, entirely original level based in an out-of-the-ordinary Plastic Beach.


Timewarper

Creator: Koopa Yoshi
Notable for: The most played and voted on level in the portal's history, with nearly 1400 votes, and also the highest-difficulty portal level of all time.
Type: Silver Star, Travel
Description: Could this be the hardest level of all time? A future WITBLOAT contender dares to disagree. Nevertheless, this has frustrated the hell out of many level enthusiasts, and it's easy to see why. But the challenge is definitely addicting.


Blizzid Canyon

Creator: Nin10mode
Notable for: Well look at that, another decent level from the failed Level Designer Tournament. ^_^
Type: Snow, Darkness
Description: Although it lost its round (to me, can you imagine that? My level was not that good) it's hard to argue that this gem from the tourney is not a short, sweet snow level.


A Halloween Haunt

Creator: SuperMIC
Notable for: Besting two-time mini LDC winner Killswitch and other epic designer Volcove in the 2011 Halloween Mini LDC.
Type: Halloween
Description: A brief, pleasant platforming challenge and shoutout to the lord god Ethereal Mansion, SuperMIC's ability to eke out a victory over other strong contenders is hard to debate in this specimen.


The Edge of the Mush-Room

Creator: LordFalcon
Notable for: Surprisingly difficult and well-put together level by a surprisingly good designer.
Type: Extremely Hard and Incredibly Cool
Description: Isn't it so weird how this self-professed SM63 Kaizo level has had no actual votes or reviews ends up on the list of best 2011 levels? Then again, many people know this level from its Youtube video for its increased difficulty and inimitable design.


The Great Tree

Creator: King
Notable for: One of King's many beloved and credible portal levels, which asserted his skill as a designer.
Type: Tree... duh.
Description: In a very unusual use of the level designer, King creates a giant tree that you can walk inside and on top of. Make your way to the top to gather the shine sprite! (and look out for secrets).


Logical Forest

Creator: Republic
Notable for: Exceptional Entry to his 3rd Anniversary Series
Type: Puzzle, Jungle
Description: Republic took the more recently discovered tile glitches and decided to make an exploitation level with them, and actually pulls it off very well, making it educational and involving with many real possibilities to die (unlike other well-done glitch levels).


Survivor

Creators: AwesomeJRFD and Star king
Notable for: Bronze medalist of the 13th LDC, the second collaboration to ever place in an LDC.
Type: Beach, Storm, Cave
Description: Even if it only gained a bronze medal, this entry was still nominated for a Runouw Votes award designed for winning entrants only. The collaboration puts together two designers with similar viewpoints but distinctive styles effortlessly.


S Dimension

Creator: Sm63creator
Notable for: Silver medalist of the 12th LDC.
Type: Space, Alternate Dimension
Description: Even if it was a distant second, it was a fantastically built level divided up into five mini-levels and a very surprising conclusion.


Niveau Victorieux Galaxy

Creator: MessengerOfDreams
Notable for: As the title suggests (in French) this level was the first Level Designer Duel winner.
Type: Space, Platformer
Description: A few months too late, MessengerOfDreams finally fulfilled a pure platforming level set in Space in a duel against frequent collaborate Venexis, and pulled off a close victory (several ties from judges, only two picked a favorite) with incredibly inventive tilework and down-home challenges.

PlatformAWESOME

Creator: Mr_SaxMan
Notable for: Sax's only 2011 creation, it was to be entered in to the 14th LDC but was disqualified due to deadline and submission rulebreaking, as well as no one at the time being able to load it.
Type: Platformer
Description: Another one of Sax's hard to play but worth the wait levels, the master of innovation takes on simplicity to incredible effects.

These nominees have until March 15, 2012 to finish editing their levels. Editing guidelines are on page 3.

Thanks!
MoD
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby SuperMIC » January 22nd, 2012, 7:24 pm

It's probably not allowed for someone not as high LDing rep as me to ask... but I was really hoping I could also nominate my "The Blood of Violet Hill" in the portal. I'll pop a link in a sec...

viewtopic.php?f=80&t=34711

^^
And I'm always up for judging... I hope we're doing a discussion like last time, or will we have to write reviews? :X
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby Megar » January 23rd, 2012, 7:24 am

I'm up for judging.
Also, I'm hoping to get a simpler level in for WITBLO12, but that's to come.
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby Nwolf » January 23rd, 2012, 7:40 am

MessengerOfDreams wrote:The top 3 placers of the 17th LDC


Including the one on 3rd place? :awe: *shot*
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby Asterocrat » January 23rd, 2012, 10:41 am

Two levels from me?

...

\o/ SUCCESS

Also, remember, I'm like 100% up for judging.
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby Charcoal » January 23rd, 2012, 12:44 pm

I didn't expect mine to be in it. I thought it would be in best levels for 2012.
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby Asterocrat » January 23rd, 2012, 12:50 pm

Just noticing something.

MessengerOfDreams wrote:Dimension Infinity

Creator: Star king
Notable for: Winning the 12th LDC by a sizable margin.
Type: Space, Alternate Dimension
Description: Taking advantage of glitches from the Worst_master age, Star king brought forth a subtly crazy alternate dimension full of glitches, tricks and abnormalities to capture a truly out of control feel.


MessengerOfDreams wrote:Creator: Star king


MessengerOfDreams wrote:Star king


MessengerOfDreams wrote:Star king


MessengerOfDreams wrote:k


\o/ FINALLY :3

Also, back, on topic:
  • Will there be only 15 levels?
  • Will I make 10 medals again? :3
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby ~MP3 Amplifier~ » January 23rd, 2012, 1:03 pm

Awesome, I've been nominated! :D I wouldn't mind judging, but since MoD is asking, I won't ask. (if you get what I mean xD)

I hope I do well in one of the future contests, I could possibly be nominated for another level. :)
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby MessengerOfDreams » January 24th, 2012, 11:03 pm

Alright, so I added 6 more levels. Some odd choices, which is neato. ^_^ I'm considering giving a couple of designers three levels (Volcove, StarK, maybe my duel level) because of the impact they had on designing this year- there was a lot of monopolization this year, with legendary designers doing overtime instead of posting a masterpiece and dying forever. :3 Let me know what you think.

Also, speaking of Volcove, he's on the team again. ^_^
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My latest story, and one of my personal favorites. A girl bound in silence finds the words to say to her prospective girlfriend as they visit her religious father in a dusty town on the edge of Kansas, where the crows' migration south brings forth anchored memories, the path to resolution, and a new start.

Form (25quared)
This might be like nothing you've seen before.
Updated Works! Some of my past best and current stuff: show
Writing Works!
Fanfic: Shut Up and Dance
why do I write so much about dancing you don't dance you've never danced in your entire life
lying little ♥♥♥♥ with your ♥♥♥♥ story ♥♥♥♥ you
also Diddy/Lucina <3

Fanfic: Worth a Thousand Words
Because the world needed a Samus/Dedede story
Fanfic: Ecstatic Silence
Just wanted to write and ♥♥♥♥ like this happens, you'd think I'd know better.
Fanfic: Far From the Edge
It's a dance that's been a long time coming for a brand new man and an unchanging woman, but once one takes the plunge there's no falling back up.
Original: Jealous Ghosts of the Mississippi
The story of Rachel meeting Amber after a lifetime of silence and being shunned
Original: Your Hand in Mine
One of my most personal stories about a dangerous romance. Now to be published in a college lit journal!
-------------------------
Recent LDC Work:
Level Series: Leaves From The Vine (ft Star King)
For the 29th LDC, a theme of grassland taken through the growth of our designing society. Won the 29th LDC!
--
Levels at Large:
Level Topic: Collection of MoD's Levels!
If you've ever wanted to see any level I made worth a damn, go here! From the quiet 14th LDC entrant Finis to the megasmash level series Dark, you can find links here!
"You were always a revolutionary, now there's just less of a chance of you crying in the corner." ~Ridder
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Re: What Is The Best Level Of 2011?

Postby Asterocrat » January 25th, 2012, 12:14 am

One last question :3

Is the 18th LDC going to be part of WITBLO11?

So, to summarize, my questions:
  • Will I make 10 medals again?
  • Will the 18th LDC be part of WITBLO11?
  • I WANNA JUDGE PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE
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