runouw.com

Essentially it's a massive site-wide collaboration, taking ideas from the past and reforging them with skills of the present. The result? Well...

I hope this will be one of the most successful site projects ever undertaken. Like an LDC, but not restricted to a theme, or collaboration limits, or even one entry per person. It's a chance for the veteran designers to work alongside the up-and-coming designers, sharing tips and getting to know each other. Something that anyone can criticize, contribute to, and enjoy. In short, the definition of a legacy. Something people will look back on months from now- years, even- and have a blast playing. There's really only one element missing:

You.

Do you want to do something that's never been attempted before? Work closely with level designing masters? Contribute to a project that will certainly go down in history, and be recognized for it? What I'm proposing is an open-ended concept, you contribute a level and just keep going until you want to stop. We wouldn't just be making a level series, we'd be responsible for the single most complex level series ever attempted, with something for everyone.

In simple terms, a series. One that has multiple creators, and spans several themes. Currently there are plans for 9 worlds + 1 special world each increasing in elevation- in order they'd be Lava/Fire, Cave/Underground, Water/Beach, Desert/Ruins, Grassland/Plains, Mountain/Snow, Sky, Space, a Fortress world, and then finally the special world.

Castles and Towers have different bosses.

Depending on the format of the final level layout, there is potential for multiple paths that lead to the same endpoint.

Each level would be expected to match the theme of the world fairly well, however, deviance would provide variety on occasion. For example, one could find a grassy oasis in a desert level, a cave in a mountainous region, or even something so audacious as a town in the middle of a grassland. Creativity is an asset, but try to keep them mostly conforming to the theme. In addition, levels should conform to the general style of the 14^th LDC (Pure Platformer), that is, a relatively linear path from start to finish. Possible shortcuts (both in the level and to other levels) may be an option, but please keep signs and powerups to a minimum.

Finally, the tenth special world will be an opportunity for all participating designers to make something totally their style, with no set theme. It's a chance to leave your own personal mark on the series so to speak, like a level designing signature. Only one level per user will be allowed in this world, so make it count. Unless those 4 insane guys which are in charge of this now do something else.

First off I'd like to clarify that although the focus will definitely be level designing. There is other stuff to do, but that gets managed some other time when needed.

That's really the only requirements. Anyone can submit a level or two provided it meets the format outlined above, and personally I think it would be great if we got a balance of veterans and less-known designers.

Main Organizing Team:

Blackyoshi
NWolf
Star King
Venexis
Yoshi Boo 118
[people nin10mode forgot]

Rules should be pretty self explanatory, naturally the site rules and level designing rules still apply.
Pretty sure I don't need to say this, but that includes no inappropriate content in the levels themselves, and to speak respectfully to people even if you don't share their opinions... common sense stuff mostly.

Some things that aren't so obvious are that collabs are allowed, especially for the towers and castles. Perhaps one person designs the level and another designs the boss or something, but it'll be at the discretion of the group seeking to collaborate.

This section will also be updated eventually as more miscellaneous details like the story are taken care of.