(One Of The) 21st Level Designer Contest(s)
Posted: August 30th, 2012, 11:28 amSo welcome to one of the 21st LDCs. Why one of them, you say? Well, pay close attention in the next couple of days and you'll see what I mean.
So since the odd numbered LDCs seem to attract fewer patrons than the even numbered LDCs (compare the 13th, 17th and 19th to the 14th, 16th, 18th and 20th) two legendary LDC-winning designers decided to have vastly different LDCs to give people two options and to duel via their ideals.
So, are you curious? Well, here's the lowdown.
My theme? Well, I'm picking one very close to my heart.
Storytelling!
(banner coming someday)
Yep, I can understand if you're not super enthusiastic of my theme, but if you take a big risk, you get a big reward. Make whatever theme you could possibly desire, but it has to have any sort of engaging story to it. Here are some rules and tips.
Now for tips!
Here's a short bibliography of storytelling in level designing. Of course, most of them are mine, since I'm sort of the chief storyteller but there are others, too.
Dark by MessengerOfDreams: An example of a gigantic story that spills through all five forums and outside of it in companion text.
Arid, Arid Desert by Fourinone: An example of a classic Mario-style level with engaging original characters and good humor that doesn't overwhelm but makes the story.
An Act of Antichesm by MP3 Amplifier and
Destinations by MoD & Ven: Two examples of levels that utilize and rely on gripping atmospheres and design that are nearly impossible to replicate to tell a story.
Finis by MessengerOfDreams: An example of a level with no text that still tells a story.
This is War by NanTheDark: An Example of a level that takes inspiration from music and uses it to perfection.
The Escapists by MessengerOfDreams: An example of a story that doesn't even have Mario in it.
Timpani and Blumiere: The Untold Story by SuperMIC: An example of a Mario story starring side characters and tweaks the mechanic of Mario in clever ways.
There's all I got.
[hr]
I am the only one to host this LDC. But I'm not the only host of a 21st LDC. A certain someone who disagrees with my theme, pure platformer extraordinare Buffooner will host an alternative LDC to mine. We'll be trying to see who can rack up the best entrant.
If you don't want to enter the story LDC, wait for Buffooner and he'll have a different LDC up for you that invites basic platformers and whatnot.
Well gee whillikers, MoD, how will medals work with two LDCs?
Well it'll go something like this. For Buff's LDC and for my LDC, there will be two separate teams of judges. Each will judge their LDC only. The top three of each LDC will get bronze, silver and gold. There will be no ribbons for the individual LDCs. However! After that the top six of both LDCs combined will be scored together and get first-through-six medals.
The stakes are higher than ever. Someone will be walking away with TWO gold medals.
Bust your arse!
Judging will be ultimately the same as before, but storytelling will factor into it.
10 points - Fun
Is it an awesome level one can have a really good time playing it? Or does it have boring, or overly frustrating parts? And how does the story help the level out? Does it make it even further gripping, or does it let the level down?
5 points - Graphics
How does the level look? Are there cut-off tiles? Is there something that looks amazing? Does it convey the place the story takes place or does everything feel out of place in a bad way? Set design is CRUCIAL.
5 points - Other
Start with 3 points, and the judges add or take off points based on specific things you loved/hated about the level that aren't covered by the other two.
We have the judging roster full. I already have
MessengerOfDreams
MP3 Amplifier
SuperMIC
And I know who I want to be my fourth, but I've yet to ask.
I already have an idea for a backup judge too.
Read as: Don't ask to be a judge. I'm waaaaay ahead of you.
Now here's for the deadline. I'll give you until October 7th to do your level. Depending on your progress, I'll be lenient on extensions but only if you have a great amount of progress made.
Also, another little twist. I will be entering Buff's side of the LDC with a pure platformer level. Yes, that is correct. Yes, I'm weak at them generally (my highest scoring Pure level was Niveau with a pretty paltry 15.95), so I've gotta outdo myself big time. Also, Buff will be entering mine, therefore the man who's not fond of stories in levels will have to do one. How will we do? We'll see.
So there's my half of the LDC. Buff, bring it on!
So since the odd numbered LDCs seem to attract fewer patrons than the even numbered LDCs (compare the 13th, 17th and 19th to the 14th, 16th, 18th and 20th) two legendary LDC-winning designers decided to have vastly different LDCs to give people two options and to duel via their ideals.
So, are you curious? Well, here's the lowdown.
My theme? Well, I'm picking one very close to my heart.
Storytelling!
(banner coming someday)
Yep, I can understand if you're not super enthusiastic of my theme, but if you take a big risk, you get a big reward. Make whatever theme you could possibly desire, but it has to have any sort of engaging story to it. Here are some rules and tips.
- Tell a story in any method you see fit. Tips will help you out with that.
For all I care, make as many levels as you want. Go ape ♥♥♥♥. If you can tell a reasonable story with eight levels, I completely welcome you to. Of course that could backfire and you could end up having horrible pacing and make those eight levels a drag, but Dark told a gripping story in five levels with combined 2,000 grid spaces East-To-West, so if you can do something like that, I dee-double-dog-dare-you. If not, totally go ahead and just do one.
I'll let you slide with a little profanity but don't pull any ♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥ stacks over me.
Collaborations are cool, but let's limit it to two. This isn't Super Mario Legacy.
Alternative music is your total bestie. If you can make the in game music work for you, totally go for it. But there are katrillions of songs out of there and some really make the levels. Star king got me into The Gorillaz with Plastic Beach and MP3 Amplifier, true to her name, used frikkin Lana Del Ray to make Antichesm feel spooky. I actually got myself into Atticus Ross with Dark, haha.
Start anew. Since I'm a nice guy if you planned any concepts pre-LDC for stories, totally go for it, but don't use pre-made parts of levels.
Now for tips!
- Having a story within a level doesn't mean you have to do what Dark did and link to gigantic chunks of story hidden throughout the forums. You could do that if you like, more power to ya, but it's not commanded upon ye. Some stories are heavy, like my works, and some are light fare with signs spread around the level like Master 1.0 or fourinone. Hell, some levels can tell a story with little or no text, like Finis (also by me.) There are a million ways to tell a story, but what I want to see is a place that I care about and/or a reason to want to win this level. Give me a drive and make me stick to it. Or just immerse me in an original world with people I won't forget.
Making a story within a level is a lot like writing one in text, but the advantage is that you get to create the visuals in your head and turn them into reality via the SM63 designer. Remember that!
Disabling is your best friend. To do this, if you don't know, you place an enemy that moves onto your level. Note the number next to the enemy when you pick it from items. Copy and paste your code into word, and search for that number in your code. It'll be the first number after an | IIRC. Add a 0 to the front of that and paste it again. The enemy won't move and won't hurt you, so you can stick a sign next to it and make him talk. Free Original Characters, tadaaaa!
If you don't know where to start with creating a story level but wish to try, then look at the 16th LDC. The idea of that was to take a song and use it to inspire you. We got three well-done stories out of that, as well as some brilliant, unique atmospheres. Find things that inspire you to write or create stories.
The biggest argument I got against this LDC was that it ravaged the spirit of Mario games and made them un-Miyamoto. That is an excellent point, so feel free to make stories that don't feel like Mario. Crime noirs, romances, dystopias, mind-benders, any genre you want can happen. Of course, the beauty is that even if you want to stick to a Miyamoto feel and tell a Marioesque story, you can do that too.
Here's a short bibliography of storytelling in level designing. Of course, most of them are mine, since I'm sort of the chief storyteller but there are others, too.
Dark by MessengerOfDreams: An example of a gigantic story that spills through all five forums and outside of it in companion text.
Arid, Arid Desert by Fourinone: An example of a classic Mario-style level with engaging original characters and good humor that doesn't overwhelm but makes the story.
An Act of Antichesm by MP3 Amplifier and
Destinations by MoD & Ven: Two examples of levels that utilize and rely on gripping atmospheres and design that are nearly impossible to replicate to tell a story.
Finis by MessengerOfDreams: An example of a level with no text that still tells a story.
This is War by NanTheDark: An Example of a level that takes inspiration from music and uses it to perfection.
The Escapists by MessengerOfDreams: An example of a story that doesn't even have Mario in it.
Timpani and Blumiere: The Untold Story by SuperMIC: An example of a Mario story starring side characters and tweaks the mechanic of Mario in clever ways.
There's all I got.
[hr]
I am the only one to host this LDC. But I'm not the only host of a 21st LDC. A certain someone who disagrees with my theme, pure platformer extraordinare Buffooner will host an alternative LDC to mine. We'll be trying to see who can rack up the best entrant.
If you don't want to enter the story LDC, wait for Buffooner and he'll have a different LDC up for you that invites basic platformers and whatnot.
Well gee whillikers, MoD, how will medals work with two LDCs?
Well it'll go something like this. For Buff's LDC and for my LDC, there will be two separate teams of judges. Each will judge their LDC only. The top three of each LDC will get bronze, silver and gold. There will be no ribbons for the individual LDCs. However! After that the top six of both LDCs combined will be scored together and get first-through-six medals.
The stakes are higher than ever. Someone will be walking away with TWO gold medals.
Bust your arse!
Judging will be ultimately the same as before, but storytelling will factor into it.
10 points - Fun
Is it an awesome level one can have a really good time playing it? Or does it have boring, or overly frustrating parts? And how does the story help the level out? Does it make it even further gripping, or does it let the level down?
5 points - Graphics
How does the level look? Are there cut-off tiles? Is there something that looks amazing? Does it convey the place the story takes place or does everything feel out of place in a bad way? Set design is CRUCIAL.
5 points - Other
Start with 3 points, and the judges add or take off points based on specific things you loved/hated about the level that aren't covered by the other two.
We have the judging roster full. I already have
MessengerOfDreams
MP3 Amplifier
SuperMIC
And I know who I want to be my fourth, but I've yet to ask.
I already have an idea for a backup judge too.
Read as: Don't ask to be a judge. I'm waaaaay ahead of you.
Now here's for the deadline. I'll give you until October 7th to do your level. Depending on your progress, I'll be lenient on extensions but only if you have a great amount of progress made.
Also, another little twist. I will be entering Buff's side of the LDC with a pure platformer level. Yes, that is correct. Yes, I'm weak at them generally (my highest scoring Pure level was Niveau with a pretty paltry 15.95), so I've gotta outdo myself big time. Also, Buff will be entering mine, therefore the man who's not fond of stories in levels will have to do one. How will we do? We'll see.
So there's my half of the LDC. Buff, bring it on!
