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- Blablob (May 20th, 2012, 3:40 pm) • KABOOM (May 30th, 2013, 10:54 am) • MessengerOfDreams (November 2nd, 2012, 1:17 pm) • nin10mode (April 24th, 2012, 4:46 pm) • Venexis (April 14th, 2012, 9:29 am) and 19 more users
Amp's Official Level Designer Tier List
Moderator: Level Moderator
Amp's Official Level Designer Tier List
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by ~MP3 Amplifier~ » September 3rd, 2011, 12:51 pm
This is the official Level Designer Tier List. To find the best Super Mario 63 Designers, check here. Is updated with new and shifting data.
Credit to MoD for running the topic before me and for that short time we were running it together!
Tier 1- Best of the Best
Tier 2- Also Legends
Tier 3- Great
Potentials & Honourables
Minitiers
Top Tier- Best of the Best Level Designers! Last Edited: 7th January, 2016
X Return to Top V
1st- MessengerOfDreams. Not only did MoD bring in the whole story-driven series fashion on a new level, she won countless awards for hers. Destinations won the highest approval from some of the greatest level designers, and Dark won the second highest score (perhaps the highest) ever recorded in an LDC. She's also won WITBLO11 alongside Venexis, and WITBLO12 too, which is named to be the highest skilled WITBLO ever. Even if she is a little bit less active now, she is still designing quite remarkable series and levels.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #1
Highest achievement: She has won four LDCs, two in collaborations with Venexis, her third being one of the highest scoring entrants of all time and the first 18 since 2009, and she won the 29th LDC alongside other acclaimed designer Star king. She has also won two WITBLOs- '11 and '12.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Dark
2nd- MP3 Amplifier. She has proved that practice makes perfect here- although she started LDCs with 7th and 9th places, a lucky collab with SMIC managed to get both of them a second place, even when she felt farthest away from it. Since then, things have never been the same. Her constant success in the more recent LDCs is what has gotten her to the top, but it wasn't all out of luck. Her style is described as dreamy and sometimes a little trippy, but that is why her levels shine with people, because they are unpredictable and out of the norm. And most of the time, this is praised highly.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #2
Highest achievement: Winning five (perhaps six) LDCs; the 19th, the 21st (Storytelling & Overall Results), the 23rd, the 26th, and the 30th. Also being the first person to beat Volkove at a duel with a series that placed 3rd in WITBLO12 and scored an 18/20.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Tearing Paper
3rd- Star king/Asterocrat. This guy, just when you think he's reached his highest level, can make things to blow other levels out of the window. You would think that there's a limited amount of shocks you can have from a level, but Star proves us wrong. He shows that you can create big and bold ideas without stressing yourself to the point of frustration, and probably creates some of the most addictive platformers around. Let the tile combinations and the fresh, modern style that he gives in his levels speak for itself.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #2
Highest achievement: He won the 12th LDC with the very famous "Dimension Infinity", placing 2nd in WITBLO11; as well as the 29th in a collab with MoD, after a series of entrants ranging from second to fifth place. Also making a very successful still-in-progress level series called Super Mario Countdown.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Neon City
4th- Venexis. He's one of the most notable level designers of today. His Epic Mario World redefined level series, bringing innovation of the gods but a humble charm to them that makes it hard not to like them. While most are blaring out their masterpieces in everyone's faces with their own horn that they toot, Venexis' levels are Tao. It just is there, waiting for us to find them. Not to mention the only LDC he's entered he won with the only winning collaboration level in the LDC's history.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #4
Highest achievement: Has won two main LDCs, both collaborations with other notable designer MessengerOfDreams, and has also won a mini-LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Epic Mario World Series
5th- Volkove. He is an incredible designer, both with skill and detail. It's clear he stands so high in the tier list just with the excellent atmospheres and nostalgia he creates, even with the levels he didn't intend to do well. Perfect examples include Savage Labyrinth and Stone Tower Temple. Not only that, but when he does create a level to the best of his abilities, that's when we get masterpieces such as Into the Depths and Penguin God. If that doesn't say enough about why he is praised so highly already, I don't know what will. I would highly recommend his levels to anyone, because with his balanced difficulty and innovative plays, you simply can't go wrong.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #1
Highest achievement: Winning two LDCs and a mini-LDC, as well as receiving the most amount of silver trophies ever, and placing in all the positions 6th and above. Also, he won WITBLO10 with Temple of the Penguin God, and placed 2nd in the extremely competitive WITBLO12.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Into the Depths
6th- Zero/Yurimaster. He is probably one of the most underrated designers right now, but his style, especially his graphical style, is appreciated highly by many other level designers. He still has a lot of potential, and his skill is growing, but I think give some time and some more LDCs, he could be finding himself moving faster up the tier list than ever.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #6
Highest achievement: Won the 27th LDC and won the 3rd 25quared mini-LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Sandworm Domain
7th- BY. This guy can do the works in his levels. He can make them fun, innovative on a Level4 scale, graphically interesting and very detailed. Even if he doesn't make huge series and sticks to mainly platformers, there is very rarely any disappointment for his levels as they always deliver an exceptionally good time. If he keeps working well, he will make it higher up the tier list and hopefully leave a good impact on level designing as we know it.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #7
Highest achievement: Winning the 22nd LDC with a rather a short but sweet entry.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Underwhere
8th- SuperMIC. I think it's clear to see that SMIC's knowledge of the level designer has really worked in his favour. Not only did he come back from the 14th LDC with truly epic levels and series, but he proved that you can even make the simplest of ideas grand and memorable. His entrant in the 20th LDC scored the highest silver trophy of all time, beating out even the majority of past winning entries. He knows what makes a level fun and look good, and since they are the two most important areas of level designing, he succeeds more often than not.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #8
Highest achievement: His vision, finally executed, when he turned in Timpani and Blumiere: The Untold Story, which came in second in the 20th LDC with a stunning 17.62.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Timpani and Blumiere: The Untold Story
9th- 24murph. Let's count 'em all up. He made one of the most noted and extensive level series of all time, made many great levels and won two level designer contests. There's hardly any good ones out there that haven't been compared to 24Murph at some point or another. He pioneered competitive level designing, and his levels, surprisingly, still hold up today.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #1
Highest achievement: He's won two LDCs and his level "The Final Rush" was also named the best level of all time before WITBLO11 was created.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Course Series REMAKE
10th- Buffooner. Buffooner can officially be called the master of the pure platformer, with only DarkBlaze anywhere near his realm. Not only can he design them well he knows the entire dynamic of how to create a platformer; what goes where, how the player should move, and what the obstacles should be like. Runouw would be very impressed. Not that Buffooner shies away from a little innovation; Ship Below took the airship and put it underwater but still made it an airship. Also let's not forget the wry British humor.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #7
Highest achievement: After entering nine different LDCs over the entire history of the forums, he finally got a gold medal in the 20th LDC with the most acclaimed pure platformer of all time.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Shyguy Island
Second Tier-Also Legends
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11th- KABOOM. While they were always more underrated in LDCs and on the portal, after placing 3rd in the rather tricky 22nd LDC and proving to us they can make a fully engaging level using just a few platforming techniques, I feel comfortable allowing them into the silver tier.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #11
Highest achievement: Winning the 28th LDC (Urban theme) and getting 2nd in the 2nd 25quared mini-LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Infernal Tower
12th- Vesoralla. This kid knows his video games. He can make Mario levels feel like Donkey Kong or Kirby levels, but even more impressive is how impeccable and engaging he can make even the simplest platformer level. To make a good level requires many facets other than just gameplay, and DarkBlaze understands this, and that's why he wins. Not only that but he can create whole new and beautiful worlds by mixing the tilesets together. Sandy Soil in the Skylands for example, while it was only simple, showed that you can make an engaging level using just two natural tilesets- Jungle and Desert. This is what he is known best for and hopefully will continue to please in the same way.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #9
Highest achievement: His 1st placing in the 17th LDC was the reason for this position in the second tier, which placed in the top 5 in WITBLO11.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Ghostly Grove/Frost Glade
13th- Fourinone. He hasn't made many levels but we remember those he's made by heart, haven't we? The Etheral Mansion has been considered as the best level designer contest entrant of all time. Arid Arid Desert was one of the most extensive levels that have been created, bar none. Personally I loved his entrant to Bowser's New Castle- first great level I ever played (-written by MoD). Bottom line, even if there aren't many, he's made the site's most memorable levels.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #3
Highest achievement: He won two LDCs consecutively, the 3rd and 4th; and it would be a draw between him and the highest 1st placing if they were rounded to 18/20.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: The Ethereal Mansion
14th- Supershroom. Although he may not have been a designer as long as some, the creations he has pulled out of the bag so far is no less than incredible. Whether you're judging by quantity, quality or any other standard, one thing is for sure- Shroom has imagination AND motivation. With the past couple years being fairly quiet in the designing community, could it be possible that Shroom has had a massive contributing factor to the resurrection of SM63? With his big, grandiose projects and level series, it's not all that surprising really.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #14
Highest achievement: Placing 2nd in the 28th LDC, and 3rd in a collaboration with Jumbo in the 30th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Ride Through The Mines
15th- Doram. He's entered many an LDC and won one, and makes great levels with great, down home character and platforming influenced by the greatest of platformers. There's not much for total wow factor, but his levels are like a good book on a rainy day. His speciality are mostly creating mazes and his beach levels seem to get the most attention. There aren't many people who can make a level like Doram does.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #15
Highest achievement: His 1st place in the 13th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Impossible Treasures
16th- Nwolf. While his levels have quite an unusual style, that's what makes them so fun. He doesn't look for the conventional platforming techniques, instead, he looks for the difficulty. That's what makes his work so interesting, because it's very rare to get bored in an Nwolf level. When he puts his mind to it, he can achieve great innovation also, which seems to be a very highly praised section of level designing nowadays.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #8
Highest achievement: He recently won an LDC- the 25th.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Bowser's Forgotten Castle
17th- NanTheDark. Don't discount Nan. He may not be one of the loudest or most recognizable LDers, but let's face it. He's damn good. He has a fresh take on things and even if they don't always pull through, you remember them. Needs more notoriety.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #17
Highest achievement: Placing 2nd in the 23rd LDC with JSlayerXero.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Urban Climb
18th- 1018peter. Not many levels give off such an interesting yet wonderful feel, or not in the way that 1018peter's levels do. His style is truly very unique, and nobody can seem to create the same atmosphere as he can. But that is why his levels are loved- he can either take a simple idea, or a very complex idea- and transform it into something quite extraordinary. He may suffer on some occasions from a spot of lag, but that isn't impossible to fix. And his bosses certainly don't disappoint.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #18
Highest achievement: Receiving 4th place in the 26th LDC, Conflict themed.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Freezeflame Fortress
19th- Yoshi Boo 118. He isn't as active as he was once was perhaps, but he is definitely a notable name in designing, with a number of great level series, a few of them gaining WITBLO appreciation, and even winning a mini LDC in recent times. You would be mad to underestimate his capabilities.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #19
Highest achievement: His highest placing was also 4th, but in the 18th LDC, possibly one of the most competitive LDCs in history. He also has won a mini LDC for the Runolympics.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: MMMMMM
20th- FrozenFire. This Level Mod wasn't even on the tier for long, but a recent 5th place finish in the 29th LDC and a stunning 3rd place in the 4th 25quared, he secures his placing on the bronze tier. With even more time, who knows how high he can climb.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #20
Highest achievement: 3rd place in the 4th 25squared LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: P U L S E
Third Tier-Great Level Designers
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21st- Raiyuuni. While he may not be the most prolific designer, there is no denying that he has incredible skill with innovation and making his creations look as graphically pleasing as possible. Most people see SM63 as a rather simple designer, but Rai seems to have a talent at making it come across so intricate and complex, which is something not many of us can do, at least not well. Throw some neat gameplay ideas into the mix and you have quite an amazing combination right there.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #21
Highest achievement: Placing 4th in the 3rd 25quared mini-LDC, and being known for pushing the boundaries of the level designer.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Downfall
22nd- Triple J. This guy is what the future could look to be like in level designing, with his new and fresh ideas, one of the only things he needs to improve upon is the lag and loading time of his levels. He never fails to bring a shock and he could easily be named an innovator too. His levels have a realistic feel to them also and his new gameplay ideas always please- even if they are quite confusing sometimes. Overall, I feel he deserves this place on the tier list.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #21
Highest achievement: Placing in the top 10 of WITBLO13.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Weather Works (scroll down a bit to the LDC part of the first post)
23rd- Jumbo101. Being newer to the world of level designing does not stop this kid from already achieving so much. Not to mention the fact he captured the attention of so many people (including Runouw himself) with his ingenious Goomba Simulator, but he also represented his whole team in the RO SM63 LDC and even collaborated with well known designer Supershroom for the 30th LDC. If that doesn't prove his growing potential, I don't know what will.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #23
Highest achievement: Placing 3rd in a collaboration with Shroom, in the 30th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Death's Castle
24th- Ayrayen. He has been well-known in the past for his level Lake of Eternal Silence, which did well enough to place 10th in the very first WITBLO. His levels usually consist of an interesting storyline and some beautiful graphical work to spice things up. Not only that, but his platforming knowledge doesn't let down either. It shows that all you need to be a good designer is to make a level interesting, whether that means by making it fun, or if it means making it look incredible. The fact that Ayray can do both and he can do them especially well means he has what it takes to blow away the level designing community.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #18
Highest achievement: Recently winning the 24th LDC (Jungle Forest) with a very high score of 17.38.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Keel's Hatred and the Jungle Sprite
25th- Karyete. Being a designer for quite some time, Karyete impressed us with his small and fun pieces, and made great impact in the 17th and in the 22nd LDCs. However, he's recently showing even more potential, so he's definitely the guy to keep an eye on.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #25
Highest achievement: Placing 5th in the 17th LDC, and 6th in a collaboration with MP3 in the 22nd.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Sky Goddess Shrine
26th- Krazy321. Krazy321 was ahead of the game in a way that no one else ever quite was- by making every level exceptional. Even today it is hard to compete with his craftsmanship, fantastic graphics and ingenious, simplistic gameplay. Straight out of the gate from his very first levels, Krazy was phenomenal in a way that has been nearly impossible to replicate and influences many, many designers even to this day.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #5
Highest achievement: He has managed to get the highest 1st placing ever in an LDC, above an outstanding 18/20.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Space Colony
27th- Nin10mode. Not one of the loudest voices in the level designing business, but one of the sharpest. He's come up with good ideas for his levels, making them memorable and enjoyable even if he didn't win his contests. He is most revered for his graphical innovation, using items and tiles in unique ways to make for a beautiful level. Such innovation can be found in levels such as Exterresta and Tesoro Luminoso. He's simply great.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #9
Highest achievement: He has scored 2nd in the 10th LDC, Space themed.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Fort Omniquet
28th- Harmless. After a long career of level designing and showing impressive potential, Harm finds his way onto the tier list. His style is incredibly authentic, you know when you are in his world of imagination, and overall his ideas are pretty great. His strength is the platforming, but he also succeeds at bringing the audience into the atmosphere, and for this reason it is quite easy to escape into it. With hopefully some more work and guidance, Harmless could potentially be the next level designing master.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #28
Highest achievement: Placing 4th in the 27th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Butterfly Hills
29th- Lordpat. He's been on the scene for awhile but has just really started catching people's attention with interesting takes on platformers and making rather graphical masterpieces, which gave him one of the highest regarded names graphic-wise in level designing. He continues to design now, even if not as much as before, and has managed to maintain the notoriety he gained.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #17
Highest achievement: Becoming a portal legend and placing 4th in the Chasm/Caves theme in the 21st LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Eternal Caves Series
30th- Megar. Only recently releasing many short and fun levels onto the portal, MegaR has gained rather a lot of notoriety from other portal designers. His levels contain a sonic-esque feel (as described by MoD) and have very interesting tile combinations and graphics in general. He may not have the biggest voice in level designing right now, but he certainly shows potential to become one of the big ones sometime in the future.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #28
Highest achievement: Placing 4th with a rather small but sweet entry in the 22nd LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Metal Field
Potential Chart Crashers?
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In this bonus tier, I list a small number of designers that could find their way onto the tier in the immediate future if they keep it up.
Honourable Mentions
This list is dedicated to talented level designers who may have retired or been inactive for a prolonged amount of time. Let us never forget them.
So this is the tier list. It's subject to change after every major event (LDCs, WITBLO, duels, Runouw Votes). At the moment, though, if you're reading this, this is a decent summary of the LDing scene.
Minitiers
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Alright, my friends. We're implementing a ton of MINITIERS! That is, just like before, we have tiers of three or four for each specialty of designing. What gets you to the top is the amount of skill, but also the notoriety someone gets for it. You'll see what I mean. Let's look below!
(Ace is 1st (in my world, Aces are always high), King is 2nd and Queen is 3rd when brought up. Jack is 3rd, unless there's a queen, when it is fourth. The Queen is the wild card.
)
EDIT: Rook is added a 5th rank, so then there's room for 5 designers in each tier.
Graphics
Are their levels so gorgeous that they leave a photographic memory?
Ace: Nin10mode- His graphical achievements are subtle but magnificently done. He has many unconventional ideas and can execute them flawlessly. Even simple small levels (Tesoro Lumoso) can be incredible just on graphical achievement.
King: MessengerOfDreams- Not only has she pulled off great looking levels, she's innovated as well, with block usage for background, and has a habit for using tiles in incredibly unconventional ways, such as her snake-like platform that centerpieces Niveau Victorieux Galaxy.
Queen: MP3 Amplifier- Studying the graphics in levels to a very high extent, she has managed to overcome her fear of making decoration and interesting tiling overused or underused, and succeeded in finding a balance between the two, and 99% of the time this works in her favour.
Jack: Yurimaster- His graphics have been the big new thing in level designing recently, with the incredible amount of skill he has to offer, and the innovation he adds too. His levels always look top standard and unbelievable.
Rook: Lordpat- Maintaining a rather fashionable and repetitive style in his level's graphics, Lordpat has managed to gain much respect from other level designers and has even managed to impact on some of the legends' levels and how their graphics are.
Fun
How enjoyable are their works? Can they always provide a legendarily good time?
Ace: Volkove- Not only does he have very solid, very dedicated ideas, they don't deviate from their sources and they are executed with panache, including flawless platforming, puzzling and the occasional endurance match. There's a reason he tops the tiers even by accident.
King: Star king- Admitting to having a large ego, he utilizes his larger than life persona to execute out of the ordinary ideas- cities, Gorillaz-inspired beaches, Pipe systems. Even if they don't always work well, there's rarely anything quite like a Star king level.
Queen: KABOOM- They may not be the most skilled in fun just yet, but their ideas for gameplay are no doubt original and definitely fun, that it's not tricky at all to enjoy a level of theirs.
Jack: Nwolf- While he's still growing he can sure provide a great show with original, quirky ideas and no fear to crank up the difficulty.
Rook: Doram- May not be the loudest voice in level designing and may sometimes even be underrated, however there is no doubt he has what it takes to make very engaging puzzle level and his style will never let you down in enjoyment.
Professional Detail
How immaculately do they care for their levels? Could they be passed as professional Nintendo quality?
Ace: Volkove- Perhaps what makes Volcove's levels stand out above the rest is the seamless, flawless quality each has. There can rarely ever a bug be found or an interruption to hinder the gameplay. They truly have a professional quality to them as if made by an official company, but all done by one man.
King: Buffooner- His platformers truly show what anyone can do with simple tiling and gameplay, which is why people love the traditional feel and the level of skill that goes into his levels.
Queen: MP3 Amplifier- It's always great to see someone who is eager to create levels and who loves doing so, especially when they pour that passion into their projects, making sure every detail is perfect for the judges' viewing just as Amp does.
Jack: BY- The knowledge he has of bugs and code cracking is incredible, just play his levels and you'll see for yourself.
Rook: Triple J- He may not be the king of professional detail just yet, but he's certainly not a careless designer. Sometimes the issue is that he is so detailed in his levels, we never know where to start. But that's not always a disadvantage- sometimes that just proves his potential at being one of our greatest designers in the future.
Innovation
Have they brought anything new to the table? Have they tried things no one has before?
Ace: Venexis- We all know that he's the man synonymous with "Bloss" (his own terminology). What you also may not know is that he tries as hard as he can NOT to make a normal SM63 level. His drastically underrated Space Duel entry (It's Rocket Science) is a film-like level with theatrical qualities and a dead-world setting, not to mention his dream-based level series with collaborate MoD, and his recent attempts to make a FlipSide Galaxy based level. He strives not to be like anyone else, therefore he is not, and unabashed originality (damn the contest placing) is in and of itself quite innovative.
King: BY- He is probably one of the most innovative designers we've ever seen since Level4. Not only that but his inventions inspire people to try out new things, as well as his fresh style and feel that he delivers in his levels along with the items that he has created too.
Queen: MP3 Amplifier- After taking inspiration from other innovative level designers, she has managed to turn her style from being simple and gameplay-filled to innovative and rather complex, even being the first to try out different coloured moving platforms (other than green) and being the first to take such simple, everyday concepts to new levels. She has even created new words and new creatures for her levels, e.g. Science War.
Jack: MessengerOfDreams- Speaking of which, just like her above colleague, MessengerOfDreams has learned to go out of the ordinary. She still appreciates a classic Mario level (her doomsday-esque Finis) but prefers the theatrical, emotional story-driven route. Her award winning series Dark is an interactive story with its own world, similar to Destinations. It's her drive to tell a story foremost that puts her above the rest in many ways.
Rook: Triple J- Perhaps he still has a little way to go, but I think many of us see a good future of level designing for him. He uses quite inventive ideas and glitches in order for you to enjoy a level to its fullest. While he may suffer from a few bugs here and there, it very rarely holds down how fun and innovative his levels actually are.
Story
Can they go the extra mile to provide a gripping plot with the skeleton of a level?
Ace: MessengerOfDreams- The far and away legend of SM63 Storytelling- already having been the most notable writer on the site, MoD upped her game by bringing legitimate stories into her levels. Whether it was silently (14th LDC Apocalypto Finis) or through heavy storyboarding (18th LDC juggernaut Dark) or a harmonious combination of dialogue and set design (Destinations), MoD has always provided not only a story, but a comprehensive and involving journey.
King: MP3 Amplifier- It's possible that she makes some of the weirdest, most unusual stories known to the site. However, that still doesn't let her down and she has had many successes in the past relating to stories.
Queen: SuperMIC- Being in the business of epics, SuperMIC knows that a true legendary level could always use a great story. Even in his less successful entries (Blood of Violet Hill) he can draw out excellent adventures, full of drama, tension, and a nice dose of heart (being the first noted designer to include a romantic angle in a level).
Jack: Master1.0- Known for his Murph/you stories, he can provide a good story if only for a nice setting for his two friends to banter across with winning chemistry.
Rook: Tune4Toons- Even being new to the level designing business doesn't stop this girl from creating some wonderful stories for them. Placing third in the Storytelling 21st LDC should say enough about her success with them.
Fame and Notoriety
How likely are you to know their designing names? Are people constantly compared to them or are they always on the radar during LDCs and other events?
Ace: MessengerOfDreams- Just recently a hot name due to dropping a world record series in the 18th LDC, now that her solo career has been proven and she has three victories under her belt (more than anyone else in history) she's becoming a true force to be reckoned with- with Venexis or without. Add this to her consistent monitoring and involvement raising the level designing community and she becomes synonymous with the world of level designing.
King: MP3 Amplifier- Taking MoD's place in the level designing scene, she promises to continue big projects and start some of her own, as well as her constant growing skill in level designing (which is why she's shooting up the tier).
Queen: BY- He is taking over the portal with his addictive and inventive levels. Newbies look up to him, and we can all see why. He helps people, and he is just a great designer to be inspired by.
Jack: Star king- There is not a designer that is quite like Star king- in personality, in trait and in interests. Still in the public eye after medaling 6 LDCs in a row and winning one, Star is known for out there ideas, a somewhat justifiable ego that rarely fails him and the courage to go big or go home.
Rook: Triple J- Not only are his levels improving a lot, but also he hardly ever goes unnoticed on the level portal and/or level designer forums. He is always eager to share new ideas of his with the community, and people welcome that greatly.
Legacy
Which retired designers still impact designing today?
Ace: Fourinone- The three big levels he pulled off in 2009 are not only revered and unforgettable, they influence other levels today or are even copied suspiciously close. They set a standard for the total package of great levels with wacky characters, laugh out loud humor, incredibly executed obstacles and perfectly synergistic tricks and glitches, all wrapped up with an odd modesty unfitting of such massive, magnificent creations.
King: Level4- In all mentioned royalty of level designers, Level4 will never be forgotten. Not only has he introduced a smattering of innovation for block technology and other useful ideas, he was one of the first designers of the forums (with tenure during fall of 2009) and he's still years ahead of every level made today, blazing a trail that we may never catch up to.
Queen: Krazy321- While Krazy had only one instance of capturing lightning in a bottle for all to see in the 5th LDC, he still had a near-perfect track record of incredibly mastered levels of very high quality, with his graphics and gameplay still inspiring those even today. Krazy was a predecessor to many great designers of today in style and substance.
Jack: 24murph- The original king of designing, not only was he the first non-moderator to help coordinate an LDC (by providing the template for the 5th LDC of Unfinished Level, he set a record that would only be beaten by Volcove's own 17th LDC) but he was simply the best designer of his time. Providing the best level of 2009, two LDC winners in a row, a complete expansive level series (that would later get entirely remade) he's the type of designer that is a phenomena in his own right.
Rook: Venexis- While only recently retiring from level designing, he's probably left one of the biggest impacts on level designing from anyone. His block bosses or "blosses" made history with his Omega Blooper being the best block boss ever, as well as his tricks and usage of the grey bricks. There is no doubt he will always be remembered for his impact on level designing.
Next Big Things
What designers could be on their way to being the next phenomena?
Ace: Yurimaster- He's certainly got a great amount of potential ready to use in the level designing scene, and is introducing new and fresh platforming techniques by the day. I doubt he will be hiding in the shadows about his skills for much longer.
King: 1018peter- His name is becoming bigger and more recognised by the day and his levels certainly don't disappoint either. He's got a huge amount of potential, he just needs to learn how to use it.
Queen: Raiyuuni- He has already had two levels entered into different WITBLOs, so it's not that he wasn't good before, but now he is gradually getting more notoriety he is definitely one of the next big things of the moment.
Jack: *Emelia Kaylee- Again, he's been designing levels for quite a while, but recently we've just started to see how much skill is involved. His levels come in small packages, yet they have the ability to blow you away, which is not something many people can do.
Rook: --
There will be more added tomorrow. For tonight, there's this.
Credit to MoD for running the topic before me and for that short time we were running it together!
Tier 1- Best of the Best
Tier 2- Also Legends
Tier 3- Great
Potentials & Honourables
Minitiers
X Return to Top V
1st- MessengerOfDreams. Not only did MoD bring in the whole story-driven series fashion on a new level, she won countless awards for hers. Destinations won the highest approval from some of the greatest level designers, and Dark won the second highest score (perhaps the highest) ever recorded in an LDC. She's also won WITBLO11 alongside Venexis, and WITBLO12 too, which is named to be the highest skilled WITBLO ever. Even if she is a little bit less active now, she is still designing quite remarkable series and levels.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #1
Highest achievement: She has won four LDCs, two in collaborations with Venexis, her third being one of the highest scoring entrants of all time and the first 18 since 2009, and she won the 29th LDC alongside other acclaimed designer Star king. She has also won two WITBLOs- '11 and '12.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Dark
2nd- MP3 Amplifier. She has proved that practice makes perfect here- although she started LDCs with 7th and 9th places, a lucky collab with SMIC managed to get both of them a second place, even when she felt farthest away from it. Since then, things have never been the same. Her constant success in the more recent LDCs is what has gotten her to the top, but it wasn't all out of luck. Her style is described as dreamy and sometimes a little trippy, but that is why her levels shine with people, because they are unpredictable and out of the norm. And most of the time, this is praised highly.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #2
Highest achievement: Winning five (perhaps six) LDCs; the 19th, the 21st (Storytelling & Overall Results), the 23rd, the 26th, and the 30th. Also being the first person to beat Volkove at a duel with a series that placed 3rd in WITBLO12 and scored an 18/20.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Tearing Paper
3rd- Star king/Asterocrat. This guy, just when you think he's reached his highest level, can make things to blow other levels out of the window. You would think that there's a limited amount of shocks you can have from a level, but Star proves us wrong. He shows that you can create big and bold ideas without stressing yourself to the point of frustration, and probably creates some of the most addictive platformers around. Let the tile combinations and the fresh, modern style that he gives in his levels speak for itself.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #2
Highest achievement: He won the 12th LDC with the very famous "Dimension Infinity", placing 2nd in WITBLO11; as well as the 29th in a collab with MoD, after a series of entrants ranging from second to fifth place. Also making a very successful still-in-progress level series called Super Mario Countdown.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Neon City
4th- Venexis. He's one of the most notable level designers of today. His Epic Mario World redefined level series, bringing innovation of the gods but a humble charm to them that makes it hard not to like them. While most are blaring out their masterpieces in everyone's faces with their own horn that they toot, Venexis' levels are Tao. It just is there, waiting for us to find them. Not to mention the only LDC he's entered he won with the only winning collaboration level in the LDC's history.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #4
Highest achievement: Has won two main LDCs, both collaborations with other notable designer MessengerOfDreams, and has also won a mini-LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Epic Mario World Series
5th- Volkove. He is an incredible designer, both with skill and detail. It's clear he stands so high in the tier list just with the excellent atmospheres and nostalgia he creates, even with the levels he didn't intend to do well. Perfect examples include Savage Labyrinth and Stone Tower Temple. Not only that, but when he does create a level to the best of his abilities, that's when we get masterpieces such as Into the Depths and Penguin God. If that doesn't say enough about why he is praised so highly already, I don't know what will. I would highly recommend his levels to anyone, because with his balanced difficulty and innovative plays, you simply can't go wrong.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #1
Highest achievement: Winning two LDCs and a mini-LDC, as well as receiving the most amount of silver trophies ever, and placing in all the positions 6th and above. Also, he won WITBLO10 with Temple of the Penguin God, and placed 2nd in the extremely competitive WITBLO12.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Into the Depths
6th- Zero/Yurimaster. He is probably one of the most underrated designers right now, but his style, especially his graphical style, is appreciated highly by many other level designers. He still has a lot of potential, and his skill is growing, but I think give some time and some more LDCs, he could be finding himself moving faster up the tier list than ever.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #6
Highest achievement: Won the 27th LDC and won the 3rd 25quared mini-LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Sandworm Domain
7th- BY. This guy can do the works in his levels. He can make them fun, innovative on a Level4 scale, graphically interesting and very detailed. Even if he doesn't make huge series and sticks to mainly platformers, there is very rarely any disappointment for his levels as they always deliver an exceptionally good time. If he keeps working well, he will make it higher up the tier list and hopefully leave a good impact on level designing as we know it.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #7
Highest achievement: Winning the 22nd LDC with a rather a short but sweet entry.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Underwhere
8th- SuperMIC. I think it's clear to see that SMIC's knowledge of the level designer has really worked in his favour. Not only did he come back from the 14th LDC with truly epic levels and series, but he proved that you can even make the simplest of ideas grand and memorable. His entrant in the 20th LDC scored the highest silver trophy of all time, beating out even the majority of past winning entries. He knows what makes a level fun and look good, and since they are the two most important areas of level designing, he succeeds more often than not.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #8
Highest achievement: His vision, finally executed, when he turned in Timpani and Blumiere: The Untold Story, which came in second in the 20th LDC with a stunning 17.62.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Timpani and Blumiere: The Untold Story
9th- 24murph. Let's count 'em all up. He made one of the most noted and extensive level series of all time, made many great levels and won two level designer contests. There's hardly any good ones out there that haven't been compared to 24Murph at some point or another. He pioneered competitive level designing, and his levels, surprisingly, still hold up today.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #1
Highest achievement: He's won two LDCs and his level "The Final Rush" was also named the best level of all time before WITBLO11 was created.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Course Series REMAKE
10th- Buffooner. Buffooner can officially be called the master of the pure platformer, with only DarkBlaze anywhere near his realm. Not only can he design them well he knows the entire dynamic of how to create a platformer; what goes where, how the player should move, and what the obstacles should be like. Runouw would be very impressed. Not that Buffooner shies away from a little innovation; Ship Below took the airship and put it underwater but still made it an airship. Also let's not forget the wry British humor.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #7
Highest achievement: After entering nine different LDCs over the entire history of the forums, he finally got a gold medal in the 20th LDC with the most acclaimed pure platformer of all time.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Shyguy Island
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11th- KABOOM. While they were always more underrated in LDCs and on the portal, after placing 3rd in the rather tricky 22nd LDC and proving to us they can make a fully engaging level using just a few platforming techniques, I feel comfortable allowing them into the silver tier.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #11
Highest achievement: Winning the 28th LDC (Urban theme) and getting 2nd in the 2nd 25quared mini-LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Infernal Tower
12th- Vesoralla. This kid knows his video games. He can make Mario levels feel like Donkey Kong or Kirby levels, but even more impressive is how impeccable and engaging he can make even the simplest platformer level. To make a good level requires many facets other than just gameplay, and DarkBlaze understands this, and that's why he wins. Not only that but he can create whole new and beautiful worlds by mixing the tilesets together. Sandy Soil in the Skylands for example, while it was only simple, showed that you can make an engaging level using just two natural tilesets- Jungle and Desert. This is what he is known best for and hopefully will continue to please in the same way.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #9
Highest achievement: His 1st placing in the 17th LDC was the reason for this position in the second tier, which placed in the top 5 in WITBLO11.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Ghostly Grove/Frost Glade
13th- Fourinone. He hasn't made many levels but we remember those he's made by heart, haven't we? The Etheral Mansion has been considered as the best level designer contest entrant of all time. Arid Arid Desert was one of the most extensive levels that have been created, bar none. Personally I loved his entrant to Bowser's New Castle- first great level I ever played (-written by MoD). Bottom line, even if there aren't many, he's made the site's most memorable levels.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #3
Highest achievement: He won two LDCs consecutively, the 3rd and 4th; and it would be a draw between him and the highest 1st placing if they were rounded to 18/20.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: The Ethereal Mansion
14th- Supershroom. Although he may not have been a designer as long as some, the creations he has pulled out of the bag so far is no less than incredible. Whether you're judging by quantity, quality or any other standard, one thing is for sure- Shroom has imagination AND motivation. With the past couple years being fairly quiet in the designing community, could it be possible that Shroom has had a massive contributing factor to the resurrection of SM63? With his big, grandiose projects and level series, it's not all that surprising really.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #14
Highest achievement: Placing 2nd in the 28th LDC, and 3rd in a collaboration with Jumbo in the 30th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Ride Through The Mines
15th- Doram. He's entered many an LDC and won one, and makes great levels with great, down home character and platforming influenced by the greatest of platformers. There's not much for total wow factor, but his levels are like a good book on a rainy day. His speciality are mostly creating mazes and his beach levels seem to get the most attention. There aren't many people who can make a level like Doram does.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #15
Highest achievement: His 1st place in the 13th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Impossible Treasures
16th- Nwolf. While his levels have quite an unusual style, that's what makes them so fun. He doesn't look for the conventional platforming techniques, instead, he looks for the difficulty. That's what makes his work so interesting, because it's very rare to get bored in an Nwolf level. When he puts his mind to it, he can achieve great innovation also, which seems to be a very highly praised section of level designing nowadays.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #8
Highest achievement: He recently won an LDC- the 25th.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Bowser's Forgotten Castle
17th- NanTheDark. Don't discount Nan. He may not be one of the loudest or most recognizable LDers, but let's face it. He's damn good. He has a fresh take on things and even if they don't always pull through, you remember them. Needs more notoriety.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #17
Highest achievement: Placing 2nd in the 23rd LDC with JSlayerXero.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Urban Climb
18th- 1018peter. Not many levels give off such an interesting yet wonderful feel, or not in the way that 1018peter's levels do. His style is truly very unique, and nobody can seem to create the same atmosphere as he can. But that is why his levels are loved- he can either take a simple idea, or a very complex idea- and transform it into something quite extraordinary. He may suffer on some occasions from a spot of lag, but that isn't impossible to fix. And his bosses certainly don't disappoint.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #18
Highest achievement: Receiving 4th place in the 26th LDC, Conflict themed.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Freezeflame Fortress
19th- Yoshi Boo 118. He isn't as active as he was once was perhaps, but he is definitely a notable name in designing, with a number of great level series, a few of them gaining WITBLO appreciation, and even winning a mini LDC in recent times. You would be mad to underestimate his capabilities.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #19
Highest achievement: His highest placing was also 4th, but in the 18th LDC, possibly one of the most competitive LDCs in history. He also has won a mini LDC for the Runolympics.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: MMMMMM
20th- FrozenFire. This Level Mod wasn't even on the tier for long, but a recent 5th place finish in the 29th LDC and a stunning 3rd place in the 4th 25quared, he secures his placing on the bronze tier. With even more time, who knows how high he can climb.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #20
Highest achievement: 3rd place in the 4th 25squared LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: P U L S E
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21st- Raiyuuni. While he may not be the most prolific designer, there is no denying that he has incredible skill with innovation and making his creations look as graphically pleasing as possible. Most people see SM63 as a rather simple designer, but Rai seems to have a talent at making it come across so intricate and complex, which is something not many of us can do, at least not well. Throw some neat gameplay ideas into the mix and you have quite an amazing combination right there.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #21
Highest achievement: Placing 4th in the 3rd 25quared mini-LDC, and being known for pushing the boundaries of the level designer.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Downfall
22nd- Triple J. This guy is what the future could look to be like in level designing, with his new and fresh ideas, one of the only things he needs to improve upon is the lag and loading time of his levels. He never fails to bring a shock and he could easily be named an innovator too. His levels have a realistic feel to them also and his new gameplay ideas always please- even if they are quite confusing sometimes. Overall, I feel he deserves this place on the tier list.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #21
Highest achievement: Placing in the top 10 of WITBLO13.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Weather Works (scroll down a bit to the LDC part of the first post)
23rd- Jumbo101. Being newer to the world of level designing does not stop this kid from already achieving so much. Not to mention the fact he captured the attention of so many people (including Runouw himself) with his ingenious Goomba Simulator, but he also represented his whole team in the RO SM63 LDC and even collaborated with well known designer Supershroom for the 30th LDC. If that doesn't prove his growing potential, I don't know what will.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #23
Highest achievement: Placing 3rd in a collaboration with Shroom, in the 30th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Death's Castle
24th- Ayrayen. He has been well-known in the past for his level Lake of Eternal Silence, which did well enough to place 10th in the very first WITBLO. His levels usually consist of an interesting storyline and some beautiful graphical work to spice things up. Not only that, but his platforming knowledge doesn't let down either. It shows that all you need to be a good designer is to make a level interesting, whether that means by making it fun, or if it means making it look incredible. The fact that Ayray can do both and he can do them especially well means he has what it takes to blow away the level designing community.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #18
Highest achievement: Recently winning the 24th LDC (Jungle Forest) with a very high score of 17.38.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Keel's Hatred and the Jungle Sprite
25th- Karyete. Being a designer for quite some time, Karyete impressed us with his small and fun pieces, and made great impact in the 17th and in the 22nd LDCs. However, he's recently showing even more potential, so he's definitely the guy to keep an eye on.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #25
Highest achievement: Placing 5th in the 17th LDC, and 6th in a collaboration with MP3 in the 22nd.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Sky Goddess Shrine
26th- Krazy321. Krazy321 was ahead of the game in a way that no one else ever quite was- by making every level exceptional. Even today it is hard to compete with his craftsmanship, fantastic graphics and ingenious, simplistic gameplay. Straight out of the gate from his very first levels, Krazy was phenomenal in a way that has been nearly impossible to replicate and influences many, many designers even to this day.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #5
Highest achievement: He has managed to get the highest 1st placing ever in an LDC, above an outstanding 18/20.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Space Colony
27th- Nin10mode. Not one of the loudest voices in the level designing business, but one of the sharpest. He's come up with good ideas for his levels, making them memorable and enjoyable even if he didn't win his contests. He is most revered for his graphical innovation, using items and tiles in unique ways to make for a beautiful level. Such innovation can be found in levels such as Exterresta and Tesoro Luminoso. He's simply great.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #9
Highest achievement: He has scored 2nd in the 10th LDC, Space themed.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Fort Omniquet
28th- Harmless. After a long career of level designing and showing impressive potential, Harm finds his way onto the tier list. His style is incredibly authentic, you know when you are in his world of imagination, and overall his ideas are pretty great. His strength is the platforming, but he also succeeds at bringing the audience into the atmosphere, and for this reason it is quite easy to escape into it. With hopefully some more work and guidance, Harmless could potentially be the next level designing master.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #28
Highest achievement: Placing 4th in the 27th LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Butterfly Hills
29th- Lordpat. He's been on the scene for awhile but has just really started catching people's attention with interesting takes on platformers and making rather graphical masterpieces, which gave him one of the highest regarded names graphic-wise in level designing. He continues to design now, even if not as much as before, and has managed to maintain the notoriety he gained.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #17
Highest achievement: Becoming a portal legend and placing 4th in the Chasm/Caves theme in the 21st LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Eternal Caves Series
30th- Megar. Only recently releasing many short and fun levels onto the portal, MegaR has gained rather a lot of notoriety from other portal designers. His levels contain a sonic-esque feel (as described by MoD) and have very interesting tile combinations and graphics in general. He may not have the biggest voice in level designing right now, but he certainly shows potential to become one of the big ones sometime in the future.
Highest Placing recorded in Tier List: #28
Highest achievement: Placing 4th with a rather small but sweet entry in the 22nd LDC.
Most recommended level/series of theirs: Metal Field
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In this bonus tier, I list a small number of designers that could find their way onto the tier in the immediate future if they keep it up.
- Tap W
- FlourescenceLight
- Awesomeguy 99
- Illusion
- Forgotten
This list is dedicated to talented level designers who may have retired or been inactive for a prolonged amount of time. Let us never forget them.
- Zebtrestalala
- Level4
So this is the tier list. It's subject to change after every major event (LDCs, WITBLO, duels, Runouw Votes). At the moment, though, if you're reading this, this is a decent summary of the LDing scene.
^ Return to Top X
Alright, my friends. We're implementing a ton of MINITIERS! That is, just like before, we have tiers of three or four for each specialty of designing. What gets you to the top is the amount of skill, but also the notoriety someone gets for it. You'll see what I mean. Let's look below!
(Ace is 1st (in my world, Aces are always high), King is 2nd and Queen is 3rd when brought up. Jack is 3rd, unless there's a queen, when it is fourth. The Queen is the wild card.
)EDIT: Rook is added a 5th rank, so then there's room for 5 designers in each tier.
Graphics
Are their levels so gorgeous that they leave a photographic memory?
Ace: Nin10mode- His graphical achievements are subtle but magnificently done. He has many unconventional ideas and can execute them flawlessly. Even simple small levels (Tesoro Lumoso) can be incredible just on graphical achievement.
King: MessengerOfDreams- Not only has she pulled off great looking levels, she's innovated as well, with block usage for background, and has a habit for using tiles in incredibly unconventional ways, such as her snake-like platform that centerpieces Niveau Victorieux Galaxy.
Queen: MP3 Amplifier- Studying the graphics in levels to a very high extent, she has managed to overcome her fear of making decoration and interesting tiling overused or underused, and succeeded in finding a balance between the two, and 99% of the time this works in her favour.
Jack: Yurimaster- His graphics have been the big new thing in level designing recently, with the incredible amount of skill he has to offer, and the innovation he adds too. His levels always look top standard and unbelievable.
Rook: Lordpat- Maintaining a rather fashionable and repetitive style in his level's graphics, Lordpat has managed to gain much respect from other level designers and has even managed to impact on some of the legends' levels and how their graphics are.
Fun
How enjoyable are their works? Can they always provide a legendarily good time?
Ace: Volkove- Not only does he have very solid, very dedicated ideas, they don't deviate from their sources and they are executed with panache, including flawless platforming, puzzling and the occasional endurance match. There's a reason he tops the tiers even by accident.
King: Star king- Admitting to having a large ego, he utilizes his larger than life persona to execute out of the ordinary ideas- cities, Gorillaz-inspired beaches, Pipe systems. Even if they don't always work well, there's rarely anything quite like a Star king level.
Queen: KABOOM- They may not be the most skilled in fun just yet, but their ideas for gameplay are no doubt original and definitely fun, that it's not tricky at all to enjoy a level of theirs.
Jack: Nwolf- While he's still growing he can sure provide a great show with original, quirky ideas and no fear to crank up the difficulty.
Rook: Doram- May not be the loudest voice in level designing and may sometimes even be underrated, however there is no doubt he has what it takes to make very engaging puzzle level and his style will never let you down in enjoyment.
Professional Detail
How immaculately do they care for their levels? Could they be passed as professional Nintendo quality?
Ace: Volkove- Perhaps what makes Volcove's levels stand out above the rest is the seamless, flawless quality each has. There can rarely ever a bug be found or an interruption to hinder the gameplay. They truly have a professional quality to them as if made by an official company, but all done by one man.
King: Buffooner- His platformers truly show what anyone can do with simple tiling and gameplay, which is why people love the traditional feel and the level of skill that goes into his levels.
Queen: MP3 Amplifier- It's always great to see someone who is eager to create levels and who loves doing so, especially when they pour that passion into their projects, making sure every detail is perfect for the judges' viewing just as Amp does.
Jack: BY- The knowledge he has of bugs and code cracking is incredible, just play his levels and you'll see for yourself.
Rook: Triple J- He may not be the king of professional detail just yet, but he's certainly not a careless designer. Sometimes the issue is that he is so detailed in his levels, we never know where to start. But that's not always a disadvantage- sometimes that just proves his potential at being one of our greatest designers in the future.
Innovation
Have they brought anything new to the table? Have they tried things no one has before?
Ace: Venexis- We all know that he's the man synonymous with "Bloss" (his own terminology). What you also may not know is that he tries as hard as he can NOT to make a normal SM63 level. His drastically underrated Space Duel entry (It's Rocket Science) is a film-like level with theatrical qualities and a dead-world setting, not to mention his dream-based level series with collaborate MoD, and his recent attempts to make a FlipSide Galaxy based level. He strives not to be like anyone else, therefore he is not, and unabashed originality (damn the contest placing) is in and of itself quite innovative.
King: BY- He is probably one of the most innovative designers we've ever seen since Level4. Not only that but his inventions inspire people to try out new things, as well as his fresh style and feel that he delivers in his levels along with the items that he has created too.
Queen: MP3 Amplifier- After taking inspiration from other innovative level designers, she has managed to turn her style from being simple and gameplay-filled to innovative and rather complex, even being the first to try out different coloured moving platforms (other than green) and being the first to take such simple, everyday concepts to new levels. She has even created new words and new creatures for her levels, e.g. Science War.
Jack: MessengerOfDreams- Speaking of which, just like her above colleague, MessengerOfDreams has learned to go out of the ordinary. She still appreciates a classic Mario level (her doomsday-esque Finis) but prefers the theatrical, emotional story-driven route. Her award winning series Dark is an interactive story with its own world, similar to Destinations. It's her drive to tell a story foremost that puts her above the rest in many ways.
Rook: Triple J- Perhaps he still has a little way to go, but I think many of us see a good future of level designing for him. He uses quite inventive ideas and glitches in order for you to enjoy a level to its fullest. While he may suffer from a few bugs here and there, it very rarely holds down how fun and innovative his levels actually are.
Story
Can they go the extra mile to provide a gripping plot with the skeleton of a level?
Ace: MessengerOfDreams- The far and away legend of SM63 Storytelling- already having been the most notable writer on the site, MoD upped her game by bringing legitimate stories into her levels. Whether it was silently (14th LDC Apocalypto Finis) or through heavy storyboarding (18th LDC juggernaut Dark) or a harmonious combination of dialogue and set design (Destinations), MoD has always provided not only a story, but a comprehensive and involving journey.
King: MP3 Amplifier- It's possible that she makes some of the weirdest, most unusual stories known to the site. However, that still doesn't let her down and she has had many successes in the past relating to stories.
Queen: SuperMIC- Being in the business of epics, SuperMIC knows that a true legendary level could always use a great story. Even in his less successful entries (Blood of Violet Hill) he can draw out excellent adventures, full of drama, tension, and a nice dose of heart (being the first noted designer to include a romantic angle in a level).
Jack: Master1.0- Known for his Murph/you stories, he can provide a good story if only for a nice setting for his two friends to banter across with winning chemistry.
Rook: Tune4Toons- Even being new to the level designing business doesn't stop this girl from creating some wonderful stories for them. Placing third in the Storytelling 21st LDC should say enough about her success with them.
Fame and Notoriety
How likely are you to know their designing names? Are people constantly compared to them or are they always on the radar during LDCs and other events?
Ace: MessengerOfDreams- Just recently a hot name due to dropping a world record series in the 18th LDC, now that her solo career has been proven and she has three victories under her belt (more than anyone else in history) she's becoming a true force to be reckoned with- with Venexis or without. Add this to her consistent monitoring and involvement raising the level designing community and she becomes synonymous with the world of level designing.
King: MP3 Amplifier- Taking MoD's place in the level designing scene, she promises to continue big projects and start some of her own, as well as her constant growing skill in level designing (which is why she's shooting up the tier).
Queen: BY- He is taking over the portal with his addictive and inventive levels. Newbies look up to him, and we can all see why. He helps people, and he is just a great designer to be inspired by.
Jack: Star king- There is not a designer that is quite like Star king- in personality, in trait and in interests. Still in the public eye after medaling 6 LDCs in a row and winning one, Star is known for out there ideas, a somewhat justifiable ego that rarely fails him and the courage to go big or go home.
Rook: Triple J- Not only are his levels improving a lot, but also he hardly ever goes unnoticed on the level portal and/or level designer forums. He is always eager to share new ideas of his with the community, and people welcome that greatly.
Legacy
Which retired designers still impact designing today?
Ace: Fourinone- The three big levels he pulled off in 2009 are not only revered and unforgettable, they influence other levels today or are even copied suspiciously close. They set a standard for the total package of great levels with wacky characters, laugh out loud humor, incredibly executed obstacles and perfectly synergistic tricks and glitches, all wrapped up with an odd modesty unfitting of such massive, magnificent creations.
King: Level4- In all mentioned royalty of level designers, Level4 will never be forgotten. Not only has he introduced a smattering of innovation for block technology and other useful ideas, he was one of the first designers of the forums (with tenure during fall of 2009) and he's still years ahead of every level made today, blazing a trail that we may never catch up to.
Queen: Krazy321- While Krazy had only one instance of capturing lightning in a bottle for all to see in the 5th LDC, he still had a near-perfect track record of incredibly mastered levels of very high quality, with his graphics and gameplay still inspiring those even today. Krazy was a predecessor to many great designers of today in style and substance.
Jack: 24murph- The original king of designing, not only was he the first non-moderator to help coordinate an LDC (by providing the template for the 5th LDC of Unfinished Level, he set a record that would only be beaten by Volcove's own 17th LDC) but he was simply the best designer of his time. Providing the best level of 2009, two LDC winners in a row, a complete expansive level series (that would later get entirely remade) he's the type of designer that is a phenomena in his own right.
Rook: Venexis- While only recently retiring from level designing, he's probably left one of the biggest impacts on level designing from anyone. His block bosses or "blosses" made history with his Omega Blooper being the best block boss ever, as well as his tricks and usage of the grey bricks. There is no doubt he will always be remembered for his impact on level designing.
Next Big Things
What designers could be on their way to being the next phenomena?
Ace: Yurimaster- He's certainly got a great amount of potential ready to use in the level designing scene, and is introducing new and fresh platforming techniques by the day. I doubt he will be hiding in the shadows about his skills for much longer.
King: 1018peter- His name is becoming bigger and more recognised by the day and his levels certainly don't disappoint either. He's got a huge amount of potential, he just needs to learn how to use it.
Queen: Raiyuuni- He has already had two levels entered into different WITBLOs, so it's not that he wasn't good before, but now he is gradually getting more notoriety he is definitely one of the next big things of the moment.
Jack: *Emelia Kaylee- Again, he's been designing levels for quite a while, but recently we've just started to see how much skill is involved. His levels come in small packages, yet they have the ability to blow you away, which is not something many people can do.
Rook: --
There will be more added tomorrow. For tonight, there's this.
The below image is a montage of my individual highest placing LDC creations, as a reminder to myself that level designing is a part of my life that I can't just leave behind
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~MP3 Amplifier~ - THE DARK LAMP
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
Thumbs up x1
by Republic » September 3rd, 2011, 6:14 pm
Thankyou, MOD.
-I was really....well, extremely busy on this few weeks... I have absolutely no time. I can only post... occasionally. Tyvm.
-I was really....well, extremely busy on this few weeks... I have absolutely no time. I can only post... occasionally. Tyvm.
Romantic=Republic=Reputation=Random
Republic
Republic's Levels which is for Public: show
Republic
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Republic - Code: Awesome
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
Thumbs up x1
by Mr_SaxMan » September 3rd, 2011, 6:45 pm
Thanks MoD, it's an honor being #5!
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Mr_SaxMan - Honorary Member
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
Thumbs up x1
by Avo » September 3rd, 2011, 8:20 pm
It's funny how everyone remembers me for Shroomsday.
*sigh* I need to make another epic level.
*sigh* I need to make another epic level.
Credit to Ridder for the awesome going-away avatar (:
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Avo - Booksmart Devil
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
by Killswitch » September 3rd, 2011, 9:01 pm
But anyway, thanks for ranking me #14. I agree that 24murph is #1. Congrats to that legend! 
Also, congrats to Four Baby for earning the #3 Spot. - Killswitch
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
Thumbs up x1
by skjung2034 » September 3rd, 2011, 10:38 pm
*looks at the list*
*sighs so that the floor gets ruined*
I need to make an epic level.
*sighs so that the floor gets ruined*
I need to make an epic level.
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skjung2034 - As Ninja As Myst
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
Thumbs up x1
by Asterocrat » September 3rd, 2011, 11:20 pm
*snif* I'm not crying, I have something in the eye...
Anyway. This is great, MoD, and I entirely agree with this! I am nothing compare to this legends who unfortunately left the website or are not that active anymore.
Which is quite cool because I can win more meda-- *is shot*
By the way, my name is not StarKing, but Star king
Anyway. This is great, MoD, and I entirely agree with this! I am nothing compare to this legends who unfortunately left the website or are not that active anymore.
Which is quite cool because I can win more meda-- *is shot*
By the way, my name is not StarKing, but Star king
Gift by Forgotten - Full size here!: show
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Asterocrat - Former Cosmic Ruler
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
by *Emelia K. Fletcher » September 4th, 2011, 2:29 am
I only have one thing to say to this.
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*Emelia K. Fletcher - Who's this douchebag?
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Re: MoD's Revised Level Designer Tier List
Thumbs up x1
by Master1.0 » September 4th, 2011, 4:23 am
Star king wrote:*snif* I'm not crying, I have something in the eye...
Anyway. This is great, MoD, and I entirely agree with this! I am nothing compare to this legends who unfortunately left the website or are not that active anymore.
Which is quite cool because I can win more meda-- *is shot*
By the way, my name is not StarKing, but Star king
One word.
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Master1.0 - Minister of Oerhaos
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