Language…
11 users online: 35TCB77, cletus_deletus, Danik2343, Green, Hammerer, howardadam1126, KoJi, Oskise, pnaha, SpacePea, tOaO - Guests: 232 - Bots: 363
Users: 64,795 (2,377 active)
Latest user: mathew

VLDC Feedback

Hi everyone.

As you know, this year's VLDC was different from previous years in that it was a collaboration as opposed to a free-for-all contest. I'd like to hear your feedback on the idea/concept in general, especially comparisons to the standard contest method. Namely:

-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I'm just interested in hearing some opinions from the point of view of those who participated. Thanks!
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

The ROM merging is time consuming but a good idea. It makes the levels easier to play and lesser known ones don't fall into total obscurity.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

I personally love the assigned resources. Though people should technically have the freedom to use whatever the hell they want, this isn't a "see who can use the most map16 contest" it's a level design contest, and contenders seem to forget that.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

Whichever way works for you. Regardless of what you decide, dammit make a forum again. Having individual threads allowed feedback, which in turn produced some hella polished levels.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

I guess it depends. Either way is fine for me. Also having it as a single ROM will probably give lesser known entries a chance of being played like any other level.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

Assigned is good enough for me. It is a level design contest after all and I have seen entries which look pretty good even with the small amount of MAP16 space.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

Either way is fine for me. Not really a big problem.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I have to leave soon so I'll just focus on this one, as I agree with what Lynnes and Everest said about them. For this point, I'd say to merge sort of what we had before and this one.

I didn't like how some people were too late to enter the contest and such. I saw one post asking when the submissions were due by and he didn't even make a reservation post and I don't think he realized there was a reservations.

There really is no easy way to merge them, but discluding people isn't always great. Tons more people could have entered because a lot of the people who did enter didn't end up finishing their levels.

iunno
Originally posted by S.
Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

I dunno. In a collab means that maybe more people will play it, but being stand-alone levels gives people the freedom to change the title screen/intro message/overworld all they want and I like to do that even if they aren't judged.
I think only for that reason I prefer stand-alone level. :P
Also this contest doesn't really looked like a contest to me. If next contest is a collab again, I think it would be better to not let people make thread to post screens and test their level and keep their levels secret (they can still get help by other people in private, but not in public) like in previous contests.

Originally posted by N.
Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

I prefer to have assigned resources so people don't go overboard by using 3 pages of tiles for their decoration. I don't even used half of my resources assigned anyway.
But I want to later contest to not allow ExGFXs because it's supposed to be vanilla and it's more fun to be limited with the GFXs of the game than putting all your tiles into a ExGFXs.
Maybe don't allow custom musics too or only allow the custom musics made for this game if the next contest also have it's own soundtrack.

Originally posted by N.
Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

How about trying to do something completely different next time. :P
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

Either way is fine for me. I personally like more the latter since it gives people a chance to create their threads and receive more feedback, which was harder in previous contests.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

I prefer assigned resources. That way, it's more easier for people to not go too overboard with their Map16 tiles, and some of them did not use a lot of tiles anyway (although people like more the freedom for tiles but either way is fine).

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

Either way works for me.
Windowless ride, feeling alive
Are you alive or just breathing?
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

I like the idea of them being integrated into 1 ROM.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

Don't care one way or the other.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I think I would prefer another contest like this.
Legacy custom music
A site with a non-useless dislike button
SMW hacking channel

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

I like the collab idea, so yeah.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

Assigned resources. We've seen how overboard people can go with Map 16 and whatnot, so limiting that would be nice.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I'd much prefer doing this again. To me, it makes it all the more exciting this way.
I honestly loved this contest idea. The restricted Map16 helps people to stick to a certain theme in their level and be much more creative with what they have rather than using every single aspect in the ROM if they wished to.

I love participating in official collabs, it is an amazing feeling to actually get something accomplished and put into the game where others can play it along with many other great levels!

If we do this again in another VLDC, expect me to hop on in the action once again.
Your layout has been removed.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

Collab. Though for those who were assigned to the second ROM, I'd like to give a hand on helping to get the entries of the second ROM working in one ROM togheter with the entries of the first ROM. It'd take a lot of time, but it's worthy of, and stand-alone submissions sounds cliche and lazy for me.

Rest of my answers for the other questions would likely be what everyone said here... at least the majority.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?


Integrating into a single ROM is a good idea as it allows people to play all the levels in one go instead of having to download multiple IPS patches.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?


Assigned. We don't want everyone to go Hacks 101 crazy in their levels. #smw{;)}

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?!


I'd be up for another contest like this one! #smw{:TUP:}
This contest was a great ride from start to finish, a ride of which didn't last very long because I got straight to work after I got my assigned resources. Hahaha

I really liked the idea of being restricted in what we could use, such as ExGFX and Map16. This should've helped in lowering that completely overrated idea of over-saturating the land in decor tiles. I really do hope that's what happened to.

I also REALLY like the fact that all the participants' levels are in an ease of access area such as a singular hack. I honestly think more contests should be like this. It makes sure that great levels like the ones created here are not forgotten. Now everybody will download and play this hack.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

I think that having them in a single ROM makes it easier to play the levels that people have created. Having all the levels separate will just clutter people's files up, so having them all in one IPS makes it much simpler to play, and therefore you can judge all the levels in one.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

Even though people would like do to what they can, having assigned resources will make it easier to make all the levels compatible with each other. It also makes it known that it's a vanilla level design contest, not a contest on how much MAP16 things you can put in.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I can't really answer this question as I wasn't here when last year's contest was on, but I do think that it seems much better like this. It also helps that a forum specifically for the VLDC was made as it means people know where to go for help, feedback, demos et cetera.
I liked the thing we had going here, but I wasn't a huge fan of the assigned MAP16 pages.

But I would definitely do this again
Originally posted by S.N.N.

-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

I personally think that this way would be better (merging levels into one ROM). That would make the player to play all the levels submitted. Not the ones who sound good.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

You should put a limit to Map16. The thing you don't want to do is to allow custom ExGFX, patches, blocks or sprites. My opinion is to disqualify ANY creator of this level who uses the above stuff. It's a VANILLA level design contest. Custom music is OK. I've listened enough to the original music.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I would prefer another contest like this. As I've said, the player would play all the submitted levels.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

Merging them into a single ROM lets me play them all, which I normally wouldn't do due to them cluttering my files. So yeah, keep the collab style.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

The assigned resources let me put out better quality levels by suppressing my 'contest rush' and probably did that for others, too.
So yeah, I'd go with assigned resources for the future.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I'd stay with this type of contest, at least for now, it was great fun.
Usually inactive/procrastinating on a hack idea.
1. Every level in a ROM means more people will play the entries. I guess that makes more sense if we really want people to actually play what's been produced. Stand-alone submissions feel like only judges are supposed to play them.

2. Assigned resources are a must if we want every level to fit in a single ROM. Also yeah I guess limiting space on map16 is a good way to beat people from overdecorating things. The amount of resources given on this contest was more than enough, personally.

3. Let this happen again. It was a great idea.
It's easily the best thing I've done
So why the empty numb?
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

In previous contests I almost never played any entries beside my own. I assume the collab format does a better job at encouraging people to play the whole thing. (i.e. thumbs up for a single ROM.)

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

Indifferent. I'd rather not be limited on Map16 space, but endless freedom would likely take away from the level design aspect. (Not to mention assigned resources are pretty much necessary for a collab.)

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I'd like to see how a second one turns out. Not sure if I like how there was almost no sense of competition in this one (subjective), but that's far outweighed by the fun collaborating brings.


 
Overall, it was a pretty good contest.

1. I think we should stick with integrating the levels into a single ROM, because, as some others said, every level would be played, and none neglected.

2. It's probably better to have assigned resources, especially if we use a collab ROM, so that data doesn't overlap.

3. I would indeed prefer another contest like this, for the most part.

This doesn't go into any particular question, but I think that future vanilla level design contests should actually be "vanilla." For example, no custom music and no map16.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this contest and think that we should continue with this template.
Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the levels to be stand-alone submissions, or do you prefer the idea of them all being integrated into a single ROM?

I'll be honest here, the collab aspect of the contest is the only reason I finished my entry, I didn't want to let people down and possibly waste resources that could have been used by other people. I definitely like the collab style a lot more, it makes you want to play all the entries, it gives you that extra kick to finish your entry, and it creates quite the hype to be honest.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Do you prefer the assigned resource method, or would you rather have endless freedom?

I definitely think there should be a limit on assigned resources, this is a level design contest, not an eye candy show off, if you want to impress people, might as well do your own hack.
But in my opinion the resources could have been handled better, a lot of us would have appreciated a few more map16 tiles, for example, definitely something to look more into next time you'll do a collabcontest.

Originally posted by S.N.N.
-Would you prefer another contest like this, or would you rather go back to the way it was before?

I like both, I really do, the collab style is amazing for the reasons posted above, but I also think free for all "no rules" (other than staying Vanilla) contests are great, why not alternate every year ? (8th would be free for all, 9th a collab, and so on)