Once a millennia, an event in our nation is held. The gods called it "The Automatic Level Design Contest". What this contest asked of its' people was to design a level - through the medium of "Super Mario World", in which the creature (Mario) is taken through a journey, and of which the player (You) needn't press a single button to get there. Like a rollercoaster. Or a journey through Ikea.
You familiarize yourself with Automatic Levels by searching for them on the YouTube.
Theme:
This year, we are going to run with a theme. I know you are scared to read there is a theme. But hear us out:
The theme is a Vanilla experience. We are looking for creators to take advantage of the various quirks of the original Super Mario World in order to create an interesting and engaging Automatic experience.
What is Allowed:
What is Not Allowed:
What is Not Allowed (Retry Edition)
You may find yourself using one of the many versions of retry that exist out there. Most of its minor functionality is allowed for this contest but a few big features are not:
General Rules:
Grounds for Disqualification
Judging!!
This time around, the judges will be me (idol!), lolyoshi, Java, and Rameau's Nephew. You must appease the council with your creation!
The Rubric...
The rubric for this contest will be done a little different compared to other level design contests. There is no breakdown per category, since ALDC asks for so few categories to be relevant. Rather, your entry will be ranked overall out of "30". The constructions of ways the player is moved around, the creativity of ways to take advantage of the original Super Mario World's mechanics, and the overall vibe of the entry will all be taken into consideration. Visuals are of least importance - as long as the mechanisms to move the player are clear, and the visuals feel intentional to convey the movement you want it to convey. Consider how the music plays in your entry, or how the visuals compliment what you make. Make something unequivocally you.
Deadline: 5 p.m. UTC Monday, April 22
How do I enter??:
For the unfamiliar , you may participate by uploading your .bps file to the "My Files" section of your profile , and linking it Here in a new post. do not ask questions in this thread, please use the discussion thread. if you need to update your entry, please just edit your post instead of making a new one.
thank you
have fun
You familiarize yourself with Automatic Levels by searching for them on the YouTube.
Theme:
This year, we are going to run with a theme. I know you are scared to read there is a theme. But hear us out:
The theme is a Vanilla experience. We are looking for creators to take advantage of the various quirks of the original Super Mario World in order to create an interesting and engaging Automatic experience.
What is Allowed:
- You may use the SA-1 patch.
- You may use Addmusic for the purposes of adding custom music.
- You may use GPS for the purposes of adding a teleport block of your choice.
- You may use custom ExGFX if you would like, but levels will be primarily judged on the mechanics.
- You may edit any page of the Map16 editor however you please.
- You may apply the interaction framerules tweak.
- You may use death at a midpoint to spawn the player in another area, if you wish. Just make sure it feels like it flows!
- You may use a quick retry asm if utilizing deaths to transfer the player to another sublevel (instant is preferred).
- You may reset various global timers with UberASM (see here for an example).
What is Not Allowed:
- You may not use any other patches or hex edits to change the original Super Mario World.
- You may not use custom sprites, or custom ASM not specified in general.
- You may not use programmed movements.
- You may not use GPS to add a Boost Block, or any other custom blocks that impact the level. You gotta figure out how to make the player move just with what Super Mario World provides!
- You may not use UberASM, or run any other code during the levels than what has been stated. If you have a question if something is legal, ask.
- Your level may not take place in the title screen (aka: using Mario's title screen programming, or overwriting it with Lunar Magic).
What is Not Allowed (Retry Edition)
You may find yourself using one of the many versions of retry that exist out there. Most of its minor functionality is allowed for this contest but a few big features are not:
- You may not use any part of the multiple midpoints functionality. Especially re-directing entrances.
- You may not use the multi-midway system to arbitrarily set Mario's position.
- You may not use the status bar functionality in newer UberASM Retry.
- If using quick retry, use Instant respawn.
General Rules:
- You may work with one partner for this contest. Someone who contributes music or graphics will count as a partner for this contest.
- Make an effort to keep your entries anonymous. Don't put your name anywhere.
- Your entry must be playable without additional setup and not require emulator-specific settings.
- Your level must be playable without the need to press buttons. This counts once the level is entered. You may not ask the player to hold a button.
- There is no strict time limit for your level, but remember to keep it engaging. A very long and boring level is not the way to win.
- Your level must be accessible easily from the title screen. If judges have to play anything to get to your level, it may not be judged.
- Have a good faith approach please. Finding out some backwoods way to use custom code that hasn't been covered here is liable for disqualification. please
Grounds for Disqualification
- Your level requires the use of pressing buttons. Please ensure it works fully automatically. If you need sublevel transitions, use a teleport block.
- Submitting a very clearly joke / low-effort level. please try your bestest.
- Submitting an .ips patch instead of a .bps patch.
- Submitting a patch file that is somehow corrupt, locked or broken.
- Submitting something incompatible with a current, stable version of bsnes (v115) or Snes9x (v1.61).
- Including anything in your submission that breaks the site rules or content guidelines.
- Including an .smc file or any other form of ROM file as part of your submission. This will result in deletion and a site warning!
Judging!!
This time around, the judges will be me (idol!), lolyoshi, Java, and Rameau's Nephew. You must appease the council with your creation!
The Rubric...
The rubric for this contest will be done a little different compared to other level design contests. There is no breakdown per category, since ALDC asks for so few categories to be relevant. Rather, your entry will be ranked overall out of "30". The constructions of ways the player is moved around, the creativity of ways to take advantage of the original Super Mario World's mechanics, and the overall vibe of the entry will all be taken into consideration. Visuals are of least importance - as long as the mechanisms to move the player are clear, and the visuals feel intentional to convey the movement you want it to convey. Consider how the music plays in your entry, or how the visuals compliment what you make. Make something unequivocally you.
Deadline: 5 p.m. UTC Monday, April 22
How do I enter??:
For the unfamiliar , you may participate by uploading your .bps file to the "My Files" section of your profile , and linking it Here in a new post. do not ask questions in this thread, please use the discussion thread. if you need to update your entry, please just edit your post instead of making a new one.
thank you
have fun 
