Vanilla Level Design 2009: Discussion

Now that the submissions period is over, you may now discuss the entries in this thread. So who do you think is going to win?

Judges, I expect your scorings to be in one week from today. Please get them into me sometime on or before Saturday, March 7th. I will then compile the scores together and should have them posted around Monday, March 9th.

Authors, if we discover that your level has a major flaw in it like a bad patch or something, please be ready to resupply us with a working patch. If you do not by the end of the judging period you will be disqualified simply because we were unable to play your level.

To make things easier on me so I can update submissions, here is the submissions list once more:



This way I can edit it since I can't edit in a closed thread.

I have yet to try any of the other entries, (except Kc's, which I think was done very well.) I'll be sure to try some out in the following week.

Also, I heard discussion about this before, but I wasn't sure if it will be put into action...will there be some sort of collab after all of this is done?

TLMB really got lucky, posted right before the thread closed.

EDIT: I really know when I level up. /me is psychic
Level 11 Marker

I think I'll either do really good or get a moderate score. Praying for the former.

I have doubts about there being a collab hack. Last year saw none, I don't think we'll be seeing one this year. If someone really wants to do one, I'll send them all the ips files but I won't be doing it.

...wow

I thought I was pushing it, but then six more entries came in after mine. With 61 entries, I don't expect to be in the top three, but I hope I do well.

Good luck, everyone!

Also, I wonder if anyone remembered I was participating. ._.

---

Your layout has been removed.

I hope I do well, but judging from some of the entries I've seen, I doubt it. Some of those levels were mind-blowing...still, I'm sure some people have enjoyed my entry, like I've enjoyed theirs.

I'm digging the Greenland Grove level. The mid-way point doesn't seem to work though so I had to use a save state.

Well I really enjoyed this contest. It's going to be great to look through and play what everyone else has submitted. I'm definitely liking what I've seen thus far.

Myself, I'm glad its over. I went way overboard on this level, and seven exits and approximately 35 sections was way too much to design, test, and re-palette. Without the extensions I probably would have had to leave a few sections using just basic SMW palettes, and I think my level came out better for the extra time. I certainly have no intention of making a level quite this expansive ever again.

Incidentally, someone asked about something I did in the other thread briefly. I took the graphics page and copied a duplicate of the mushroom graphic over the key. This allowed me to change the way the key looks and still adhere to the rules of this contest. It was just a happy accident that a mushroom with the key's palette looks unique enough to not be confused with something else, especially since originally I was going to use a springboard graphic. The key, being the only sprite native to SMW that Mario can both carry and stand on, got some unconventional use in my level.

Also, regardless of what my final score is, I wanted to thank the people here who were kind enough to help me test my level. With their feedback I was able to help fix some issues with graphics, difficulty, and some problems with it not being obvious what the player is supposed to do. So I want to specifically thank

303darthbobby
Toasty One
Foo_Fighter_Fan

Without your help the level would not have turned out as well as it did.

Here's hoping that, even without a collab hack, something can be done with these levels. It would be nice to have a 10 minute or so youtube collection with some of the best parts of each level spaced out as sort of a teaser with links to where each can be downloaded.

I have played few level so far, but they are all really good. I hope I get a good score, seeing as how there are such great levels!

This contest was awesome. I really had fun doing my level, and it was also a training for me. I had never done that type of level, and I think it improved my level and palette designing skills.

I have to thank the entire SMWCentral for this contest...

Good luck, everyone!

Sorry for missing your submission. I guess I accidentally flew past it in last night's craziness. It's added to the submissions list, bringing the total to 62 submissions. Wow.

That is also an issue. Also, multiple exits?

Frankly I think I'm going to only allow a normal and secret exit at most next year because it's getting pretty ridiculous in judging. It gets hard to recall judgment details when you're playing through the level for the Xth time. But oh well, what can you do.

Can I post errors I found in levels here? Or shuld I PM the author?