Christmas Balls (Hack 16), aka the 12 days of christmas level design sprint

Yeah, I know the name is a funny. And finally, an actual post.

I've been showcasing this project already which started the 25th of December. Because I liked Najeraldo's 12 Days Before Christmas level design contest idea so much, I decided to do another 12 level sprint 2 year after. But this time, there's a hell of a lot more going on.

Have a look see.


December Rain (Dec 25, 2015)


Now it's winter! (Dec 26, 2015)


Arctic Surfing (Dec 27, 2015)


The Final Countdown (Dec 28, 2015)


Eggplant Soup (Dec 29, 2015)


Spiritual Guidance (Dec 30, 2015)


Void (Dec 31, 2015)

Now for the screen flipping level, thanks to alcaro, both for the patch and the help. Turns out I just needed to substitute the ON/OFF switch values in both my custom switch and his code to a freeram value. Now it's about flipping time for some flipping hostile action!
Of course, green link leads to the full level.


Flipping Out (Jan 1, 2016)

And can I haz mo coins? pleeease~

I never though that contest would inspire anyone to do something like this, but I'm happy to know it still had some impact two years later.

I just watched December Rain and it looks like a slightly challenging but friendly level and with awesome aesthetics. I like it.

Thanks to the addictiveness of this whole casino C3, I got sidetracked some more, but I then got an idea on a level in my haiku thread.



You shouldn't be too surprised.


play 100 horizontal (Jan 2, 2016)

I really like the rock background palette.

EDIT: I'm guessing that charging chuck at 1:05 is JackBot. seriously though, center should have a multiplier of 10 or at least 9.5. Then I'll do play center 100.

Looks like a solid run-and-jump level. Projectiles seem to be the main focus, because there's tons of 'em! I think it's supposed to represent all the things they throw at you in a casino. I would change the ceiling that Mario hits at 2:30 (in the video) to be a little higher, so that the player can jump from Chargin' Chuck to Koopa without pause. I also wonder if you could find a way to implement some sort of casino-related gimmimck, like the roulette powerup block.

Visually, my favorite parts are the shimmering neon background and the color-changing Venus Fire Trap. The Pitchin' Chucks suddenly throw dice in the second room, which is pretty silly. What are they gambling on? The foreground graphics in the second room looks a bit flat, and it could do with a bit more shading like the foreground in the first room.

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For day 10 I decided to pay tribute by making a homage to Anikiti and his works; see if you could guess exactly what gimmicks, levels or worlds he's made are being referenced.
And because Anikiti is so special...


Anikiti Special (Jan 3, 2016)

I've never thought of a mere possibility to create levels with every sort of available resources within the "12 days of Christmas" spirit... You've made them all look so neat and incorporated new ideas to the table. During that one guidance level, if you let the goomba fall on the lava at the intended screen, are you teleported to that exact exit or the beginning of the room, meaning you have to start it all over again?
I'm looking forward to be able to play it entirely (as well as the last two levels)!

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For day 11, the sprint was really on, as this level only really began to take off at 8 PM. Here's another Egyptian-themed level, which I haven't explored in a long while.


Blizzard of Thoth (Jan 4/5, 2016)

I think I should stop watching these videos so I can go in somewhat blind-ish. I didn't watch the last couple videos, with the exception of the casino level

I love the idea of an Anikiti tribute level! I recognize the typical Anikiti forest aesthetic, along with the red pipe level from Luigi's Adventure OSE (The name of it escapes me. I think it was a World 7 castle and it played Heat Man's theme). I hope Anikiti Special has Touhou music! The idea of paying homage to other SMW hacks has some merit, as there are lots of different hacking styles to pick from. Faux Brutal Mario, anyone? It would be difficult to code fitting ASM gimmicks, though.

The desert level looks okay. I like the graphics you're using for the bricks, but the SMW foreground graphics looks more like brown grass, rather than sand.

There's only one level left?

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Day 12.
The hack ends with a sequel to the final level from #thathack (the 12 days hack that I did 2 years ago).
Features quite a few powerful and/or fast enemies, but serves as adequate final level difficulty.

Now that all the levels are done, what's left to do is:
- Fix some bugs/glitches
- Alternate overworld palette
- Title screen
- Intro message/level
- Write readme and credits
- Apply patches


Jettison II (Jan 5, 2016)

It's very good. In the level Blizzard of Thoth I heard music very known to me, because it was used in "Queen of B o a r D" episode of Jazz Jackrabbit 2, in levels "QoB - Main Menu" and "Ending Credits" and is marked "M16a.mod".

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Who is your favourite player?

"Cristo Ronaldo, Suey!" - iShowSpeed

Yes, each of the 12 levels was made in one day (while Blizzard of Thoth was finished at 11:55 PM, it only got posted around 12:00 AM the next morning).



Well, you caused it