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Special Level Design Contest - Discussion

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Originally posted by killer dagger
what do you mean about special levels, like the level's in special world from the original smw?

No.. read the rules. But in case you don't know what is the Chocolate Level Design Contest, it's basically a level design contest where anything goes. However in Special Level Design Contest you have themes to work with.

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how about the score for difficulty too? Is it judged by how hard the game is? how easy or just right?

Difficulty curve. The level must become harder eventually but not in an unfair way.
Kind of redundant, but does having to swim for most of the level count as an underwater level?

Being more specific, a water-themed cave composed of 4 parts, were at least 2 of them are underwater sections while the other 2, despite having to do some platforming, still forces you to swim in order to advance. Would still count as an underwater level or it would be some kind of hybrid-type level?
It currently seems good enough, but I'd personally like if most of your level (at least 80% of it) is played underwater, or at least if one (or both) of these two sections was optional.
Hmmm... I never entered a contest like this before, but I'll try my best at it. Also, what do you think about a Factory level with bits of Silhouette in it? Because that's the kind of level I'm going to make (that is, if it goes well).
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I didn't understood why it was called that unless i missed something in the rules?




It's called special because you can only choose between 4 themes. Nothing related to the Special World
I was planning on making an Industrial level that I feel could also qualify as Underwater. Want to make sure that's okay.
Originally posted by ThatOneNetBattler
Also, what do you think about a Factory level with bits of Silhouette in it? Because that's the kind of level I'm going to make (that is, if it goes well).

Seeing the predominant theme is Industrial, it's fine.

Originally posted by K3fka
I was planning on making an Industrial level that I feel could also qualify as Underwater. Want to make sure that's okay.

Assuming your level is mostly focused on being an Industrial level (and this is what you mainly want to go for), it's okay. Just make sure this is what the level implies.
Also, question: can I make a tutorial level included with my entry? If not, well, then, how am I gonna explain the mechanics my entry has, like walljumping and etc.?
I play forum games and draw furries. I'm mostly active on Discord and Twitter.

It's fine if it's a separate level. It won't be judged though, only your main level will.
regarding underwater: is swimming required? can you not have standard platforming that simply takes place underwater (aka you're wearing a diving suit)?

regarding silhouette: can you do something like with the disco light in SMW, where the silhouette is toggled via a switch/timer or something? since the objective would be to avoid the silhouetted level, it might seem invalid.
@Underwater- The diving suit is clever enough, so it's fine to me.

@Silhouette- While this is an interesting gimmick, the reason I wanted to have Silhouette as a theme was mostly aesthetically, but I'm not denying you from doing it (although I'd say this is going to be a little risky for scoring in Theme Consistency).


Also edited second rule a bit regarding MSU-1.
dumb question but are we allowed to use SA-1?
It's okay.
Time for an underwater frozen industrial silhouette level

Don't know how I'd go about doing that, so I'll probably just not combine more than 2 themes ^^

.. Or not combine themes at all, since we're supposed the concentrate on a single theme, but it's not out of the question.

Does it matter how long the level is, or is it just the typical "the level keeps you entertained, and you lose points if the level drags on and gets boring"?
If it's absurdly long you might not score very high in the "fun" category, just make a good, balanced level. Not too short, not too long.

Sorry for late reply.
I've got some questions:

1°: Are these levels going to be put in a collaboration Hack, like the Vanilla Level Design Contests (more specifically 7 and 8)?

2°: Are the judges the only ones allowed to play other people's entries? Or anyone can simply give their 2 cents on said levels (and by that I mean say what they think of the levels)?

3°: By aesthetics, you mean only in the level?

Also, apparently, I have a thing for doing things that don't need to be done, like an actual overworld for my entry, even though it won't even be judged.

Also, just a tip for those making a level: Inconsistent Variety =/= Good level design (most of the time). Want an example of this? Just look at the level "Variety Path" (or whatever it was called) in the VLDC8. I mean, I'm not trying to offend or despise the creator of the level, I just want to say that the level itself was way too long and not fun. So yeah, keep the variety consistent, because if not, it'll lend to disaster.
I play forum games and draw furries. I'm mostly active on Discord and Twitter.

Originally posted by ThatOneNetBattler
1°: Are these levels going to be put in a collaboration Hack, like the Vanilla Level Design Contests (more specifically 7 and 8)?

Since the SLDC is a CLDC, but with restricted level themes, no it won't, as the SMW ROM isn't just edited with just LM and the only allowed patches are NMSTL, SA-1 and Addmusic (which is theoretically a patch too) in the (last two) VLDC and so, the original SMW engine was modified anything else besides e.g. the physic. Way to much work.

Originally posted by ThatOneNetBattler
2°: Are the judges the only ones allowed to play other people's entries? Or anyone can simply give their 2 cents on said levels (and by that I mean say what they think of the levels)?

The judges are those people, who didn't submit a level. Also, only the judges opinion counts.

Originally posted by ThatOneNetBattler
3°: By aesthetics, you mean only in the level?

Correct.
Originally posted by ThatOneNetBattler
2°: Are the judges the only ones allowed to play other people's entries? Or anyone can simply give their 2 cents on said levels (and by that I mean say what they think of the levels)?

If people feel like reviewing others' levels, then sure thing. They're free to post their thoughts on entries here.
Anyone is free to play and give feedback on the levels. It just won't affect the final scores, obviously.

edit: f miranninja
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