Creating your next generic SMW hack is the worst thing you can do for yourself and for SMWC. I have noticed a trend in the WIP forums, on discord, and just throughout SMW hacking in general. Certain words are tossed around frequently, including "generic", "plain" and "typical". The goal for many hackers is to devise a normal, typical hack. Sometimes, it's in the same vain as Nintendo style (whatever that is). Other times, it's copying popular hacks such as 12 orbs.
Regardless, it's pretty normal to see a lot of generic levels on the site. There's no way everyone is going to make something unusual. The weird thing I have noticed is how many people are proud of it. It's been a sort of in-joke among some users about how many hacks have generic words in their titles. Let's look at a few:
There are 20 hacks with the word "another" in the name. Two hacks literally have "generic" as the title, and one hack is literally called Super Normal World. Another splendid hack title is "Another Generic SMW Hack". Aren't those names exciting? Yeah, I don't exactly feel excited to play these hacks. And in fact, I haven't played them, because the titles themselves hint at the fact that the levels themselves might also be highly generic.
Why is making a generic hack something to be proud of? Frankly, it's not. I'm not making this thread to complain. I'm doing it to charge the users and hackers of SMWCentral with a task. Stop being generic. Be different, be unique, be creative, make your own style. Make a level that just shouts YOU and not Nintendo. You are not a Nintendo employee. You're not a game designer either. You are an artist, and your canvas is SMW. So why do we constantly draw the box art on our canvas? Do something new, surprise people, and challenge yourself in this hobby.
So next time you make a thread in the WIP forums called "my next generic SMW level", stop yourself. Delete the hack and start over. Come up with a name that speaks to you, not what you think will be popular or what is SMWC norms. Speaking of norms, break them! Ignore the unspoken rules that float around the Central, which have a habit of stifling creativity. Make your own rules, bend them if necessary, and make sure that the end result is fun. If you don't have fun playing your own level, restart and try again. Browse the SMW sprites and blocks section for wacky things and try them. Make mistakes so you can learn from them, and create wacky unusual levels, so others can critique them, and you can better yourself as a hacker. If you are worried about your skill level, polish and skill will come after stepping out of the box. You can take this advice or leave it, but if you get anything out of this thread, at least rename your "generic" hack to something exciting enough that makes people play your work.
EDIT: Also just want to point out that I'm not exempting Kaizo hacking or displaying any bias towards it. In fact, there's a huge saturation of Kaizo hacks that basically copy Super Dram World. I would really love to see more creativity and unique style in that side of hacking as well.
Regardless, it's pretty normal to see a lot of generic levels on the site. There's no way everyone is going to make something unusual. The weird thing I have noticed is how many people are proud of it. It's been a sort of in-joke among some users about how many hacks have generic words in their titles. Let's look at a few:
There are 20 hacks with the word "another" in the name. Two hacks literally have "generic" as the title, and one hack is literally called Super Normal World. Another splendid hack title is "Another Generic SMW Hack". Aren't those names exciting? Yeah, I don't exactly feel excited to play these hacks. And in fact, I haven't played them, because the titles themselves hint at the fact that the levels themselves might also be highly generic.
Why is making a generic hack something to be proud of? Frankly, it's not. I'm not making this thread to complain. I'm doing it to charge the users and hackers of SMWCentral with a task. Stop being generic. Be different, be unique, be creative, make your own style. Make a level that just shouts YOU and not Nintendo. You are not a Nintendo employee. You're not a game designer either. You are an artist, and your canvas is SMW. So why do we constantly draw the box art on our canvas? Do something new, surprise people, and challenge yourself in this hobby.
So next time you make a thread in the WIP forums called "my next generic SMW level", stop yourself. Delete the hack and start over. Come up with a name that speaks to you, not what you think will be popular or what is SMWC norms. Speaking of norms, break them! Ignore the unspoken rules that float around the Central, which have a habit of stifling creativity. Make your own rules, bend them if necessary, and make sure that the end result is fun. If you don't have fun playing your own level, restart and try again. Browse the SMW sprites and blocks section for wacky things and try them. Make mistakes so you can learn from them, and create wacky unusual levels, so others can critique them, and you can better yourself as a hacker. If you are worried about your skill level, polish and skill will come after stepping out of the box. You can take this advice or leave it, but if you get anything out of this thread, at least rename your "generic" hack to something exciting enough that makes people play your work.
EDIT: Also just want to point out that I'm not exempting Kaizo hacking or displaying any bias towards it. In fact, there's a huge saturation of Kaizo hacks that basically copy Super Dram World. I would really love to see more creativity and unique style in that side of hacking as well.