So, this is my first ever blog on CC Zone. Took over a year to get started, but as I don't feel an introduction is needed for myself, I'll get straight to it.

I've got something just as funny as last year's April Fools cooking up. No one will guess what it will be, but it's based around another Chipster.

Last year's April Fools was hilarious. Andrew R joining in was not part of the plan, but it sure confused everyone, including me.

Also, CC Zone is already 1 year old. Man, how time flies when you're having fun, eh?

Good news everyone! The CC Zone award system has been upgraded! There is now an achievements section. The difference between achievements and awards is that achievements always show, even if you don't have them. When you get them, their icon lights up. Awards never show up unless you have them.

The file upload now has auto-award meaning the "Feeding the Teeth" award should be automatic now.

Hopefully, I've transferred all the awards over correctly, but if I've missed any from the old system, please let me know!

As of 5th March 2013, CC Zone will use its own web email for submissions. This makes it easier for staff members to reach submitted files for submissions.

The email for competition submissions is cczonenextlevel@gmail.com


Thanks!

A year ago we had our most attended create competition, when the theme was to keep it compact in a small area measuring just 9 x 9 tiles. Now it's time to test another aspect of keeping a level small, but instead of limiting the area, we will limit the time needed to complete the level. There is more than one reason for a level to have a relatively short time limit, but which approach will you take?

The task, should you accept it, is to create a new level with a time limit of at most 60 seconds.
This does not mean the fastest possible solution should take 59 seconds, so please use your judgement on what type of a level benefits from this time constraint. Keep in mind that a good level will be enjoyable to many types of players.

Additional notes:


-Submissions are open as long as it is March where you live!

-the level must be solvable.

-the level does not need to work in both ms and lynx.

-the level must be new; it must not have been released earlier.

-you may submit more than one entry, but please keep the levels distinct from each other.

-points will be deducted for late entries, but will be accepted until a notice is posted in this thread.

-do not cheat. At anything. Ever.

-ask about other unclear situations.

Extra credit: write about 100 words describing your creation and the process you went through to make the level.


Submissions will be judged in the beginning of April 2013
. If there are at least four entrants, we might have a public vote on how to rank the levels.

In addition to the normal prizes (the "You're Winner!"-award, Chip Cup points, and "Tool Box"-award for first time entrants), the winner will receive a SURPRISE REWARD
which will be announced later! And no, it is not that you can pick a name for our dog. (That was already won by Michael last year, and our dog is now called Jigsaw.)

Email and attach your submissions to valeosote at hotmail dot com
.

List your username and this competition in the subject. Keep it short and simple, something like: "March Create - James"

Everyone is welcome to join!

-Miika

March 2013

- Treasure Hunt (St. Patrick's Day)

Name of level: The Lucky Charms



To be played in

MS



Time Limit: 250



Created by: Josh Lee



Deadline: 18th March 2013 12am PST



Link:

http://cczone.invisionzone.com/index.php?/files/file/213-ccz-th-0313/



Rules of the competition:

- Your TWS recording should be sent to: pkmndiamond493@live.com



- This focuses on item collecting.



- Using keys on doors deducts points.

- It's not necessarily the fastest time that wins.



- Collecting specific items give your points.



- A global leaderboard will be used to judge the final winner.



- Chips are not required to finish the level.

- You MUST finish the level.

- The points are:



Chips - 0 points

Yellow Key - 1 point

Blue Key - 2 points

Red Key - 3 points

Green Key - 5 points



Time bonus - 1 point for every 3 seconds left on the clock.

File category: Archived


The Treasure Hunt Competition for March 2013.

Level:

The Lucky Charms

Please see the competition thread for more details.

Attached Files

  CCZ-TH-0313.dat (Size: 1.22 KB / Downloads: 378)

Here are the levels for this month's time trial:

http://cczone.invisi...ccz-tt-1303ccl/

I worked on these levels quite a bit, so I am interested to see how you guys respond to them. The first one, Hexominos
, is partially inspired by the previous time trial levels from August 2009 and January 2012. All of these are relatively simple to chip collecting missions, but to do so optimally is no easy task. The other level, Nested Replay
, is my attempt to make a level where you can pick which rooms to visit. There are four quadrants, each with four rooms, but you only need to visit three quadrants and three rooms in each of those quadrants. Once I get a submission or two, I will post some more comments on making the levels.

If you know the routine, you are set to go. Enjoy!


Here are more details if you must know:

1) The person with the highest combined remaining time on the levels #2- #3 wins! You may enter in either Lynx or MS, with the latter being the primary rules (meaning that any Lynx solution times that exceed the best MS solution time will be considered equal to that MS time, but otherwise all the times will be compared together in one category). Ties in overall score won't be broken.

2) Please send your solutions (either the tws file or avis) to me at valeosote at hotmail dot com. Do not post your solutions or solution times or share them with others. All times will be published at the same time, and the quickest solutions will eventually be released. I will strive to respond to your message by a confirmation that your score has been recorded.

3) The levels shouldn't be too hard to solve. Don't be afraid to send in your solutions even if you sense they aren't perfect, and simple casual solutions are also appreciated. To give an idea of how long the solutions are to the levels, eat a doughnut and that should take about as much time.

4) This is part of the new 2013 season of the Chip Cup. Winner will be awarded 15 points, second place 12, third 10 points, and so on. If you win a competition here for the first time, you receive the "You're Winner!" award. All participants who haven't participated in a time trial earlier receive the "Run, Chip, Run" award. If your name is James, I will write you a poem and post it in my blog.

5) Submission deadline is at the end of the month. In practice this means I will post here during the first week of April announcing that no more submissions will be accepted, and judge the competition soon after that. This can happen sooner than you hope, so get your solutions in early rather than later! You can send in improvements while the competitions is running, so there is no downside to sending in something you know might not be your best effort if you had forever to work on it.

6) I reserve the right to update the levels within the first week of release. If you find any odd things about the levels, please give me a nudge. I will only apply changes that make the competition better, which means I might fix a ridiculous bust or some other aspect that is obviously meant to work in some other fashion. If any updates are made, I will alert you in this thread. However, no updates will be made after March 12th in any case.

Report any problems or ask any questions here! Have fun!

-Miika

File category: Archived


Here are the levels for the March Time Trial 2013!

I'll post more information in a thread in the competitions forum.

#1 - Hexominos

#2 - Nested Replay

Hope you enjoy!

-Miika

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
       

  CCZ-TT-1303.ccl (Size: 2.92 KB / Downloads: 393)

https://sites.google...e-2-information

This could give you an idea of what elements could be added to Chuck's Challenge. It could be also to imagine. You can also add some stuff in this page to Puzzle Studio.

Ok guys, here are the Valentine's Day 2013 Treasure Hunter results! Hopefully I added all the items and points correctly. It was tough work!

First digit on each entry is time remaining, the second is treasure score and the third is time bonus. The green
is Chip Cup 2013
.

<ol style="list-style-type: decimal">
[*]
pieguy: 310 (131 + 62 = 193 points) + 15 points

[*]
jblewis: 309 (131 + 61 = 192 points) + 12 points

[*]
random_8
:
298 (
131 + 59 = 190 points) + 9 points (tied third place)



[*]
Markus: 303 (130 + 60 = 190 points) + 9 points (tied third place)



[*]
M11k4: 313 (126 + 62 = 188 points) + 7 points

[*]
AdrenalinDragon: 278 (124 + 55 = 179 points) + 6 points

[*]
Flareon350: 308 (95 + 61 = 156 points) + 5 points

[*]
Michael: 296 (62 + 59 = 121 points) + 4
points

[*]
geodave: 321 (51 + 64 = 115 points) + 3
points

[*]
IceyLava108: 380 (25 + 76 = 101 points) + 2
points

</ol>


Well done, pieguy