13-Feb-2013, 7:47 AM
As the first submissions are starting to come in, I wanted to share some thoughts on the design of the levels.
Volcanic Island
Nobody likes a time trial level where the best solution is too easy to find. A close relative of this is a level where the best route is planned by the designer, and all it takes is to find what was intended. Volcanic Island
is exactly this sort of level, so why did I want to use it for a time trial?
So last year we had a create competition with the requirement to "have at least three distinct alternate solutions" and some extra points for a volcanic theme (and including a walker). While others latched on to the extra credits, I started wondering why a level should need several solutions, and I came up with three answers that I tried to incorporate in my level. First, the solutions could be of varying difficulty. Second, the solutions could take different amounts of time to complete. Third, the solutions could use elements that can otherwise be annoying to face, but can be avoided here since you can simply try another method. The first two ideas have good synergy, allowing me to make the easiest solution the slowest and the more difficult ones quicker. The third idea led me to think of blue wall mazes, teeth leading, and complex pink ball dodging as the three distinct areas of the map. In addition to those, you'll also find some alternate ways to complete each section. (Though looking at the level now, not all the sections are necessarily solvable in multiple ways in both MS and Lynx.) I also supperficially added a volcano to the name of the level and avoided last place in the competition.
Looking back at last year's create levels, I think this one was a fine first level in a time trial, as long as there is another level to accompany it. I'll be interested to see which solutions are submitted, so don't hesitate to send in more than one for my enjoyment.
<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-27808100-1360758304.jpg" data-fileid="3">[img]<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-27808100-1360758304_thumb.jpg[/img]</a>
From the Inside Out
This level was made by Benjamin F. Hornlitzein. It won the September 2012 Create Competition and can be solved in more ways than the first level. The requirement was to "create a new level with a puzzle that has two phases". Clearly here you first have to carve out a path for the monsters to reach the bombs which are guarding the chips, and only after you've gotten all of them can you come back in and exit. The symmetry in the level really gives it a memorable feel. The level is not too easy to complete, but if you work on it a corner at a time, a solution should present itself. Use intersections wisely and don't clear too much dirt. If you get stuck, try switching which monsters go to which corners. One small change that was made to this release, was that a couple sockets were edited to be pop-up walls instead, so if your solution failed to work, you could still go back in to analyze what might have gone wrong. This is the level that will separate who is who in the time trial!
<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-03647100-1360758724.jpg" data-fileid="4">[img]<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-03647100-1360758724_thumb.jpg[/img]</a>
One more quick note about the scoring of the competition. If there is a tie after adjusting several Lynx solutions to equal the highest MS solution, I might consider the lynx scores as a tie breaker. In any case I'll try to be as fair as possible, while not forcing everyone to play in both MS and Lynx, and yet allowing both to be used if wished. Ok, I'll stop now and let you guys play the levels
-Miika
Volcanic Island
Nobody likes a time trial level where the best solution is too easy to find. A close relative of this is a level where the best route is planned by the designer, and all it takes is to find what was intended. Volcanic Island
is exactly this sort of level, so why did I want to use it for a time trial?
So last year we had a create competition with the requirement to "have at least three distinct alternate solutions" and some extra points for a volcanic theme (and including a walker). While others latched on to the extra credits, I started wondering why a level should need several solutions, and I came up with three answers that I tried to incorporate in my level. First, the solutions could be of varying difficulty. Second, the solutions could take different amounts of time to complete. Third, the solutions could use elements that can otherwise be annoying to face, but can be avoided here since you can simply try another method. The first two ideas have good synergy, allowing me to make the easiest solution the slowest and the more difficult ones quicker. The third idea led me to think of blue wall mazes, teeth leading, and complex pink ball dodging as the three distinct areas of the map. In addition to those, you'll also find some alternate ways to complete each section. (Though looking at the level now, not all the sections are necessarily solvable in multiple ways in both MS and Lynx.) I also supperficially added a volcano to the name of the level and avoided last place in the competition.
Looking back at last year's create levels, I think this one was a fine first level in a time trial, as long as there is another level to accompany it. I'll be interested to see which solutions are submitted, so don't hesitate to send in more than one for my enjoyment.
<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-27808100-1360758304.jpg" data-fileid="3">[img]<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-27808100-1360758304_thumb.jpg[/img]</a>
From the Inside Out
This level was made by Benjamin F. Hornlitzein. It won the September 2012 Create Competition and can be solved in more ways than the first level. The requirement was to "create a new level with a puzzle that has two phases". Clearly here you first have to carve out a path for the monsters to reach the bombs which are guarding the chips, and only after you've gotten all of them can you come back in and exit. The symmetry in the level really gives it a memorable feel. The level is not too easy to complete, but if you work on it a corner at a time, a solution should present itself. Use intersections wisely and don't clear too much dirt. If you get stuck, try switching which monsters go to which corners. One small change that was made to this release, was that a couple sockets were edited to be pop-up walls instead, so if your solution failed to work, you could still go back in to analyze what might have gone wrong. This is the level that will separate who is who in the time trial!
<a class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image" href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-03647100-1360758724.jpg" data-fileid="4">[img]<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_02_2013/post-19-0-03647100-1360758724_thumb.jpg[/img]</a>
One more quick note about the scoring of the competition. If there is a tie after adjusting several Lynx solutions to equal the highest MS solution, I might consider the lynx scores as a tie breaker. In any case I'll try to be as fair as possible, while not forcing everyone to play in both MS and Lynx, and yet allowing both to be used if wished. Ok, I'll stop now and let you guys play the levels
-Miika