05-Feb-2015, 8:22 AM
I like these Time Trials in general. I like the levels and the atmosphere of competitive fun. However, it's not always easy to run the perfect Time Trial because there are so many details that have to go right. One of the things I've tried to do, is to have more than one level in each competition, and yet have a simple level in the mix. This month, we're using two of these 'simple' levels. You can download them here: http://cczone.invisionzone.com/index.php?/files/file/438-ccz-tt-1502ccl/
You'll notice that both levels utilize blocks and we just had an intense block pushing level last month. I actually made the first level for last month's competition and saved it for this month precisely because of that reason. I had also planned for the second level to be used in March, but didn't want three consecutive months to use block oriented levels, so I thought to use it here instead. Though there are blocks in both levels, I feel that the first as a strong element of monster manipulation mixed in, and the second remains more of a chip collecting exercise than a Sokoban. If this all still disheartens you, then you'll be delighted to know that next month the focus is totally off the blocks.
Enjoy!
Just a few technicalities if you're interested:
1) The person with the highest combined remaining time on the two levels wins!
2) You may enter in either MS or Lynx, with the former being the primary rules. This means 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. There may be a tie in the overall score, but since that happened last month I might issue a new tie-breaking round at the start of March (if that happens, the tie-breaker is possibly the same levels but in Lynx and with an extra week of time).
3) Please send your solutions (either the tws file or avis) to CCZoneNextLevel at gmail dot com, or to my own email valeosote at hotmail dot com. Do not post your solutions or solution times or share them with others before the competition results are announced. 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.
4) The levels aren't 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. You may enter if you solve at least one of the levels, but solving more will obviously place higher. Both levels have a time limit of two minutes.
5) This is part of the 2015 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 you want a special prize for effort, you can try requesting something from me.
6) Submission deadline is March 1st where you live. I will judge the submissions without warning the following week but will accept submissions until I do. If you need a more specific time, you can always ask. To avoid losing on time (it is a time trial after all), get your solutions in early rather than later! You can send in improvements while the competition 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.
7) The designer of the levels (myself), may enter the competition, as I have not optimized them, nor will I have significantly more time to work on them compared to the rest of you. However, if someone protests against this, I may exclude my own submission.
-Miika
You'll notice that both levels utilize blocks and we just had an intense block pushing level last month. I actually made the first level for last month's competition and saved it for this month precisely because of that reason. I had also planned for the second level to be used in March, but didn't want three consecutive months to use block oriented levels, so I thought to use it here instead. Though there are blocks in both levels, I feel that the first as a strong element of monster manipulation mixed in, and the second remains more of a chip collecting exercise than a Sokoban. If this all still disheartens you, then you'll be delighted to know that next month the focus is totally off the blocks.
Enjoy!
Just a few technicalities if you're interested:
1) The person with the highest combined remaining time on the two levels wins!
2) You may enter in either MS or Lynx, with the former being the primary rules. This means 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. There may be a tie in the overall score, but since that happened last month I might issue a new tie-breaking round at the start of March (if that happens, the tie-breaker is possibly the same levels but in Lynx and with an extra week of time).
3) Please send your solutions (either the tws file or avis) to CCZoneNextLevel at gmail dot com, or to my own email valeosote at hotmail dot com. Do not post your solutions or solution times or share them with others before the competition results are announced. 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.
4) The levels aren't 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. You may enter if you solve at least one of the levels, but solving more will obviously place higher. Both levels have a time limit of two minutes.
5) This is part of the 2015 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 you want a special prize for effort, you can try requesting something from me.
6) Submission deadline is March 1st where you live. I will judge the submissions without warning the following week but will accept submissions until I do. If you need a more specific time, you can always ask. To avoid losing on time (it is a time trial after all), get your solutions in early rather than later! You can send in improvements while the competition 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.
7) The designer of the levels (myself), may enter the competition, as I have not optimized them, nor will I have significantly more time to work on them compared to the rest of you. However, if someone protests against this, I may exclude my own submission.
-Miika