03-Apr-2015, 6:49 AM
Some people get giddy before Christmas, or even their birthday, in anticipation of what presents they might be receiving. I get a little giddy when I announce these competitions, both to hear your reactions and then see your entries 
This time we have a theme that is related to birthdays and fits in with the series I was hinting at last month...
Your job is to create a simple and fun level. Wait, that's not a proper requirement?! It's not even a restriction really! EXPLAIN!! I'm glad you asked, but let me set things up first...
Judging these competitions is a lot of work if there are tens of levels, but even more so if those levels are complex and hard. That doesn't mean that sort of levels are bad, it's just that for these competitions, it is more efficient and even fun if there is some sort of difficulty restriction in place. But not every month should be about making a level in a small room, or a short time limit, so what other ways are there to guarantee a similar outcome? Taking a step back, another approach to the problem is to allow someone else to judge the competition, and we have done that too from time to time. The main problems with that approach is the availability and willingness of people to undertake such a task in reasonable time. We have even tried voting on the results, but that hasn't worked as well as one could hope (at least to date). So what did I do this time?
We have a guest judge for this month's levels. She is my daughter Noomi. She will play the levels and rank them how she feels. At least I hope she will, since it will be a birthday surprise! She is turning ten in May, and I thought it would be cool that we as a community would create a small level set for her to play. Now this is where the restriction comes into place. She hasn't played too much of CC. She has played some, but definitely not as much as any of you reading this. I believe she will enjoy a simple and short level over any that are long and difficult. She may even skip a fun level if she encounters an element she dislikes. As level designers, I feel you will do well if you manage to think more in the mind set of the player when making a level for her.
I realize that to make this work, and to make it fair, I will need to try and tell you all a little more specifically what types of things she enjoys in the game. After all, a good designer should know their audience a little bit to be able to think about how their creation will be received. I will do that, but not yet. I didn't want to delay announcing this competition, but I don't have all that info just yet. So within a week or so I will post a follow-up with more information about how much she has played to date and such, to give you some idea of what you can be aiming at. Of course you can start narrowing down your ideas or even experimenting with them in an editor, and I'm sure the time you spend on it now, even without all that information, won't be a total waste. (Oh, my set kidsfair.ccl was made for her, but not all the levels and it's been some time since she first played it.)
So to summarize: Your job is to create a simple and fun level that a ten-year-old girl will enjoy! Check back later in the month for more details on what she might be expecting or what sort of things she might not like. As a general rule, I suggest not making the level too long, too difficult, too dodgy, too blockpushy, or too anything. I will be very interested in seeing what you come up with!
Notes:
-Submissions are open as long as it is April 2015 where you live!
-Do not make a overly difficult level. Please be considerate of not making the judge work too hard on solving your creation.
-The level must be solvable. If it isn't, an update is allowed but it does take extra effort so please play your levels before sending them.
-The level must be new; it must not have been released earlier.
-Please give the level a name, time limit and set a password.
-You may submit more than one entry, but please keep the levels distinct from each other. Your best two entries is recommended.
-Points may be deducted for late entries, but will be accepted until a notice is posted in this thread.
-Entrants receive the normal prizes: the "You're Winner!"-award, Chip Cup points, and "Tool Box"-award for first time entrants.
-Please ask about other unclear situations.
Email and attach your submissions to valeosote at hotmail dot com. I will strive to reply with a confirmation that I have received your entry. I prefer if you use your username and this competition in the subject. Keep it short and simple, something like: "April Create - Superman"
Let the submissions pour in, and thanks in advance for helping me make this present!
-Miika
This time we have a theme that is related to birthdays and fits in with the series I was hinting at last month...Your job is to create a simple and fun level. Wait, that's not a proper requirement?! It's not even a restriction really! EXPLAIN!! I'm glad you asked, but let me set things up first...
Judging these competitions is a lot of work if there are tens of levels, but even more so if those levels are complex and hard. That doesn't mean that sort of levels are bad, it's just that for these competitions, it is more efficient and even fun if there is some sort of difficulty restriction in place. But not every month should be about making a level in a small room, or a short time limit, so what other ways are there to guarantee a similar outcome? Taking a step back, another approach to the problem is to allow someone else to judge the competition, and we have done that too from time to time. The main problems with that approach is the availability and willingness of people to undertake such a task in reasonable time. We have even tried voting on the results, but that hasn't worked as well as one could hope (at least to date). So what did I do this time?
We have a guest judge for this month's levels. She is my daughter Noomi. She will play the levels and rank them how she feels. At least I hope she will, since it will be a birthday surprise! She is turning ten in May, and I thought it would be cool that we as a community would create a small level set for her to play. Now this is where the restriction comes into place. She hasn't played too much of CC. She has played some, but definitely not as much as any of you reading this. I believe she will enjoy a simple and short level over any that are long and difficult. She may even skip a fun level if she encounters an element she dislikes. As level designers, I feel you will do well if you manage to think more in the mind set of the player when making a level for her.
I realize that to make this work, and to make it fair, I will need to try and tell you all a little more specifically what types of things she enjoys in the game. After all, a good designer should know their audience a little bit to be able to think about how their creation will be received. I will do that, but not yet. I didn't want to delay announcing this competition, but I don't have all that info just yet. So within a week or so I will post a follow-up with more information about how much she has played to date and such, to give you some idea of what you can be aiming at. Of course you can start narrowing down your ideas or even experimenting with them in an editor, and I'm sure the time you spend on it now, even without all that information, won't be a total waste. (Oh, my set kidsfair.ccl was made for her, but not all the levels and it's been some time since she first played it.)
So to summarize: Your job is to create a simple and fun level that a ten-year-old girl will enjoy! Check back later in the month for more details on what she might be expecting or what sort of things she might not like. As a general rule, I suggest not making the level too long, too difficult, too dodgy, too blockpushy, or too anything. I will be very interested in seeing what you come up with!
Notes:
-Submissions are open as long as it is April 2015 where you live!
-Do not make a overly difficult level. Please be considerate of not making the judge work too hard on solving your creation.
-The level must be solvable. If it isn't, an update is allowed but it does take extra effort so please play your levels before sending them.
-The level must be new; it must not have been released earlier.
-Please give the level a name, time limit and set a password.
-You may submit more than one entry, but please keep the levels distinct from each other. Your best two entries is recommended.
-Points may be deducted for late entries, but will be accepted until a notice is posted in this thread.
-Entrants receive the normal prizes: the "You're Winner!"-award, Chip Cup points, and "Tool Box"-award for first time entrants.
-Please ask about other unclear situations.
Email and attach your submissions to valeosote at hotmail dot com. I will strive to reply with a confirmation that I have received your entry. I prefer if you use your username and this competition in the subject. Keep it short and simple, something like: "April Create - Superman"
Let the submissions pour in, and thanks in advance for helping me make this present!
-Miika