Nifflas' Support Forum

Level Editing Support => Knytt Stories Level Previews => Topic started by: Zydragazum on July 17, 2010, 02:16:06

Title: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 17, 2010, 02:16:06
Hello, everyone. :)

This seems like a very nice community, and I've been into Knytt Stories for a very long time. I've always wanted to create my own level, so I've set out to do so. Note that this will be my first major, not to say, public level.

I can't guarantee constant attention to this project because I am simultaneously trying to educate myself for next year in school. I also have major creativity issues which I need help with (maybe I can even find assistance here).

On to the level!

This will be an environmental level, but there will be small challenging bits (all at an easy to moderate difficulty). Currently, there is no large and intricate plot - actually, there's no plot at all. C) I'll make an attempt to create one later.

What I really try to do in my levels is to use as much custom content as possible. I am hoping that for the majority, my tilesets will all be custom, but will stick to classic pixelated style of Nifflas' tilesets.

Of course, I won't leave you without screenshots. I am almost done my first tileset, entitled "Elegance". I want it to be as fully functional as possible. I am hoping to create an "Interiors" tileset as well (I plan for all buildings to be fully integrated, meaning you can enter them and they will be consistent with the exterior).

Currently, the level is titled "Elegance" because I don't actually have a name for it. I just named it after the tileset for now. I'll keep this name until I'm done.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 17, 2010, 02:18:22
Oh. My. God!

Seriously, words fail me, that looks so completely and utterly awesome. AWESMOE, even.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 17, 2010, 02:26:03
Lol, thank you Hmpf.

I have seen your work and I've played your levels - I can't wait for the next installment of Falling Water! I am very honored to receive that kind of praise from you. :)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 17, 2010, 02:46:45
Lol, thank you Hmpf.

I have seen your work and I've played your levels - I can't wait for the next installment of Falling Water! I am very honored to receive that kind of praise from you. :)

As I am to receive yours. Thank you. :-)

(You better *not* have really bad 'creativity issues' with this level, because my appetite is whet, now! SRSLY. ;-))
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 17, 2010, 02:51:18
My creativity issues are a little difficult to describe. I'm a person who needs instant gratification to go on. So if I'm trudging along really slowly and I'm not satisfied with what I'm doing (which is often, because I'm a perfectionist), I'll get discouraged.

I'm aiming for my level to be like Gaia. I will constantly update it - there will be no end. :) Or maybe there will be various points where you can end the game.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 17, 2010, 02:58:38
My creativity issues are a little difficult to describe. I'm a person who needs instant gratification to go on. So if I'm trudging along really slowly and I'm not satisfied with what I'm doing (which is often, because I'm a perfectionist), I'll get discouraged.

I'm aiming for my level to be like Gaia. I will constantly update it - there will be no end. :) Or maybe there will be various points where you can end the game.

Well, as long as you produce quality screens like the above, you can always come to me for gratification. ;-)

Also, my sympathies on the perfectionism. I suffer from that disease also.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: yohji on July 18, 2010, 14:22:27
These screenshots look very promising. A bit odd how the houses are so small, and yet you want the interiors to be just as small... eh. Anyway, I very much hope your plans will work out!
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 18, 2010, 15:05:19
They're knytt-scale houses! ;-)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Pumpkinbot on July 18, 2010, 21:11:35
Never thought I'd say this, but...

Welcome to the forum! Your level looks like it could be the next Gaia! :U

But the mods might start complaining because the definition of "environmental" is "no enemies, beautiful terrain", which conflicts with "challenge". Some people have instead posted their levels as "scenic/challenge" to bypass this. Yay, loophole! :D
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 18, 2010, 23:18:08
Thank you, guys. :)

Scenic? Works fine too! I was philosophizing on the concept of how monsters are still part of the natural environment.

Anyways, I haven't been able to do much lately. I've been constructing a new tileset that's a little too SecretGlitch'ed for me to call it my own. X-P That good sir's levels are brilliant, and I was playing a little too much Dark Sea at the time. (I really hope Dark Sea 2 will be out soon.) Well, I guess this'll just be a tribute to him and will fill in for him when he's not releasing glorious levels.

I'm planning for these facilities (see attached screenshot C)) to be scattered about the world. Note that the fans and the terminal in the second screenshot are animated.

P.S. Don't kill me.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 18, 2010, 23:20:10
You're giving me serious... hmm... knyttgasms here. (Sorry. But, really, these screens are *so* good...!)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 18, 2010, 23:22:42
That makes me very happy. Thank you. :)

I'll try limiting them so you (and potentially other people) do not overload. :P

Edit: I added another screen (how ironic) to my previous post just to keep the consistency of 2 screens per post. Hopefully, it'll make me more inspired.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 18, 2010, 23:34:14
I'll try limiting them so you (and potentially other people) do not overload. :P

You are a stronger person than I, then. (See discussions in later pages of Falling Water preview thread to see what I mean. *g*)

Quote
Edit: I added another screen (how ironic) to my previous post just to keep the consistency of 2 screens per post. Hopefully, it'll make me more inspired.

Where? I can't see it... :-(

ETA: Okay, now it's there. :-)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 19, 2010, 21:04:58
Awesome. I edited my first post to include this, but I'll post it here: the fans and the terminal are, of course, animated (the terminal screen blinks really rapidly, as if its refresh rate is really slow like on a CRT monitor. X-P)

I am now working on a custom Knytt village tileset. This is loosely based on the house in the "The Cave and the Disabled Machine" tileset. The tileset will have loads of village building blocks, so that when or if I release my tilesets with public usage rights (currently, I'm a little too proud of my work, lol), people will be able to build a very large variety of buildings and keep the players interested.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Razzorman on July 19, 2010, 21:30:46
 C)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on July 20, 2010, 03:05:35
Very impressive visuals! I love custom content, and these are very nicely done. I'll really look forward to playing this.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on July 21, 2010, 14:13:45
I'm really liking this.   Welcome to the community!  I'm only 6 or so months here myself.

Great color choices.  I usually don't like strait blue and red screens, but you've pulled it off I think with the industrial feel.

I have the "instant gratification" problem at times as well, or at least I find myself doing levels for praise, which is not a very healthy thing to do, me thinks.

As for the small house issue in any knytt story, I've always thought that the houses are in the far background so that Juni has to walk up to them, hence why they are "bigger inside then outside."  Perspective!

Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Salmoneous on July 21, 2010, 16:50:04
The possibly most ugly trees I've ever seen. Better give it another shot or remove them. They do nothing to the environment anyway.

But overall it's fine looking. Will be looking forward to this level.  :)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: egomassive on July 21, 2010, 17:49:37
Really? I specifically noted liking the trees and how they grow in odd locations. They're the best part imo.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on July 21, 2010, 23:43:52
Eh, they're OK. I certainly wouldn't say they're the best part - there's room for improvement, maybe less symmetry - but they're not terribly ugly either.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 22, 2010, 02:57:01
Very impressive visuals! I love custom content, and these are very nicely done. I'll really look forward to playing this.

Thanks! :D

I'm really liking this.   Welcome to the community!

Great color choices.  I usually don't like strait blue and red screens, but you've pulled it off I think with the industrial feel.

I have the "instant gratification" problem at times as well, or at least I find myself doing levels for praise, which is not a very healthy thing to do, me thinks.

As for the small house issue in any knytt story, I've always thought that the houses are in the far background so that Juni has to walk up to them, hence why they are "bigger inside then outside."  Perspective!

Many thanks as well, including that perspective idea. I hadn't thought of that myself.

The possibly most ugly trees I've ever seen. Better give it another shot or remove them. They do nothing to the environment anyway.

I knew someone would eventually have a problem with the trees. X) I spent a lot of time just getting them to the state in that screenshot, and by that time, I was satisfied enough to stop working on them. But you're right. I'll work on them, though I won't exactly modify them to a great extent as others seem fine with them.

Well, this has been a nice deal of public response, especially from level-makers like egomassive and Salmoneous. C) I've attached another screenshot, as a result. This time, I tried taking a rather different approach to the village concept. The tileset has tons of pieces in order to really maximize customization of buildings.

I should mention that some of the screenshots I've posted are not actual shots from the game. I haven't actually started the level, but I have several "test" levels in which I'm constructing many rooms to test. But I will guarantee that a lot of the screenshots so far -will- make it into the game.

This one, in particular, features one of the places where you can get a radio. :)

EDIT: Quick update, since there's no response. The Elegance tileset is also pretty much complete. I just have a few more tiles to sort out. Because I always have an influx of ideas, there may even end up being an Elegance II. But I must know - what is wrong with my trees? I tried working on them but they're not coming out well. I'm just not sure what part needs fixing.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on July 22, 2010, 13:58:29
I like the new screen shot.  Great houses... except the extreme blue which makes them look plastic and fake.  Actually, it is the pure black, pure yellow, and and pure green all in one tile that does it, The blue kind of has a nice effect against the mellower blue.  However, adding gray or orange to the blue, or maybe some white to the yellow and green, will mellow the plastic effect to a richer realism.  I'd at least make the dark blue stripes grayer to help them set into space rather than pop out at the screen. 

As for your early trees, they look half dead dude.  Especially the big gap at the top right that kind of looks like a birds mouth.  They need to be MUCH fuller and robust; healthier.  You may need to double the tile width to get them adequately lively.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on July 23, 2010, 20:10:59
I like the houses but they really don't work with that tileset. The prefered solution would be to make your own tileset to match the houses since most people are bored of that particular default tileset by now.

As for the trees, to me they look too symmetrical and not natural enough. Their shape is very uninteresting and just not that aesthetically pleasing. I would describe them as "adequate" as opposed to "pretty".
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 23, 2010, 23:21:57
Ah, this forum is difficult to please! I can't seem to do anything right. :sigh:

I like the new screen shot.  Great houses... except the extreme blue which makes them look plastic and fake.  Actually, it is the pure black, pure yellow, and and pure green all in one tile that does it, The blue kind of has a nice effect against the mellower blue.  However, adding gray or orange to the blue, or maybe some white to the yellow and green, will mellow the plastic effect to a richer realism.  I'd at least make the dark blue stripes grayer to help them set into space rather than pop out at the screen.  

As for your early trees, they look half dead dude.  Especially the big gap at the top right that kind of looks like a birds mouth.  They need to be MUCH fuller and robust; healthier.  You may need to double the tile width to get them adequately lively.

I did make a different set of houses earlier, which I scrapped due to several issues, including unoriginality (it was basically a recolor of Nifflas' house from The Cave and the Disabled Machine. See attached screenshot). The colors, perhaps, work better with this tileset? But then what Feline Monstrosity said sort of negates that - that is, the part where he mentions the tileset being boring.

I like the houses but they really don't work with that tileset. The prefered solution would be to make your own tileset to match the houses since most people are bored of that particular default tileset by now.

As for the trees, to me they look too symmetrical and not natural enough. Their shape is very uninteresting and just not that aesthetically pleasing. I would describe them as "adequate" as opposed to "pretty".

Oh dear. Another tileset? That'll be the fifth one! But I suppose I can attempt it. In this case, more custom content is better.

Everyone seems rather divided on the trees. Maybe I should just throw them out? I don't know...

I know I should be doing what satisfies me and what I want to do as the creator of this work, and I know that it's impossible to please everyone, but I'm very much against releasing a level that everyone thinks is ugly. :S
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 24, 2010, 00:42:36
Heh. I don't think everyone thinks your level is ugly. I think everyone thinks that it looks *extremely* promising, and when something starts out looking really promising, people tend to demand excellence. ;-)

I do agree with Feline Monstrosity that the houses don't work with the 'not desert' tileset. IMO it's two (or three?) things that are a problem here: Firstly, the colours of your tileset are very strong and pure, whereas Nifflas' tileset is kinda pastel and muted. Secondly, your tileset has a lot of minute detail, whereas Nifflas' is more stylised. Thirdly, you employ very strong contrasts in your tileset (both within the striped pattern of the walls, and between different elements of the houses, e.g. walls and windows), whereas Nifflas doesn't really work with contrast a lot in that tileset. A lot of your problems could probably be changed with some careful recolouring of your tileset.

Oh, another thing I just realised: part of the problem may actually be that you gave everything black outlines, whereas in Nifflas' tileset, only the solid ground has outlines. So, unless you explicitly want the houses to be climbable, you may want to rethink that?

I'd also like to weigh in on the trees issue: I really have no problem at all with your trees. They do look a bit straggly, and perhaps they're not the most thriving trees in the world - but, what with the somewhat muted greens of your tileset, I felt it perfectly okay for the trees to feel not... lush.

And yeah, ultimately you need to know what *you* like. Because you can't please everyone, ever, so YOU are the only truly reliable arbiter of what looks good, when it comes to your own work. ;-)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on July 24, 2010, 04:50:01
Yeah, I think most of us here are striving for excellence within our own work, and so deeply value the criticism of others, so we're just passing the buck on so to speak.

Your doing fine.  I'm personally not against the 'not desert' tileset because I'm relatively new and haven't seen it used 5000 times like many here.

I do concur with hmpf's color analysis.  She said it better than I did.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on July 24, 2010, 12:40:16
Hmpf is spot on about the colours. The rest of the screenshots you've posted are very pretty indeed, so don't let a little contructive criticism discourage you.

Ultimately it's your level and your choice, so do whatever you think feels/looks right. (And never try to be too ambitious. If another tileset is too much work then find an alternative. We've all seen far too many great levels go unfinished because of overambition).
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Yonowaaru on July 24, 2010, 18:16:12
Those screenshots are just friggin GENIUS!
The houses are goodsized, though, I generally prefer to have invisible shifts.
Your call, though.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on July 25, 2010, 09:15:26
After reading your responses, ladies and gentlemen, I have altered my goal. I will now rebel and strive to displease this forum as much as possible. My main course of action is to create the ugliest tilesets and the most grotesque KS level on the planet.

I have created another one, in fact! Don't worry, however. I have done everything I possible can to make it hideous enough to give you vivid nightmares. It even has the official seal of repulsiveness. I have placed it as an attachment!

No worries, I'm not done yet! I am even making another one as we speak. There will never be a larger repository of ugly custom content after this day. I promise you my full dedication in disgusting you for as long as possible.

Yours truly,
Z

loljk

Now to get serious.

Those screenshots are just friggin GENIUS!
The houses are goodsized, though, I generally prefer to have invisible shifts.
Your call, though.

Thanks. The shifts actually will be invisible. They were just purple glows in the screenshot to actually show that there will be interiors and that I have been working on them.

Hmpf's color analysis is perfect. Indeed, I will work on my houses and adjust the second color scheme I posted above. I'll also incorporate a very faded detailed pattern to negate the simplicity contrast with the tilesets. The windows - well, I'll keep the yellow. It won't clash as much with the faded blues/turquoises, but I'll orange to it for sure.

As for the trees - the original idea was for the landscape to be starting to grow. Consider it nature taking over a desolate area, if you will. Now that there is no longer a sentient presence, nature blooms out of control, and the tileset aims to simulate a sort of stunted growth. The flowers are very colourful - one might even say mutated. But the grass is very short, and the trees are "demented". They grew, but not in the right way. How come? Look at the colors - very neutral, no? They seem to hint at a sort of malnutrition/insufficient nutrition in the environment.

As for the screenshot I attached...

Yeah, call it bland, I guess. You've seen the same cliffs thousands of times, just without the pattern. But I like it. Probably no trees in this one. Just a lot of tall, wild grass and weird flowers you've never seen before. Indeed - this tileset will focus on flowers. Not just white. There will plenty of other colours.

The blocks follow the style of the Elegance tileset I first posted. I wanted to create a tileset as functional as possible. This one has an update - single diamond tiles (not in the screenshot, though). I will probably port this to other tilesets I have posted throughout. The patterns, of course, are brand new. I came up with them spontaneously at four in the morning, I think.

There are loads of more tile patterns, of course. I just haven't found a use for them - yet.

Am I being too ambitious? Probably. But again, this is not only a level project. It's a project to defeat my creativity issues. And I am convinced I will succeed.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on July 25, 2010, 14:34:29
Love the new screenshot, and your idea for the 'history' of the entire landscape, too. I have a big, big thing for green levels (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=2883.0) with nature themes, so your concept sounds great to me! Can't wait to play this...
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Salmoneous on July 26, 2010, 08:53:31
That is one great screen. Looks complete alien. Just the perfect kind of green, raining and free from life. But those curves does it all  :)

I think the houses in your previous screens are very nice. They just don't fit very well with the tileset. Perhaps if you reduce the brightness of it.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: utherdoul on July 26, 2010, 11:01:03
This looks good, particularly the more 'organic' screenshots (using your Elegance tileset).
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on August 20, 2010, 18:57:46
Terribly sorry about this little hiatus I went on! Life has been extremely busy, and I've been focusing a lot on getting some academics out of the way in advance for the approaching school year, which starts in a little under three weeks! X)

Fear not - this project is not abandoned. I have not been working on it as much, but I do not intend to leave it. As my friend said, "How've you failed? Just work on it later." I guess this is the attitude one should generally keep when leading a busy life.

Now for a change of screenshots. I know I've been spoiling you guys a little too much, but I don't want interest in this project to die down completely. Although you guys do get really demanding. X-P

This tileset in particular still needs a lot of work. It's a lot harder than it looks.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Yukabacera on August 21, 2010, 00:09:55
Okay, those ruins look awesome. Can I become your eternal slave for the rest of my puny mortal life? I'll cook for you and wash your socks!

Also, it seems you're gonna break Hmpf's record in posting too many screenshots.  :P2

=|=
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on August 21, 2010, 01:05:47
That looks really fantastic.  I sure hate spikes though.  Spikes ruin otherwise good levels for me.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on August 23, 2010, 01:07:22
This level is shaping up to look really pretty. I particularly love that green screen you posted! I'll sure be playing this if/when it's released! C)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on August 25, 2010, 21:07:51
Thanks, guys. That's much better feedback than I expected.

No spoilers this time, for obvious reasons. I've given too much. C)

However, I just want to let you know that I've finished writing the plot. It's still in alpha mode, but I've got the general idea established. Furthermore, two custom tilesets are now 100% finished. :^^: Currently, there are 9 other planned tilesets. :o
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Strange Darkness on August 26, 2010, 10:23:52
When i read you have "creativity issues" as you put them in the first post, i thought fair enough.
then i saw you screens.... if they aren't considered as 'creative' ... i just..  :shocked: what is the world i live in?

The screens are brilliant, wonderfull, amazing, gorgeous and the list goes on and on... and on... and on...
seriously thier just ... wow :awsum:
goodluck for you and for your level and all the best for you once more! C)p
Cheers! & Peace!
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on August 26, 2010, 19:37:17
Thank you, Strange Darkness.

I've decided to return to working on the Little Knytt Village tileset as that had not been received too well. :P Looking back at it, it wasn't a very... "mature" tileset.

I have posted a screenshot with a new take on the village, color-wise. Also note that I decided to create my own variation of Nifflas' NotDesert tileset, just for the sake of putting in more custom content, and for the sake of not re-using a very common tileset.

I have mainly changed the colors of the homes. The lights are still bright yellow, however, and I am not 100% sure whether I will make that more pale or not. There are two mountainous elements, strong green and light green, as well as a cave element, which you see featured at the waterfall.

I have not yet implemented any flora. I will do that later. Enjoy!
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on August 26, 2010, 23:51:19
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:pvjwBXaCB8wmsM:http://crnabiz.com/site/sites/default/files/all-thumbs-up.jpg&t=1)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Vinterrun on January 20, 2011, 11:28:03
What happend here? Awesome screenshots, sympathic level publisher but the whole thing died cause of...? Are you still working on this? Would be a shame if not!
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on January 20, 2011, 13:30:27
Ditto.  I wish the knyttforums had a way of keeping track of people who leave without return.  A tiny little malware that pings us a persons e-mail maybe?  I know, that might be unethical, but I'm sure tired of loosing good work.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Vinterrun on January 20, 2011, 14:40:25
To unetical I don't tink that this would be rigt.

But I tink it's not fair to present your wip to the community, to get critics and help and stuff just to disappear after a while.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on January 21, 2011, 00:04:10
Hello.

I have not abandoned anything! Please don't say I did. I've been having a lot of trouble with school lately - I'm not failing or anything, I'm just trying to do well. I recently started working on the level again, and I will have to admit that things are going very slowly. I'm getting the feeling I'm putting too much attention into details right now, and that they should be left for later. But one must take advantage of that sense of creativity and the rush of emotion - the level would not come out as well if I didn't immerse myself in each zone, one at a time.

I'm afraid of publishing another screen-shot in fear of doing what people criticize Hmpf for. I really don't think she should get too much criticism concerning her level is about 400 screens now? Perhaps even more. I, on the other hand, have a little over 50. It sounds low, I know. I'm quite sorry. So far, I've completed one zone.

In terms of level design, there will be about 13-15 zones, each having a different size (i.e. small/medium/large), and I am hoping that everything will top out at 350 screens or so.

Again, quite sorry about this, but I have abandoned nothing! And I won't. I was just feeling that people had lost interest and I didn't have enough material to constitute any meaningful posts.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on January 21, 2011, 00:54:45
Ah good!  If your still around you have nothing to apologize for, not size, not the time your taking, not anything.  RL is RL.  We're just people you don't know on the internet who hope to experience a community of creativity.  (I suppose I should say I, not we, since I can't speak for everyone, but I think it is usually true.) 

Just keep it up and do what you think is best!
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Vinterrun on January 21, 2011, 04:30:35
Hello.

I have not abandoned anything! Please don't say I did. I've been having a lot of trouble with school lately - I'm not failing or anything, I'm just trying to do well. I recently started working on the level again, and I will have to admit that things are going very slowly. I'm getting the feeling I'm putting too much attention into details right now, and that they should be left for later. But one must take advantage of that sense of creativity and the rush of emotion - the level would not come out as well if I didn't immerse myself in each zone, one at a time.

I'm afraid of publishing another screen-shot in fear of doing what people criticize Hmpf for. I really don't think she should get too much criticism concerning her level is about 400 screens now? Perhaps even more. I, on the other hand, have a little over 50. It sounds low, I know. I'm quite sorry. So far, I've completed one zone.

In terms of level design, there will be about 13-15 zones, each having a different size (i.e. small/medium/large), and I am hoping that everything will top out at 350 screens or so.

Again, quite sorry about this, but I have abandoned nothing! And I won't. I was just feeling that people had lost interest and I didn't have enough material to constitute any meaningful posts.

I'm very very sorry. Didn't mean to insult you or anything. I'm glad to hear that you're still here. Take your time and fix the important aspects of live first.

It just happens often that people are looking for help and critics to abandon the whole thing without a word ^^
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on June 09, 2011, 04:47:15
Good to be back! C)

I thought it's about time I would update this project. I've had a lot of changing ideas about its direction, and at one point had constructed a plot that would be far better-served by a Cave Story level editor. That means that for the time being, I'm unsure what I'm doing, and my main purpose is to create, and more significantly, experiment. I'm trying to create something new that doesn't, at the same time, deviate too far from the original Nifflas-styled design.

As you've noticed, I am pretty lazy when it comes to this, working in bursts. I've considered releasing my level in parts rather than in an overall product that's overdue by years.

Alas, I am still alive. Here is a preview of how things are going. You deserve it.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on June 09, 2011, 13:43:38
Wow, that is a very sweet non-normal tile set you have there!  I heartily approve!  I was liking your level before, but now I'm really excited.

Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: sergiocornaga on June 09, 2011, 14:09:11
It looks really good. I really hope that you'll release this level!
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Talps on June 09, 2011, 15:51:22
This looks fantastic!

Don't suppose there's an ETA?
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: egomassive on June 09, 2011, 21:41:40
...I've considered releasing my level in parts rather than in an overall product that's overdue by years. ...

I'd rather you release it as one big level. I don't mind waiting.

...I'm trying to create something new that doesn't, at the same time, deviate too far from the original Nifflas-styled design. ...

I don't know what advantages the Cave Story engine has that you are interested in, but there are a couple new Knytt Stories mods which may be helpful. GrayFace's Knytt Stories Extended (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4253.0) includes Lua scripting which should mean you can make the game do whatever you want it too. I've released my unfinished mod (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4175.0) which extends the original engine in ways that I hope are in keeping with the original feel.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on June 12, 2011, 09:52:20
Is there a Cave Story engine???  Wow, maybe I need to look into that.

I can totally sympathies with the frustration of not being able to finish your level quickly.  I've been on mine latest for something like 6 months.  I'm probably a mere 5 hours from being done, but RL is demanding 99.8% of my time right now.  So, I poke at it when I can and simply enjoy the fact that I am making something I love.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on June 14, 2011, 19:32:33
Don't suppose there's an ETA?
Sadly, I don't have one.

I don't know what advantages the Cave Story engine has that you are interested in, but there are a couple new Knytt Stories mods which may be helpful. GrayFace's Knytt Stories Extended (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4253.0) includes Lua scripting which should mean you can make the game do whatever you want it too. I've released my unfinished mod (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4175.0) which extends the original engine in ways that I hope are in keeping with the original feel.
Your work is very appreciable. I've seen the mod and it's brilliant. As for LUA scripting, I know nothing. A Cave Story engine would have been good for the eventual plot that I came to, which would prosper more from run-and-gun rpg-styled gaming, à la Cave Story fashion.

Is there a Cave Story engine???  Wow, maybe I need to look into that.
There are many third-party level editors. If you want to do any advanced editing, you need to learn assembly, which is very tedious programming. Also, thank you for your sympathies.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Semeurim on June 27, 2011, 17:54:53
Oooh... Those are some beautiful screenshots.

Glad to hear you've not lost interest on this. Keep it up. :3
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on June 27, 2011, 19:51:53
Very glad to see that this isn't dead! Keep at it, and if you ever feel like you've completely lost interest then release the unfinished version anyway! I'm sure people would like to see it and it's much better than letting it rot on your harddrive.

But anyway, I'm gonna assume that you will finish it.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Hmpf on August 07, 2011, 15:25:35
Still love this. :-)
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Strange Darkness on August 20, 2011, 14:58:23
*whistles* still amazing.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on January 04, 2012, 18:39:11
Hello. I am not dead.

I've been grinding gears slightly more for the past week or so, since the holiday season is about. However, my main computer and I have been separated, thereby preventing me from creating custom content. I've focused more on level design, and I've re-written multiple sections of the story. I've also added many details that I hope will create intrigue and depth in the story.

Thank you for your overwhelming support. It makes me happy and contributes to my willpower to finish this.

All I can post now is the following concept screenshot, which I have ideas for in the final game. I am certain it will make it. I can not edit it because my most updated tilesets are back on the computer. I trust that this suffices.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Salmoneous on January 14, 2012, 18:44:53
This is great I really hope you'll finish it. If you don't at least post the unfinished version on the forum before leaving for good.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on January 24, 2012, 13:31:36
Wow, I really like that.  Nice save box.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: lilmanjs16 on January 25, 2012, 00:49:49
this level looks amazing! I can't wait to see it finished.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Adryen on February 05, 2012, 13:30:43
I don't know what to say, that's such a great tileset !
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Zydragazum on May 27, 2012, 23:11:14
Have any custom-content creators here ever reviewed previous work that they still intended to use, only to be disappointed with it because it did not meet the standard you had most recently achieved?

Indeed, this is the experience that I have been having pertaining to most of my tilesets, hence the slow rate of progress. Some tilesets are benefiting greatly from this change, but others are resilient, and do not wish to cooperate with me!

With this said, I am still keeping this forum and everyone thereon in mind. Please accept this screenshot. The tileset for these ruins is incomplete, and I indeed have to improve the dithering.
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: Headgrinder on May 28, 2012, 05:10:55
I think that looks good, though it doesn't quite seem in the same world as the rest of the screen shots
Title: Re: [Environmental/Challenge] Elegance
Post by: mpiwowskiKF on July 21, 2013, 12:39:17
How looks this level? because I can't wait, and these tilesets are amazing. :D