Nifflas' Support Forum
Level Editing Support => Knytt Stories Level Previews => Topic started by: Raicuparta on April 06, 2011, 21:11:33
-
Following the surprisingly good feedback I got from my "Kera" level (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4545.0), I decided to continue it's story. I ended up making a completely new level, instead of just continuing the previous one, and start from scratch.
For now I'm sticking to the level design, which is going really slow, sorry about that. The characters and story in general will be done after most of the levels are done.
I'm also making a lot of new custom objects, as many people seem to enjoy that, but always keeping the simplicity of my previous level.
There is also music now, I'm trying hard to make it fit the environment, which isn't always easy, but it seems to be coming out well.
I'll be posting some screens here as I make the level. I'll try not to ruin show too much though, that would kind of ruin the point.
And please, if there is any suggestion at all, post it here :)
-
looks really pretty!
-
looks really pretty!
I concur.
-
looks really pretty!
I concur.
As do I :P
I especially like the beams of light in the last screenshot, it looks amazing.
-
Terrific screens, particularly the last one. Good luck with this project! :)
-
Terrific screens, particularly the last one. Good luck with this project! :)
Happy to hear that, you have no idea how long it took me to make it look nice, because it was all done manually, after some time I couldn't even tell if it aws good or not :P
Thank you all for the opinions.
-
Having enjoyed Kera, I'm really looking forward to this level. The screenshots look very nice.
-
This is going to take even longer than I thought. And there is actually a chance I won't finish it at all.
My laptop had some really annoying problems, and I had to send it to HP, as it is still in it's warranty. I was so frustrated that I didn't even try to back up anything, which was really, really stupid. If they know what they're doing, I won't loose anything, because the problem isn't with software or with the hard drive. But you never know...
I may create a small test level for a feature I want to include in my yet Unnamed Level, as I wait for my laptop to return.
-
They totally deleted everything. So yeah.
I may be doing a new level soon, though, but this one is cancelled.
-
They suck! I sent a laptop to HP once and that didn't happen. Sorry for your loss.
Did they reformat it completely? There might still be some hope for data recovery...
-
They did, completely. It could be possible to recover something, but it would be way to hard to rever a KS level, because it is a lot of separate files.
Also, hooray, they didn't even fix what was wrong. I can't send it to repair again right now because I need it to work... And the problem I have really sucks, it even makes the KS Level Editor a pain to use...
And thanks.
-
Oops.
Uncancelled. A friend of mine still had the files I sent him a while ago. Only lost a few hours of work. Still, I'll have to take a break from this, because right now it is quite unbareble to use the KS Level Editor.
-
That's great news. Good luck with your computer.
-
Oops.
Uncancelled. A friend of mine still had the files I sent him a while ago. Only lost a few hours of work. Still, I'll have to take a break from this, because right now it is quite unbareble to use the KS Level Editor.
That's fantastic news! :^^:
-
Woo hoo!
-
Glad to hear it, this looks cool.
-
I'm happy that everyone's so happy :)
Finnally, some progress. Had to install Ubuntu and run the level editor through Wine, makes it much less annoying to use, close to perfect. The problem is that I had to run Photoshop trough Wine too, and it crashes some times and has other problems. But besides that, It's going well. There are also a few animations I can't make in Ubuntu, so I'll leave those for later. It's going to be the hardest part in the entire level, so it's actually good that I can focus on the level design / new visuals for now.
Just added two new areas. I have most of the story thought through, but I'm kind of improvising on the level design as I go, I don't have anything planned for that. Got to a point that will probably have at least two paths, that could eventually change the entire game from that point. Still have to plan that part a little better, as that would have a great influence on the story itself. I'm definitively going to have multiple endings, that I have decided some time ago.
I'm also adding some optional stuff along the way, that won't change the entire game, maybe just near the end.
-
Can you use GIMP? That has an Ubuntu native version.
-
Can you use GIMP? That has an Ubuntu native version.
Yes, I'm also giving GIMP a shot, not really enjoying my experience... Its hard for someone whos been using Photoshop for years now to use GIMP. For the tilesets I guess it's fine, as I only need the most basic stuff, but for CO's and backgrounds, thats another story.
-
As many of the few KS levels being made, this one is evolving very slowly. But to show it isn't dead already, I decided to add a new screen. Trying not to give too much away.
In this screenshot, you can see a new area. My areas are pretty lazy, most of them being just a new color, really. But I think it gives a really nice felling on the transition.
You can also see some Custom Objects there, with the sewer theme. I modified some of KS default objects to fit the different themes.
-
I am working on this every day now, and while I'm having some slow progress, I really want to end this as soon as possible. But I'm gonna need some help before I finish this:
Mainly, I'll need some beta testers with some extra requests, even if it's just one. Before I start making cut scenes, characters and other story line related stuff, I'll send that version of the level to these testers. Aside from actually doing the job of a beta tester, I need them to tell what are the most appropriate proprieties to define this level (category, difficulty, size).
I don't think it is going to be big at all, so you won't need to much time to test this.
-
I am willing to test this. Looks great!
-
I'd be happy to test, but I'm terrible at deciding what difficulty KS levels are so I don't know how useful I'd be.
-
I'd be happy to test! The screenshots look fabulous.
-
3 people should be more than enough. Thanks for your support, I'll try to contact you via PM as soon as I finish my Beta version.
@sergiocornaga
That's totally OK, I'm glad to have your help.
-
I just sent the Beta version to 3 beta testers. I'm posting this here in case something goes wrong with the PMs or something :ohnoes:
-
Hope this isn't considered bumping, but I'm going to make a status update on this, to try to keep the interest and give some info to the people who are interested (I know you are out there!):
What I've already done
- Most of the level design. If I add any new areas, they will almost definitely be extras or hidden areas. Also, there is one particular area that needs some major visual changes, but the design itself should remain the same, so that shouldn't take too long.
- Animated COs. At least the most difficult ones to make are already done.
- Tilesets and Gradients. Apart from the area I was referring to before, there isn't much to do here.
What isn't done/is far from done
- The main plot. I have the story itself, but very little of it is actually in the level.
- Character sprites. Most of them will be static or almost static.
- Music selection. I didn't compose anything and am not planning on doing that, for lack of time. So I just got some music I could use for free, at at least part of it feels like it really fits the ambiance I'm trying to create. Right now I only have 3 songs, but I'm thinking about having 4 or 5 for the different areas. But I find it very, very hard to find one that has the right feel.
- Some side quests. Not sure if I'll ever implement this, because of the problems I have with the small number of flags, but if I can work around this (I have though of a good way to do this, but even before doing it, I already know it's gonna be very boring and annoying to pull off) I will add some interesting/funny quests for the explorers.
- More endings. I already have the mechanisms that lead to different endings (even though I only implemented one so far), but I didn't really figure out what they will be. But don't expect the usual "good ending/bad ending" that you see in most levels.
The problem is, in little more than a month, I'll be already preparing my way to college (university). It only recently got to me that I had to finish this before that, or else I would have to delay this, a lot. So If you don't see this finished in a month, more or less, don't expect it to be out anytime near that.
-
looks like I could be making some music for this level :) so excited as I haven't really done much KS related in ages.
-
I feel kinda bad that I didn't work on this for a while, I had the chance, even without my laptop. But I just didn't feel like working on it for a while, and forgot to release a new beta. Worry not, as I will continue working on it in a day or two, and will send the next beta to my beta testers as soon as possible. I promised I was going to do this a few weeks ago, so sorry.
Also, I'd like to add that while I wasn't working on this level, I have been working on a secret tribute level, something that is much more fun for me to make. This level won't take too long to finish, unless for some reason I get way to excited about it (I hope I don't, just want to make something simple and small).
-
Very glad to hear that! Lost work is like a root canal. Oh wait, I think we had a discussion that someone liked those. :/
Yeah, the last picture is actually like something I was going to try to do one day, like being in a huge underground pipe system. Good work!
-
Another update, just to let people know that I'm working on this. Very, very, very slowly, but there is some progress.
I apologize specially to people who volunteered to beta test, and helped me a lot with the first beta, as I promised to send them new versions a long time ago, but never did. Again, it's not really lack of time, I just lose motivation very easily.
But everyone on this forum is probably used to that, as I've seen many other levels that never got finished.
I have been working on alternative endings, and while I said before "don't expect the usual good ending/bad ending that you see in most levels", well, that seems to be exactly what I came up with. It wasn't intentional, but I guess I'm not very creative.
The thing that usually holds me back is the custom objects. At first they were fun to make, but I was never good at animations, low resolution pixelated style makes it easier. But as soon as there is something a bit more complex, it becomes very frustrating and I usually skip to something else when I have to make a new CO. I may be way to lazy for this, but one day it will be finished, and I won't rush it like last time.
-
I thought the animations in Kera (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4545.0) were pretty good. One of the things that set it apart. In fact, I've been planning to ask you for permission to modify the mother for use in my next level when I start working on it. Anyway, you are good at animations. I'm sure this will be a great level when it's finished.
-
Yet another progress report.
Working on the ending effects and cutscenes, they are pretty hard to make.
Also adding a quite large extra that I think should be very interesting.
Also considering extending some areas, again.
The longer I take to finish this the less impressed I am by it, I have actually considered completely changing the visual style but fortunately I changed my mind. I don't wanna rush it, but I don't want to take forever to finish this, specially given the relatively small size of the level.
-
Yeach :^^: I'm waiting too! This is the most pretty level on thr forum.
-
Here is a progress report.
This level now requires egomassive's Knytt Stories mod (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4175.0). After testing both this mod and the Extended Version by GrayFace (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4253.0), I decided that even though GrayFace's mod can handle everything ego's mod can, I would need a lot more external help with Extended Version, and I prefer to do as much as possible by myself (progress is already slow as is). They are both great mods, but ego's won in this particular level. Although in the future I'd love to make a level with the capabilities of the Extended Version.
When I made my last progress report, I was actually a lot closer to finishing the level than I am now. Porting the mod over to ego's mod will make it take even longer, but I believe it's worth it. Besides the port, the more I play, the more I get bored with the level, so I'm trying to improve it and make it look more alive. People liked the Custom Objects I made before so I'm going to keep focusing on them, I already have more than 70 files in my custom object folder (although some of them might be replaced by ego mod features), there is a lot of animation and I plan on making a lot more.
I feel this deserved to big a much bigger level, and I'm still trying to find ways to make it bigger, because I've spent so much time redoing the entire level, I want this to be really good, I want people to enjoy it and care for the story, and most importantly understand it (my biggest fear is that the weird way I tell the story makes it confusing, even though it's kind of cliché).
I just felt like typing a bit so this is the state of things right now, I really think this will be at least a good level, if anything people will like the pretty COs :)
-
New beta testers needed!
It has been almost a year since I did the closed Beta for this level, and I can't expect the people who volunteered last time to be available again. As I said before, this level is now made for egomassive's Knytt Stories mod, and has been through a lot of changes, and will be through a lot more. That is why I need a new set of beta testers. People who volunteered last time need to volunteer again. The Beta should be sent around next week or during this weekend to the new beta testers, and there will be no time limit to submit bug reports, so even if you think you won't be available right away, that's OK.
-
I'll be willing to beta Test this!
-
I'd love to beta test. That is, if you will have me. :)
-
I will beta test for you!
-
I'm still available for beta testing.
-
I'm also up for testing.
-
Progress report.
Over a year ago, I said I was releasing a closed beta "around next week", and still haven't done as promised. I have been dragging this out for so long, I just want it finished. The level is just a huge mess right now and I don't even know what to do with it anymore, I've thought about doing it from scratch yet again but that would probably make it worse. I really want to release this but can't find the patience to deal with all the problems in it, it's just no longer fun.
So while this isn't dead, it's very close to. If someone has any advice on this, I'm all ears.
-
Just release it as it is with the disclaimer that it's an old project you're no longer interested in working on?
-
Just release it as it is with the disclaimer that it's an old project you're no longer interested in working on?
The will be my last resort yes. But there's just so much potential here, I'm trying to avoid that as much as possible. But I won't just keep it for myself forever, that's for sure.
-
If someone has any advice on this, I'm all ears.
Making a list of things you need to do is always useful. It will help you plan your time efficiently. When you don't feel like doing a particular task, then you can look to your list for a different one. Deleting items from your list as you complete them makes you feel accomplished.