Nifflas' Support Forum

Level Editing Support => Knytt Stories Level Previews => Topic started by: bulbapuck on July 30, 2023, 23:37:22

Title: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on July 30, 2023, 23:37:22
Preliminary story I have in mind for this level, preliminarily titled "Whitebow Island".
"One day, Emma went out fishing.
Suddenly, a storm caught up to her.
Blinded by the intense rain she was lost,
but then saw a single light.
She managed to maneuver to the light, losing her ship in the progress.
This is what happened next:
I started this level about 4 months ago when I opened the level editor on a whim. I found that I still enjoy making levels a lot and decided to keep going. I now have a clear idea of the end goal and I'm about 100 screens in, so I think this will be finished.
The level is made in the normal level editor using only the tilesets, gradients, ambiance and music that is default. I hope it will still be interesting to some of you despite that. In my head it's a sequel to "Emma fell down a well", but I'm not completely decided on that (which is why it's still Juni in the screenshots).
I would estimate the level to be about 30-40% done, which is quite early for a thread like this, but I found it hard to not post some screenshots and share the journey of making this. Besides, if you're still here I think you might be the type of person that can wait a few months  8)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Lucinda on July 31, 2023, 01:53:39
Super excited for this. Let me know if you want me to playtest it down the road.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Purple Ink on July 31, 2023, 05:39:16
Okay so that second screenshot is too good. Make it look worse. X)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on July 31, 2023, 08:37:18
Thank you  <3
@Lucinda: Will do! Still quite a ways away but It will have a beta period before release.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Hmpf on July 31, 2023, 10:53:10
This looks super cool!! And (as you probably know, haha) I love it when people use the default tilesets in interesting ways!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Polana on July 31, 2023, 12:54:34
Emma fell down a well is one of my favourite levels so I'm really looking forward to it's sequel (even if it really won't be a sequel).

Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Talps on July 31, 2023, 20:24:21
Exciting times!

Those are gorgeous screenshots - proof of what can be done with even the default tilesets. Really excited for this.

It's great to see you back. :) Hope things are going well for you.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on August 01, 2023, 22:20:52
Thank you for the kind words!  :)

@Hmpf: Same ^^ I think a lot of that love might come from you and your style actually.

@Polana: That's very nice of you to say, I'm happy that anyone even remembers it  C)

@Talps: Thank you :) It's great to be back and seeing you guys again! Hope you're well too.
I'm in a much better place now than when I left the forums around 2016. Mental issues never really go away but I feel I can control them well now. And I kinda have to now for my 2yo daughters sake  C)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Talps on August 02, 2023, 18:47:07
Quote from: bulbapuck on August 01, 2023, 22:20:52
And I kinda have to now for my 2yo daughters sake  C)

Congrats on the babypuck!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Polana on August 03, 2023, 23:25:35
Quote from: bulbapuck on August 01, 2023, 22:20:52
@Polana: That's very nice of you to say, I'm happy that anyone even remembers it  C)

I'm recommending it to everyone who asks for a nice enviromental. Also congrats on the daugther.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Lucinda on August 04, 2023, 01:55:41
Congratulations on feeling better, I know things like that can be enormously difficult at times, and also congratulations on your daughter just like everyone else said! Looks like obscure indie gamers can find love after all X)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Purple Ink on August 04, 2023, 02:51:57
Quote from: bulbapuck on August 01, 2023, 22:20:52
@Polana: That's very nice of you to say, I'm happy that anyone even remembers it  C)

I remember having a lot of fun beta-ing for it.  :)

And like the others said, congrats on the offspring. :D
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on August 06, 2023, 13:14:38
Thank you all so much ^^

I'll try and update this thread on sundays if I have anything to report (likely not every sunday). Progress went well this week, but it was also the last week of vacation meaning I might slow down a bit in coming weeks. I did a preliminary count of the amount of screens I expect there to be in the level (not counting duplicates or sky) and I got a count of 290. I'll use this number for now to keep track of how much is left.

Since last update (original post): 15 screens
Current screencount: 101/290 -- 34.8%

Of course this doesn't take into account cutscenes and duplicates (of which there will be a lot with slight variations), but if I can keep the pace to roughly the same level I'm happy.
One of the 15 screens is a new area I just started work on, attaching a screenshot of it here. I think it looks kinda cool and it's way quicker to design than earlier areas (blue area in second screenshot was fun to design, but each screen took SO LONG), so I'm excited to build it out :)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 06, 2023, 16:38:18
As everyone has been saying, you're making great use of the KS default tilesets. As a fellow designer with a (borderline unhealthy) fixation with busy backgrounds, I commend your efforts 8)

Best of luck!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Polana on August 06, 2023, 18:38:29
I love the background stuff on this screen. If anythig it shows how you can still be original using default stuff.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Hmpf on August 07, 2023, 11:26:49
New screen's looking lovely, just like the earlier ones. Also, I just finished Emma Fell Down a Well yesterday night (it took me ridiculously long because apparently I don't know how to find my way around in KS levels anymore; I honestly don't think it was the level design's fault, I think something in my brain is a little broken/too old now. I'm getting lost in every moderately large level.) and it's a great level, some reallllly nicely designed screens there.

Also glad to hear you're doing better!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on August 07, 2023, 21:31:08
Thank you  :)

@hmpf: Thank you for playing! Glad you enjoyed it  C)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on August 13, 2023, 22:00:35
Sunday update!

Since last update: 9 screens
Current screencount: 110/290 -- 37.9% (+3.1%)

Quite happy to have maintained a reasonable progress despite vacation being over. I've been working only on the red area from last weeks screenshot, so I'm attaching a screenshot from another section I haven't shared before.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Hmpf on August 14, 2023, 00:20:09
Gorgeous!!!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Lucinda on August 14, 2023, 22:27:32
Your screens are truly beautiful!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Lit Knob on August 16, 2023, 01:47:33
The screenshots remind me of my unfinished level Thee Fault.
Part of the description checks out, somehow: "I started this level about 4 months ago", "I'm about 100 screens in."
That's a crazy coincidence. :O

In Thee Fault, I try to "pretend I'm Nifflas" to use his tilesets in the most "expected" way possible.

I like the fact Whitebow Island is the exact opposite:
You experiment with Nifflas' tilesets and use them in original and unexpected ways :)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on August 19, 2023, 20:41:43
Thank you ^^

@Lit Knob: That is quite a coincidence! Sounds like fun, best of luck with it :)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on August 20, 2023, 21:35:06
Sunday update!

Since last update: 8 screens
Current screencount: 118/290 -- 40.7% (+2.8%)

Starting to get a bit uninspired and tired of the areas I'm working on. This has happened a few times before, the way to fix it for me is to solve a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and then return with new eyes. So I might do that next week (then no update), though I do feel some inspiration to expand the first "dungeon" (only 4 screens right now). I'm attaching a screenshot of it, and I really like how that particular screen ended up.
Thank you all again for the encouragement by the way, I feel like I've made great progress these weeks whereas I usually take these breaks more often. It's quite motivating to know that I'm making the level for someone other than just myself :)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Purple Ink on August 21, 2023, 01:50:35
Screen looks great! You're doing an amazing job with the default tilesets. :D
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on September 17, 2023, 21:49:03
Sunday update!

Since last update: 3 screens
Current screencount: 121/290 -- 41.7% (+1%)

That was one rough jigsaw puzzle...
I got back to the level this weekend and managed to finish off the first pass of the blue area (2nd screenshot) which I'm really happy with. The final two screens there were tricky to design and I had held off on them for a while. I'll attach a screenshot of the exit of the first pass of that area which is a screen I was quite pleased with.
Hopefully I can get back to the progress I was making before in the coming weeks.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Hmpf on September 19, 2023, 01:21:34
Really appreciating that screen, as a connoisseur of area transitions. ;-)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on October 08, 2023, 21:51:18
Thanks again Purple Ink and Hmpf for your kind words C)

Sunday update!

Don't have a screenshot prepared and lost count of the screens (will do a recount at some point) so didn't think I'd post anything today.
But I just finished the last surface screen!!  C)p C)p C)p
Of course, most of the level is underground, but I'm still super happy as I've always struggled with surface screens so having that behind me is SO nice.

 8D  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  8D
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Polana on October 11, 2023, 13:35:17
Aren't they almost the same as underground screens except there is no ground above them ?   :P2

It's great to hear that you are working on it, even without new screenshots.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on October 12, 2023, 20:56:27
I suppose that is technically the case, but it's often so one-dimensional that I don't know what to do with it :P
I get way more inspired when I know what's above and below the player, and I never quite seem to be satisfied when there's very little going on laterally.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on October 15, 2023, 22:28:55
Sunday update!

Still haven't counted the screens, will update on that soon.

In this level there is a mechanic featuring the detector where once you get the detector it activates "portals" on the island. When you enter the portals you go to an alternate version of the world where new paths will open up.
The detector is tied into this in that you need to follow its light to stay in this alternate world and not pop back into normal reality, so its a continuation of the idea from "Emma fell down a well".
I just completed one of these alternate paths and I think it's pretty cool.
Attaching screenshot of the same screen in the normal world and the alternate world
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Lucinda on October 16, 2023, 15:52:06
Insanely good use of Wwods.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Hmpf on October 29, 2023, 19:34:08
Oooooh nice. Especially the second screen!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on November 12, 2023, 22:36:48
@Lucinda, thank you! I've neer noticed that typo so it took me a while to figure out what you meant :p
@Hmpf: Thank you  :)

Sunday update!
I've been feeling a bit bogged down with the weather in Sweden lately. It's very dark now and hard to get motivated to do something creative like this. So progress has been incredibly slow, and I realized this week it's also partly because I lack direction. I only had loose ideas on how I wanted things to look, so I went back to the drawing board to design some new areas with concrete examples, and I've come up with how I want almost the entire rest of the level to look. I still have to design two more areas, but it's nice to feel some motivation again.

Attaching one of the mockups of a new area. Not sure if I'll post too many screenshots from these areas as they are a little more late game, but I have a hard time stopping myself  :P2
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Purple Ink on November 13, 2023, 05:36:10
The background for that is perfect.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Hmpf on November 13, 2023, 14:01:52
Really nice! And two tilesets that (IMO) are fairly hard to use interestingly, too!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on January 06, 2024, 22:30:22
Thank you! :)

Quick update: I haven't made much progress since last update but I keep thinking about the level. I don't really believe in new year's resolutions but I really want to complete the level this year, preferably early this year.
There are a few reasons why I haven't made as much progress as I want to, the main one I believe is the gloomy winter we have here. But I think another reason might be about making updates in this thread. Somehow I feel like I put more pressure on myself by wanting to show the progress I've made. So I think I won't update this thread too much anymore, but we'll see.
The last few days I managed to sit in front of the editor a couple of hours redesigning an earlier area. I seem to be finding the joy in level design again, and the days are getting brighter from now on  8)
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on March 21, 2024, 21:28:50
Managed to keep myself from posting screenshots for 4 months, but I felt the need to update again :)

So the reason I wanted to get this level done early this year is that I'm having a second child, a son, by the end of April. Not sure how much time I can spend on the level after that.
However that ambition got shot in the foot when the reality of having a very pregnant fiancée and a 3yo at home started to set in.

Over the winter I planned exactly how I wanted everything to look and divided the work in 11 roughly equal areas. Of those I have now finished 2 ½ and I struggle to find any time at all now.

Still I remain hopeful, it feels quite close and I think about the level a lot. I know I'll finish it but I have no idea when. Have to prioritize.

Attaching screenshots of the areas I've been working on. I've debated with myself if I should share any more, but it's just way more fun to share and have you along on the journey.  C)

Note on the map: not all areas are playable, the row at the top and the connected screens are just test screens.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Lucinda on March 22, 2024, 06:32:32
Great to hear that you have another cutie pie on the way. I totally understand that all your time has been vaporized, but I hope you can still slowly continue on the level or even release a demo <3 Congratulations again
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Polana on March 22, 2024, 18:40:40
Lovely screenshots. Congratulations on new baby.
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Purple Ink on March 23, 2024, 03:13:51
Congratulations on the family stuff! Kids are a lot of work but it can be so rewarding. I wish you the best. :) Also, I think everyone here is willing to wait for the level so take your time. "A rushed game...."
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: Talps on March 23, 2024, 08:59:25
Glad to hear this is still being worked on. Part of the joy of this hobby is setting your own pace!

I also share congratulations on your baby and also engagement!
Title: Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
Post by: bulbapuck on March 24, 2024, 14:59:13
Thank you all  <3
@Lucinda: I've toyed with the idea of a demo, but it's a very open world type level. Maybe if I close off some parts but it's difficult to know where. I'll think more about it  :)