2nd screen uber prettyI concur. :shifty: Sounds like awesmoe. That's right, not just awesome, but awesmoe.
I'm aspiring to the bunnrey type of first level. (Caverns was a first level, wasn't it?)Nothing wrong with going for the gold on your first try. That's what I did! ;)
Hey, nothing wrong with aiming high, eh? ;-)
I just hope my perfectionism and my ambition to make a *big* level won't mean that it will never be finished. I am fairly persistent, which means this will probably not be given up on, even if it takes a while - but on the downside, 'a while' is occasionally measured in years in Hmpfland.
OH MY .......
Sorry for that. I was just overwhelmed by its sheer awesomeness...
Oh, and I could Beta-test, if you need it.
that would have to be one the best screens i've seen in knytt stories.
i very anxiously await this.
I'm aspiring to the bunnrey type of first level. (Caverns was a first level, wasn't it?
use bank 0, object 11. no-climb does exactly as the name implies, making it so you can't climb even if you have the climb powerup. you have to put it directly over the top of tiles you don't want climbable.
I'm aspiring to the bunnrey type of first level. (Caverns was a first level, wasn't it?
yes,it was. I am flattered. :)
could I please beta test? I know that you said you have all the beta testers you need but I really like this level!
Should I still call the first part a 'small' environmental if it's around 100 screens?I'd say small or medium would do, depending on what you prefer. But that's my opinion.
On the topic of music: 8bitpeoples (http://www.8bitpeoples.com) has music under a CC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/), should you need any chiptunes.
Wait.. shifting is masochism?
If I tried something like that, I'd plan out the whole thing on paper, then make the screens, then add the shifts one by one. Just tedious.
Yay :D
Btw, what sort of tweaking? Shift tweaking or screen tweaking? ..or bug tweaking?
Wow, I love that you are using one of my tilesets [2nd screen plants]
I am glad it being used in a level :)
Well, if this "thing" in the final version doesn't appear in the beta version, then the betas are complete.
I'm really sorry, but I can't Beta-test anymore, because I can't access my own PC.
So someone may take over my place for the time being..
If it is a permanent thing, I'd be glad to take over Yonowaaru's slot from him. This level looks great. If there's anything I could help out with, drop me a PM.I'm really sorry, but I can't Beta-test anymore, because I can't access my own PC.Is this a permanent thing? Because if it's temporary, I don't mind waiting until you could do it again. I'm in no particular hurry with this - I have things like music etc. still to ponder, anyway.
So someone may take over my place for the time being..
It doesn't just look great... it is great!
Also, for more humor, add funny text bubbles and cats!
Attached: screenshot of confusing underground gardens.Cool. Can't wait for this to come out! :D
Seconded. :) And I know this is rather early, but I would love to beta test again. I'm aiming to secure a spot early on. ;)Attached: screenshot of confusing underground gardens.Cool. Can't wait for this to come out! :D
@ Pick Yer Poison: of course you may beta! :-):D
ETA: Is it wrong to occasionally get ZOMG I LOVE MY OWN SCREENSHOTS!!!11! feelings? It feels kind of... dirty... but I can't help it.No, that's quite fine. I personally think that if you dislike the screens you make for your own level, you're making them wrong. ;)
No, that's quite fine. I personally think that if you dislike the screens you make for your own level, you're making them wrong. ;)You are your own worst critic.
True. I'll rephrase that, then: If you like the screens you make for your level, you're making them right. [/offtopic]No, that's quite fine. I personally think that if you dislike the screens you make for your own level, you're making them wrong. ;)You are your own worst critic.
It seemed so. I like Sci-Fi, btw...
The way you use those tilesets is so inspired - creating a brand new look from existing stuff - incredible.
When all parts are finished you could make them into one level.
The curvy flowers are hovering.
The concave ones are sunk in the ground. *g*That may be, but it's not like it forms a laws of the universe anomaly.
The concave ones are sunk in the ground. *g*That may be, but it's not like it forms a laws of the universe anomaly.
If you think that's better, you should.Agreed. In anything that requires creating (painting, architecture, writing, singing, game-making), always do what you think is best. ;)
If you think that's better, you should.Agreed. In anything that requires creating (painting, architecture, writing, singing, game-making), always do what you think is best. ;)
First, I'd like to say that *g* is a weird emote. X) Second, it's up to you. If you don't know, flip a coin.If you think that's better, you should.Agreed. In anything that requires creating (painting, architecture, writing, singing, game-making), always do what you think is best. ;)
Oh, it will make no difference for the quality of the end result - it'd just get part of the level out to the audience a bit sooner, is all. Basically, it's a choice between releasing ca. 400 screens ca. March next year, or releasing 200 screens ca. December/January, and another 200 in March. Or whenever. *g*
First, I'd like to say that *g* is a weird emote. X) Second, it's up to you. If you don't know, flip a coin.
@Comhon, Strange Darkness: thanks, and sorry I'm so slow! I wish I could build this faster... but, RL time issues aside, I also seem to run out of inspiration if I do more than three to six screens in one day. So, I figure, better to build three or six good screens in a day than to quickly build lots of bad screens just to be finished. (I'm still hundreds of screens from being finished, of course.)Don't worry I am slower than you. I am making ONE level more than a year...
Dam! you bet me.. My empty corridor been going for a year and if i realease on due date (which i shall!) it would be two years :ohnoes:@Comhon, Strange Darkness: thanks, and sorry I'm so slow! I wish I could build this faster... but, RL time issues aside, I also seem to run out of inspiration if I do more than three to six screens in one day. So, I figure, better to build three or six good screens in a day than to quickly build lots of bad screens just to be finished. (I'm still hundreds of screens from being finished, of course.)Don't worry I am slower than you. I am making ONE level more than a year...
And..... behold: Screen no. 200!!!I don't know, what to say. Great.
I think that those light and dark brown contrast too much, with this blue colors as background.
Ahh, I'm not an environmental 'purist', I just enjoy a good atmosphere.
I started off also using the preset gradients, and I got quite far with them, at one stage I even resorted to using coloured block tiles to patch two gradients together (creating a rather weird and cool sky effect) but eventually I hd to start editing. Eventually I found a program called "gradient maker" which is perfect for making KS backgrounds.
The whole 'continuity between screens' aesthetic is a tricky one to pull off. You can have natural transitions between screens without neccecarily having what I call 'semantic' continuity (that is, absolutely everything including outlines continues smoothly onto the next screen). Then there are the gradients - sometimes you want the same gradient in two screens that are vertically stacked, which looks fine in gameplay, but which would compromise what the final screenshot map would look like. In my next game I'll definitely be finding a happy medium instead of going all out!
The sad thing is, my map also has holes, and has turned out into quite an ugly shape, which doesn't lend well to a map, but there you go...
Anyway, great demo, particularly the use of custom objects in that town area was pretty damn spiffy (and the fact that I've not really seen custom objects make it even more amazing!). I guess now we can have 'go behind' tiles like the original Knytt did?
Overall, I can't really offer any constructive crit.. I was sad when I reached the end, which is a good thing. Looking forwards to more of it :)
EDIT: Oh yes, those finnicky repetetive jumps in the first sewer part - I dare say if you made those tiles more triangular, so there's a teeny bit more room to jump, it would be an improvement. I didn't have much of a problem but I can imagine less experienced platformers having trouble.
I'm compromising a lot regarding the backgrounds, but not so much regarding tile continuity - so far, anyway, though I'm getting to some areas now that seem just about impossible to link up convincingly with other areas, aesthetically speaking, because the tilesets just don't match with any of the others I intend to use.I have a tip regarding that...if you find that two tilesets hate each other with a passion, it can help to add a neutral sort of screen, e.g. a bridge over water. It would last two screens, with each screen showing one of the tilesets beginning/ending, depending on what direction the player is moving. The downside to that is that you're going to have to leave some of each screen devoid of tiles, since you'll be using both tileset slots on each screen (one for the tileset you're transitioning to/from and one for the tileset with the bridge).
I have to think about whether it's annoying enough to warrant changing the tileset (especially since I'm not sure how to contact the tileset maker)...To find a tileset maker, first check and see if they're on the forum. Then see if any of the moderators or administrators know where you might find them. If neither of those routes turns up anything, I wouldn't fault you if you went ahead and modified it, as long as you make a note in portion of the tileset where the author's name goes that it's not the original.
That looks very nice.
I very much enjoyed testing the first one, and I hope I will also do so for this one.
I am still tester, I hope.
Btw, how many screens is is gonna get? (estimate?)
Cute Level.
Wow love how you designed the screenies :D Definetely a level I'l look forward to :)
Roughly halfway there? Good luck! 8D
New screens are nice, the tunnel full of prison cells is a good idea :)
I must agree. Really good idea.
Anybody know of a working cure against excessive posting?Perhaps you could post small screens. Like 2 or 3 tiles square. It would show a bit of the look of the screen without spoiling the whole thing.
The second screen, however, gives me the impression of a dusty cave environment.
I like the second screen too. The first and last are my least favourite, because they are more boring.
There may be something just slightly disturbing about how excited I am about building a whole tunnel system full of prison cells.Oh, not at all. If you can make a history for your world that goes deeper than the player will ever be (explicitly) told, then you're doing a great job. :)
Yeah, I know the last in particular is not exactly original.Originality can hang, that's my favorite one. That better be going in there or I might throw a fit. XD
As for the four screens you posted, I like all of them but the second; it looks much too bland.
Originality can hang, that's my favorite one. That better be going in there or I might throw a fit. XD
You, sir, lack an appreciation of minimalism. ;-)
You, sir, lack an appreciation of minimalism. ;-)
There's a fine line between minimalistic and really, really ugly.
Just saying.
Sorry about the disruption!
I'm glad you appreciate the second screen! I'd originally built it with the grey version of the tileset and only discovered how well the red version went with the 'flowers' by accident; I'm always delighted when something like that happens... it's part of what makes KS level building such tremendous fun, this serendipity effect.I could tell because the tile layout is almost identical.
As for the four screens you posted, I like all of them but the second; it looks much too bland.
You, sir, lack an appreciation of minimalism. ;-)
Also, I'm having trouble with the actual logic of designing this level. Mostly it's just a free roaming level, but there are a few keys and two powerups still to hide, and thus a few areas that will have to be accessed in some kind of logical order... only I can't really figure out which areas those should be, etc.
Also, I'm having trouble with the actual logic of designing this level. Mostly it's just a free roaming level, but there are a few keys and two powerups still to hide, and thus a few areas that will have to be accessed in some kind of logical order... only I can't really figure out which areas those should be, etc.
Ooh. This is bad.
I had an English teacher once who said the only right way to write a termpaper was to start with an outline, and then follow that outline to produce a rough draft, and then rewrite the rough draft into a proper essay.
Notwithstanding the fact that many people do find that method, or some variation of it, helpful... the teacher was very, very wrong.
The closest thing I had to an outline when I started both of my levels was a vague idea of what I wanted. In my opinion, outlines are best for things that require careful positioning (such as challenge levels), whereas they aren't as necessary for things like environmental levels where it won't make that much of a difference if that block is moved over a bit or if there's an extra screen somewhere.
In my level i just wanted to learn the editor and it became a level.. kind of..
Just give us a screen number update. That should suffice.
Hmph, are you still working on this? It's been a while since you last posted.
Hmph, are you still working on this? It's been a while since you last posted.
That's good news! I'm kinda returning to the KS community, so if you need a tester, I guess you know where the PM button is! C)
(Btw, do you even remember me? I sure hope so)
(Btw/btw: I didn't know you were a girl. Funny finding that out like this!)
Yay, Hmpf is back! Welcome back Hmpf! C)p
(Yeah, I realize you're still very busy, just being happy here :))
You've already got the reputation for screen shot over-posting. You might as well revel in it.
I'm planning a very tall city in my big project, and I haven't quite figured out how to make it realistic, attractive, and interesting to play. I was curious to see the difficulties you' were describing with your city, and then actually surprised to find no pictures.
I'd love to see another screenshot! And you post screenshots under "spoiler" tags, that way you'd both keep posting screenshots and avoid spoiling stuff for people who don't want spoilers.
373 screens
It has about an hour's worth of playing time, now (if you sort of rush through it, not really taking much time to take in the sights.)
I can totally relate to KS taking up too much time, I failed 2 courses this year due to working on levels.
How many screens are you aiming at?
Because right now things look like a beautiful ever-expanding world. As a matter of fact, it got me thinking of how nice it would be if the protagonist found out, at the end of the game, that there is no end, that the world is being created all the time, more and more and more layers, etc. Eh.
That, alas, is impossible, for reasons that are quite central to the story. However, I can already see myself starting another big project when Falling Water is finished. Building KS levels is the closest I've ever come to being able to recreate the strange worlds I see in my dreams, and there's still plenty where Falling Water came from...
I may have to learn how to make my own tilesets, eventually... (although it's amazing how much you can accomplish with the public tilesets, really!)
I was already amazed at the news of another continent,
Can't quite express the enthusiasm in words, so here's the same thing in smileys:
O_o O_o O_o :whoa: :whoa: :whoa: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
? (why dont we have a puzzled smiley face?)
:huh:
When more screens? :)Seconded
As I suspected, I should have kept the pie hole shut. :) You have an emphatic way of breaking my super picky critique to powder. I'll keep the pie hole shut. :)
(Personally I don't mind the repetitiveness of the brick pattern. Brick walls are like that, and I like brick walls.)
5.) There's *something* that could be done to almost every single tileset I'm using to make it fit my purposes ever so slightly better. Better not to open that can of worms.@Everyone: About fifteen more screens and I'll be hitting the 400 mark. :-)
and, most importantly, I really do want to play our level *urgently*, so I want you to focus on that! *g*
I clicked it to fullsize it, then desized it when I saw what you had written. I have yet to see more than the thumbnail.
Whenever you update this thread, I feel encouraged to work on my own projects. It's like I'm nourished by your fortitude. Keep it up.
I must be really stupid, I can't find any of these new screens you are talking about, what am I doing wrong :|
You must be really inspired, or just have more free time.
Haha, the newest verb: knytting!
Also, keep at it! We're all still here to support you!
This thread always cheers me up :)
Oh yay, this exists! I'd all but forgotten about this, but it's very nice to see you're still continuing this.
Oh, and I could lend a hand for some music; just PM me if you're interested.
I can't say for sure what kind of music I usually make, since it's quite varied. The easiest way would probably be my Souncloud page, since I've been updating that a lot lately: Here (https://soundcloud.com/yonowaaru)
Most of my songs are in fact pretty short. I don't have much on there as of guitar and similar things, but I think I have some songs that I never did upload there that might fit.
Either way, just take a look there and we'll say where it ends up.
When do you think it will be done?
When do you think it will be done?
No idea. Music is still a major problem. Plus, I've decided to add another couple or so areas because the world was looking very... unbalanced, with all the stuff on the right side and far less on the left. So there's maybe 50 screens to build still? Bringing the total of this part up to something like 500 screens, I think.
Also, have you ever played altf4 by 14 (http://knyttlevels.com/levels/14-%20altf4.fix2.knytt.bin)?
Fubaka & Pie_Sniper: I like your stuff! Yes, both of yours. Errm. I don't think these two styles would work well together, though... (or would they? What do you think? Everyone, feel free to weigh in, this is not my area of primary expertise.)Given the enormity of the level and the relatively small size of each area, it might be difficult for one person to produce the quantity of pieces you're looking for, depending on how much longer it will be in production. As is, I think the difference between the two styles would be a bit jarring, but they might work well together if we gave the acoustic parts an ambient-electronic backdrop.
Pie_Sniper, do you happen to have a few more things I could listen to? It's kinda hard to make a decision on the impression gotten from a single piece. I'm really intrigued by your instrumentation.I actually don't write a lot of music, but it's something I very much want to do more. (This probably makes Fubaka the safer choice.) I'm working on another little piece that I can record when I get off of work tonight, and I can also put something together tomorrow morning. Expect a PM from me. :)
Re: payment. I know neither of you requested any... and I can't really pay you properly... but if you need anything that a goldsmith could make... well, this here goldsmith would owe you a big favour. If you decide you want to be part of this project. :-)
Re: payment. I know neither of you requested any... and I can't really pay you properly... but if you need anything that a goldsmith could make... well, this here goldsmith would owe you a big favour. If you decide you want to be part of this project. :-)
My dear, you are paying with the level itself! All I ask is that if I make music for your level, you must promise me it will be finished at some point in my lifetime. :P
I am actually really excited to do a collaboration! Of course no compensation is required. The screenshots you've posted have already gotten me to compose, something I rarely feel inspired enough to do successfully, and it was incredibly entertaining and fulfilling.
I'm glad you liked the second piece. :) I talked to my brother and he is on board to help me record and produce the tracks.
Xoft's Level Composer (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=165) can count rooms for you. I get the feeling you spend a lot of time counting rooms. I think you should use it for this one aspect, since it will increase your productivity, and I want to play this someday.
PS. Back up your level first. Level composer has bugs.
ETA: And, speaking of numbers: three new screens since yesterday - and I kind of have to force myself to stop. Shit is happening in RL, and knytting, it turns out, is a good painkiller.
Oh, I think that there were just right amount of screenshots in the earlies pages.
Anyway, keep continuing work on Falling water and good luck in your life.
Hmpf has posted recently. I don't believe she's completely abandoned us.I don't think 3 years ago is that "recently". Or are you talking about some other posts than on this forum?
It's completely unexpected and I'm really really glad to see you are still working on this level.
By the way, which one is that one mysterious power up ?
That's detector. It makes Juni glow red in presence of enemies other than robots and it makes her glow light green or red when combined with objects 26 - 28 from bank 0 so it can be used to indicate secret passages and similar stuff. It's usually not a big deal if player misses it but imo it's neat to put it into some "semi secret" area of non linear level with a lot of exploring.
I think the little inconsistencies and imperfections are big part of what makes each KS level unique so I wouldn't worry about them too much. Some levels are mole polished and that's great and some are more about the joy of creating your own world and that's also great. Collecting the powerups in the first part of the level really makes sense in the context of this story for me: Juni prepares for expedition, collects the powerups and then she just goes until she's there. It's weird there are not more levels like this actually.
This thread always cheers me up :) Glad to hear you're still working on this!Almost twelve years later, and I still feel the same way.
I was planning to use the eye powerup for some secret passages. But I'm guessing that the detector does something slightly different?
I was planning to use the eye powerup for some secret passages. But I'm guessing that the detector does something slightly different?Yeah, it's more whimsical than unpolished. I actually liked the labyrith house for the unusual combination of tilesets.
I'm here since late 2021, but I really wished this level was finished at some point.
I'm glad you're back after all this time. :)
There is a tool to automatically count screens:
https://nifflas.lp1.nl/index.php?topic=6682.0
and built three or so new ones, bringing the total of new screens since the "resurrection" up to 10, so the screen count now is... whatever it was before I stopped in 2013 (539, if I didn't miscount then?) plus 10. So, possibly, the next one will be 550?! Wheeeee!!!Well, that's why I mentioned the tool. :P
Biggest roadblock today is that I discovered one of the tilesets I used back then has "no use! FU" written at the bottom.Oh, that must be one of Nifflas' expansion levels' tilesets.
Oh, that must be one of Nifflas' expansion levels' tilesets.people other than nifflas can put "no use" on their tilesets
and built three or so new ones, bringing the total of new screens since the "resurrection" up to 10, so the screen count now is... whatever it was before I stopped in 2013 (539, if I didn't miscount then?) plus 10. So, possibly, the next one will be 550?! Wheeeee!!!Well, that's why I mentioned the tool. :P
Interestingly, Mashu Prapa tilesets don't seem to be on Comhon's archive yet, and the links are dead.
I checked out the thread and it said that there is a bug that makes it sometimes insert code into the world file, so I shied back from it, for now.No, it's the opposite.
I have all those tilesets on my computer I think, many of them at least. Should I put them somewhere?You should tell Comhon about it.
I checked out the thread and it said that there is a bug that makes it sometimes insert code into the world file, so I shied back from it, for now.No, it's the opposite.
As VG said in that post:
"Just to be completely clear, this is not something caused by this tool. :P2
If you get an incorrect (and absurdly high) number of screens when using the program on a level, it means the Map.bin file already had this issue from the start."
It can only check the Map.bin, it won't modify it.
Anyway, to use it, I usually copy-paste the Map.bin into the ksmapsize folder, and drag and drop it on the exe.
Because it doesn't need to be the original Map.bin, it could be a copy of course.
I have all those tilesets on my computer I think, many of them at least. Should I put them somewhere?You should tell Comhon about it.
But they should be among Hmpf's 500+ tilesets, so you might not need to add them if she adds those.
I've thought about that problem a lot with my level too, of course yours is on a completely different level, but still.
I plan to try and solve it using the detector (and some cutscenes I think). I have a story-related reason why that would work, but either way I think the key is to guide the player by catching their attention.
Maybe tease an area that they can't get to yet, and once they get the required upgrade hope that they remembered it. Things like that.
Though with this level in particular I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm personally looking forward to exploring everything and don't think I'll mind terribly if I lack direction for a moment :)