Nifflas' Support Forum
Level Editing Support => Knytt Stories Level Previews => Topic started by: Talps on July 18, 2011, 15:14:35
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(http://i55.tinypic.com/140jf6b.png)
(http://i51.tinypic.com/n63q5h.png)
8)
I'd like to say 'much anticipated' but I'll settle for 'mildly advertised'. My current Epic-Length level is now three quarters done and quite ready for a preview thread.
It's similar in theme to 'Petals of the Dying Flower (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4706.0)' though I began work on this long before the little one. Both are about escaping from a dull, underground world to the bright world above, but this one's much bigger, much prettier and much more plot-oriented.
Both experimental in design and in storytelling, 'I Dreamed of the Sky' is about a girl (called Juni, of all things) who has, for all her life, lived as part of a tiny community deep underground, warned over and again against ever daring to enter the caves above. But her lifelong dreams of a fairer world have led her to ignore the warnings and face the unnamed dangers above.
Features many custom graphics and COs, an epic story, flashing lights, enormous lifts and a no-invisible-mazes guarantee . No release date yet but I intend to have it finished this year (since I promised as much when I first mentioned it at the end of 'My Loving Hadron Collider (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4271.0)'). Beta Testers will be requested some time in the future (when I have a beta to test).
More screenshots may come if there's interest.
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I have no doubt this will turn out amazing and epic and all, it looks great. Thought title sounds a bit cheesy I've had the same idea, where knytts lived underground and with no sun lost their powers so you look for the surface and gain your powers when you reach the sun.
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75% complete epic-level kept mostly under wraps! You have greater restraint than I. Looking forward to it.
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Yeah well, I tend to get discouraged by preview threads 'cus (unlike your good and highly popular self) nobody's ever interested in mine. So it's more detrimental to my motivation than helpful for me to announce my works in progress. Still, glad to know there's a little interest :P
The title should have been 'When I was a Child I Dreamed of the Sky' but it's too long. It was the same with '(I Saw the World in) the Petals of a Dying Flower' which, let's face it, was a pretty cheesy title, too. I guess I have a gift. :D
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Your recent Cold Mist Mountain and Petals of a Dying Flower were both terrific levels. (Well, CMM could have used a little polish.) Anyone who's been paying attention should want to play this level too. You shouldn't feel discouraged if you don't receive many comments, especially after a couple weeks. That's just the nature of the forum right now.
For the record I like all of those^ titles, long and short. The long ones would get cut off in the level selection menu, but I'm sure you know that. You could put "When I was a child..." as the description.
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Yeah well, I tend to get discouraged by preview threads 'cus (unlike your good and highly popular self) nobody's ever interested in mine.
I'm very interested! I try to post saying as much in preview threads that interest me, but most of the time I forget. Terrible, huh?
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How's the level going?
I'm dying for news ;-;
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Then ya should've said so sooner <_<
I confess not much has happened since I posted this thread; I burnt myself out a bit getting the latest level finished. But it's been back on my mind since completing my competition entry, so hopefully I'll be able to get working on tilesets for the next area soon. It's kind of a complicated area, mixing dark, creepy abandonment with long-neglected and therefore rampant plant-life and with old, neglected (betcha didn't see that coming) industrialism. I'll post a screenshot when I have something I'm happy with. I might try using a black version of Nifflas' Flower Garden.
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Wow, this looks so strange but yet... <3 and the title is so nice.
Also i am now downloading all your levels!
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"More screenshots may come if there's interest."
:shocked: But, of course there's interest! I still have to play your latest 2 levels, but if it's made by you and if it's a large level as well, it should be awesome. Me too, I wish there were more people and action on the forum... like some advertising would be done somehow... through Facebook perhaps...
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"More screenshots may come if there's interest."
:shocked: But, of course there's interest! I still have to play your latest 2 levels, but if it's made by you and if it's a large level as well, it should be awesome. Me too, I wish there were more people and action on the forum... like some advertising would be done somehow... through Facebook perhaps...
Lol, i find facebook overrated :S
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Lol, i find facebook overrated :S
May be, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a very good means to get this forum a little bit more active.
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Lol, i find facebook overrated :S
May be, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a very good means to get this forum a little bit more active.
Well, Hopefully, we attract people that will stay at this forum for good...
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Been on holiday for the last week and for most of that I had no internet access, which gave me time to work on the tilesets for the latest area.
It's not necessarily 100% finished but it's getting there. Hopefully I'll be motivated to press on with the whole area, soon, but I never find it as easy when the player has lots of upgrades, which by this point of the level they do. Still, it's coming along.
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I demand more updates.
>.> I really don't DEMAND it, but it would be nice!
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...more updates... ...would be nice!
I agree. What progress has been made?
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I have a bad habit of only the threads I get e-mail updates about. This looks really good! I'm excited to play it...
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Been struggling a little with the current area, but I've made myself a map of the area, so the hardest part of the design is sorted. I really like the area designs but I don't want to give too much away. Work is currently slow; it's tough when the player has so many upgrades. But I have everything that's currently unfinished planned out in my head (at least in terms of concept), so it's just a case of making it all.
Got an umbrella challenge to design. Most of my levels either haven't had the umbrella or have only given it right at the end and haven't done much with it, so it'll be fun working with it.
How's that for a progress update?
EDIT: I'm seven screens away from completing the last-but-one level (not including warps, cut-scenes - which do have their scripts fully written - and one tile I need to remake).
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Honestly, the edit part gave me more information than the parts above it.
Only new thing is the umbrella part.
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Well its very difficult to blag a progress update when your progress doesn't amount to much! :P
I worked on it today and got a good bit done, hence the edit. I'm finding it a bit hard to stay focussed at the moment, however. I'll get there eventually. Just need to find the motivation to fix that ugly tile...
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Do it so you can work on another project. :P
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HOW DID I MISS THIS D:
Do want.
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Who hasn't looked at this and went like "I WANTS NOW, TALPS!"?
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I confess not a lot has happened since my last post here (unless you count an update to Minecraft). So rather than say what's new, I'll talk a little about the story.
I really like this level because there are three stories being told at once, all related and intertwined.
The obvious one is Juni's story, and her discoveries as she makes her way upwards. She's lived all her life in a dank, poorly powered settlement deep underground, so discovering plant-life, fresh water and bright light all take her by surprise.
The second one is the story of the people in the community she's left behind, and how Juni's actions influence them. Their leaders have always told them (and still tell them) that there is nothing but darkness and death in the caves above, so when they start receiving messages from Juni saying she's alive up there, and climbing constantly higher, what impact does that have on the society? When she starts throwing switches in a long-abandoned power station, sending practically infinite supplies of power down there, accompanied by accounts of her actions... These stories are told via messages sent to Juni by someone who lives in the caves.
The final story is exciting in that it's told backwards. In each area of the level there's a small console that gives a message about the history of the caves Juni is travelling through, why they were built and what happened to the people who lived in them. The first one Juni reads tells of the events that chronologically happened last, closest to her own times. As she travels closer to the surface, the messages tell of events that happened longer ago. Initially these consoles are put directly in the player's path, then later on some of them are out of the way or hidden, giving the player a reward for looking around. One of them tells information vital to the player, but the rest are just for fun, adding another dimension to the level.
So out of interest, are you the kind of person who stops and reads the stories and expositions in games, or do you skip through them and just get on with the challenges? Would you deliberately seek out extra information in a game's story?
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Wow, that sounds really good. I'm the kind of person that plays games almost exclusively for the story, both the read stories of history and dialogue, and the story of the adventure the character is having. In fact, if the difficulty is too much that it interferes with the story, I sometimes loose interest.
There are so many games I've not finished because I got to the final battle only to find it so excruciatingly hard I couldn't finish. Mind you, if it was NOT the end, I probably would fight until I win through, but after the last boss, you pretty much know what will happen.
Anyway, too much info perhaps. C)p
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I have to read every sign and talk to every NPC. Then, after every major event I go back and talk to every NPC again to make sure I don't miss anything. Sometimes, I can really bore myself to death. I also really like to explore, so the hidden parts will be fun to find, but I'm really sick of Knytt Stories with secrets that have zero indication of their presence.
I like your intertwined story Idea. It sounds like an interesting way to advance the plot, explore the history behind the world, and give players reason to question their actions. "What will happen to the village if I empty this pool of toxic waste to open a path for myself?" Things like that could add a lot.
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The story for this game reminds me of City of Ember. I think the degree to which I'd seek out extra story information would depend on how similar it actually turned out to be while playing it, I might not be too eager if I felt like there weren't any revelations in store.
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I have really liked your levels and I look forward to this one. I will read and seek out consoles for the story. Thank you for your efforts!
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I have desperately waited for an update to this.
Anything? >.>
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Need inspiration. Know any levels with really good umbrella sequences? Apart from 'An Underwater Adventure'.
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Besides every umbrella challenge based on the underwater adventure? Safety sequal by SecretGlitch and grand challenge by Introversity got some nice umbrella jumps.
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Right, I have that area finished, cutscenes and all. :D That means I have just one more 'level' to do, plus the ending area; I'm feeling very close to finishing.
I need to design tilesets for the last area; I have a few ideas and am thinking of more as I type this message, so we'll see how it goes, how well I get into it and stuff. Still, nearly done. Three cutscenes, one 'challenge area' and one 'story area' before I call for testers, and two months before the end of the year. Also, i have a job now, which is limiting my free time a lot. But if I can keep up a flow of ideas I'll hopefully get this done soon.
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I have news and stuff. I'm no longer holding to my commitment to get this done before the end of the year; I'm just not feeling inspired for it right now. I'd rather produce something late that I'm happy with than something on time that I'm not. The fact that it's taken me since I started this thread to make seven screens is probably a hint that I'm not really into this right now.
So I'm not saying I won't have it done soon, but I'm not saying I will any more.
On a lighter note, I have started working on a small level, which I am getting through swiftly. Just a different type of level is coming more easily (slight musical issues at the moment but I'll get over that). So that'll be about soon.
It's pretty small so I don't know if I'll ask for testers or post a preview. And in Egomassive-style I'll be annoying and keep the title something of a secret, though I will say...
D _ N _ _ P _ _ _ U _ T _ _ K _ _!
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D _ N _ _ P _ _ _ U _ T _ _ K _ _!
Do Not Push Up Too/Two K__!
Can't think of any 3 letter word with a K...
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You're half-right.
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I'm frightened.
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*poke*
lack of updates makes me cry >.>
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I saw this ...
and cried a little inside ... so ... C)p
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Ya know what I really HATE? The Level Preview section!
Why?
Cause I have to stay up night after night waiting for these games to come out :P2
Ha ha! This looks great! I'm gonna have to stay up night after night because I'm excited to try it when it finally comes out.
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;-;
I got so excited when I saw I Dreamed of the Sky up there on the level previews
and cried a little when it wasn't Talps
;-;
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As previously mentioned, this level is on hiatus until I feel more inspired for it; I don't want to push it when it doesn't want to come and make a poorer product than it should be. Hopefully I'll get back into it early on next year, and as it's nearly done, one more push should hopefully get to the end.
At the moment I'm giving myself a change of plot and scenery, working on a fun, smaller level which now has a preview thread (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=5089.0), which should hopefully be done and ready for testing within the next couple of weeks. If I'm supremely fast you might even get it as a Christmas present.
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This is officially back in production.
I started working on this level sometime between August or September 2010, which is quite a long time ago now, since when I've released, well, all the levels I made after my previous epic, 'Eurydice'. The five levels between then and now have taught me a lot and all the time in between them I've been working on this; my skills have steadily improved over that time, as has my reputation here. I'd say the most recent areas of 'I Dreamed of the Sky' meet with my satisfaction, whereas the older areas just aren't up to scratch any more. There are a lot of small changes that need to be made like small graphical fixes and tweaks to challenges, as well as a handful of big ones like large graphical fixes and the total renovation of some screens and areas, so before I get to work on the last area, I want to make those changes.
But they're things that need to be done and every one done is another step closer to the game's completion. And I want an end product that I can be proud of and that you can enjoy without wanting to track me down and make me eat my own ears.
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You must have had some traumatic experience involving people eating their own ears :P
This is great news!
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Well, I've dealt with the list of 'Old Things that Have to Change', so now I'm back to making the final area. I've completely forgotten the slightly complex layout I had planned for this area (go up to get the switch... and down to get the... and then left to press the...) and I've also realised my tileset/gradient combo I'd arranged doesn't work at all.
The tileset I made for this level is the one I used for the walls of the first lab in 'Do Not Pick Up The Key' where I used it rather differently to how I intended to use it here, and I'm wondering if it would harm the credibility of this level if I mimicked the style of that area, since it looked great there. But would people be thinking of that cheery music when they saw this? Hmm...
The other consideration is that I might design a rather complex background gradient, something similar to the background of the 'Curious Factory' level of 'Warioland 4'... (Wonder where my GBA is.)
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This level will probably be awesome. Looking forward to it.
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Me too!
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I hope it will not be so hard as Do not pick up the key. But I enjoyed Petals or Coldmist mountain, so I am looking forward to this level a lot.
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Thanks guys, it's very encouraging to hear that people are excited about this. :D
Man, making tilesets takes aaaages...
The final area has had a complete renovation and will no longer share any tiles with 'Do Not Pick Up The Key (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=5156.0)'. But it does mean I'm spending hours designing quite a complicated tileset, and procrastinating over the aforementioned activity. Once the tileset-making is done, hopefully designing the area itself won't be too great a trial and I'll finally get this done.
I have been trying some more complex gradients. One of the earlier areas that I've posted a screenshot of before has had a revamp and the edited screen is posted below.
For purely logical reasons, this level is divided into... levels, which count backwards. So you start in Level 8 and head to Level 1. This, as I say, is purely logical, as it's explained quite early on in the story that the upper levels were abandoned long before the lower levels were explored, so it'd make no sense if they counted from the depths and up. But it's fun turning that little gaming gimmick on its head, and I find it builds anticipation because you always know exactly how much further you have to go.
A lot about this level has worked better than I'd anticipated; you keep feeling rewarded as you complete the challenged the game places in your way. There are recurring objectives in different levels - finding an upgrade, turning on power and so on - and every time you complete one of the regular objectives you get a little jump of glee.
And then, every so often, something doesn't go as you've learnt to expect. :shocked:
Oh, and one final thing. In some levels I've played, people have made a sound come on part way through a cutscene instead of right at the beginning. I assume this is done via the world file, but can anyone explain to me how? Also, does anyone know where I can get some ocean ambiance?
Screenshots:
1. Re-vamped screen from an early level (original version can be seen as part of the poster in the first post).
2. Console screen from a cutscene.
3. WIP screen from the final level.
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In some levels I've played, people have made a sound come on part way through a cutscene instead of right at the beginning. I assume this is done via the world file, but can anyone explain to me how?
You simply place a file in the cut scene directory named SoundX.ogg, where X is the index of the screen you want it to play on.
And the level looks fantastic, by the way. The new gradient is good, though I confess I miss the hint of red in the previous one. It made it appear that you were looking out on some grim sunset, though that's probably not what you were going for. So perhaps it is for the best.
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You've really stepped up the quality of the art!
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Agreed. The screens look so awesome, I'm giving you a :hiddenstar: for it. :)
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Me too :)
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Oh wow, thanks guys :D
Ah, so can that be used to make the music or ambience track start playing part way through a cutscene and play through the rest of the scenes to the end?
Got the tileset done today and, optimistically speaking, I'm about half-way through completing the last level, which is to say I've made about half the screens, have the rest planned out (yay!) and have scripts for the cutscenes. Gotta copy, paste and repaint those screens for when the lights get turned on, make the rest of the screens and get the cutscenes made and in place. Once that's all done, there'll be a few bits of plot to wrap up at the end and then it'll be ready for testing.
I'm still gonna hold off being optimistic about the release but at the moment I'm working well and have a good supply of inspiration, and there isn't a vast amount still to do; making screens will be no trial as long as I maintain my current creativity streak, and I'm pretty well done for planning designs and making tilesets and those are the things that most often hold me up and cause the long delays in production for me.
So all being well, I might even have this ready for testing before the end of March, which would be brilliant (though I make no promises). I'm so eager to get this released and to hear what people have to say!
(Also, I'm squeeing over having an admin's interest :P)
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Ah, so can that be used to make the music or ambience track start playing part way through a cutscene and play through the rest of the scenes to the end?
Unfortunately, it will only play on the assigned scene. If it's not vital that it be cued to a particular scene, you could put a length of silence at the beginning of the background track, though that's hardly a robust solution. Have you considered making it an in-game cut scene instead?
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You could break it into 2 cutscenes if you don't mind a flash of white in between. For the first scene move Juni to an all white screen containing an auto-shift that starts the second scene. Make sure there's no music playing in the first scene to expedite the transition. Cover Juni with white water tiles to ensure she doesn't appear in the flash. I used this in A Knytt in Time to transition from any of the ending scenes to the credits scene.
Really like the background in the last of the latest screenshots. Keep up the good work!
edit:typo
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Yesterday I considered making the first few frames of the scene in-game and seeing how that works, but since there's a white flash queued part-way through the cutscene anyway, I might try Ego's solution.
EDIT: The challenge of finishing up a long Hard level with a climax that doesn't peak into Super-Hard...
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To do:
Design two tiles and a CO.
Make ending scene.
Play through the level a few times.
Do not pick up the key.
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That's good news.
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REally looking forward to this... oh the epic-ness!
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Oh, the epic-ness! :D
Everything is done now except putting the credits at the end of the closing cutscene, and one or two more playthroughs by myself.
Man, I can't believe it! 18 months and I'm finally there!
So chaps, I'm now advertising for beta-testers. The level is pretty long (takes me, knowing my way around, just under an hour to complete) but it is split into distinct sections. I reserve the right to be picky about who I accept as a beta-tester.
None-the-less, if you wish to test, please PM me or say so here.
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I have a hole in my schedule, so if you are okay with it, I'd like to betatest this one. :) The difficulty sounds about right for me and it has been a while since I last played KS. :) What better way to play this level to get that all sorted. :)
If you decide not to give me a beta, I'm okay with it. I'll not ban you or anything. Well, maybe only temporary... :P j/k :nuts:
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:shocked:
You're hired!
You'll hear from me in a day or two.
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I'll volunteer too. Hopefully you're not sick of me as a beta tester.
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Sergio, you're hired. I now have enough beta testers. I'll try and PM you all today, assuming other things don't get in the way.
EDIT: PMs sent. Forum was acting a bit eerie though, so tell me if you didn't receive it.
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D'aww, i am too late to beta test... >(
Well anyways, i am glad to see that this is finally finished! :D
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Talps, I've sent my report in. :) There are a few things that need a fix.
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So how close is this to being released?
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Still waiting for one tester to reply, and then I'll have to work through their suggestions.
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Are you going to send out a second beta? I think it might be a good idea, at least I'd like to play one with that pretty big glitch fixed.
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Are you going to send out a second beta? I think it might be a good idea, at least I'd like to play one with that pretty big glitch fixed.
That big glitch won't change the level much. I see no reason to test it a second time for that sole reason. I did spot other problems that I'll test if a 2nd beta comes out though. :)
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The glitch I know of is that one of the early screens disappeared during the compressing or uploading; it's not really that big. As I said, you can copy and paste the screen above it into place; it just saves you pulling the lever to open the door.
Or is there another glitch no one's mentioned?
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Nah, that's the one I was talking about. I consider it big because it would prevent someone with limited knowledge of the editor from playing the level at all, and there's a chance it could turn up again in a new version.
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There probably will be a second beta after this first one, and I will correct it if it shows up in the released version. But for the sake of speeding the testing process up, can you just copy the screen?
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Will it be the same people for the second beta-test? If you are going to let others test the second beta, can i give it a shot?
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I let several people test 'Do Not Pick Up The Key' and the result was most people who wanted to play it played the beta, not the release. So sorry, it'll be the same people if they're still interested.
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I'm back, and have a lot more free time than when I left.
AKA yes, I'm still interested ^^
Sorry for not doing a good job on DNPUTK, I'll do better this time.
I promise D:
unless I'm not included :(
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So sorry, it'll be the same people if they're still interested.
unless I'm not included :(
I think this says enough. If you weren't invited for the first beta, then you've missed this one.
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Oh.
Oh well.
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Sorry friend. But you'll get to play the release version soon.
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I can not wait ;)
[mod]removed unnecessary formatting: center and bold[/mod]
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Just to let people know, I've been very busy over Easter, and will look to be increasingly busy in the weeks to come (prospects for employment rising). I'm not in the mood to work on this at the moment and with less free time I'm being drawn to other things, so I'm gonna sit on it for a while. I'd rather produce a better level when I feel able to do so than rush it. Sorry about more delays. I'll let people know when this is moving again.
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Alright. Take your time. :)
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*cries*
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Progress: The second and probably final beta is with the testers. I've got a few things to finish off; I just redesigned the ending and have something I'm happier with now; I still need to make the credits and one or two other little things. Then it's just see what my testers find the second time round, make any final edits, upload it to the archive and release it.
Depends on testers but hopefully, soon!
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It's done! (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=5416.0)