[Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island

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Offline bulbapuck

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[Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« 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)
Emma fell down a well - Enviromental KS level inspired by Salmoneous/Elder
Level in the works: Whitebow Island

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Offline Lucinda

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2023, 01:53:39 »
Super excited for this. Let me know if you want me to playtest it down the road.
Rome wasn't built in a day.

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Offline Purple Ink

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2023, 05:39:16 »
Okay so that second screenshot is too good. Make it look worse. X)

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Offline bulbapuck

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #3 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.
Emma fell down a well - Enviromental KS level inspired by Salmoneous/Elder
Level in the works: Whitebow Island

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Offline Hmpf

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #4 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!

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Offline Polana

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #5 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).


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Offline Talps

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #6 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.

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Offline bulbapuck

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #7 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)
Emma fell down a well - Enviromental KS level inspired by Salmoneous/Elder
Level in the works: Whitebow Island

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Offline Talps

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2023, 18:47:07 »
And I kinda have to now for my 2yo daughters sake  C)

Congrats on the babypuck!

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Offline Polana

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2023, 23:25:35 »
@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.

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Offline Lucinda

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #10 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)
Rome wasn't built in a day.

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Offline Purple Ink

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2023, 02:51:57 »
@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

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Offline bulbapuck

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #12 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 :)
Emma fell down a well - Enviromental KS level inspired by Salmoneous/Elder
Level in the works: Whitebow Island

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Offline Vegetal Gibber

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #13 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!
Some KS levels by me:

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Offline Polana

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Re: [Challenge][Normal][KS] Whitebow Island
« Reply #14 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.