SMBX (2014 Yacht of Opinions): MaGL X - Whoohoo!

[sedron]

Also I wouldn't strictly call using Bowser as an environmental hazard a stroke of genius. Didn't one of the NSMB games do it? I think it was the Wii one.

idk, maybe? I've never seen it done in SMBX before though. And the work that was put into the platform positions alongside Bowser's size was great. They had to ensure he couldn't fall and you had plenty of hiding places.

NSMBWii definitely does use Bowser as a hazard in the last fight, but it's not done with anything like SMB3 Bowser. NSMBWii's Giant Bowser is slower, destroys the environment around you (which is necessary for progression,) and exists more as a moving wall than anything. Maybe one of the later NSMB's does it more like today's level, but I wouldn't know because seriously there's too many NSMB's.

I've definitely never seen SMB3 Bowser used that way though, and it's definitely neat. I think the execution could have been a bit better (too many weird-looking hitboxes,) but I definitely appreciate it. I also think "Mountain," was great, simply because of the technology behind it. A lot of work obviously went into making everything work.

I'm interested to see how else people can use SMB3 Bowser... today's level got me thinking about forcing the player to keep him from falling in an autoscrolling level, possibly with usage of the blue or red boots to circumvent pits or lava that would kill Bowser. Maybe I'll try something like that after I finish my current stuff...

[Compound Fraxure]

My favorite levels of World 6 would probably be The Right Man and Yoshi's Island River. Both of them have neat concepts, but The Right Man could be a lot shorter.

It's neat seeing that my level is on a lot of peoples' favorites. I'm satisfied with my placement, especially since I did a lot of my level at the last minute.

[MrDeePay]

NSMBDS - Bowser is a traditional boss.
SMG - Bowser is a traditional boss.
NSMBW - Only the first phase (SMB Classic) is a traditional boss. Rest plays out like a level hazard. (Moving wall that destroys everything.)
SMG2 - Bowser is a traditional boss.
SM3DL - Bowser is like a level hazard mixed in with a traditional boss. (Breathes fire, 3D version of classic battle, chases/punches Mario)
NSMB2 - Only the first phase (SMB Classic) is a traditional boss. Rest plays out like a level hazard. (destroys platforms and occasionally breathes fire)
NSMBU - Bowser is a traditional boss.
SM3DW - Bowser does a good amount more, but he is like a level hazard. (Breathes fire, uses Super Bell, uses Double Cherries, destroys platforms.)

People doubting the efficacy of the gimmick should tune into tomorrow's video.

Point missed.

People doubting the scores should ask themselves if the levels are generally increasing in quality, despite a few inevitable blips due to personal taste.

That comes with every contest regardless of how many judges there are.

People wishing to give suggestions on how to run MaGL should wait until after the LP is over as I plan to make a behind the scenes thread and a feedback thread so that next MaGL can be even better.

You seem to be content with people offering feedback on just about everything to the contest currently, though.

It may not be strictly necessary, but a lot of the more creative levels so far probably wouldn't have come about without it. Working within limitations and all that.

Inspiration can come from anything. It's not really a limitation in the strictest sense either since people can choose to forgo the Name gimmick altogether.

In that case there's no real point in including it as part of the contest.

Which is kind of my point.

Of course there's nothing inherently wrong with a gimmick-free contest (aside from maybe the whole level-I've-been-sitting-on-for-9-months thing),

That wouldn't stop anyone from grabbing an existing level and submitting it for this contest if they so wanted.

and there's nothing stopping the participants in said gimmick-free contest from getting some mad-libbed names anyway, but there'd be no impetus to actually try to come up with an idea if they happen to be even remotely difficult to come up with an idea for. Plus it's pretty unlikely that anybody'd even bother to do that in the first place.

Or just forgo the names and come up with your own idea.

I think you really missed the point here. A level design contest needs users to even work. If the way you make the contest means people aren't going to enter then your contest is a failure.

This contest would've had a huge turnout regardless of any extra "incentives"/"gimmicks" for the two reasons I already stated.

You seem to be missing the part where a level design contest isn't just all work. It's supposed to be a fun experience and people find the contest gimmicks fun.

That is a point I've known of very well for years now, which is also not a point I concern myself about.

[Rednaxela]

I would just like to say that I really liked both Mountain by Litchh and It's a SMB1 Level, Except way more Epic by WiiRool today. Those two would be good contenders for my overall favourite thus far, on account of both having a nice concept, look fun to play, do some nifty things in the SMBX engine, and don't have any flaws that look glaring to me anyway (i.e. overstaying their welcome)

[Eathanu]

Also I wouldn't strictly call using Bowser as an environmental hazard a stroke of genius. Didn't one of the NSMB games do it? I think it was the Wii one.

idk, maybe? I've never seen it done in SMBX before though. And the work that was put into the platform positions alongside Bowser's size was great. They had to ensure he couldn't fall and you had plenty of hiding places.

This. The really great part was how the platforming was still interesting from the player's perspective, despite offering a cushion for Bowser's entire mass.

[Mystick]

Am I the only person who still thinks Suddenly and Inadvertenly Climb has been one of the best levels so far? =(

[Eathanu]

Am I the only person who still thinks Suddenly and Inadvertenly Climb has been one of the best levels so far? =(

It's probably still in my top 5. I would have to check. I don't want to check.

[Leet]

Holy crap, this world is incredibly awesome! Those levels were amazing, this is going to be a fun ride to the end

[Alice]

You seem to be missing the part where a level design contest isn't just all work. It's supposed to be a fun experience and people find the contest gimmicks fun.

That is a point I've known of very well for years now, which is also not a point I concern myself about.

And it's exactly the reason why you're wrong. The top priority for these things is to have fun. This is not a job, it's a hobby. You're supposed to enjoy your hobbies.

[Mata Hari]

Hey look it's that guy complaining about stuff again

[raocow]

You know what?

Okay, so we have seen all the levels up to the last, like, quarter or something. So...

What would be your personal TOP 5 for the last 3/4 ?!

thinking about this now will make it easier when you have to think of your top overal 5

[MrDeePay]

It would just be easier to continue with "What's your favorite entry from World X?" and then include "What's you're favorite entry so far?" afterwards.

Hey look it's that guy complaining about stuff again

Still more worthwhile posts any anything you've done!

You seem to be missing the part where a level design contest isn't just all work. It's supposed to be a fun experience and people find the contest gimmicks fun.

That is a point I've known of very well for years now, which is also not a point I concern myself about.

And it's exactly the reason why you're wrong. The top priority for these things is to have fun. This is not a job, it's a hobby. You're supposed to enjoy your hobbies.

And adding a gimmick to a contest that entrants will be penalized for not adhering to is a good idea?

[Ometeotl]

It would just be easier to continue with "What's your favorite entry from World X?" and then include "What's you're favorite entry so far?" afterwards.

Man, you can't even let someone ask a question about opinions without claiming that they're doing it wrong.

[raocow]

it's not fun if its too easy

[Money]

And adding a gimmick to a contest that entrants will be penalized for not adhering to is a good idea?

Yes? Because having the same contest over and over again is boring?

[Ditocoaf]

You seem to be missing the part where a level design contest isn't just all work. It's supposed to be a fun experience and people find the contest gimmicks fun.

That is a point I've known of very well for years now, which is also not a point I concern myself about.

And it's exactly the reason why you're wrong. The top priority for these things is to have fun. This is not a job, it's a hobby. You're supposed to enjoy your hobbies.

And adding a gimmick to a contest that entrants will be penalized for not adhering to is a good idea?

Yes. It is a good idea because it makes it more fun. Fun is subjective, and you disagree, but apparently the gimmick (and its effect on scores) made the contest more enjoyable for most people participating. Admittedly, it sacrifices a some the systemic integrity of the contest, but that's not as important to some people.

Agh I said I'd stop participating in the argument but I can't help myself

[memnarch]

...

And adding a gimmick to a contest that entrants will be penalized for not adhering to is a good idea?

Seeing that the theme/gimmick was stated in the opening post along with the scoring method showing that if you don't stick with the theme, I'd say there's no problem with the penalty. Everyone who entered the contest knew that they should follow the gimmick or they'd lose points. If people didn't like that, they didn't need to enter the contest.

Someone's already mentioned the restrictions breed creativity, so i'll just link an article about how it's helped Magic the Gathering game design and call that good.

[Burgers]

Am I the only person who still thinks Suddenly and Inadvertenly Climb has been one of the best levels so far? =(

*blush*

[MrDeePay]

MrDeePay feels very strongly about the gimmick of the contest he didn't bother to enter.

Funny that none of participants do.

Nice assumption there.

I actually didn't enter due to the lack of availability on my own behalf to submit my own work (lack of internet at my home from October until mid-March), nor did I have a reliable access point that wouldn't block every filehost under the sun to upload my entry. (because public access internet!)

Ah well, I guess he's the voice of the non-existent. Someone's gotta give them representation. It's a travesty that only those impacted by a thing should get to talk about a thing.

So you really wanna go that route, huh? Do you really wanna do this?

It would just be easier to continue with "What's your favorite entry from World X?" and then include "What's you're favorite entry so far?" afterwards.

Man, you can't even let someone ask a question about opinions without claiming that they're doing it wrong.

Because making suggestion to make things go by more smoothly is a crime, apparently. Whoops, sorry for ever saying anything!

Yes? Because having the same contest over and over again is boring?

Even if the contest is held only once a year (or even every six months)?

Fun is subjective, and you disagree

Fun being subjective is something I've agreed with for years, actually.

[Eathanu]

What would be your personal TOP 5 for the last 3/4 ?!

5. Suddenly and Inadvertently Climb
ARROW POINTING LEFT. Enough said, I think.

4. No Forests!
An example of level-backtracking done very well, in my opinion. I also love how it was inadvertently sequelized with Hop the Forest. Really, together they make my 4th place, while alone they would be a little more forgettable.

3. Okay, So Imagine a Japanese Cloud Train...
This level was almost everything that was great about the VIPs, lacking only Boon and Beefsteaks. It also may have the best-picked music in the contest thus far, but I may be forgetting something.

2. It's a SMB1 Level, Except way more Epic
Honestly, if the level ended as soon as you beat Bowser the first time it'd still be one of my favourites. The sudden change to SM64 Bowser theme with the platform suddenly and inadvertently climbing dropping was absolutely priceless.

1. The Right Man in the Wrong Place Can Make all the Difference in the World.
Atmosphere, storytelling, Half-Life 2 quotes. Pretty much everything you need to get my attention and keep it.

[Ditocoaf]

Fun is subjective, and you disagree

Fun being subjective is something I've agreed with for years, actually.

Oops, that was worded poorly. I'll clarify:

I meant that you disagree with the participants who feel that "the gimmick (and its effect on scores) made the contest more enjoyable". I only mentioned "fun is subjective" to note that neither side is wrong in that disagreement, subjectivity being what it is.

Basically: if most people who participated think that "the gimmick (and its effect on scores) made the contest more enjoyable", then it was a good idea to "add a gimmick to a contest that entrants will be penalized for not adhering to".

[Nathan the Talkmaus]

My favorite levels so far are

Little Ruins

Bowser's Oldest Fortress

The non-haunted Graveyard that I've forgotten the name of

It's Like a SMB3 Level, Except Way More Pleasant

Volcano Casltevania

Descent of an Aging Link

EDIT: Top five? Ignore Little Ruins and the Castlevania of Volcanoes

[YelseyKing]

You know what?

Okay, so we have seen all the levels up to the last, like, quarter or something. So...

What would be your personal TOP 5 for the last 3/4 ?!

thinking about this now will make it easier when you have to think of your top overal 5

Let's see...

5) Koopa Devil Mansion
4) Koopa Devil Mansion
3) Koopa Devil Mansion
2) Koopa Devil Mansion
1) Koopa Devil Mansion

There were other stages?

I jest. It's actually more like...
5) My Own Take on Bowser's Back Door
4) My Own Take on Donut Plains 2
3) It's a SMB1 Level, Except Way Nicer
2) Swimming in the Sinking Ocean
1) Link's Depressing Circus

Honorable mentions to "Okay, So Imagine a Japanese Cloud Train..." and "Too Many Trains in this MotherBlaster Tunnel".

[Holy]

Just a quick reminder to you guys that your entries for MaGC (Make a Good Complaint Contest) are due in ten days.

Remember, scoring is as follows:
1. Creativity (out of 10): Overall creativity of the complaint. Unique complaints will be awarded more points (e.g. "The pitch of raocow's voice in Part 37 really grated on my nerves. Next contest he should avoid speaking in that vocal range" will score higher than "placement sucks")

2. Adherence to complaint name (out of 700): As you all know, each contestant has received five randomly generated complaint names, such as "Too many Judges in the Mother******* Contest" or "Like the First MaGL, only More Gimmicky."

3. Ten bonus points for every page of bickering in the thread

[YelseyKing]

Just a quick reminder to you guys that your entries for MaGC (Make a Good Complaint Contest) are due in ten days.

Remember, scoring is as follows:
1. Creativity (out of 10): Overall creativity of the complaint. Unique complaints will be awarded more points (e.g. "The pitch of raocow's voice in Part 37 really grated on my nerves. Next contest he should avoid speaking in that vocal range" will score higher than "placement sucks")

2. Adherence to complaint name (out of 700): As you all know, each contestant has received five randomly generated complaint names, such as "Too many Judges in the Mother******* Contest" or "Like the First MaGL, only More Gimmicky."

3. Ten bonus points for every page of bickering in the thread

I reiterate: Why have we not made this person our leader?