KCX 2 - Results! Full Episode is out now!

[Zygl]

Okay as it turns out I misremembered that "literally unplayable" level, it actually looks like it'd be pretty alright if your computer's not a useless piece of garbage that somehow manages to lag for the first 20 seconds and then run at like 4x normal speed for the next 5. From what I've been able to see, anyway.
Still no word on the top three yet though, but from what I've seen of third thus far it doesn't look too terribly hard either.

[Rednaxela]

Also, Rednaxel you're interested in joining the contest right?

I wasn't originally planning on it... but on second thought... sure! I have doubts I'd do particularly well for that sort of level design, but eh... I'm up for giving it a shot.

[Mabel]

Kinda wish i could get decent enough performance while recording my level...the way it is now the level is unbeatable due to the lag it produces at random. on a good day I can do it with no sound and disabling the background but now im seeing things like the leek straight up disappearing so even if you do make it you fail anyway

you're free to try rao but id skip it if you cant record without gdlk lag

[Zygl]

Okay as it turns out I misremembered that "literally unplayable" level, it actually looks like it'd be pretty alright if your computer's not a useless piece of garbage that somehow manages to lag for the first 20 seconds and then run at like 4x normal speed for the next 5. From what I've been able to see, anyway.
Still no word on the top three yet though, but from what I've seen of third thus far it doesn't look too terribly hard either.

The top three aren't bad. They're not easy, but they're not excruciatingly difficult

Having given them a go now, I can confirm they're not especially hard. Clear your schedule for first place though, it's looooooong.

e: Like, loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong.

[Willhart]

Okay as it turns out I misremembered that "literally unplayable" level, it actually looks like it'd be pretty alright if your computer's not a useless piece of garbage that somehow manages to lag for the first 20 seconds and then run at like 4x normal speed for the next 5. From what I've been able to see, anyway.
Still no word on the top three yet though, but from what I've seen of third thus far it doesn't look too terribly hard either.

The top three aren't bad. They're not easy, but they're not excruciatingly difficult

Having given them a go now, I can confirm they're not especially hard. Clear your schedule for first place though, it's looooooong.

e: Like, loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong.

I should have made my level longer too, so I would have gotten more points from the difficulty. There was definitely space to add some less dangerous obstacles there. My main problem was that I had not perfected the implementation of the gimmick yet at that point.

[7NameSam]

Yeah, I don't have the patience to make a kaizo level.
I might be able to make a hub though,

[Validon98]

I think I'll participate in this one this time around. All I have to do is resubmit my MaGLX level and make it harder be really sadistic. Totally.

[Mabel]

not sure what to make this time around since lua is a thing and i can make some really sadistic mechanics now.

[Willhart]

not sure what to make this time around since lua is a thing and i can make some really sadistic mechanics now.

You get more points for difficulty, so it's probably better to overdo it, as long as the level follows the two rules of the contest.

[Rednaxela]

not sure what to make this time around since lua is a thing and i can make some really sadistic mechanics now.

You get more points for difficulty, so it's probably better to overdo it, as long as the level follows the two rules of the contest.

Though it's perhaps worth considering that the addition of things that are simply difficult for the pure sake of being difficult (without actually making it an interesting way of being difficult) may dilute one's level as a whole, potentially causing loss of points on creativity or atmosphere.

[Isrieri]

The thing about kaizo levels is that they are not about being difficult. Everyone always thinks its about difficulty. Wrong. Its in the way they are difficult. Its loving cruelty. Like a practical joke between two good friends. They have a particular brand of sadism to them that isn't just inflicting pain out of self-satisfaction. It's a two-way system: A good kaizo level not only provides pleasure for the sadist, but for the masochist as well.

[sedron]

I really don't want this contest just to become make the lognest level possible, so I've decided to make some changes Zyglrox asked me to make some changes with the scoring system

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

So, what does everyone think of this change?

I agree that keeping length in check is important. I have a question about this that I'll keep under spoilers for people who haven't played through the first contest.

How do extra midpoints factor into this? Obviously my submission last year is very long, but the number of lunapoints (which I think could be legit midpoints with Luna Lua technology?) ensures that you aren't replaying large swathes of it. Would a level like my previous submission be penalized under new scoring? I really enjoyed making a level that was purposely over-the-top, difficult, long and pretty unfocused.

[7NameSam]

Will there be a hub?

[Mabel]

Will there be a hub?

yep, now the question is what will this years theme be...

[7NameSam]

Will there be a hub?

yep, now the question is what will this years theme be...

Maybe this Piano sign will help?

[Zygl]

I agree that keeping length in check is important. I have a question about this that I'll keep under spoilers for people who haven't played through the first contest.

How do extra midpoints factor into this? Obviously my submission last year is very long, but the number of lunapoints (which I think could be legit midpoints with Luna Lua technology?) ensures that you aren't replaying large swathes of it. Would a level like my previous submission be penalized under new scoring? I really enjoyed making a level that was purposely over-the-top, difficult, long and pretty unfocused.

Frankly the entire reason I proposed a 'Focus' category is because of your level specifically. It certainly had some creative gimmicks in there, some difficult sections, and atmosphere all up in the place, but in all honesty I personally felt it was not a good kaizo level in the slightest, it felt more like eight levels of varying difficulty duct-taped together and just kinda meandered around for three hours doing 'stuff'.

That said, I do have to wonder why atmosphere and creativity are out of some weird total like 7.5 now rather than just increasing the maximum score. Furthermore, I find it a bit odd that focus, an aspect of the actual level design, is weighted less than the aesthetics. Naturally it shouldn't be weighted as high as difficulty, given that difficulty is one of the defining characteristics of a kaizo level, but I personally feel it should be weighted more heavily than the aesthetics. That aside though I am of course happy with this change.

[sedron]

Spoilers?

Spoilers!

I figured my level played into that, yeah. The timing of you just having played it for the first time, declaring it to be looooooooooooooooooooooong, then asking 8flight for the change made it fairly obvious, hence why I looked for clarification. =P

The chaotic, unfocused nature of the level was on purpose. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but Kaizo levels in general tend to break a lot of what would be considered normal level design principles. The entirety of my last entry was based on breaking those rules (utilizing glitches, obscene length, lack of focus, very nonstandard aesthetics, so on and so forth.) In truth, the goal wasn't to make that level "good," despite the name of the contest. The scoring incentivized other things.

So, yeah, you're right that it's a good change for the contest. I'll keep that stuff in mind this year!

[Zygl]

The chaotic, unfocused nature of the level was on purpose. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but Kaizo levels in general tend to break a lot of what would be considered normal level design principles. The entirety of my last entry was based on breaking those rules (utilizing glitches, obscene length, lack of focus, very nonstandard aesthetics, so on and so forth.) In truth, the goal wasn't to make that level "good," despite the name of the contest. The scoring incentivized other things.

They do tend to ignore standard level design principles, but typically in the name of difficulty rather than just for the heck of it. That said I can respect using a contest as an excuse to make a weird non-standard thing - in fact in all honesty that's most of my contest participation - it just doesn't really make for a good kaizo level, and as such it's a little jarring and indicative of a flaw in the scoring criteria for it to win the contest.

[Karifean]

I'll sign up again. I completely ignored graphics and sound last time which probably wasn't such a good idea. But it was all pretty fun and I'll gladly give it another shot.

[Willhart]

I think I can actually participate this too. I have some graphics prepared.

Edit: I'm signing up.

[sedron]

Just in case my earlier statement of interest isn't counted as a sign-up, I wanna sign up. =P

[Willhart]

Can I have my MAGKLx2 level tested before submitting it?

[7NameSam]

I'm signing up

[Slimeman01]

I'll try XD
I've never made one of these, so this can be my chance to try it!

[SAJewers]

After seeing the first 2 levels of MaGKLX1, Maybe I'll join.

EDIT: Is raocow gonna be LPing this?