Description

“Greetings, Clone! I see you have heeded the call; yes, the call to construct an episode of diabolical proportions! Even if you’re a fresh clone or a veteran, now is your chance! Assist me by contributing a level or three to my cause, and we’ll give Mario and Co. a run for his money!”
Memo #1: Toolkit
-You require the SMBX engine to build the levels with.

-Save your level inside this folder; the folder contains the graphics that will be consistent throughout all level. Additional custom assets are in fact encouraged. If you wish to override a certain graphic, please submit a request form to Toadly Labeled: Seiromem

-Please name your levels like so: Username_Levelname

Memo #2: Level Creation Guidlines
-Your may create up to three levels of any difficulty. There will, however, be three “Worlds” not defined by theme, but by difficulty. Creating an easy level, a moderate level, and a difficult level is the recommended spread.

-Your level must contain a factory sub-theme. This theme may be as prominent or subtle as you like. Otherwise, you have creative freedom.

-Your levels must contain at least 1 variety of Hypno-Toad, as given in the Super Doctor Toadly World folder. Custom Hypno-toads are acceptable and encouraged.

-Your level must contain these essentials to every level: A Midway point (SMBX only allows one per level) A Power up at the beginning of the level and right after the midpoint at least, 5 Yoshi coins, which will have the same value as a 1-up, and must end in a SMB2 Exit, which is the pinkish orb next to Birdo on the SMB2 tap of the NPC screen.

-Avoid these common design pitfalls: Soft-Locking: Where Mario can become trapped in a level and not able to exit bar closing the game and starting back up again. Examples of soft-locking include: A pit Mario cannot jump out of, an essential NPC (such as a P-Switch) not spawning, or generally having forward progress be halted without any way to progress. Use Invisible Blocks responsibly, do not put them over pits players are supposed to jump over to cheat them out of a life. Such strategies are below a mad genius such as yourself!

-Your level must be able to be beaten by these characters: Mario, Luigi, and Toad.

-Your level cannot contain a boss; mini-bosses are fine, however.

-Your level may have a secret exit (a SMW Key and SMW Keyhole) but only a total of 6 levels may contain one. These secret exits will lead to treasure vaults, so hide them well!

Memo #3: Quality Control
Dr. Toadly labeled: Seiromem will be testing all levels submitted and providing feedback, which you are expected to take into consideration and revise your level until it is acceptable. Other participants are encouraged to test each others levels and give feedback as well, however Seiromem will have the final say on whether a level is accepted or not. Don’t worry about having the level be perfect on the first try; Seiromem will be making levels too, and would like your feedback on them!

”As you can see, quality is preferred and will be cultivated! Do not worry too much, as us Veteran Toadlys will assist you and make your level the best it can be! While we work together, we shall create an episode that shall never be forgotten by Mario!
Mwuhahahaha!”

Memo #4: Endgame
Once the event is over, all participants’ levels that have been accepted will be compiled into a single episode. After it has been compiled, a beta-version shall be released for testing by those who have submitted their levels. Once testing is completed, the episode shall be released, for all to play!

Details

  • 04/10/2018 05:10 AM
  • 05/20/2018 05:10 AM

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Posts

Question, is there a way to make a level seem glitchy or messed up without actually using glitches?
author=Seiromem
Oof, another thing I missed in the event description.
Personally, I hate wall zipping. Its glitchy and can cause unnecessary deaths. Please refrain from wall-zipping.
It's a shame you feel that way, since wall-zipping is only lethal if the level designer allows it to. But if designed properly, wall-zippping can not only be harmless, but it can be used as a gimmick to reach hidden areas, like in Super Talking Time Bros. 2.
Would anyone be able to help me find some creepy/chaotic factory music?
I got Dr. Toadly labelled Julian's level song already, but I'm having trouble finding Orion's.
I'm thinking either Hot Damned from Super Meat Boy, On Your Six from FNAF: Sister Location, or a remix of Supporting Me(its a lyrical theme but am I the only one who likes level music with lyrics? .3.), Metallic Madness(CD or Mania), or Panic Puppet(Either Genesis or Sarurn).
With so many potential songs I'm not certain what to go with.
Orion represents anger, but is more like that calm fury as he's a brutal stoic. His comments and humour would be very dry.
I'm imagining either a fast chasing wall, a shell riding segment, or a fast autoscroll for his level, and I'm considering making "glitches" the main gimmick of the level, like its unstable.

Any thoughts for the song or idea? I find music really important for levels. .3.
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
The best way to make a level seem glitchy without making it contain glitches is to have it purely be a visual aesthetic: nothing too jarring, but just enough to make you go "Wait..."
Also, maybe put a few enemies into spots where they are seemingly worthless as obstacles (have that happen a couple times, then have such an enemy actually be relevant for a good secret!)

And I can only ever find music for levels I'm looking at (I tend to gather the graphics for a certain level mechanic before I look for the music)

author=Animebryan
It's a shame you feel that way, since wall-zipping is only lethal if the level designer allows it to. But if designed properly, wall-zippping can not only be harmless, but it can be used as a gimmick to reach hidden areas, like in Super Talking Time Bros. 2.
Unfortunately, with SMBX the way it is, having such a thing just makes me think we'd be opening the door for us to discover some new bullshit that ruins everything. Exaggerating aside, I also think they're really unintuitive.
But, if its been used successfully elsewhere, then lemme revise my statement.

"Personally, I hate wall zipping. Its glitchy and can cause unnecessary deaths. Please use wall-zipping sparingly."
I have to admit the event description is full of a lot of fluff and after reading all of it I didn't get much information for the actual event. I don't quite understand the point of the event, or why it's an event. The only theme is factory(which is only lightly enforced?) and we use some premade enemies? Is that it? 3 levels each. I was hoping for something a little more fun and interesting, as opposed to another basic Mario game.

I'll try and make one level and it will the most factorious level ever manufactured. And that's a fact-ory.
author=Link_2112
I have to admit the event description is full of a lot of fluff and after reading all of it I didn't get much information for the actual event. I don't quite understand the point of the event, or why it's an event. The only theme is factory(which is only lightly enforced?) and we use some premade enemies? Is that it? 3 levels each. I was hoping for something a little more fun and interesting, as opposed to another basic Mario game.

I'll try and make one level and it will the most factorious level ever manufactured. And that's a fact-ory.


Puns.
Ha.

I kinda agree on some level but at the same time it's nothing too out of the ordinary for SMBX on this forum simply because it's "just another Mario game."
After all, I immediately drew parallels to Castle Masterpiece Set - this is just the factory equivalent.
I believe that game also gave a limit of three levels as well, actually.

The "fluff" gives personality to the event and also basically gives an idea of what we're striving for here - it's "written" by a Dr. Toadly so you know what Dr. Toadlys then to be like.

With that in mind though, while the other event idea someone had being like an SMBX Olympics was... a little meh in all consideration, no offense to the idea giver, I think that if we did want to keep up the idea of SMBX events being episode-focused, I think we could still make an event where people are judged and get prizes and stuff.
Has anyone heard of the Tower of Bias? It's a series of games paired with their respective contests(not sure how common they tend to be, honestly) run by an SMBX forum where people make levels without letting anyone know about the levels beforehand, they get judged and scored thoroughly, and then put into the episode based on how well they did. The better the level, the higher up in the tower it is.
It was a strange set-up, but it could be interesting. Wouldn't be your average game I'm sure, because
well
It literally puts all the crap at the beginning to get it out of the way
"We made sure we knew these levels were shit so players would have to play them first", plus we'd have to make a rule on joke levels being submitted and for the sake of there being a game, any levels that need heavy changes to be playable could be excluded or judges would be allowed to make the necessary changes.

It's an interesting concept that always yields interesting results - people putting in their best try to be judged, and then getting effectively a level pack of the absolute best and the worst.
You know?

In the meantime, I technically started on Dr. Toadly labelled Julian's level, though I need a different background then what I got. Anyone got a background with a giant 'window' or something like that of which I can edit out and put the underwater background behind?
I think the Metroid stuff may have something like that but I'm not too certain.
haha The Olympics ideas was mine and that was only like 2 weeks ago and I am extremely offended(haha nah). Anyways, I would like to see ideas that are more specific and out of the ordinary. Mario Mansion was fun cause it was all spooky related, the Zelda one was cool. I'm not saying this kind of event is bad, but it's not as interesting for an SMBX event. RMN World was basically that. Let's all make whatever and put it together and make a solid standard game. I don't remember that Castles one much but from what I remember it was just about levels that are hard?

I would like to see more adventurous things like...everybody makes a level that can only be completed with a boot, or with a focus on turtles and turtle shells. Just examples. Something that makes you think of new ways to use something, as opposed to having a blank slate to create whatever you want. Something that feels like an event. As someone who has spent a lot of time in SBMX, I find it takes things like that to get me interested.

But as usual, I'm going to end up making something unusual anyways, to get myself interested.

Oh, and about the fluff, I just found that it confused the actual goal of this event. Because it says things like "Create a level to confound that infernal Mario and the Agent Toad who is always supporting him!". Is this just fluff, or is it actually the purpose of the event? To make hard levels that will actually confuse or frustrate the player? For a section titled 'The task at hand' I assumed it would be telling me the rules of the event.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
The last time we tried a Tower of Bias scenario, it resulted in The Super Mario Super Contest, and that didn't turn out too well.

I get what Link means about themed events, but having less defined rules offers more creative freedom. I can relate to feeling overwhelmed with options, but I cope with it by picking my own gimmick. I have an idea I want to start on later, and maybe something for a second stage as well.

Basically, try not to overthink it.
Ah, I see.
And you guys had a Super Mario Super Contest?
Dang, I wish I was there for that. ;3;
What happened? Is there any chance of trying again?

And yeah - personally I just treat themed events the same as I do the RMN stuff. I think of an idea for a level, either based on a gimmick I saw in another level or the rare occasion I'm actually fucking creative and think one up myself, or off of a song or a level I think would be interesting to see an SMBX variant of.
All that really changes is there's a theme added to it, which "limits" my options by making things simpler.

"Oh, I have to make factories? Alright, what factory level songs do I enjoy I could make a level based around."
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
author=pyrodoom
Ah, I see.
And you guys had a Super Mario Super Contest?
Dang, I wish I was there for that. ;3;
What happened? Is there any chance of trying again?
The worst levels were placed in a sewer hub with a fart remix bgm and poop raining down from above. People were upset.

But Soli won!

Ratty ran the thing and he's gone now, so...I guess the mantle's available.
I'm not sure I'd be able to take up the mantle myself but it's not like we'd be doing that immediately.
Glad to hear it's open at least. :3

also yeah, probably isn't a good idea to make a hub for bad levels a sewer and use fart noises
lol
Like, it's funny, and I was saying a lot of bad stuff about the losing levels, but like, there's better ways to let people know their level was bad then basically literally calling it shit. XD

I think the "worst level" placement is enough, haha.

Edit: I want to note something.
I was looking at earlier SMBX event pages to pass the time when I realized something and started to get a little worried. I won't go into full detail here in fear of discouraging people though.

Also, gonna add that the Super Mario Super Contest only had one message showing distaste for the raunchy humor - since there are no reviews for it, were most comments done in videos? Idk

edit: removed really panicked, paranoid rant comparing this project's slow start to literally every other start
I just sent Seiromem a PM with my 1st level, Poison Mushroom Factory. Here's my video of me playing it:
Ah, nice. And I was hoping to be the first one with a level in. Haha

From the video I noticed your level looked very barren - not many backgrounds at all, and the rooms looked really empty and overly massive.
Also, there is a submit option - is it somewhere on the page that it's said we have to send it to Seiromem as opposed to just submitting it? I know I read the event page so I don't get why you did that, I kinda wanted to play the level.

Also, I had four questions:
Is it possible to change the priority of some backgrounds so they don't take priority over one another? Some of my background objects aren't working right when placed in front of other background objects and I'm afraid some sections won't look right or be barren as a result. ;3;
Secondly, what's the limit on secondary themes? I was considering making a level based on Sonic Robo Blast 2's Techno Hill, a mechanized grassland. If I can find the tileset for it.
Thirdly, are all Dr. Toadly's the same or are there any differences between the clones, specifically in personality?
Finally, what's the limit on bosdfights?
I didn't even notice the submit button (with Yoshi's Archipelago, I just sent them to Hali directly instead of having a submit button). As for BGOs, I didn't have a lot to work with, but maybe I can add some in in the next version (if there's a need for one). I mostly just focus on platforming aspect of a level (platform positions & enemy placement, etc.)
Some background objects will change from fore to background, it's an engine issue I guess. The only way I know of to fix something like that is to use an npc instead of a background piece, which has it's own limits. You can make it friendly, as large as you want, no gravity, with the option to flag it as fore or background. Then an NPC object can act like a background piece.
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
Hopefully this will be the final update of the event description, and it is concise and gets to the point, and doesn't imply any sort of Kaizo-Annoyance requirement and its just what Castles 2 was: Levels with a global sub-theme.

Either way, Hali PMed the participants with the feedback, and I shall do so as well. Don't forget to give feedback too, everyone!
author=Seiromem
If you wish to override a Toadly, please submit a request form to Toadly Labeled: Seiromem


And the request form is where?
Do I just pm you and be like "hey dude, can I have a toadly?"
Could a Dr. Toadly boss be a miniboss or are all Dr. Toadly fights full-on bosses?


i don't want you to hate me for constantly asking questions that may force you to keep editing the event page i'm just asking for clarification on details i've been thinking about or things i don't feel are clear ;3; sorry
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
Yes, by request forum I mean a PM.
And by override a toadly, I meant a hypno-toad graphic.
You can have the mini-boss be whatever, its just gotta be a mini-boss.
If you want your Dr. Toadly to contribute to boss-fights, PM me what you had in mind. I'll work something out.


author=pyrodoom
i don't want you to hate me for constantly asking questions that may force you to keep editing the event page i'm just asking for clarification on details i've been thinking about or things i don't feel are clear ;3; sorry
You shall be maimed.
Ah, so asking for a new Hypno Toad graphic. Alright.

And plz don't maim me until I finish a level ;3;

Edit: I played AnimeBryan's level and while I didn't complete it once(I got to the end, died like the 5th time I had in the level I think(I kinda suck lol) and then was called away from my computer for a while), I did enjoy it.
Only issues I found was not knowing how you intend players to get the Dragon Coin after the 3 conveyor belts up near the ceiling and the reliance on RNG with the poison mushrooms.
I'll play the full level as all three characters and give my full thoughts hopefully tomorrow.

I feel like the Hypno Toads are really kinda creepy, they give me a feeling no other GFX gives me.
There's a leaf power-up prior to getting to it, which you can use to fly up to it IF a single conveyor belt is clear or if a hypno-toad manages to get over there (they did in my video) you can bounce off of it to reach it. However, Seiromem suggested I change that area a bit so it won't be difficult in the next version.