Description

Hey, Pisanos! In honor of RMN’s official Mario Month, We're bringing back the Mario-making spirit in the form of a level-design contest in the Super Mario Bros. X engine!

… Come again? You heard me right! We’re not really making a collaborative game this time around. This is a CONTEST to see who can make the best level in SMBX! The winner will receive lucrative prize of ANY GAME OF YOUR CHOICE ON STEAM UNDER $20.00, in addition to a nice achievement and makerscore!

Regardless of placement, each level submitted will be compiled into a custom-made SMBX game where everyone will be able to play and view feedback from our four judges: Isrieri, Deckiller, Halibabica, and your host, Ratty 524!

OKIE-DOKIE! WHAT ARE THE DETAILS?
As mentioned before, this is a CONTEST to see who can create the best mario-focused level, using any style of your choice. In light of this, we do have a few ground rules:

  • Hopefully this is a given for most of you, but the level you submit must be made in Super Mario Bros. X, either version 1.3 or 1.3.0.1 (The only differences are in some graphic edits and sound). You can download the latest version of the engine HERE.



  • Each participant is allowed to submit ONE level for the contest. No more, no less. You CAN submit a replacement to your submission, however, but you must indicate which level is the one to be judged somehow.



  • Your level should be built around the vanilla version of SMBX. This means NO HACKS/LUA CODE to modify your level beyond what the engine is already capable of. We want to keep this a fair competition, after all, and trust me, we'll know a hacked level when we see it.



  • Your levels must be built around Mario and Luigi ONLY. Yes, we’re aware that Peach, Toad, and even Link are playable characters in the engine, but it makes the judge’s job easier to compare levels that are built around characters with similar mechanics, so there we go! This also means that the character blocks (the ones that allow you to switch between characters in a single level) are banned.



  • With that said, all the other NPCs, exits, tiles and whatnot are NOT BANNED! Go ham! Keep in mind, however, that your use of these elements will be judged, and that some NPCs are known to be buggy (such as the SMW Bowser Statue) or bring unwelcome challenges to them (SMW Dry Bones for its hitbox, and SMB3 Lakitu for its spamming of homing spikeballs). Depending on how severe their impact is, your level CAN be docked points for its abuse of poorly-functioning NPCs. You've been warned.



  • Please make sure that all the files needed to make your level function are included with your submission, if applicable, before the deadline. If you plan on using custom graphics or audio, for instance, include that in your submission. In addition, we expect that all your sound/graphic paths to be correct. Getting a level that doesn’t play its music right won’t get you disqualified, but it may cost you a chance at winning.



  • Failure to abide by these guidelines may result in your level being disqualified or docked in points.



POINTS, EH!? WHAT-A-POINTS?
Glad you asked! We judges will use a 1-10 rating system for judging each level in this contest; a score of "1" in any category will be the lowest, representing an area your level functions poorly in, and "10" is the highest, showing an area the level does well in. Here is the criteria you should be considering for your submission, It’ll also be the criteria we judges will use to rate your levels:

  • DESIGN:
    - How deliberate does the level feel with its choices, such as platform or pipe placements?
    - What is the theme or overall concept of this level, and do the level’s elements work well with it?
  • AESTHETICS:
    - How cohesive/nice are the graphics used in the level? What visual themes contribute to creating a distinctive atmosphere in the level, and do they work well?
    - Is the audio used in the level appropriate, and how well does that contribute to creating an atmosphere/emotion in the level?
  • PLAYABILITY:
    - Does the level contain bugs or poor design decisions that hinder the way a player can play the level?
    - Is the level’s difficulty challenging in a way that is fair and not obtuse. Could the level, hypothetically, be beatable on the player’s first try, without the reliance on trial-and-error?


The final score of a level will be averaged between judges, with your final score being a total of the ratings in each category. The level with the highest total, obviously, will win. Aim for 10/10 levels in all categories, folks!

PASTA PRIZES
1st Place Golden Mario Achievement; 75 MS + 1 Steam game under $20 of your choice
2nd Place Silver Luigi Achievement; 60 MS
3rd Place Bronze Peach Achievement; 55 MS
Participated – Toad Achievement; 15 MS

HELPFUL LINKS
Not sure how to use SMBX or need help in making a quality level? Check out some of these plumber-approved tutorials and design articles to help you out!

RMN's Super Mario Bros. X Tutorial Portal - Contains many helpful articles that cover both working with the engine itself and performing some nifty tricks like making the Ball n' Chain obstacle from Super Mario World.

Anatomy of Super Mario Bros part 10, part 11, part 12, so on..., and so forth... - This is an comprehensive series of articles that dissects every level from Super Mario Bros, revealing a lot of deliberate and thoughtful design choices the game designers made at the time. I highly recommend you check these out if you want to create some really well-designed levels.

SMBX Graphics Portal - Check out these featured graphic packs on the SMBX forums for your custom asset needs!

All set? Then LET'S-A-GO!

Details

Achievements

Registration

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Posts

halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
I'm down with collectibles. If they do stay collected even after dying, it's almost a non-issue. Just make sure it's clear to the player that they don't have to gather them all again the second time. You could avoid backtracking issues with a return warp or by making the level circuitous, or even having the return trip be different (new enemies, alternate route, etc.). I trust your design senses, Soli. Just imagine what brickroad would complain about. ;P
Solitayre
Circumstance penalty for being the bard.
18257
Ratty's post kind of suggests I shouldn't play with fire, so I think I'll leave the level as it is. =P
I dont mean to go slightly off topic, but maybe after this we should plan a community SMBX project like this, but with battle levels instead. Just a thought.
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
author=Jparker1984
I dont mean to go slightly off topic, but maybe after this we should plan a community SMBX project like this, but with battle levels instead. Just a thought.

I don't know who would want it, unless there is an audience of people who play SMBX 2-player that I'm unaware of.

By the way, for those who are unaware...

An open beta of SMBX 2.0 is circling about
author=Ratty524
author=Jparker1984
I dont mean to go slightly off topic, but maybe after this we should plan a community SMBX project like this, but with battle levels instead. Just a thought.
I don't know who would want it, unless there is an audience of people who play SMBX 2-player that I'm unaware of.

By the way, for those who are unaware...

An open beta of SMBX 2.0 is circling about


I see what you mean, I play the battle levels all the time with my friends. Maybe I'm the only one lol.
Blobofgoo
Legs are a burden. Return to snek.
2751
author=Ratty524
By the way, for those who are unaware...

An open beta of SMBX 2.0 is circling about


Does this mean we can rehash all of those community smbx game events by adding 2.0 after them?
author=Blobofgoo
author=Ratty524
By the way, for those who are unaware...

An open beta of SMBX 2.0 is circling about
Does this mean we can rehash all of those community smbx game events by adding 2.0 after them?


Wait what? I'm at work so I cant see that link, whats SMBX 2.0?
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
A new version of SMBX made by the community, of course. It's still in the beta stages, and bugs are being ironed out, but I heard it's going to include a new character and Lua scripting.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
Ain't nobody gonna start no SMBX events after this 'cuz RMN World 2 is coming and YOU CAN'T STOP IT.
Isrieri
"My father told me this would happen."
6155
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
SMBX 2.0 Beta has alot of potential to be a better engine than it's predecessor
in terms of performance with fewer bugs and glitches.
My level is heavily designed to test your skill at moving through obstacles rather then dodging enemies. Now I'll have enemies there, just not a whole lot.
Blobofgoo
Legs are a burden. Return to snek.
2751
I'm debating just playtesting the submitted levels and providing feedback, but I'm concerned that I'll suggest something that the judges disagree on.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
More feedback is always better.
author=Blobofgoo
I'm debating just playtesting the submitted levels and providing feedback, but I'm concerned that I'll suggest something that the judges disagree on.

I actually think there should be NO testing. I say once submitted that's it. Make the creator have to do the testing. It will prove how skilled and precise they are. Plus, it's for a nice prize, it should be tough.

EDIT: I think it should be up to the creator to make sure it's right and good to go upon submission.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
I think it's healthy for the community to want to help each other, even if it is a competition. Heck, the only reason I'm not play testing is 'cuz I can only judge the end results.
author=halibabica
I think it's healthy for the community to want to help each other, even if it is a competition. Heck, the only reason I'm not play testing is 'cuz I can only judge the end results.


Very true my friend.

Off topic: hali, I've known you online for quite a few years, but I can't remember the site I first met you on. All I remember was that we started talking over an april fools joke they made about RM2K3 being canceled.
Sorry for a double post. I just submitted my level, Bowsers Mega Castle. It's not a super long level, but it's quite difficult, but I assure you everything is passable. As tested many times by yours truly and several of my friends. You probably wont get it on the first try, but it's passable, newbies to Mario need not apply lol.
Solitayre
Circumstance penalty for being the bard.
18257
I have never died so many times on the first screen of a level before.