Description



37 years Mario has jumped through hoops, bounced over mountains, trekked through deserts and crushed thousands of fungal opponents in the endless quest to keep the danger-prone princess out of the clutches of one Bowser - everyone has their calling - Mario's just happens to be damsel recovery

But a man's gotta keep things fresh right, between those hikes to the Dark World and back, he's found time to stretch his legs in football, tennis and golf, fancies himself a world-renowned racer and even has a life-sized board game for his own personal R&R time

But in those 37 years, you know what never changes?

The music

Mario appreciates those talented Nintendo composers but after 37 years of video game instrumentals, he's not sure he can take it any more - he's going mad, crazy even. His brother Luigi has enlisted the help of a very strange group of individuals to help Mario out of his rut here

Oddly enough, these strange individuals are us

The green brother has enlisted our help to produce a menagerie of levels with what we consider the best music of our colourful world to bring some variety into his stressed sibling's job

When the event ends, this levels will be compiled into a hub-centered SMBX game and sent to Mario by express mail. As per standard, it will also be downloadable on RMN, because of course it will




- This is an SMBX event, you will need to submit levels created with the SMBX engine, specifically, RMN's classic fav, the SMBX 1.3.0.1 engine (I know there's fancier and arguably better engines out there, but I'm aiming to try and keep this a simple casual event, so we'll stay tried and trusted for now)

- Your level must utilise your favourite song as it's sole and only theme, remixes and alternative versions can be used in conjunction but it must be clear that the songs are obviously related.

- Your level must have a checkpoint, 5 dragon coins and end with a SMB3 star

- Your level must not contain SMW stars or the infamously buggy duo of Unskinned Dry Bones and SMW Bowser Statues, it is possible to get textures for dry bones that avoid being buggy and SMB3 Bowser Statues work much better

- Take this from the man himself, there is nothing worse than trying to guess "Am I allowed to swim in THIS water?" Water must be swimmable and waterfalls must be decorative

- All characters must be able to clear a level unless a level is made with a specific character in mind, then you must make sure the player is definitely that character before they begin the main meat of the level

- Avoid pesky softlocks, there should be no situation where you are still alive and yet unable to progress

- Try to avoid one-block high dead end gaps, this causes SMBX's infamous zipping trick and can cause some unwanted effects

- Luigi would like to remind you that the Mario Bros. are generally a U-rated brand and while he will grant some slack, if a song is too vulgar, he will kindly request you to either find a less vulgar or censored version or in extreme cases may ask you to use a different song. if you're not sure, leave a link in the event comments and he'll let you know

- The level must have Luigi of Mushroom Kingdom's Seal of Approval. The level will be judged and feedback provided in order to make sure there is a consistent level of quality, once all feedback has been taken care of - the level will be accepted

- There will be a strict one level at a time rule, you will be allowed to make another level (presumably with your second favourite song and so on) upon the acceptance of the previous

- And finally do not begin work on your level until the event's official start date: November 10th

Details

  • 11/10/2018 12:00 AM
  • 12/09/2018 11:59 AM

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While requiring a checkpoint is a good idea in general, it precludes a level type that would fit rather well with this project: "rides" where the level progresses in sync with the music. If there's a checkpoint, the level resumes in the middle, but the music will restart from the beginning, putting them out of sync. Maybe nobody will want to make that kind of level anyway, especially considering some of the other difficulties inherent in them, but could there be an exception to that rule for such cases?
author=AubreyTheBard
While requiring a checkpoint is a good idea in general, it precludes a level type that would fit rather well with this project: "rides" where the level progresses in sync with the music. If there's a checkpoint, the level resumes in the middle, but the music will restart from the beginning, putting them out of sync. Maybe nobody will want to make that kind of level anyway, especially considering some of the other difficulties inherent in them, but could there be an exception to that rule for such cases?


There's no reason that couldn't be an exception, more than anything I didn't think about it because I don't think I've ever seen a single SMBX level ever go so hand in hand with it's music, but if someone can pull it off, they would be exempt from it, yes
i thought nintendo shut smbx down or something
author=bicfarmer
i thought nintendo shut smbx down or something


This is the internet, one does not simply shut down things like that
On a more serious note, I have little to not knowledge on the subject but I do believe it comes down to Nintendo telling the creators not to use advertisements on the SMBX website and then the creators did anyway

None-the-less, don't expect Nintendo to bring the hammer down on RMN's SMBX events, we're way too out of their league for them to care or notice
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
So, specifically, no Videogame songs, right?
For levels with checkpoints, it's possible to cut the song in 2 pieces and use an event to trigger the shortened version at the checkpoint which may help it sync up when starting at a checkpoint. Not sure how it would work in practice.

God, the ideas for making a level based on 2112 are already coming into my mind. Dammit.
author=Seiromem
So, specifically, no Videogame songs, right?

The specific aim is to use your favourite songs so it'd honestly be up to creator discretion, personally - I think it'd be a bit against the point of using music that would normally get into an SMBX game anyway but I'm certainly not gonna stop someone if they decide to use a vidya game theme

author=Link_2112
God, the ideas for making a level based on 2112 are already coming into my mind. Dammit.

Peer pressure intensifies do it, do it, do it!
I'm curious, would anybody be interested in a tutorial outlining some of the technical aspects of making a music-synced stage? I made one for the Super Mario Bros. X Super Contest, and it's tempting to pass on the knowledge I gained in doing so. I'd rather not bother if there's no interest, though. The stage in question is #15: Hipster Hop, in case anyone cares to take a look at it.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
The only trouble I have is...

...how the heck will I pick a favorite song...

Incidentally, I DON'T recommend syncing your stage to your song. If it's any longer than a minute and the pacing is forced, it will be a royal pain to start over if you die.

from AubreyTheBard
Hipster Hop
And that stage is why. No offense, Aubrey, but that level was completely impossible.
author=halibabica
And that stage is why. No offense, Aubrey, but that level was completely impossible.


Aw, you're being hyperbolic. ;) I wouldn't have submitted a stage that couldn't be beaten, or even wasn't feasibly possible to win on first try. I can understand why you wouldn't bother, being a judge with lots of other stages to both play through and grade, and I don't blame anybody whose interest wasn't held by it -- the inability to include checkpoints was a major detriment. Still, I have to imagine that with the number of downloads the game got, somebody besides me was able to finish that stage.

With that said, if anybody does want to make a music-synced stage for this event, I recommend making it a lot easier to survive than Hipster Hop. I'm interested in passing on the technical know-how, not the final play experience.
I can't forget to try to submit something for this. I don't even have SMBX installed (I had to clean Windows 10). Time to dust off some old level ideas and pick a fave song.
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
I have several song ideas with level concepts that make me laugh, so this oughtta be good.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
from AubreyTheBard
I wouldn't have submitted a stage that couldn't be beaten, or even wasn't feasibly possible to win on first try. I can understand why you wouldn't bother, being a judge with lots of other stages to both play through and grade, and I don't blame anybody whose interest wasn't held by it -- the inability to include checkpoints was a major detriment. Still, I have to imagine that with the number of downloads the game got, somebody besides me was able to finish that stage.

No, dude, you don't understand. It wasn't just the lack of a checkpoint that made it insurmountably difficult. There was no way to recover backup items because the stage was always moving. That meant you could only take one hit at most before the next one was fatal. Hazards came at you quickly and were very hard to dodge without perfect timing. There was also potential to be wall crushed if you were slammed into a solid object. And after I gave up, which was many attempts in, I opened the editor and looked ahead to discover the stage was quite long and contained other fatal hazards like lava and all manner of nonsense. It might be doable for you, but you have to remember: you made the stage. You know every step of it. You know the song, the timing, and what must be done to clear each obstacle. The player doesn't know any of that. All they can do is trial and error their way through, and it stops being fun long before it starts being doable. Again, no offense, but you cannot defend that.

Anyway...

After giving it some thought, it occurred to me I already made a stage for my favorite song (and yes, I do appreciate the irony of its mention in the same post as that last paragraph). But I'll keep thinking and see what I come up with.
I would assume these are all gonna be moving stages so you can time it with the song... To avoid it being cut short and/or looping?
author=Illy
I would assume these are all gonna be moving stages so you can time it with the song... To avoid it being cut short and/or looping?


Nope, no requirement for a timing based level, just using actual music instead of vidya game music, someone might make one but based on previous comments, I somewhat doubt it
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
Ah good ol Hipster Hop discourse I see? Aubrey, please, move on and make something that surpasses it.

Anyway. I haven't downloaded SMBX since my system restore but I'll give this a shot. It'll feel weird since I haven't worked in this engine in a LONG time.
We should probably note which songs we're using to avoid collisions. I'm working on a stage for Feel Invincible by Skillet.
I feel as though that two of us happening to have the same favourite song is remote.
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
Well, I'm actually not using one of my "Favorite songs" in a purely musical taste sense, but my "favorite songs that give me great ideas for a level". Very different.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
from jackalotrun
just using actual music instead of vidya game music

But my favorite music is from video games... o.o
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