Ends 04/01/2013 03:59 AM

Judges
halibabica
Deckiller
nin8halos
DarklordKeinor
Isrieri

RMN's Mario series takes its next big step!

WHAT IS THIS?

Super RMN World is a community collaborative game where everyone uses the Super Mario Bros. X engine to create Mario levels! The stages are submitted by members of RMN and compiled at the end of the event. This is the 4th installment of the series and hopes to be the most solid and enjoyable one yet.

Everyone is free to join whether you've used SMBX before or not. You need SMBX to participate. If you don't have it, you'll need to download it.

You may also want to pick up the graphics pack by Red Yoshi and supermarioman. It has many nice resprites for your stages.

STORY

As a peace offering for his past misdoings, Eli has constructed an art gallery and presented it to Mario and his friends. The paintings inside shimmer mysteriously; they're almost too real! Eli's waiting at the end to hear what his guests have to say, but can he really be trusted?

SUBMISSION RULES

  • Levels must be made in SMBX v1.3
  • Levels must be made FOR THIS PROJECT! No pre-made levels will be accepted!
  • Levels must end in ONE SMB3 STAR. Furthermore, this star must be placed in the square frame with the black jagged backdrop like in SMB3. The only exceptions to this rule are mini-boss stages, where the star may appear in the room after the fight.
  • Levels must contain FIVE DRAGON COINS. These are the SMW coins with the Yoshi emblem. These will be resprited into RMN Coins in the full game. Thematic resprites are allowed so long as they remain recognizable.
  • Levels must have a DIFFICULTY RATING from 1-8. This determines what world it will go too. It may be adjusted depending on many factors.
  • Levels must be submitted with the format "YourUserName_DifficultyRating_LevelName"
  • This naming rule applies to the compressed file you submit to the event, not the actual .lvl file. If you use any custom graphics or music, put the files in a folder with the EXACT SAME NAME as the .lvl file. You can make mp3's work in SMBX by specifying the file path in the Custom space (ex: Level Name/Name of Song.mp3). DO NOT PUT THE LEVEL FILE IN THIS FOLDER. Create a compressed file with everything included.

    You may submit up to EIGHT LEVELS, and you can't submit more than one level to the same world. Worlds have no specific themes. Levels may be denied for quality reasons. If your level is denied, you can fix it up and resubmit it. If you want to submit more than eight, you'll have to withdraw another first.

TESTING AND FEEDBACK

Super RMN World is raising its standards considerably. The five judges, halibabica, Deckiller, nin8halos, Isrieri, and DarklordKeinor will be critiquing the levels. Heed their advice, as they won't let anything sub-par through! You can adjust your levels as many times as needed, but don't expect to get in without a well-designed stage! A level will only be admitted after three judges approve it.

All feedback will be included in the Super RMN World Wiki. Click your username on the main page to find your level list. Click the level names to see the judges' feedback. Click the 'Talk' icon to post questions or comments. When at least three judges list 'Approved', the level's ready to go.

Although the judges will be testing each level thoroughly, participants are strongly encouraged to do the same. Every bit of criticism helps. Below is some advice to consider while designing your levels, among other criteria they must meet.

For good examples of the quality we're looking for, check out Super RMN All-Stars, Super Talking Time Bros 1+2 and Mario vs. The Moon Base.

GENERAL ADVICE

  1. Graphical Consistency
  2. SMBX uses graphics from many different games. Just because you have them at your disposal doesn't mean you should use them. Pick a theme for your level and use graphics/enemies that fit together visually.

  3. Pacing
  4. Your levels should have a rhythm to them. Challenging sections should be offset with easier parts. Power-ups should be spaced well enough apart, but not so far that the player gets desperate. Try not to throw in too much (or little) of anything.

  5. Aesthetics
  6. Use your tile sets properly and fill background space adequately. Don't leave it too empty, but don't clutter it up too much, either.

  7. Completable
  8. This means it shouldn't contain any no-win situations. The player mustn't become hopelessly trapped. Similarly, they shouldn't be able to die after collecting the star. Check to make sure they can't fall off any cliffs after getting it.

  9. Lengthy
  10. Don't make your level too short OR too long. Consider where to put your checkpoint. It shouldn't take too long to reach it, nor to reach the end from the checkpoint. Keep in mind what they player has to do in each stretch of level.

  11. Purposeful
  12. Give your level a reason to exist. Try not to make it bland or forgettable.

LEVEL CRITERIA

  1. Checkpoints
  2. Every level should have one. If it can't for specific reasons (auto-scrolling, switch block shenanigans, etc.), then don't make the stage too long. SMBX can only support one checkpoint per level, so multiples don't work. Like Dragon Coins, you may resprite it so long as it's still recognizable.

  3. Power-Ups
  4. Your stage should have a good balance of items that are helpful to the player. ? Blocks should never contain lone Mushrooms; give the player Fire Flowers or Leaves. Exceptional items like the Tanooki and Hammer Suits should not be easily obtained.

    Use discretion with where you place items. One at the start and one after the checkpoint would be the least you could do. Also, pick items that the player can put to good use. A Fire Flower in an area with monsters immune to fire does the player no good. Incidentally, SMB2 enemies and Nipper plants will be changed to be vulnerable to fireballs for this project.

  5. Banned Objects
    • SMB2 Crystal Ball, SMB3 Roulette, SMB3 ? Ball, SMW Keyhole, SMW Exit Gate
    • All banned because they end the level. All levels must end with an SMB3 Star.

    • SMW Bowser Statue
    • Banned due to its glitchy hit box. You can still be hit by its fireballs while standing on top of it. Use the SMB3 Bowser Statue instead!

    • SMW Star
    • These were used as Secret Stars in Super RMN Bros. 3, but they're more trouble than they're worth. You may not use them.

  6. Bosses
  7. Boss stages will be handled by the judges. You may still use boss NPCs in your stages, but only as mini-bosses. The fights must be kept simple and easier, so don't go overboard.

  8. Different Characters
  9. Mario, Luigi, Toad, Peach, and Link will be available to play as from the start, and all levels must be completable with all characters. You can't make a level where the player is forced to be a specific character. However, you can include a character block at the start if you want to recommend someone in particular. Let the player decide if they want to be that character or not, and don't include sections only they can get through (such as a pit only Peach could hover across).

  10. Player 2 Start
  11. SMBX has the option to play with a friend, so you need to include P1 and P2's start positions. Make sure your level can be completed by two players. Avoid situations where one player can get through while the other is stuck. The following are a few things you can do to make your level P2 safe:

    • Don't block the level's main path with character blocks. All characters need to be able to get through, even in 1P mode.
    • Use generators for things like falling platforms, P-Switches, or in any instance where the player needs an NPC to advance.
    • Place exit warps carefully. If P2 warps into a spot P1 already occupies, collision detection bumps them apart, and possibly into nearby hazards. Warp exits should be safe anyway, so design carefully.

  12. Misc. Stuff
    • Tutorials
    • A tutorial level will be provided that explains the mechanics of SMBX, covering both the basics and advanced stuff.

    • Water
    • All water must be SWIMMABLE. By contrast, waterfalls must NOT be swimmable. Don't fill your pits with water if they're supposed to be bottomless.

    • Pipes, Doors, and Carry Items
    • All entrances in SMBX are set to disallow the player from carrying an item with them. Make sure you set them to allow carrying NPCs.

    • One-Tile Passages
    • Avoid making paths that are only one tile high. If Mario stands up in one, he zips through the wall in the opposite direction he's facing. This can break the game in some places. Just don't do it.

    • Ceilings
    • If you're making a water level or Mario is able to fly, you may want to block the area off the top of the screen so the player can't soar over everything. See this screen sides tutorial for more info.

PROJECT TIMELINE

Signups begin NOW, and EVERYONE is free to join! The project will run for one month (all of March), and levels may be submitted for testing during this time. When the month is up, no more levels will be accepted. For one week after, existing levels may still be updated based on feedback. Beyond that, no more revisions will be allowed and the full game will be produced. It may take a while, but the end result will be worth it. Now, get cracking! Let's make this the best community Mario game yet!

Registration

You must be logged in to sign up for Super RMN World.

Participants Entries
Blitzen
kentona
halibabica
GreatRedSpirit
Davenport
Jparker1984
Desmo360
Redd
Solitayre
Ratty524
Decky
outcry312
Gigabowser
nin8halos
pyrodoom
Seiromem
jackalotrun
DarklordKeinor
masterofmayhem
apa649
Carbz300
Blobofgoo
Tomstar
Isrieri
wildwes
GloopMaster
lonestarluigi
Thiago76590
andreea7214

Posts

author=halibabica
Was it really necessary to make that video half an hour long, I wonder?

Yes, hali, yes. It is necessary. If anything, it should be 10 hours long!
Wow. Fifty pages of posts.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
from wildwes
Wow. Fifty pages of posts.

And we didn't even post our feedback on the event page!
11 pages of it is me griping.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
I'll give you something to gripe about!

Wait, no I won't. I just approved all your levels. Same with Ratty's and masterofmayhem's, as well as pyrodoom's Oil Oasis. Speaking of, pyro, did you give up on The Nightmare Universe? I know I left a lot of feedback, but most of it was easy to fix...

I'm also putting out an APB for lonestarluigi, whose levels also have numerous (but simple!) issues.

My votes bumped us to 17 approved stages, but I've voted for 31 in all. More to come! Hurry, other judges!
I'm updating right about now...
Everything hali has noted should be fixed now.
I'll assume Hali will review mine soon, but why won't anyone else?
Halos?
Deck?
Isrieri?
ANYONE!!!
Well... Since you did say ANYONE!!!

jack's Aquatic Ascent
Remember, I suck at judging.

Super Mario Galaxy music? YES!

Nice level. I found a bug though! After the checkpoint, when you reach the lift thingy that carries you up? That part. On my first playthrough, the event that makes the spikes appear and the lift go up was already on, meaning I was unable to continue. I had to kill myself! :'(
Anyway, for some reason, the event worked just fine on every other playthrough. It just didn't work the first time. Weird...


Anyway, nice level! Just fix that bug, and I'll approve!
Wait, I'm not a judge! Oops.
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
author=jackalotrun
I'll assume Hali will review mine soon, but why won't anyone else?
Halos?
Deck?
Isrieri?
ANYONE!!!

Patience, friend.
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
author=Ratty524
Patience, friend.


author=Seiromem
Patience? I hate the word.
author=wildwes
Well... Since you did say ANYONE!!!

jack's Aquatic Ascent
Remember, I suck at judging.

Super Mario Galaxy music? YES!

Nice level. I found a bug though! After the checkpoint, when you reach the lift thingy that carries you up? That part. On my first playthrough, the event that makes the spikes appear and the lift go up was already on, meaning I was unable to continue. I had to kill myself! :'(
Anyway, for some reason, the event worked just fine on every other playthrough. It just didn't work the first time. Weird...


Anyway, nice level! Just fix that bug, and I'll approve!
Wait, I'm not a judge! Oops.

Oh balls, I thought i'd fixed that, now i'm GLAD I asked
I believe somewhere, I have added an accidental event...

I succeeded in failing
I did not find the cause so I took a different approach
I did update so pwease, have a look
author=halibabica
Speaking of, pyro, did you give up on The Nightmare Universe? I know I left a lot of feedback, but most of it was easy to fix...

I didn't give up on it. I just forgot about it. My only issue with my complaints is that I was looking at the background, and it didn't look grainy at all. I use Paint.Net and when I saw I was doing this, and how it looked in SMBX, I loved it! Then again, that's not saying much since I'm the creator, but I found no issues with the graphics. I also notice that you said I've been ignoring the slope 'issue'. I have not. In fact, I felt there are 2 sides on the slope issue. I meant for the world to look all evil and strange, the whole reason why I chose the World of Drawcia music the first time. Then as the music was being changed, I still didn't notice much about the level. The slopes were minor to me, BECAUSE they were meant to look bad, and evil, and strange, and unnatural. But with the latest song change, I don't feel it has that creepy nature anymore. Or as far as I remember of the song change. <_>
I guess I'm just lazy. Enough with the excuses, I'll be editing my level.
jack I can't play your level I'm too busy playing with kentona's custom tiles

Oh fine.

Anyway, nice bug fix! Also, something I forget to mention: you know the wooden blocks with water in between them and you have to jump in and out of it at JUST the right time to get up higher without getting crushed? Please, please at least slow those down a little!

I think I'll play a couple more levels and judge them in an incompetent manner.

E: Isrieri's Riveting River Rafting

Such riveting river rafting that level was! Granted, it was a lava river, but still!

I did notice a crush hazard that I'm pretty sure wasn't purposeful: when riding the skull rafts on the sloped lava, I ended up somehow getting crushed on the raft by the blocks you're supposed to jump over. Making the lava flat instead of sloped where the blocks are should fix that though! :)
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
from pyrodoom
stuff

...oh. Well, why didn't you say so? I thought the unnatural terrain might be meant to add eeriness, but I didn't know it was intentional. It was a nitpick anyway and something I would've let go eventually. The level has more pressing matters to address, so take a look at those first.
author=halibabica
from pyrodoom
stuff
...oh. Well, why didn't you say so? I thought the unnatural terrain might be meant to add eeriness, but I didn't know it was intentional. It was a nitpick anyway and something I would've let go eventually. The level has more pressing matters to address, so take a look at those first.

I just updated The Nightmare Universe. :3
Re uploaded with pipe secret glitch fixed
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
All righty, I just finished another pass through. There are 24 levels approved, and 36 I voted for. There's new feedback for Davenport, jackalotrun, and Jparker1984, as well as old feedback for most of the other stages I didn't vote for. Some stages I approved still had minor tweaks to make, so I hope they get looked at soon.

Not much time left in the month, guys! Since the judges may be getting feedback in without much time to act on it, I'm granting a very short grace period to those doing their best to fix up their levels. If you're putting in the effort, I see no reason to waste it. How long I'll give you all depends on what happens in the next few days. Best of luck, everyone!
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
Nice little touch there on the wiki Hali!
Ooh, look, three approvals on BOTH my levels! Yaaaaaaay!
E: And I like the change to the wiki too!
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
author=seiromem
Nice little touch there on the wiki Hali!

I concur!

I didn't know seiromem and I are the only participants who submitted 8 worlds... Or at least winding up with 8 worlds without withdrawing too many.
so is the game almost ready then?