Introduction to Level Development
In the following article, you will polish your level designing skills and start being accepted by the community. Being a good level designer is an extremely important aspect of a Super Mario Bros. X community member and it is essential that one knows how to design a good level.
|
Graphics
- Choosing the graphics is the crucial part at making a good impression. If your level does not contain custom graphics regardless whether the gameplay is good or not, your level will be rejected. In order to find some graphics, download the Super Mario Bros X. Ultimate Graphics Pack.
- Before picking graphics, you need to have an atmosphere in mind; you don't need to be original though. If you want your level to be easily accepted, all you have to do is add ruins. It doesn't have to make sense; you just need to have ruins, pillars and mossy bricks. Now that we have a theme in mind, start copying over graphics to your level's folder.
- The quality of your graphics relies upon their style. Whatever graphics you may choose, make sure everything belongs to the SMB3 graphic category otherwise your level will be rejected. Or if your graphics are ripped from a SMW hack, you're good to go.
- Place many pillars all over the place! Don't worry, it doesn't have to make sense; just place them everywhere so that the level will look ruin-ish. Make sure your level has many waterfalls; it doesn't have to make sense either, just place them everywhere for instant beautifulness.
Music
- Finding a song for your level isn't difficult, but there are a few things to keep in mind, though. Your level's music must either belong to the Kirby Series or the Super Mario Galaxy duology.
- If your level makes use of any of the songs included within Super Mario Bros. X, your level will be rejected.
Gameplay
- The least important part. There is absolutely no need to put any effort into your level's playability as the large majority of the people who stumble upon your thread are just going to judge it by the screenshots. That's why graphics are important and the game-play is not, but if you're submitting your level for judgement, then things are going to spice up.
- To please the judges, the level's game-play has be easy, as it will prevent the judges from rage-quitting while reviewing your level. However, there is a side effect. As result of your level's easiness, the judges might find your level tedious and give it a low score. That's where gimmicks come in to do their job.
- To maintain judges entertained and pleased while playing your level, it must contain some sort of gimmick. A gimmick is an unique feature included within your level. For example, take New Super Mario Bros. Wii's lava tides.
- The lava tides are something you can call a gimmick, because it is exclusive only to that level.
- In order to introduce a gimmick properly, the player must be given a safe environment where he can observe and learn how that gimmick works. Introducing the player to a gimmick in a hazardous environment is a no-no. As the level carries on, introduce dangerous situations where the same gimmick is applied. Don't overdo it though, as it might get repetitive.
- Switches are extremely important in the process of presenting your level as non-linear; also makes your level look longer than it really is, adding up to your score. For an even higher score, make it so the player cannot reach the goal, unless they have hit all the four switches.
- Regardless if the gameplay is fun enough, the level must be at least 10 minutes long if you want to make it into the Best Levels category. Failure to do so will result in your level being buried along with all others.
Bosses
- In order to get your level an even higher score, your level must contain a boss. Albeit that won't work if you just use the premade bosses included within the editor; that's amateur stuff.
- The following elements are vital to the creation of a boss fight:
- Mother Brain
- Layers & Events
- Custom Graphics
- The bigger the boss, the better it is. Your boss fight must have an unique pattern and must NOT contain any kind of generators. Also, don't make the boss send his minions at you; that's lame and it will cost your score.
Submit
- In order to have your level played by many people, you must create a thread on the forum and make a good first impression. To make a good first impression, your nickname must be one of the following:
- Chad
- reghrhre
- Kyo
- Zephyr
- If your nickname is not any of the above; I'm afraid I must say that your efforts were wasted and your level's fate is determined to rot among the other levels' whose authors' nicknames aren't any of those aforementioned. Please have a nice day.