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#1

Your 'Director`s trademark'

Archive: 72 posts

I was looking through some pages on Imdb.com and I saw a few references to 'Director`s trademark'.

Basically it`s something that a director of a film does in every film he`s ever made that fans will instantly recognise eg Spielberg - family troubles, Cameron- introduces characters by filming their feet as they walk.

Anyway, what`s your trademark. Do you always stick a secret area in your level? A consistant character? Doesn`t have to be something that only you would do, just something you always do.

For me, I`d say use of mood lighting. Once I discovered LEDs I put them everywhere!		2009-04-21 16:22:00

Author:
Matt 82
Posts: 1096

Well, only having one proper level does help me
But everything I've created seems kinda catoon-y.		2009-04-21 16:34:00

Author:
Coxy224
Posts: 2645

For me, I`d say use of mood lighting. Once I discovered LEDs I put them everywhere!

Mood lighting? Pow-chika-pow-powwwwww....

Although I'm still on my first level, I'm noticing my signature seems to be the colours I use. I'm very fond of fantasy greens, with turquoise blues and browns. It's very common colour tones in my drawings as well, and when I consider my lighting of my level, those will be the sort of colours I'll go for. Also, generally, I'm a big fan of good use of lighting. Lighting that sparks the imagination and makes you feel as though you're in a fairytale. 		2009-04-21 16:35:00

Author:
noddle111
Posts: 174

I like the player criss-crossing his previous paths all the time, whether directly or he gets a view of where he is going/has been. I suppose that could be mine?2009-04-21 17:18:00

Author:
GruntosUK
Posts: 1754

Yeh, that's definitely yours, Grantos.
Mine is either that camera panning thing (used in my clubhouse and my current project) or CogMonkey!		2009-04-21 17:30:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

two words - intro titles



That and I'm obsessive about lighting too.		2009-04-21 17:38:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

I thought about this in the run up to LBP release and drew a random symbol. It's in my first level (Construction playground) and I used to to denote hiding places and secrets.

In the end I gave it up because people found a cunning prizebox that was a challenge to find annoying and simply just wanted the prizes then and there.		2009-04-21 17:52:00

Author:
Shermzor
Posts: 1330

I don't think I have "trademarks" recognisable after 4 levels... This is something to get noticed over time , not something you suddendly decide to have.

.		2009-04-21 18:15:00

Author:
RangerZero
Posts: 3901

There is something that I do and will hide in every level of mine (not the tech demos) and that is a very cute little picture of me and my girl friend as sack boy and sack girl. It is like my stamp on the level.

Also I love to have a ton of secrets and easter eggs if possible.		2009-04-21 18:48:00

Author:
Fjonan
Posts: 359

I don't think I have "trademarks" recognisable after 4 levels... This is something to get noticed over time , not something you suddendly decide to have.

I wasn`t really meaning 'something you decide to have'. More like, something you tend to do in all your levels and would probably/definitely do in any future levels.

There have been good ones so far.		2009-04-21 19:44:00

Author:
Matt 82
Posts: 1096

! <---That thing 2009-04-21 21:21:00

Author:
Jaeyden
Posts: 564

There is ALWAYS a character in my levels. I don't like making little sackboy all lonely, and I personally don't like giving sackboy a personality (ie, he can talk and stuff) in all my (unreleased) levels there will be at least one character.

Also, I love cardboard.		2009-04-22 00:23:00

Author:
AwesomePossum
Posts: 446

I'd say mine is lighting. Once I discovered that led I've used it in every level. I even made spoooky pinball just so I could use a crap load of lights. Oh yeah and you should see my other pinball level. It's an electricians nightmare. I probably used 250 lights.2009-04-22 01:02:00

Author:
smasher
Posts: 641

Great topic!

My levels (and future planned levels) are all light on gameplay, heavy on world/atmosphere. Mise en scene you could say, if you wanted to sound pretentious. I'm coming from a film background, so my levels are more about the detail of the PLACE in some context rather than much to do with gameplay (my gameplay tends to be somewhat easy and traditional - vehicle rides, basic platforming).

I guess in one word, my emphasis would be "background".		2009-04-22 01:09:00

Author:
Teebonesy
Posts: 1937

I'm still working on my first level, but I do keep my complex switches visible (behind windows) and I try to use as little dark matter as possible (my WIP level only uses 2 small blobs of dark matter, and that was only to overcome a glitch before Cornish Yarg was released).

Here are a couple of example screenshots. You may be able to see the mag switches if you look carefully enough:
http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/littlebiggallery/images/1992/medium/1_testingarea.jpg
http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/littlebiggallery/images/1992/medium/1_CreateModeLift.jpg		2009-04-22 01:11:00

Author:
Entity
Posts: 274

I don't really have any sort of "trademark" yet but from now on I'm gonna make the visuals at the start of my levels really good to keep the player hooked.2009-04-22 21:49:00

Author:
lk9988
Posts: 1077

Uh... I like to put a random egg I made in all my levels in a secret location.

Does that count?		2009-04-22 22:09:00

Author:
alexbull_uk
Posts: 1287

Uh... I like to put a random egg I made in all my levels in a secret location.

Does that count?

That has to be the most notable one yet. I'm gonna find your eggs!

I like to alliterate my level names, though the golf competition ruined that. It was unavoidable. 		2009-04-22 22:17:00

Author:
Killian
Posts: 2575

my trademark is that ghost with one big eye and one small eye. It's in all my levels ^_^2009-04-23 03:46:00

Author:
xkappax
Posts: 2569

I dunno what mine would be. Hmm...2009-04-23 14:20:00

Author:
SawronZXZ
Posts: 463

My trademark is...

*looks at his avatar*

... yeah.		2009-04-23 14:34:00

Author:
Vanemiera
Posts: 329

Great topic!

My levels (and future planned levels) are all light on gameplay, heavy on world/atmosphere. Mise en scene you could say, if you wanted to sound pretentious. I'm coming from a film background, so my levels are more about the detail of the PLACE in some context rather than much to do with gameplay (my gameplay tends to be somewhat easy and traditional - vehicle rides, basic platforming).

I guess in one word, my emphasis would be "background".

I think mine are pretty much the same. One thing I don't like about alot of levels is that they feel too gamey. I like creating levels that make you feel like you're in a tangible enviroment rather than just an abstract game world. I try to base the gameplay around things that make use of the enviroment your in.

Another thing I always try to do is vary the locations within each level. Usually into 3 distinct sections so it has a beginning a middle and an end. It makes levels seem much bigger or longer than they actually are and keeps people interested. I also try to keep dialogue and story to an absolute minimum. The level itself should be driving the story. There's nothing worse than having gameplay interrupted every 5 seconds by reems of speech bubbles.

So I guess to sum it up it's enviroments. The enviroments themselves dictate the gameplay and the story.		2009-04-23 14:43:00

Author:
Sosaku
Posts: 146

Good question..... I think with my levels it's more of a "You are on a journey". I constantly change locales and gameplay styles throughout because I get bored of creating the same scenery, objects, and gameplay.2009-04-23 14:43:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

my trademark is that ghost with one big eye and one small eye. It's in all my levels ^_^

Definetly kappa It even worked it's way into a couple of my levels if anyone was eagle eyed enough to spot it. 		2009-04-23 15:35:00

Author:
GruntosUK
Posts: 1754

The "Cranky Cat" image from Sony (since I spent the time to duplicate it).

Lighting, key lights, camera movement that doesn't make you vomit. Textures (when thermo allows me). I would toss in a cast of thousands, but thermo won't allow me

BIGGEST would be the lack of word balloons/text. I draw this from my love of silent films and how they are truly international.		2009-04-23 15:54:00

Author:
feloneouscat
Posts: 89

I think mine would be....

Well I dunno...lol

I'm a task master of sorts (think I need to tone it down though, I get carried away!)



2009-04-23 15:57:00

Author:
AJnKnox
Posts: 518

Whenever I need a "dummy" switch, I use a sticker switch with the donkey head picture. So you'll see the donkey head in your popit as a trigger, but the place to stick it is carefully hidden away (and will break the level if you somehow manage to find and stick it on there... which shouldn't happen lol).

The donkey head is also the icon of my toolshed/workshop level where I create random contraptions. 		2009-04-23 16:20:00

Author:
Gilgamesh
Posts: 2536

I have a little sign with a wobble bolt on it that has kind of become a character that helps out sackboy with useful advice in my levels. Probably inspired from playing too much World of Goo.2009-04-23 22:17:00

Author:
Chin Fish
Posts: 32

Well, I don't necessarily have a trademark, but I do have a signature. My avatar. Although it's not actually in one of my levels.2009-04-24 12:28:00

Author:
Sackdragon
Posts: 427

I created a cardboard cat early on in my creating. I've put it in every level i have create included past deleted levels. often the cat is giving advice or just in the back ground. But he's there on every level and I think I'm going to keep doing this.2009-04-24 13:20:00

Author:
bindibaji
Posts: 119

Being a graphic designer, I look out for little "logos" that people have to represent themselves in levels. It's so awesome that people have created them with just in game stickers, and they are instantly recognizable. Gruntos has one, 49dra has one, Vanemiera has one. It's just really cool to me! ^_^2009-04-25 12:53:00

Author:
xkappax
Posts: 2569

Being a graphic designer, I look out for little "logos" that people have to represent themselves in levels. It's so awesome that people have created them with just in game stickers, and they are instantly recognizable. Gruntos has one, 49dra has one, Vanemiera has one. It's just really cool to me! ^_^
You're talking about Gruntos's as being the 'skeleton with a mustache', right?
And yeh, logos are cool. I slapped mine on a tree in the level I'm working on, and you know the intro to the super-secret project I started in like december that I showed you? Well I put a 3D one in there too.		2009-04-25 15:41:00

Author:
ARD
Posts: 4291

I realized something else I have in all (2) of my levels, and will make a return if I ever complete my followups - Crowds. Crowd scenes are integral to both A Very Sony Christmas and The Movies, and would be a big part of my future levels as well.2009-04-29 01:23:00

Author:
Teebonesy
Posts: 1937

I'm not sure if I have one but if there was anything its that I put that Kinky song in most if not all of my cars .2009-04-29 01:26:00

Author:
brnxblze
Posts: 1318

I guess mine would be that all my levels seem to be darkly lit. I like playing around with lighting so I guess that would be it.2009-04-29 01:30:00

Author:
Rustbukkit
Posts: 1737

I'm currently attempting to work my way through the Star Wars saga, so my current trademark would probably be bad jokes involving Jawas or Princess Leia. Which is like shooting fish in a barrel, i know.2009-04-29 02:12:00

Author:
julesyjules
Posts: 1156

I'm currently attempting to work my way through the Star Wars saga, so my current trademark would probably be bad jokes involving Jawas or Princess Leia. Which is like shooting fish in a barrel, i know.

Mmmmmm..... Staaaaar Waaaars.

Q: What did the rancor say after he ate a Wookiee?
A: Chewie!		2009-04-29 03:18:00

Author:
Rustbukkit
Posts: 1737

I'm currently attempting to work my way through the Star Wars saga, so my current trademark would probably be bad jokes involving Jawas or Princess Leia. Which is like shooting fish in a barrel, i know.

Your Star Wars levels are awesome .		2009-04-29 03:21:00

Author:
brnxblze
Posts: 1318

i spend hours on detail

does that count		2009-04-29 04:07:00

Author:
Sonic5411
Posts: 712

It counts if you wouldn't publish a level without doing it.2009-04-29 04:45:00

Author:
Matt 82
Posts: 1096

i seem to always decorate everything, using mostly the items from the 'scenic' section of items. and i have at least one thing with a mustache and teeth in both of my levels... and in my pod >.>2009-04-29 04:51:00

Author:
gofurr360z
Posts: 886

I use lots of lights. In my first level, it didn't work out to well, seeing as A) it was night time and B) it was inside egyptian ruins and C) I used too many colours. In my next level (stay tuned!) I have used them MUCH better, just using white, for sunlight. I'm starting to master them.

Currently, all my levels I do I'm trying to get better at using all 3 planes well, as that is the hardest and most important skill to learn, imo.		2009-04-29 06:20:00

Author:
dkjestrup
Posts: 672

Your Star Wars levels are awesome .

Thanks brnxlze, appreciated!		2009-04-29 13:10:00

Author:
julesyjules
Posts: 1156

Your right everyone should have a signature.


So I created one and it will go (in some form or another) into all of my levels from now on!


Thanks for the idea



2009-04-30 18:48:00

Author:
AJnKnox
Posts: 518

yea - I like that idea too.... I'll have to think of one for myself as well. Great suggestion!2009-04-30 19:11:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

I need 1 now!! lol.

Morgana, if you want, you can put yours in our level, and I'll put mine in somewhere too when I make one!! Tell me where you want it and show me how. Up to you though lol!		2009-05-02 06:45:00

Author:
dkjestrup
Posts: 672

my trademark is a moustached walrus with a crown XD2009-05-04 03:30:00

Author:
kodymcq
Posts: 281

You know, I`m changing mine. As much as I love LEDs (the new level is full of 'em), I think that having some sort of set piece to finish off my level would be more appropriate. I always try to finish the level on a high note. People tend to forget about things you screwed up in the level that way!

It`s never a boss, but is often just a small cutscene or obstacle that draws the level to a close and leaves players, hopefully, feeling that it was a worthwhile pay off.		2009-05-04 07:09:00

Author:
Matt 82
Posts: 1096

My one is my Avvatar, 45 degree red square, straight white, bird eye.2009-05-04 10:31:00

Author:
dkjestrup
Posts: 672

My trademark would be the lighting of my levels. Dark and ruddy That, or the use of blood and gore. Yum ^^*2009-05-04 11:00:00

Author:
KoRnDawwg
Posts: 1424

Hmm, I'm not sure what mine would be. One thing that I like to do, is have the ending of the level be similar to the beginning. So, whatever character or environment you encounter when you start, will most likely be there at the end. At least, this has been the trend in my levels thus far.

EDIT: I guess it could also be my naming conventions for my levels. So far, I always stick with two word titles. The first word usually references something in the level and the second is usually references the type of location that it is.		2009-05-04 15:04:00

Author:
mrsupercomputer
Posts: 1335

... hm.. this thread is awesome :3

I don't have anything <__> i guess...

I only got 1 level 		2009-05-04 17:02:00

Author:
Yarbone
Posts: 3036

Bump, so as not to derail the other thread. 2009-08-14 21:34:00

Author:
Syroc
Posts: 3193

I suppose mine would be little jokes in secret text bubbles, like in one level if you happen to knock over a table in the right direction, it'll land on the foot of a guy whose butt you kicked earlier and he'll say "OW! STOP HURTING ME!" In another level, if you keep dying at the same spot a creature will come down and call you a noob and threaten to eat you. 2009-08-14 22:23:00

Author:
Reef1978
Posts: 527

In my lost level, (apart from all the over ones.) I added easter eggs, and maybe I shoudl add a Cutout of my Sackboy, to give out some tips/ some very bad jokes about the level/creator.2009-08-14 22:29:00

Author:
Ryutei
Posts: 244

I always put a moon and a star in all of my levels at some point for reasons I don't know. All un-published of course! 2009-08-15 03:06:00

Author:
Night Angel
Posts: 1214

I include a photo of my 3-year old daughter in my levels, but they are eastereggs that 99.9% of players will never discover.2009-08-15 11:26:00

Author:
Ungreth
Posts: 2130

My trademark is............NO gameplay!!!2009-08-15 11:31:00

Author:
IceMaiden
Posts: 1057

Mine would have to be 90 degree angles. I just can't leave grid mode, and I use the square shape for nearly everything. The circle is the only other shape I occasionally use as well. 2009-08-15 11:42:00

Author:
BSprague
Posts: 2325

Two primary colors: blue and purple. Floaty and elastic. No speech bubbles or arrows.2009-08-15 18:27:00

Author:
Kipmonlin
Posts: 251

Well, I usually have the word "fail" in my level somewhere. Whether it's somewhere you could never reach (beyond the scoreboard, perhaps) or on a sign at the start of the level (pointing over the edge of the floating platform) it's in there somewhere. For a while I thought about putting CC's LBP logo somewhere, but it eats thermo...2009-08-15 18:49:00

Author:
dandygandy2704
Posts: 1002

Big F-ing monsters/bosses. 2009-08-15 18:50:00

Author:
gevurah22
Posts: 1476

well, the Lost Ages levels both end where they begin and i intend to keep that up throughout the series but that's more of a series trademark than a director trademark.
other than that, i would say obscene amounts of copy pasta.
i'm sure that trend will stay with me no matter what i do.		2009-08-15 21:00:00

Author:
Deftmute
Posts: 730

My signature is the level not being there.
2009-08-15 21:10:00

Author:
TheMarvelousHat
Posts: 542

I usually have some sort of big logo for the level you pass by before the actual gameplay begins. And... I usually blow up something out of existence (even one of the main story characters in one of my levels!) Only in my latest level that I haven't used any sort of explosives....

Yet.		2009-08-15 21:13:00

Author:
Outlaw-Jack
Posts: 5757

Hmm... I've read this thread a few times, and I still don't really know what to post.

A trademark? Of mine? Erm...

Probably the thing I think of most is that there's almost always some bonus items to grab with a fountain of score bubbles shooting out. I think I've done that in about 6 or 7 levels.

2009-08-15 21:25:00

Author:
MrsSpookyBuz
Posts: 1492

My trademark is............NO gameplay!!!

But it would also be beautiful visuals 		2009-08-15 21:36:00

Author:
KoRnDawwg
Posts: 1424

There's several things i try to do, they aren't in all of them, but i'll eventually do them. I've added some super secret area (an idea i've thought of is a scavenger hunt level that has hints and pics of various secret areas in the other levels holding items to continue the scavenger hunt level)

Or i'd put a picture of my costume with the crown, and at the scoreboard prize bubble that looks like the crown costume. but when you try to get it, it moves away from you (into the air) with an evil laugh and comes back down. Quite hilarious to read comments from noobs about that!		2009-08-15 22:23:00

Author:
JKthree
Posts: 1125

I suppose I always put an original character that you'll remember because of a little quirk they have. In The Dark Matter Guru's Trial you'll see the guru with his dark matter creations on display, such as a dark matter throne. Sheriff Woof from Skull Bandit Shootout has the humourous form of being a dog dressed in a wild west sheriff outfit. And A New Smiley Garden has the hungry face on the dissolve block asking you to feed him donuts, then licking his lips and proclaiming "Yum".

However these have been my early levels and I'm gonna kind of relaunch my creator-ism with my next level. Maybe start a director's trademark with that, since I don't think the thing I mentioned is too great. I only use it in those 3 levels.		2009-08-16 00:44:00

Author:
persona3fan93
Posts: 155

Mine? ALL meh survival challenges (Except Fire and Ice) Have you ending up in heaven when you die! but on EVERY level I have made there is a secret sticker switch that gives you some points. So every time you guys enter one of my levels, put stickers EVERYWHERE and you might get a surprise!

I also put tiny easter eggs that no one will ever figure out.... Like shoot the General at the begining of A short Shooter With No Real Storyline! But sereously. I put sticker switches in random places and in one level of mine, You can "Escape" the leve and walk on the bottom of the stage and eventually you will get to the end... to find one bubble.

Or I pimp out meh scoreboard, like in Fire and Ice tons of hearts fall down, In Random Tomfoolary if you press the buttons, the scoreboard flies away, and in an unpublished level (COMING SOON) the scoreboard flips upside down.		2009-08-16 00:55:00

Author:
chezhead
Posts: 1063

Um... what is this supposed to be? Like a special little logo we put in our levels to show that it was by us? Um, I don't have one. I might make one though, now that I saw this thread.

If we're talking about some kind of style our levels follow, I would say randomness. Especially in the level I'm working on now. I always want to have a couple WTF? moments in my levels.		2009-08-16 01:34:00

Author:
qrtda235566
Posts: 3664

Don't think I have one, but apparently there's a can of spam hidden somewhere in every friends episode!.... I migt do something like that myself actually....2009-08-17 11:22:00

Author:
chimpskylark
Posts: 335


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