Archive: 40 posts

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What is the criteria for your level making it to the "Cool Levels" planet? Mine is on there right now, but the levels are a mix of stuff with 60,000 plays and 4,000 hearts and levels that have 1 play and 0 hearts. Is it random? Are there LBP mods who select them? Anyone know?

2009-06-09 17:09:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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The ones that are there with very few plays are ones that have just been published. Every time you publish a new level it gets posted there until a new level gets published and pushes it down the pages until it dissappears. The levels with the highest plays/rating go to the top and stay there until 7 days after the first time you published the level.

2009-06-09 17:16:00 Author: wexfordian Posts: 1904

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You can also tell the ones that are newly published by the glow around the outside. Ones that are "cemented" there don't have a glow around them.

2009-06-09 17:23:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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The levels with the highest plays/rating go to the top and stay there until 7 days after the first time you published the level. My level is only rated 3-stars right now, which was why I was surprised that it showed up there. Does # of plays/hour or /day have anything to do with it?

2009-06-09 17:27:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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A 3 star level will need to get more plays than a 4 star to appear on the same page. It doesn't matter how many plays per hour it get just the total number of plays. This allows 5 star level to get noticed easier and 1 stars to fade away.

2009-06-09 17:30:00 Author: wexfordian Posts: 1904

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huh. seems random to me, but hey, we'll see if it helps promote the level.

2009-06-09 17:43:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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Moved to Help.

2009-06-09 17:45:00 Author: Killian Posts: 2575

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It's definitely not random but it's not fool-proof which is why some bad levels make it to Cool Levels and some great levels get lost. I actually don't think hearts have to do with the level making it to Cool Levels because I saw a level there with the worst heart : play ratio ever (it had like 10,000 plays and 6 hearts on Cool Level page 3, I didn't even think that was possible). It would be nice if Mm told us how levels make it there exactly.

2009-06-09 17:53:00 Author: brnxblze Posts: 1318

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Well the problem with Mm telling us exactly how it works is that people will try to cheat the system more than they do already, and more importantly, if HFHers get their hands on how to do so, than cool levels will only get worse, not better...

2009-06-09 17:57:00 Author: Theap Pleman Posts: 670

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Yeah that's exactly what I was thinking would be the problem. I wish H4H levels couldn't make it to Cool Levels, they're aren't "Cool" at all...

2009-06-09 18:00:00 Author: brnxblze Posts: 1318

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Actually, the hearts have a LOT to do with cool levels. Here's how it works: As soon as you publish a new level TECHNICALLY you are already in cool pages.... but really really really really (etc) down in cool pages. Moving up cool pages is a combination of plays, hearts, AND rating. So, for instance, a level with 3 stars, 100 hearts, and 2000 plays may be equivalent in cool pages as another level with 4 stars, 200 hearts, and 1000 plays. So, the less hearts and star rating.... the more plays you need. So, having a lower rating or less hearts makes it more difficult to climb cool pages.... but it still can be done by getting a ton of plays. Thus.... a "Bomb Challenge" level may get a 3 star rating, but since people will play it 10 times to try to get the high score the plays alone are enough to drive it up cool pages even with less hearts. A difficult level that people will play once and get frustrated.... this gets a 3 star rating and less hearts, which will stall early and have very little chance to climb since it can't pick up the momentum from plays. A "hardest level ever made" level where people die constantly at the beginning could end up with a 2 star rating but could get so many plays that it climbs to the top, even with practically NO hearts - even with only 1 person ever finishing the level. Got it?

2009-06-09 20:04:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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that makes sense. FWIW, my level dropped to page 4 now. Can't get it above a 3-star rating..

2009-06-09 21:55:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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Ah thanks CCubbage, that actually makes sense.

2009-06-10 03:46:00 Author: brnxblze Posts: 1318

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Well I fell all the way off, but managed to get back up to page 8. Regardless, I've never seen more than 3 people playing my level at once. Doesn't seem like it's destined for mass popularity.

2009-06-10 17:17:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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Well I fell all the way off, but managed to get back up to page 8. Regardless, I've never seen more than 3 people playing my level at once. Doesn't seem like it's destined for mass popularity. It's not an indication your level is destined for the trasher. Fact is people don't play much levels further than page 3. Continue to republish your level so it gets some more plays and went it will climb into page 3 you'll start to have a decent flow and feedback. (you'll receive alot of crap feedback too...) .

2009-06-10 17:28:00 Author: RangerZero Posts: 3901

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It's not an indication your level is destined for the trasher. Fact is people don't play much levels further than page 3. Continue to republish your level so it gets some more plays and went it will climb into page 3 you'll start to have a decent flow and feedback. (you'll receive alot of crap feedback too...) . I made a couple of fixes today and republished twice, but that didn't lift it past Page 8. Do I need to publish it "new" instead of overwriting the old level?

2009-06-10 18:15:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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You could, but also keep in mind - when RangerZero says to publish he means quite a bit. I would do it about every 15 minutes AND do a small change each time in your level (small incremental changes) because if you don't it doesn't pop back to the top of cool pages again.

2009-06-10 18:43:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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i republished twice today (and am about to again) and went immediately to cool levels each time and it was right where it was previously. what am I doing wrong? I did small changes each time, but I also published over the old version instead of publishing new (which I assume you have to do to keep your hearts/plays, yeah?)

2009-06-10 19:18:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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It doesn't happen immediately. When you republish over the old one after making a changes it goes into a cache and DOES in fact happen... sometimes up to 5 or so minutes on - then over the next several minutes moves down through cool pages until it goes back to the way it was. You gotta have faith... it's happening, and if players see it during this time you will suddenly notice some people in your level (using the R2 button on the controller). Another thing that helps.... take a look around cool pages and see if you can find optimal positioning and move your level to an area that is more visible to players. For instance, if all the traffic is taking place over the USA, but your level is sitting in the middle of Australia... chances are when you republish when it temporarily goes to page 1 people won't notice.

2009-06-10 19:44:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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Heres what I've done for my last few levels, and each one has stuck, the last one just stuck on Saturday Put a sticker anywhere in the level, save it and republish. Wait a little while so the server can update and the level should be on Cool Levels. Wait until it slips out of the top 10 pages, go back into the level, remove the sticker, save, republish. It just take some work, and is very boring, but its needed. My levels have all stuck on page 5 with 300 plays and 30 hearts. I generally stop republishing at the 300 because the level has stuck on page 5 and people will play it. Publishing on different days, and time's, has a big effect on rating/hearts and plays also. Ccubbage has done the most testing on this, he's probably best to advise you, but you want to try and avoid the really young players when you publish, they are most likely to leave the 1 star ratings and bad tags. I usually published weekdays, but tried the weekend with the last level, it was'nt a good idea really, to many people publishing levels, they just slip from view within 5 minutes of publishing.

2009-06-10 20:42:00 Author: GruntosUK Posts: 1754

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I have 1000 plays and keep falling off the cool levels board, which is why I was asking. There doesn't seem to be a magic formula

2009-06-10 22:21:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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I have 1000 plays and keep falling off the cool levels board, which is why I was asking. There doesn't seem to be a magic formula It takes a while to climb. My best achievement has been reaching page one at the fourth day of publication with quite constant republishing in the evening and week-end. .

2009-06-10 22:30:00 Author: RangerZero Posts: 3901

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It takes a while to climb. My best achievement has been reaching page one at the fourth day of publication with quite constant republishing in the evening and week-end. . I've gotten to Page 1 several times, but slide completely off each time. It always seems to be the least played level on page 1 too. Oh well, next one will have to be better (I'm never satisfied....)

2009-06-10 22:59:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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Having a good Icon helps too. Something that'll make people look at your level.

2009-06-11 00:47:00 Author: Chicago51 Posts: 258

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Exactly. The icon, the name, the description, a couple uploaded pictures showing how good your level is, positioning on the globe... these are all things that will attract players - not necessarily whether your level is actually GOOD. If it's a GOOD level, it will get players and THEN get hearts, which makes it even more attractive the next time you publish.

2009-06-11 13:10:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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Does crossing the 1000 play threshold make your icon bigger?

2009-06-11 14:13:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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As your level gets closer to pushing to the next page up, it gets bigger. So if your level is the biggest on the page, it means you are the most likely one to move to the next page... but then, your level will be the smallest on the next page up.

2009-06-11 14:23:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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Gotcha. Last time I published it the icon was suddenly huge, and it happened to correspond with the play-count going over 1000, which is why i was making that connection. Too bad my play-count:heart ratio is so lousy

2009-06-11 14:55:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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The size of your icon depends on the activity in your level. The more players that are playing it, the bigger it will be. Also, just to be sure you're not mistaken: did you tell us that you've been to the first page 2-3 times and went down? Do you mean this is with your current level? If it's the case then it's not that you made the first page, it's just that you saw your level there after republishing it. When you publish a level, it does ALWAYS land on the top page but there's a little glowing effect around the level icon. This means the level is like the next in line to leave its place (and drop down). When you publish a level, it takes like 8-10 mins for it to drop down where it belongs in the cool pages. When you will truly climb the pages is when your level will stick on a page. You won't have the glow effect around the icon and when you republish it you won't drop down lower than the page you are stickied on. .

2009-06-11 16:23:00 Author: RangerZero Posts: 3901

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The size of your icon depends on the activity in your level. The more players that are playing it, the bigger it will be. Also, just to be sure you're not mistaken: did you tell us that you've been to the first page 2-3 times and went down? Do you mean this is with your current level? If it's the case then it's not that you made the first page, it's just that you saw your level there after republishing it. When you publish a level, it does ALWAYS land on the top page but there's a little glowing effect around the level icon. This means the level is like the next in line to leave its place (and drop down). When you publish a level, it takes like 8-10 mins for it to drop down where it belongs in the cool pages. When you will truly climb the pages is when your level will stick on a page. You won't have the glow effect around the icon and when you republish it you won't drop down lower than the page you are stickied on. . Huh... are you sure the icon doesn't just grow bigger based on the heart/ratings/plays it has compared to the other levels on the page? This last time I was on cool pages, I was a huge icon on page 3 even with NO people playing it. I'll experiment with it next week. I have a new one close to completion.

2009-06-11 18:11:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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Huh... are you sure the icon doesn't just grow bigger based on the heart/ratings/plays it has compared to the other levels on the page? This last time I was on cool pages, I was a huge icon on page 3 even with NO people playing it. I'll experiment with it next week. I have a new one close to completion. Maybe my observation is a reverse consequence as I didn't study further than the fact I was seeing the bigger icons simply receiving the more simultaneous plays in all pages. They also ALWAYS were the next ones to climb. I concluded it's the activity that makes them big. In reverse, its possible that its because they are big that they receive the most plays... .

2009-06-11 20:33:00 Author: RangerZero Posts: 3901

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Yeah, it makes more sense to me that on each cool page, the level with the combined best rating/hearts/plays is the biggest - and as a result is the most visible... therefore gets the most plays. That's what I was seeing.

2009-06-11 21:17:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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From my observations of my last two levels published under the 7 days system, what CCubbage suggests is correct. The size of the icon is simply how large based upon MM's algorithm of stars, plays and hearts. Number of players is simply that, however it does have a much better chance to draw more players due to size. That also is used to move up a page, so two levels with similar hearts and plays may not move at the same rate if for example one is a 3 star vs another that is 4 or 5 stars. However one interesting thing I have noticed is that on the Top Levels page, the icon size works the same way, except a level currently on it's 7 day voyage will be larger or as large as others with tons of hearts and plays. So possibly it gets bumped up 2 or 3 sizes totally due to it being published new in the past 7 days.

2009-06-11 23:50:00 Author: jwwphotos Posts: 11383

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So the 7 days thing is only if you manage to get your level "stuck" on Cool Levels? Mine has never stuck

2009-06-12 01:52:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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Actually, your level IS stuck on cool pages the moment it's published.... just REALLY far down (so far down you can't even see it lol). Your level only gets 7 days from the first moment of publication (even if its locked). So you have to make the best of getting plays from the moment its published - in exactly 1 week it disappears from being stuck to cool pages no matter where it is. My personal suggestion for attack is this: get some people to test it while its still locked, pick a day to start on cool pages (a day when you have time), completely delete and publish it fresh, get some LBP pals to help you get the ball rolling with some hearts and some good ratings, and keep doing small modifications and republishing to pick up plays. If you can hold a 4 star rating and some decent hearts, you will get stuck on page 7 or 8 in about 200 plays. That's the point that a few people start noticing you and playing without republishing. Very soon you'll push up to 5 if you continue to get plays. For me at least, the plays become much more automatic at page 3... so if you have decent hearts and ratings people will be playing it regularly at this point because it looks good.

2009-06-12 01:58:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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So since it's been over 7 days since my level was first published, am I pretty much screwed as far as getting it to stick anywhere? Is it just going to be a constant "republish" battle to get plays from here on out? I didn't play LBP for 2 days and I think I got 2 plays in that time. I republished last night and 8 people were playing it within 2 minutes....

2009-06-15 14:37:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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So since it's been over 7 days since my level was first published, am I pretty much screwed as far as getting it to stick anywhere? Is it just going to be a constant "republish" battle to get plays from here on out? I didn't play LBP for 2 days and I think I got 2 plays in that time. I republished last night and 8 people were playing it within 2 minutes.... It's up to you, but you can certainly either publish it under another slot using your new-found knowledge, or you can totally delete it and republish it, or you can just periodically republish to get plays every once in a while. Generally when I do a new level I go through the following steps: 1. A quiet, locked beta where my PSN friends play the level and give me secret feedback. 2. On the day of release, totally delete and republish and have some friends play it immediately to get the rating up (which makes sure a maliceous person can't low-rate it out of the gate). 3. Create a spotlight thread and do some F4F to get as much input during the first few days as possible to work out any issues. 4. Keep republishing to keep plays coming in and get as high as I can in as short a period of time as possible so that it sticks up in cool pages where people will see it and play it for the week.

2009-06-15 15:46:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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sounds like something worth trying on my next level

2009-06-15 17:23:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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Interesting... All that republishing for nothing! And I got over 1200 plays x_x I'll just publish it again and lock the old version after a day or two. That way I can get people to reheart and play the new slot.

2009-06-15 17:35:00 Author: crazymario Posts: 657

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Looks like they reset the Cool Planet. Any explanation?

2009-06-24 22:39:00 Author: ZipCity Posts: 208

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