Home    LBP Showcase / Reviews / Recommendations    Level Showcase    Cool Levels
#1

Sleepless Streets

Archive: 37 posts

Sleepless StreetsAurongel
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/3882351025_b63720ea84.jpgWalk the aging streets of downtown New York City, in this dynamic and ever-changing world. Tred the foggy pavement, scour towering apartments, play some b-ball, and even have some drinks with the local homeless! The world is yours to freely explore!
all

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/3882347969_4a7af45d91.jpg
.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3882351831_9f613961a7.jpg

Here it is fellas, my eagerly anticipated spiritual successor to The Spirit Passage has finally arrived after almost 4 months of development, and planning. Just like TSP before it, Sleepless Streets focuses on an open world aesthetic, witty dialogue, intricate lighting, and obviously immense detail. In this level, I'm giving you the ability to go anywhere you want, and see what YOU want to see. I made a strong effort to load this level to the brim with lots of little secrets, and hidden cutscenes that I think many of you will enjoy. Most importantly, this is a level about having fun and being immersed in the city, so feel free to explore at your own pace

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3883142798_734b069a46.jpg


In this level, I am making use of new logic and lighting systems that I've been developing over the past few months. This is the first and (currently) only level in LBP that has a real-time Morning-Day-Sunset-Night cycle with lights and events activating depending on the time of day. The effect results in a single detailed level being displayed in 4 very different ways, making the level seem MUCH more deep and complicated than it actually is. As the time of day passes, lights will actually flicker on and off, and the neon signs that line the streets will glow. Likewise, as the humid night begins, air conditioning systems boot on. Clotheslines sway in the urban breeze, and other human beings react to your actions with humorous results. Bird poo litters apartment roofs, and bricks jut out from the sides of buildings.



Morning
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3882350327_c337a97875.jpg


Midday
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2488/3882349933_3d8f77963f.jpg


Sunset
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3883144032_17c1402f12.jpg


Midnight
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3522/3882349107_6901daed53.jpg


Unlike my previous work, Sleepless Streets puts a large emphasis on witty dialogue that taps into the heart of stereotypes, and pop culture. Within the city, you may find hidden branches of dialogue, hidden cutscenes, and even an event that results in you getting drunk and fumbling about! The level also features a great deal of graphical detail that (I believe) surpass anything I've attempted in the past. This level makes use of the layer glitch to produce a custom cartoon background that contrasts sharply with the HD foreground, giving the level a very cartoonish appearance. The level also makes use of a new fog effect, and numerous other lighting fixtures not in use anywhere else.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2422/3883143216_35726cab21.jpg


The level is recommended for single-player only, anything more may cause moderate lag. This level uses a total of 148 lights, about 400 stickers, 12 songs, about 120 sound effects, 85 magnet switches, 28 different materials, 30 pieces of dialogue, and about 20 different camera angles. This level began development artistically in May, and began production in June. I have logged a total of 76 hours into this level total (stopwatch on iPod, lol), and have faced several major setbacks to this level during that time, including having the entire level deleted TWICE due to random glitches. Nevertheless, I continued to develop something special.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3882351447_da608b1c26.jpg


Included in this level are 3 HD pieces of concept art unlockable by acing the level. These Murals were made in May, and are a source of artistic inspiration for my level. All my future levels will come with their respective artistic murals as rewards at the end. Make sure to set your profile to Collect Community Objects when playing!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3422/3883145188_73d44067f4.jpg


I'm hoping that this will be my first level to make it anywhere near Cool Pages, I admit that it was very discouraging during development as I saw TSP never make onto the Newest Levels page (unknown reason), and never make it onto Cool Pages, despite being hailed as being one the most graphically pretty levels by the SackCast Podcast. Needless to say, I'd like to thank Javi_Haguse for helping me playtest, my math class for giving me time to come up with the original concept art that started this whole shebang, and Morgana25 for the absolutely genius level name. Thanks all for helping this project come full circle!


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/3882351025_b63720ea84.jpg		2009-09-03 03:42:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

Wow this looks incredible from just the pictures! I can't wait to play it!
Lol @ the math class remark at the end That's what school's for!

I'll check the level out as soon as I next boot up LBP (tonight or tomorrow )		2009-09-03 04:00:00

Author:
hilightnotes
Posts: 1230

Think it's locked

Meh, I'll just play spirit passage again.


.		2009-09-03 10:59:00

Author:
rtm223
Posts: 6497

Wow, looks incredible. I'm sorry to say I hadn't heard of the first, so will have to check that out before...2009-09-03 11:38:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

The level looks incredible from these pictures. But unfortunately like rtm223 said.

it's locked 		2009-09-03 14:49:00

Author:
Noroibito
Posts: 211

I actually had the honor of testing this level throughout the past couple of months and it still amazes me. I actually was the second person to play since I was eagerly waiting for it's release.
As I said it before, Aurongel is probably the most detailed creator in LBP and has a style of his own. Even though this level is completely different to "The Spirit Passage", you can tell they're both made by the same creator. This level is outstanding to say the least, and takes level building to a whole new level. This is one of the few levels in LBP that you can stay in for a while and lose track of time. As I walked through the streets of NY, I found myself mesmerized by the amount of detail. All the posters, custom graffiti and concept art in the wall are truly a work of art.

The thing that impressed me the most was the day-cycle lighting. It seems simple at first glace, but as you experience it, you notice how complex and outstanding it is. This is not only a change of the GLS, it is an intricate system that the city lives by. In the morning, you'll experience morning fog, soft lighting and a perfect combination of colors that makes you feel like you're actually there waking up. As the day continues, the lighting becomes more vivid and from an overhead perspective. As the night falls, street lights and neon signs start to turn on. Being an Aurongel level, it would be too simple to just turn on the street lights. He managed to make them flicker while progressively becoming brighter just like a real one would do. The attention to detail is out of this world. I could go on and off forever telling you guys about all the details that I loved, but it's something you have to experience on your own. Keep an eye out for the 3D illusion of the buildings, the shorted pole cables and the hanging clothes.
This level is not only extremely beautiful, but it also has an funny dialogue. Your actions throughout the level will trigger different hidden conversations, so make sure you explore thoroughly. Make sure you visit the abandoned building, even though the sackthugs tell you not to. It's hilarious!
In my eyes this level should be a 5 star level, but in reality I don't think it will be. Mainly because the average LBP gamer does not notice the details mentioned above. Sometimes you have to think a bit more about the masses and add a bit more gameplay. Hopefully everyone will notice the amount of work that you put into this level.

I did have a little trouble with the camera panning and lag, but I'm assuming it is because I wasn't playing alone. I'm not taking points away because of that, since you clearly stated "1 Player prefered". Btw, thanks for including a pic of me in you level! (first floor, top-left corner). I'm honored! Again, congrats on your level, its truly a work of art.

:star::star::star::star::star: Beautiful & Hearted

Javi Haguse Rating: 9.5 lol		2009-09-03 15:37:00

Author:
javi haguse
Posts: 744

Looks awesome, I'll have to play this.2009-09-03 15:40:00

Author:
S-A-S--G-U-N-R
Posts: 1606

Is it still locked?2009-09-03 15:45:00

Author:
blizzard_cool
Posts: 752

Is it still locked?

I'm thought it would be open now but Javi Haguse was just testing it so I don't know.		2009-09-03 16:10:00

Author:
S-A-S--G-U-N-R
Posts: 1606

When I played it last night it wasn't locked. I was minding my own business and a message told me it was published. I played it and that was that. Is it locked now?2009-09-03 16:14:00

Author:
javi haguse
Posts: 744

This level looks amazing. I'll definitely have to check it out.2009-09-03 16:34:00

Author:
Unknown User

This level is NOT LOCKED

I'm looking at the tab right now

Level locked: X

God ******, these glitches are getting annoying		2009-09-03 19:31:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

Well, I just hopped onto LBP this morning, and my level has somehow DELETED ITSELF

there's no record of neither me or Javi playing it either

I am so extremely ticked right now, I don't know what to do		2009-09-03 19:41:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

Do you mean that the level deleted all together, moon and online? I was looking forward to playing it 2009-09-03 19:54:00

Author:
Shris
Posts: 126

You know New York is much nicer than you're making it out to look, lol.

Was looking forward to playing this, tis a shame it's locked or whatever the problem is.

Hopefully it's still on your moon so you can publish it again.		2009-09-03 20:02:00

Author:
ChristmasJew
Posts: 431

Re-published... Sorry bout the downtime guys, I think I have it all sorted out now 2009-09-03 20:34:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

I'm gonna play this when I got time. Looks AMAZING!2009-09-03 20:35:00

Author:
Oerjeke
Posts: 234

Definitely playing this when I get home - I'll edit this message with my review



Edit: since so many people are posting, I'm going to just make a new post for my review.		2009-09-03 20:45:00

Author:
Powershifter
Posts: 668

Apparently, my level was moderated because I made a reference within the level to "having a drink" without using any words like beer, alcohol, wasted, etc...

It could've been milk for all they knew, but watev

It's fixed now, I'm sorry if the part with the Hobo feels incomplete, that's the part that I had to patch over with some out of place dialogue...

Sorry guys, I still have the previous version, so maybe I'll make it a "lost level" or a deleted scene later down the road		2009-09-03 21:10:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

So you had to delete the drinking part???2009-09-03 21:39:00

Author:
javi haguse
Posts: 744

So you had to delete the drinking part???

Yup, I never even said it was alcohol too T___T		2009-09-03 22:55:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

This looks AMAZING. I must check this out later. It already looks like a heart and 5 stars...2009-09-03 23:01:00

Author:
chezhead
Posts: 1063

So I can say I'm one of the lucky ones to say that I got drunk on NY!!!2009-09-04 04:01:00

Author:
javi haguse
Posts: 744

Played through it tonight and I have to say visually it's really cool. Love the materials, shapes and colors you have. Lots ad lots of details too. I like the day/night mechanic and for people who like to wander through levels this is great.

One of the things I've loved about your levels in the past is you have this amazing visual style and then throw fantastic platforming on top of it. This level while right up there with my favorite of your levels (the apocalyptic one) doesn't have any of the wonderful game play that I loved.

I liked your conceptual posters a lot though. I'd love to see these incorporated into future levels.

I gave it 5 stars and hearted it for the visuals alone. Thanks for sharing it!		2009-09-04 04:10:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

Well, you're not the first day-to-night cycle level with stuff trigger depending it's day or night. I did it before with Sack's On The Beach

Ok seriously, I didn't came in here just to post that. Your level seems REALLY interesting and i'm going to play it.

.		2009-09-04 04:19:00

Author:
RangerZero
Posts: 3901

Well, you're not the first day-to-night cycle level with stuff trigger depending it's day or night. I did it before with Sack's On The Beach

Ok seriously, I didn't came in here just to post that. Your level seems REALLY interesting and i'm going to play it.

.

It is the first to have lighting and events adjusting for the time of day, it also has 4 stages, not just night-day (black-white)		2009-09-04 04:36:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

I just played this level earlier today.
I'm gonna give some criticism, but let me first say this is an amazing level visually and the open-world gameplay is fun also. I gave it 5 stars and a heart.


THAT said, here's what I feel:
It was great. Like I mentioned. But, in all it's splendor it felt lacking to me. Why? Because certain things in the level are so dynamic, while others are very static. For example, the day-night cycle with changing conditions is wonderful. However, when the people never change; when the basketball players are there all through the night, it takes you out of the immersiveness of the level.
I don't know how you COULD change this - but this is how I felt.
I also found that I wanted to interact in so many ways that I couldn't. For example, I wanted to drive that car away to see what the guy would do, but the car doesn't budge.

Both of these things are really problems that come from making such an amazingly visceral level visually and in atmosphere, whether it's through the great dialogue or sewage pipes. Because these things are so visceral, you want the characters to be just as real.

Like I said, I don't know if there's really anything you can do about that. I imagine it would be extremely difficult to make any kind of reasonable reaction system kinda thing with all the characters, that actually feels complete.


Anyways so yeah, it's undoubtedly a fantastic level and deserving of 5 stars and a heart in my opinion.		2009-09-04 08:42:00

Author:
hilightnotes
Posts: 1230

But...
This is the word I said when I fell in front of the checkpoint.
Maybe I didn't understood the story, I didn't understood what I had to do.
I only went from left to right, I brought a dude to his mum...
Anyway the level looks outstanding to say the least, 6 stars maybe.
I rate the level 4 stars with the promise to replay it at least once, and didn't tag it.
This level really left me with a bad taste in my mouth.		2009-09-04 09:04:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

I really liked the level.

It was very unique and i havent seen another level try what u'v attempted.

I have to say that i would have liked to be able to drive the car away, and it would have been nice to see the people leave the streets when darkness came... But that would be very hard to do.

I loved the visual appearance. It was stunning.

Overall 5 stars and hearted.

Great, and one day i might try make my own!		2009-09-04 10:29:00

Author:
ladylyn1
Posts: 836

Just played it and I really enjoyed it!

I love the urban theme and the "realistic" way you made it (not futuristic or apocalyptic...)
Beautiful and very detailled visual design, nice use of the extra layers glitch and awesome day/night cycle!

Though I didn't really understand what I must do, or if I missed something somewhere (apart from bringing back the son to his mum),
the level seems a little short....(english is not my mother tongue, so all the speechs weren't very easy to understand)

Anyway, great atmosphere and visual work, so
:star::star::star::star: :star:
2009-09-04 14:29:00

Author:
dajdaj03
Posts: 1486

This remarkably detailed and fascinating cityscape is brought to life by the day-night cycle and all the characters with dialogue in a unique and pleasant way.

Plays better than The Spirit Passage where the stairs in the house and switches were a bit annoying. I would have liked to be able to climb the clothes line and get up on more buildings and find some well hidden stashes of bubbles. I tried desperately to find secrets and explored every part carefully.

I replayed a few times to get the stickers and tried to slap them on a few surfaces, hoping they would open some house or get me into the sewers. One of the stickers couldn't be used. The middle one, it wouldn't open when I select it. (edit: sticker works now! it was probably a temporary glitch)

The basketball players did something when I changed the music a few times but I didn't find all the stuff you mention in the presentation so I will come back soon.

The placement of the scoreboard is geniuos. Usually it feels so out place in environments but you found a good spot for it. I suspected there could be a way to get to it from the sides but I didn't find some secret passage.

I am baffled at some of the criticism that there is not enough to do in this level. I find it captivating.

There should be more levels like this on our planet.		2009-09-04 14:39:00

Author:
Kipmonlin
Posts: 251

I played through twice, because I felt like I missed some things during the first play through. And I was right! I loved grabbing the affro guy by the hair (nice pick in the hair too) and dragging him back home. Here are some of my initial thoughts:

Pros:
- The visuals were great - very artistic and I can tell you put a HUGE amount of time into the design of the level
- It sounded like a city
- I liked the couple things you could do in the city
- Camera angles felt good and natural (all but one, read the cons)
- The guy at the bathroom was hilarious
- The sewer grate was a really good idea
- I loved the night/day lighting effects
- The midnight basketball court looked really nice!
- Loved the use of the background glitch!
- I also loved the sewers at the end.. all the green gooey stuff looked really cool
- I liked all the text and felt it was semi humorous, but...

Cons:
- Sometimes I felt like maybe you were making fun of people who talk like that... but maybe not! Just my impression
- There is one camera angle that I can see the base of the level. It was a magic mouth scene, and I think it was the guy with the pick in his hair that you had to drag back to his mom's house.
- Not much platforming, although you did have the part where you could launch yourself from the car onto the stairway.. but I would have liked to see something on top of the building, maybe some kind of reward, or maybe just something simple like a guy hanging out up there and he says something funny..
- Speaking of the car, i agree with Ladylyn1, I wanted to take off with it after the owner mouthed off to me! Another thing I noticed was maybe the player could just drive the car to the garage door?
- Speaking of the garage door, I opened it up a couple times and expected that to be significant somehow, but didn't see anything else I could do but open and close it. Also, I would maybe put some closed shutters on the window above the garage, because when the door is up you can see it go up into that room.

Overall:
5 :star:'s (because I know you were just going for visuals and an overall city 'experience&apos
and a Heart!
Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!

F4F - Check out my latest level, Real Myst: Channelwood Age, when you get the chance. The link is in my signature. Thanks!!		2009-09-04 15:57:00

Author:
Powershifter
Posts: 668

Wow. This level has to be the "ALIVE" I've ever played.

The dialogue that everyone has is hilarious. Gave me a sense that they reacted to what I did. Like how the guy shouted when I tried to drive his car. The kid who stayed out late also made me laugh.

The visuals were great. They graffiti all around you really sold it for me. Lighting on the other had was flat out fantastic! I loved how the lights turned on when it became dark and how the signs seemed to glow brighter.

The level played very smoothly. Loved how you ended it. But I have 1 complaint. The liveliness of the level simply made me crave for more things to do. I tried searching everywhere for secret area but there weren't much. (Slap me if I'm wrong here!) Like I would of liked to drive away with the car. Or play basketball with the players. But in reality I'm really just asking for too much and those things would be really hard to do. I'm just saying that this level left me wanting more.

And that's what I hope to see! more! I really enjoyed playing this level and it has to be my favorite in its genre. Whatever the genre may be.

:star::star::star::star::star:/Brilliant/Hearted!

F4F: You are still doing F4F right? Can you give feedback on my level SIREN: [The Lost World] (Episode 2-Otherside)? More information including a walk through is in my signature below. Hope you enjoy! Thanks! Oh and if you don't want to do it like last time. Please message me!		2009-09-04 19:38:00

Author:
Noroibito
Posts: 211

Blame the thermo guys, I originally had the pedestrians say different things during morning/midday/sunset, and dissapear at night, but it absolutely crushed the budget...

Also, I'm surprised all of you want to steal this guys car 		2009-09-04 19:43:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

I wanted to drive that car away to see what the guy would do, but the car doesn't budge.

The guy yells at you if you attempt to move the switch in the car, that's his reaction

He has the keys after all . You won't get too far		2009-09-04 19:44:00

Author:
Aurongel
Posts: 221

Haha true, true. I suppose Sackboy doesn't know how to jack cars xD

That's too bad about the thermo. Ah well, it's amazing anyways so nice work 		2009-09-04 20:15:00

Author:
hilightnotes
Posts: 1230

Hi Aurongel

I had a chance to play this jewel yesterday and I have to admit: brilliant and outstanding work.

Your love for details is awesome and it really felt like walking through a New York Hood :-)

I was surprised (because I didn't know it before), that this is just a walk-through level without any "real" story, prize- or point-bubbles or plattforming-action... but I was sucked into the level's atmosphere within a nanosecond!! The day-night-circle is very nice and the people talking to me on the street brings life to this place.

I love the scenery that you've created here!!!

:star::star::star::star::star: and a well deserved heart!!!

Greets
Neo

ps: I would be glad if you have a chance to play my level too (f4f): The Forgotten Tomb Of Memsut Part 1 & 2. Please leave a comment if you have the time.... thanks in advance		2009-09-07 09:57:00

Author:
(___NEO___)
Posts: 206


LBPCentral Archive Statistics
Posts: 1077139    Threads: 69970    Members: 9661    Archive-Date: 2019-01-19

Datenschutz
Aus dem Archiv wurden alle persönlichen Daten wie Name, Anschrift, Email etc. - aber auch sämtliche Inhalte wie z.B. persönliche Nachrichten - entfernt.
Die Nutzung dieser Webseite erfolgt ohne Speicherung personenbezogener Daten. Es werden keinerlei Cookies, Logs, 3rd-Party-Plugins etc. verwendet.