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Virtual Reality - Survival Challenge 2 (Spotlighted!)

Archive: 75 posts

Virtual Reality - Survival Challenge 2v0rtex2002
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/ICON0-1.png=-=-=- ALL NEW ROOMS!! -=-=-=
Make your way through each room before your time expires and the next room drops down around you. The longer you stay alive, the less time you'll have. Look for a room design contest coming soon.
Well, I've finally found the time to finish up the new sequel to Virtual Reality Survival Challenge.

The premise is exactly the same, just all new rooms.

Again... It's a survival challenge, so of course, you only get one life. As each new room drops, you need to find the path to the green platform that has risen up (there may be more than one to choose). On the way, grab as many score bubbles as you can. When you get to the platform, you can wait (there's a timer - denoted by a series of lights along the bottom of the room) or you can grab the platform (R1), and the next room will drop down.

Once you've made it through all the rooms, it will all start over again... but the timer will get a little shorter with each new cycle of rooms.

I will also be hosting a room design contest with prizes (real prizes?? yes! well... at least one ) very soon


The Room design Contest is now open!

Look here (http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/entry.php?995-Design-Contest) for the detailed rules and instructions, and here (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=22113-Virtual-Reality-Room-Design-Contest) for discussion and contest entry.Here are some pics:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/APhoto_2.jpg http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/APhoto_3.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/APhoto_4.jpg http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/APhoto_5.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/APhoto_6.jpg http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/APhoto_7.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBP%20Virtual%20Reality%20Survival%20Challenge/APhoto_8.jpg

There are two fewer rooms than the original, but the 7 rooms I've made are more complex and their payoff is huge if you play them right. I've also designed several areas to optimize multi-player point collecting (although nowhere is multi-player required).

Thanks so much to Morgana25, jwwphotos, Zwollie, Gilgamesh, CCubbage, and GrantosUK for their help and support! You folks are awesome!

Have fun! Let me know what you think. And look out for the design contest coming very soon!		2010-02-01 07:04:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

he he he - 157,000 (and change....) Need I say more

Love it!		2010-02-01 07:15:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

he he he - 157,000 (and change....) Need I say more

Love it!I saw that (and bested it with my boy's account - teehee). Did you like the redesign of that last room? I think it plays much better now.		2010-02-01 07:23:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

you did!?! :eek:

Dang! Yes I liked the last room. Guess I gotta put RB2 away and get cracking!

EDIT: I did find one minor thing - the stone room - it's very easy to squish ones self if you let go too soon. lol - just seems a little silly given the other ways to take yourself out.... not a complaint except I had a really good run going!

EDIT 2: ok that's twice now.....lol

EDIT 3: All is right in my world again 		2010-02-01 07:32:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

you did!?! :eek:

Dang! Yes I liked the last room. Guess I gotta put RB2 away and get cracking!

EDIT: I did find one minor thing - the stone room - it's very easy to squish ones self if you let go too soon. lol - just seems a little silly given the other ways to take yourself out.... not a complaint except I had a really good run going!

EDIT 2: ok that's twice now.....lol
Really? Hmmm... I'd not experienced that. Well... I mean I had, but I thought I fixed it. Any thoughts on what could be done to remedy the problem? I'm not entirely certain why it's happening now.



EDIT 3: All is right in my world again Yeah - I saw that! Well done!		2010-02-01 13:26:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Nice, its out! I stayed up a bit last night so I could give it an initial play after it was unlocked.... I'll check it out tonight. Loved it on my initial playthroughs yesterday.2010-02-01 13:54:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Nice, its out! I stayed up a bit last night so I could give it an initial play after it was unlocked.... I'll check it out tonight. Loved it on my initial playthroughs yesterday.Thanks! At least one room change was made on your recommendation, so thanks again for your help. 2010-02-01 13:58:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Hi V0rtex!!

Really fun stuff here! A worthy #2 to the awesome fun that was in the first one. I love this series! Hurry hurry grab a bubble check the blinkies.. OH NO!! to the pad to the pad! I don't know how many close calls I had!!

I had the problem that Morgana did.. Actually I went to grab that right when she did and I think it killed me because of how large the grabby is compared to the path up. ..also found that material a bit hard to see, but that is being horribly nit picky!

The room that seems to be the hardest for me in my quest for bubble domination is the one with all the glass. Just a bit hard to see how to get in and out and so I tend to shy away from that bubble cache.

...both issues are not a biggie at all!

5 stars and a heart!		2010-02-01 14:03:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

Hi V0rtex!!

Really fun stuff here! A worthy #2 to the awesome fun that was in the first one. I love this series! Hurry hurry grab a bubble check the blinkies.. OH NO!! to the pad to the pad! I don't know how many close calls I had!!

I had the problem that Morgana did.. Actually I went to grab that right when she did and I think it killed me because of how large the grabby is compared to the path up. ..also found that material a bit hard to see, but that is being horribly nit picky!

The room that seems to be the hardest for me in my quest for bubble domination is the one with all the glass. Just a bit hard to see how to get in and out and so I tend to shy away from that bubble cache.

...both issues are not a biggie at all!

5 stars and a heart!

Thanks for the feedback! I'll try to see what I can do to fix that elevator. I think I'll just have to widen it. That shouldn't be a problem now since I've totally redesigned it from its original form. As for the glass, I redesigned that room to make it more clear. Is the blue door still confusing? Any suggestions? Would it be easier to see what's going on if I made the piston invisible (maybe the reflections cause to much to look at)? or make the door non-glass?		2010-02-01 14:53:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

I am really Curious!
I will try it this night!		2010-02-01 15:55:00

Author:
pirmaut
Posts: 99

That last room's redesign worked really well now I thought. I didn't have any problems with seeing the glass door. The initial issue was the glass in the foreground and middle layer causing confusion about which layer you were in to get out of the area with the second switch. I'm not having that problem now with it since it's all opaque and there's no wall blocking which layer your in. I wouldn't change anything in that room now in terms of material or visibility. There is an interesting layer shift that sackboy has when heading down the front layer ramp towards the green platform though. It moves him to the middle layer unless you force him front I notices. Not a big deal as you can predict and adjust to it though.2010-02-01 16:50:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

That last room's redesign worked really well now I thought. I didn't have any problems with seeing the glass door. The initial issue was the glass in the foreground and middle layer causing confusion about which layer you were in to get out of the area with the second switch. I'm not having that problem now with it since it's all opaque and there's no wall blocking which layer your in. I wouldn't change anything in that room now in terms of material or visibility.
Well that's kinda what I thought, but if people are still having trouble figuring it out, I'd like to fix it.


There is an interesting layer shift that sackboy has when heading down the front layer ramp towards the green platform though. It moves him to the middle layer unless you force him front I notices. Not a big deal as you can predict and adjust to it though.Odd... It's a solid two layer slab there. Hmmm...		2010-02-01 19:24:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

I just played it a couple of times, did'nt get as far was we did together Friday unfortunatly so didnt see the whole level. Its awesome, just like the first, great fun, and excellently designed. I'll come back and have another play later when I'm more awake to check out the last room you've changed.

You know I loved it when we we played together so theres little more i can say.

Awesome, 5* and hearted.		2010-02-01 19:52:00

Author:
GruntosUK
Posts: 1754

Played this earlier today and have to say it is very well designed and fun in its simplicity. I actually like the way that the puzzles of the room can be figured out pretty much straight away but you are still fighting against the clock if you wish to geta highscore, makes for fast and frantic gameplay.

However I had completed all the levels and I was on the second round (of the next rotation /wave) and was stood directly in the middle of the exit platform and pressed R1...and got squished by the next level.		2010-02-01 23:19:00

Author:
cthulhu82
Posts: 211

Got to play the published version - excellent! Highly addicting, great design - I played it several times and figured out all the strategies - each time through I would say "oh.... I didn't see THAT before!" and find a new way to pick up more point bubbles. This is definately among my favorite challenges.

Oh, and I picked up first place.... sorry Morgana... I'm sure you will knock me off my block pretty quick. You seem to want #1 pretty bad....
2010-02-02 00:12:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Played this earlier today and have to say it is very well designed and fun in its simplicity. I actually like the way that the puzzles of the room can be figured out pretty much straight away but you are still fighting against the clock if you wish to geta highscore, makes for fast and frantic gameplay.

However I had completed all the levels and I was on the second round (of the next rotation /wave) and was stood directly in the middle of the exit platform and pressed R1...and got squished by the next level.
Oh no! That's no good! Which room (1-7) from the pics above?


Got to play the published version - excellent! Highly addicting, great design - I played it several times and figured out all the strategies - each time through I would say "oh.... I didn't see THAT before!" and find a new way to pick up more point bubbles. This is definately among my favorite challenges.

Oh, and I picked up first place.... sorry Morgana... I'm sure you will knock me off my block pretty quick. You seem to want #1 pretty bad....

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Yeah, the rooms are bit more complex, but I kinda like the addition of some puzzle-like logic. And yeah - Morgana really wants that top spot!
2010-02-02 00:13:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Oh, and I picked up first place.... sorry Morgana... I'm sure you will knock me off my block pretty quick. You seem to want #1 pretty bad....


*shakes fist at the sky* Why!!!!!!!! (lol)

No worries - I'm rarely competitive but I do so love these levels that I have to trash talk a bit.

@ cthulhu82 & Vortex - I'm willing to put money on it being the first room (green one) about two or three cycles in. I thought it was just me last night and it didn't happen every time but I did experience squishyness in that last room to first room transition one of the times I played last night.

EDIT: Perhaps that was me then. :blush:		2010-02-02 00:16:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

Oh no! That's no good! Which room (1-7) from the pics above?

numbering from the top left....room 3 - 4 (the one with the big round thing in the middle followed by the one with the railings and blue lantern.) I was on the pad of room 3 and pressed for room 4 and...squish...I died. Strange thing is that it worked perfectly the first time I went through the levels		2010-02-02 00:20:00

Author:
cthulhu82
Posts: 211

*shakes fist at the sky* Why!!!!!!!! (lol)

No worries - I'm rarely competitive but I do so love these levels that I have to trash talk a bit.

@ cthulhu82 & Vortex - I'm willing to put money on it being the first room (green one) about two or three cycles in. I thought it was just me last night and it didn't happen every time but I did experience squishyness in that last room to first room transition one of the times I played last night.

EDIT: Perhaps that was me then. :blush:


numbering from the top left....room 3 - 4 (the one with the big round thing in the middle followed by the one with the railings and blue lantern.) I was on the pad of room 3 and pressed for room 4 and...squish...I died. Strange thing is that it worked perfectly the first time I went through the levels

Odd. I cannot explain this, nor do I have any idea how to fix it. The room deployment engine has not changed since version 1, and I have not experienced this myself in all of my play testing. If it keeps happening, please let me know (though I'm truly at a loss for how to fix it).		2010-02-02 00:55:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Odd. I cannot explain this, nor do I have any idea how to fix it. The room deployment engine has not changed since version 1, and I have not experienced this myself in all of my play testing. If it keeps happening, please let me know (though I'm truly at a loss for how to fix it).
I wouldn't worry about it too much... I must have played through the rooms 100 times and never ran across it. It's possible a player could be on the wrong plane and not realize it, or move slightly after the room starts falling.		2010-02-02 04:25:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Thanks CCubbage!

Just a quick update:

The Room design Contest is now open!

Look here (http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/entry.php?995-Design-Contest) for the detailed rules and instructions, and here (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=22113-Virtual-Reality-Room-Design-Contest) for discussion and contest entry.		2010-02-02 04:29:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

I tried this level last night and I must say that there is a lot of its originality and an awesome concept of game
Finally some new level that is different from the usual
Really well done
Deserves to be played!		2010-02-02 08:39:00

Author:
pirmaut
Posts: 99

I tried it again last night and had no problems this time and only died because I couldn't get to the pad in time, I even got to 7th place. Ccubbage was probably right but i swear I was directly in the middle of the green pad when I got squished.2010-02-02 14:23:00

Author:
cthulhu82
Posts: 211

v0rtex, v0rtex, why must you be such an evil genius?! This one, much like the first one, is sooooo addictive and ridiculously fun! I beat that CCubbage and Morgana, yes I did! No, I didn't, and I don't even know how they got their scores, but it was great fun nonetheless. Although, secret, to be honest with you, I pretty much sat around on the R1 platforms first time around so I could see all the rooms!!! Yeah.... My hand kept twitching though, trying to get at the bubbles. I think I got the bubblitis from Morgana! :eek:

Anyway, this series is just brilliant beyond words. Game play is amazingly fun and replay value is, well, too much! :O Awesome design, innovative features and well, just pure genius mechanics. Hats off to you sir!		2010-02-02 15:49:00

Author:
ScoutsBoo
Posts: 63

v0rtex, v0rtex, why must you be such an evil genius?!Mwua-ha-ha-ha


This one, much like the first one, is sooooo addictive and ridiculously fun! I beat that CCubbage and Morgana, yes I did! No, I didn't, and I don't even know how they got their scores, but it was great fun nonetheless. Although, secret, to be honest with you, I pretty much sat around on the R1 platforms first time around so I could see all the rooms!!! Yeah.... My hand kept twitching though, trying to get at the bubbles. I think I got the bubblitis from Morgana! :eek:

Anyway, this series is just brilliant beyond words. Game play is amazingly fun and replay value is, well, too much! :O Awesome design, innovative features and well, just pure genius mechanics. Hats off to you sir!
Wow! Thanks. Such kind words. I'm really glad you enjoyed it. You should try your hand at making a room! 		2010-02-02 20:30:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

A new challenger has appeared!

You guys didn't really think I would let you off that easy did you?

Edit: I must say this one is just as addictive as the first, and more challenging to boot. Good stuff!		2010-02-03 03:15:00

Author:
Gilgamesh
Posts: 2536

lol - Kill Bill reference ftw. I guess I'll have to settle for being on the board at all. 2010-02-03 03:39:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

A new challenger has appeared!

You guys didn't really think I would let you off that easy did you?
Haha - yeah I saw you took over #1. Nice score!


Edit: I must say this one is just as addictive as the first, and more challenging to boot. Good stuff!
Thanks!


lol - Kill Bill reference ftw. I guess I'll have to settle for being on the board at all.
NO! Morgana, don't give up... I just know you can beat him.
Right at this moment, the biggest "R" I feel is Regret. Regret that maybe the greatest warrior I have ever known, met her end at the hands of a bushwhackin, scrub, alky piece of **** like you. That woman deserved better.		2010-02-03 07:06:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Hmmmm... guess I'm going to need to play this a bit more tonight... it didn't take that much effort to get my previous score, I just didn't have any reason to top it. But now....2010-02-03 13:28:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

This is really an addictive and charming level. My original post I mentioned the issue with the glass in the one room, but I guess I had not seen the update yet. After playing it several more times, I find that part much much improved and realize what is going on in my mad dash for bubbles and the safety pad!

Great job!		2010-02-03 14:23:00

Author:
jwwphotos
Posts: 11383

This is really an addictive and charming level. My original post I mentioned the issue with the glass in the one room, but I guess I had not seen the update yet. After playing it several more times, I find that part much much improved and realize what is going on in my mad dash for bubbles and the safety pad!

Great job!
Thank you. Really - thanks... I made the update to that room based on your comments, and I think it's much better now.		2010-02-03 14:38:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Wow, what an amazing survival challenge! I must have played it a dozen times before I could tear myself away from it. my high score was something like 120,000. not bad, but I want more! few survival challenges are as addicting as this one.

I thought there were 2 places that needed a tad of tweaking. The first is the area in the 7th room (i think), where you can either jump on the button to launch yourself to the top of the room, OR you can take the shortcut to the right to get to the end faster. a couple of times i fount myself trying to jump to the shortcut, but shifting into the background instead and getting launched up to the top, which lead to my untimely death If you moved the platform a little further away from the button it would run smoother I think, but that's just my opinion maybe that's what you intended.

The second was the first room, after you press the button to go to the next room, I fell to the floor and got gassed on multiple occasions. I thought it was maybe because I was getting too greedy with the timer (and probably was) but it was an odd place to die seeing as I had spawned the 2nd room and then died.

Anyhow awesome survival challenge, 5 stars and a heart I'm also thinking of entering that contest you're advertising. hopefully I'll be able to come up with something good. o.o		2010-02-03 23:56:00

Author:
Duffluc
Posts: 402

I like the look of the rooms with a few lights in them. Just a few lights really adds a lot of ambience. The
hamster wheel stands out for gameplay and I have a thing for symmetry. It's a really entertainting level and I
wish more players would be competitive. It was too easy to get a high rank. Right now at least. We'll see what
happens in the next few days.		2010-02-04 00:21:00

Author:
Kipmonlin
Posts: 251

Wow, what an amazing survival challenge! I must have played it a dozen times before I could tear myself away from it. my high score was something like 120,000. not bad, but I want more! few survival challenges are as addicting as this one.Thanks!


I thought there were 2 places that needed a tad of tweaking. The first is the area in the 7th room (i think), where you can either jump on the button to launch yourself to the top of the room, OR you can take the shortcut to the right to get to the end faster. a couple of times i fount myself trying to jump to the shortcut, but shifting into the background instead and getting launched up to the top, which lead to my untimely death If you moved the platform a little further away from the button it would run smoother I think, but that's just my opinion maybe that's what you intended.Yeah - I've had that same issue once or twice myself, and no - it's not what was intended. The shortcut is intended for use later on when time gets short, so it sucks if you miss it (as you clearly leaned). I will look at it again and consider you suggestion. Thanks.


The second was the first room, after you press the button to go to the next room, I fell to the floor and got gassed on multiple occasions. I thought it was maybe because I was getting too greedy with the timer (and probably was) but it was an odd place to die seeing as I had spawned the 2nd room and then died.Yep - That high platform makes for a sometimes dicey drop (had the same trouble in the one higher platform that I used in the first version of this challenge). Here's a little hint... the middle of the platform is grabbable (it's how you're triggering it in the first place), so rather than just hitting it, hold on tight as you drop. That should keep you safely on the correct platform and plane.



Anyhow awesome survival challenge, 5 stars and a heart I'm also thinking of entering that contest you're advertising. hopefully I'll be able to come up with something good. o.oGreat! I look forward to seeing your entry! And thanks again for the feedback and kind words.		2010-02-04 03:45:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

I like the look of the rooms with a few lights in them. Just a few lights really adds a lot of ambience. The
hamster wheel stands out for gameplay and I have a thing for symmetry. It's a really entertainting level and I
wish more players would be competitive. It was too easy to get a high rank. Right now at least. We'll see what
happens in the next few days.Yeah, the lights really do make all the difference. Thanks for your feedback! BTW - I just played White Elephant. I'll leave feedback on your thread.
2010-02-04 03:46:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Ok, got first place again... whew...

Gotta pay you a compliment here, V0rtex - this is one of the best designed challenges I've ever played. I wondered if it would get cheap when I got to a certain speed, but even at break-neck speeds it was doable - you just need to find a slightly different strategy through the rooms. In the end, it wasn't the speed that got me - it was a misplaced jump into some spikes. Just the fact that you were able to design it in a way that the play strategy and direction through the course would change as the game progressed is really impressive - I didn't realize how impressive until I was hitting about 250K.

Interestingly, I liked the first "Virtual Reality Challenge", but I felt like this one kicked it into high gear. I think the rooms were more playable and kept my interest for longer.		2010-02-04 03:56:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Ok, got first place again... whew...

Gotta pay you a compliment here, V0rtex - this is one of the best designed challenges I've ever played. I wondered if it would get cheap when I got to a certain speed, but even at break-neck speeds it was doable - you just need to find a slightly different strategy through the rooms. In the end, it wasn't the speed that got me - it was a misplaced jump into some spikes. Just the fact that you were able to design it in a way that the play strategy and direction through the course would change as the game progressed is really impressive - I didn't realize how impressive until I was hitting about 250K.

Interestingly, I liked the first "Virtual Reality Challenge", but I felt like this one kicked it into high gear. I think the rooms were more playable and kept my interest for longer.
Wow - a really nice compliment, at that! Thanks!

I tried very hard (in both versions) to build them in just that way... so there would be multiple ways to get to each destination, and as it got faster you'd have to forgo some of the points just to stay alive (that this fact is pure torture to our friend Morgana, is just icing on the cake). I've also been stressing this same point to the design contestants - it will certainly be a judging point (long-term playability as the time gets shorter).		2010-02-04 04:04:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Absolutely genuine once again. I loved it. Score 72 000 in first try and it was pretty fun. I think your rooms this time simply are better. I got nothing to complain about any of them except maybe that the one you need to bounce under some flipper. Sometimes you jump on the button all fine but your sackboy doesn't gather enough momentum to actually push the flipper. But hey, this isn't major. I suppose that you could diminish the bolt sturdyness a liiiiitle bit (unless it break though.)

Anyhow, I love this. You just pulled off my 2 favorite survival challenge. Real quality there. Keep up!

:star::star::star::star::star: + heart + "tricky"		2010-02-05 06:29:00

Author:
RangerZero
Posts: 3901

I had you. I had you dead..... then I got squished and lost a ton of points! Argh! 2nd place... 262,076 (CCubbage 1st place 266,355) I'm going to go ice my left thumb for a bit and have a nice cry.

(your right CCubbage - it feels like your flying there for awhile)		2010-02-05 08:08:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

@ CCubbage & Morgana:

I'm curious... Did either of you get to a point where it won't spawn a new room? I got a comment on the level that said I needed to fix it - that when it gets to max speed it will stall out. I went into create mode and I was able to reproduce this. It happens because the level actually overheats while you're playing it. The hamster wheel room is/was the problem. The demitted versions are emitting point/prize bubbles because the wheel moves slightly as it slides down the demit slide. Those emitted point bubbles stay behind after each cycle and they accumulate at the end of the slide, eventually causing the level to overheat. It's a good find. I have a solution, but I haven't implemented it yet (I made myself late for work just figuring it out, and haven't fully tested it yet). But I was curious if anyone here on LBPC had run into this?		2010-02-05 15:56:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

I hadn't run into it at all. I forget how many cycles I made it through but I remember getting squished by the yellow room as it dropped.2010-02-05 17:00:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

OK it's finally my day off, and there is only 1 thing in my diary: It's Virtual Reality 2 time. I have been enviously watching everyone else vie for 1st place since it was published, just waiting for my time off when I could steal that title and claim Victory of the Realities.

I see now however, there was one big problem with this masterplan. Virtual Reality 2 is h a r d. Gone are the heady days of VR1 where I would hop skip and jump from point bubble to finish platform, battling only a greedy desire for more bubbles against ever decreasing time. In this most excellent sequel, the greedy desire for points is still in play, but now has to be calculated against not only the time but also multiple routes and finish platforms, and possibly the most evily placed spikes I have ever seen.

This is what makes this level hard, but also what makes it very, very good and ensures I will be playing it again and again. The gameplay in this level is (in my opinion) suberb, and is the main strength of the level. The points bubbles are perfectly placed for high mulipliers if you play it right, and the rooms are interesting and varied. What I admire most about both VRs is that they require both confident platforming skills, and an ability to think carefully under pressure. It's a bit like solving time puzzle whilst you are platforming. I haven't experienced the room changing problems which a few people have mentioned in this thread, but will be sure to let you know if I do.

Also, not only is this a great and addictive single player experience, but the it really is more the merrier with lots of opportunities for multiplayerness.

I find the look of this level simple and in the style of VR1, but to be honest I've no time to admire the scenery as I'm racing round this level. However, there are a couple of places I could use a little more light, for example in the room with the grab lift on the left.

It's no easy task to make a sequel to a level. It needs to be different enough from the first to be worthwhile, and yet similar enough to still appeal to the same people. For me, this level is both of those things - it is the same frantic race for points but with genuinely new gameplay ideas.
Clarie		2010-02-05 17:22:00

Author:
TheAdipose
Posts: 533

Looks like I've raised the bar yet again.

It's kind of funny how much of a gap there is between the #3 and #4 positions now. We are elite lol! :hero:		2010-02-06 01:23:00

Author:
Gilgamesh
Posts: 2536

I saw that.... *sigh* I'll be back when my thumbs stop swelling 2010-02-06 01:52:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

Hmmmm.... I'll need to look into this - of course it's getting pretty hard to get #1.....2010-02-06 02:40:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

...places that needed a tad of tweaking. The first is the area in the 7th room (i think), where you can either jump on the button to launch yourself to the top of the room, OR you can take the shortcut to the right to get to the end faster. a couple of times i fount myself trying to jump to the shortcut, but shifting into the background instead and getting launched up to the top, which lead to my untimely death If you moved the platform a little further away from the button it would run smoother I think, but that's just my opinion maybe that's what you intended.
OK - I've redesigned this room just ever so slightly to help avoid some of the plane shift issues. Not quite the resolution you proposed, but I think it helps quite a bit.


...nothing to complain about any of them except maybe that the one you need to bounce under some flipper. Sometimes you jump on the button all fine but your sackboy doesn't gather enough momentum to actually push the flipper. But hey, this isn't major. I suppose that you could diminish the bolt sturdyness a liiiiitle bit (unless it break though.)
Done.


However, there are a couple of places I could use a little more light, for example in the room with the grab lift on the left.
OK - I've added a bit more light here, as well as stickering the sponge grab to better fit with the overall theme of the level.



Looks like I've raised the bar yet again.

It's kind of funny how much of a gap there is between the #3 and #4 positions now. We are elite lol! :hero:

I saw that.... *sigh* I'll be back when my thumbs stop swelling
LOL @ you two! Where's CCubbage to defend his title!?
EDIT: Oh, there he is (sneaky little devil)!

Thanks everyone for all the fantastic feedback!

Oh, and @Clarie: Thanks so much for the kind words. As I told you in PM, I had you and Adi in mind when I made some of the multi-player-friendly portions (the chicken switches in the yellow room, in particular). Watching that video of you two playing the last version was very inspirational for me.
2010-02-06 02:53:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

I had you. I had you dead..... then I got squished and lost a ton of points! Argh! 2nd place... 262,076 (CCubbage 1st place 266,355)

Jeez, how do you guys get to 250k+ ??! I'm stuck at 190k, which is 3rd i think, and which I used to think was pretty good lol. but it's still a huge cry from 250. that's just crazy! 		2010-02-08 07:32:00

Author:
Duffluc
Posts: 402

It's ALL about the combos. I'm pulling 21x - 13x combos usually depending on the room. Do this early and often because when it speeds up you won't be able to combo as big. Good Luck and practice!2010-02-08 07:47:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

Yeah, I can generally pull off 250k easily at this point, but from there it can get pretty hectic.

I got totally demoralized on playing this, however.... friday night I was trying to kill the top spot - I got all the way to 290K. My nerves were shot, my hands were sweaty - I was totally spent.... then, something horrible happened - we had a lightning strike on the local power grid and THE POWER SHUT OFF!!!!!!! Since then I've gone in several times but haven't been able to beat my current score. Gilgamesh my be the ultimate winner..... my hat's off to you, sir!		2010-02-08 13:32:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

I was so close last night... I had you beat, Morgana and was well on my way to the top score... had a rhythm going and was just biding my time. Then I got sloppy. And of course, dying robs you of points, so I dropped back under you to take 4th.

Anyway... my 7 days is up. The Spotlight was excellent, and it was a pretty good run, though only about 40% of the plays the first one got, and it only ever made it to page 3. Now, I know this doesn't really matter - I don't play the game or create the levels purely for the accolades and whatnot, but I am getting frustrated with the disparity in quality over success on the darn, so-called "Cool" Pages. Competing with so many poorly executed water/ shark and/or bomb survival levels (some of which have 10's of thousands of plays on day 3)... well, it's just disheartening. Just someday, I'd like to see one of my levels on page 1. [/rant]

Thanks everyone - it really was fun! I am beginning work on VRSC III and 00Sack III. Also don't forget to create a room (or two, or three) for the design contest. If I don't get some more entries, I'll have to cancel it and just give the prize money to WA_delmaw (the only official entrant thus far).		2010-02-08 13:34:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Yeah, I can generally pull off 250k easily at this point, but from there it can get pretty hectic.

I got totally demoralized on playing this, however.... friday night I was trying to kill the top spot - I got all the way to 290K. My nerves were shot, my hands were sweaty - I was totally spent.... then, something horrible happened - we had a lightning strike on the local power grid and THE POWER SHUT OFF!!!!!!! Since then I've gone in several times but haven't been able to beat my current score. Gilgamesh my be the ultimate winner..... my hat's off to you, sir!

Aww shucks, I can't claim that title just because Zeus decided to pull a prank. I'll see if I can beat that score.		2010-02-08 14:47:00

Author:
Gilgamesh
Posts: 2536

I'm trying to get a room done for ya V0rtex but your right. Designing these with a good flow and route options is really an art.

As for high scores - I'm happy enough on the 2x, 3x and 4x boards for now Although if Gilgamesh & CCubbage team up I fear my days on the 2x board would be numbered 		2010-02-08 16:51:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

I don't hold out any hope for getting anywhere near these scores but I will have a lot of explaining to do when Rhy comes home and the washing isn't done, the dishes are still in the sink, the bits are still all over the carpet and the cat hasn't had her tea yet!

I love this level vOrtex, it's brilliant. Now all I have to do is practice NOT playing it!

Icey		2010-02-09 10:26:00

Author:
IceMaiden
Posts: 1057

This level is soooo addictive.

Watched mrv play it at the weekend and thought I'd like to have a go myself. Once you start, you don't want to stop.

mrv and I have played together and got 190,000 between us and I showed it to Icey last night and going by the last comment, we have another addictee!!

Excellent level v0rtex :star::star::star::star::star:		2010-02-09 11:18:00

Author:
mrsvista
Posts: 755

jwwphotos and I keep going back and forth on the scoreboard. Everytime he beat my score I got back on and beat his. Then he'd get me back...then I'd get him back...then he'd get me back...lol I LOVE this level. I don't think I've ever played one so additive. Well done, v0rtex!2010-02-09 18:01:00

Author:
TheCountessZ
Posts: 537

@ Icey, MrsV, and CountessZ: Addictive is what this game is all about, wouldn't you agree!? So glad you all are enjoying my little bit of madness!2010-02-11 07:26:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Muahaha! 288,000 points on 1 player Finally! I actually broke 300,000 but my death brought that total down quite a bit. I think I'm finally done playing this survival challenge for now, till the next one at least (or someone beats my score) OR someone wants to try to help steal the top spot for 2x, 3x, 4x players!

BTW is there a cap on the speed v0rtex? After many laps it started to seem the clock's speed didn't get any faster.		2010-02-11 22:32:00

Author:
Duffluc
Posts: 402

hmmmmm.... methinks the Great Gilgamesh and the Crusher CCubbage will have something to say about this

I don't know if I can get much higher than I've hit. I'm maxing out combos early but it's just a matter of pushing your luck when it get's too fast.... I MIGHT go for another power run but idk. 4th isn't so bad in such illustrious company 		2010-02-11 22:36:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

If they steal it back I might not have the heart to try again lol. At those score levels one play through can take 15 minutes or more, and it's a real demoralizer when you accidentally jump on some spikes / touch that electric circle (grr!) I found that after the first few laps the game changes from "how far you can push the clock" to "can you survive?!" After about 220,000 i just started focusing on getting to the goal, and points became a side effect of that.2010-02-11 22:46:00

Author:
Duffluc
Posts: 402

I found that after the first few laps the game changes from "how far you can push the clock" to "can you survive?!" After about 220,000 i just started focusing on getting to the goal, and points became a side effect of that.

Truer words were never spoken That's the beauty of it though. You can maximize only so much then it's hold on for dear life time and it boils down to skill and luck really..... mostly luck when it really starts kicking.		2010-02-11 23:11:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

Muahaha! 288,000 points on 1 player Finally! I actually broke 300,000 but my death brought that total down quite a bit. I think I'm finally done playing this survival challenge for now, till the next one at least (or someone beats my score) OR someone wants to try to help steal the top spot for 2x, 3x, 4x players!

BTW is there a cap on the speed v0rtex? After many laps it started to seem the clock's speed didn't get any faster.Congrats! You know, I remember telling my beta testers that I thought 300,000 might be possible in this one.

And yes... there is a speed cap. I never wanted it to be cheap. Eventually it stops getting faster and you just have to try and stay alive and gather what points you can.


If they steal it back I might not have the heart to try again lol. At those score levels one play through can take 15 minutes or more, and it's a real demoralizer when you accidentally jump on some spikes / touch that electric circle (grr!) I found that after the first few laps the game changes from "how far you can push the clock" to "can you survive?!" After about 220,000 i just started focusing on getting to the goal, and points became a side effect of that.I know what you mean... I've tried several times to beat the high scores (was 4th - now I guess I'm 5th ), but after making it to 260-270,000, with the timer at max speed, and then dying on a misstep - it's just heartbreaking. I only try once a day now - gone are the days of repeat plays for me.

Glad you've had such a good time with it! The contest entries will be published next, followed by a VRSC3 from yours truly.

So take a break Duffluc... enjoy your Rock Star status and wait for the next Virtual Reality Survival Challenge to come along! 		2010-02-12 03:53:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Phew ! Managed to take top spot in 4 player last night. We were amazed because apart from not usually even being able to play levels with 4 we had been losing the connection all day and getting error game diverged all day. I was half expecting it to crash just before uploading the score but luckily it didn't.

Anyway AlvaroShiokawa, mrsvista, Icemaiden and myself managed to get 382,190. Woot !!		2010-02-12 14:56:00

Author:
mistervista
Posts: 2210

Very nice score! Congrats to all four of you!2010-02-15 07:25:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Me and mrsvista just put up a nice little score in 2 player for you to aim at.

It could have been more but after around 2 and a half hours on the one play and it being after 1am I just died on purpose to get it over with.

I let it get to 900,000 and then suicided which took it down to around 872,000.		2010-02-18 03:07:00

Author:
mistervista
Posts: 2210

Me and mrsvista just put up a nice little score in 2 player for you to aim at.

It could have been more but after around 2 and a half hours on the one play and it being after 1am I just died on purpose to get it over with.

I let it get to 900,000 and then suicided which took it down to around 872,000.

Nice!.....		2010-02-18 05:41:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Wow (lol) Nice one Vistas!2010-02-18 06:12:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

It's weird... when I go look at the high scores, I don't see that. I see a 2-Player high of 435k (also you two as it turns out, lol), and I see Gilgamesh in the 1-Player high (not Duffluc, as it should be). I have noticed this several times - the high scores reverting (presumably only on my local system) back to previous (sometimes weeks old) rankings. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon, or is it just a quirk of my PS3/LBP system?2010-02-19 04:08:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Yes it's been happening to me for weeks now. I just mentioned it on the beta thread actually before I saw your post above. When I finished the level the other day it showed the score straight away but ever since every time I've checked it's showing the old ones. Same with any amount of player scores, I noticed too that with Duffluc being down the list in about 5th or so.

All my hearts on levels and creators disappear every day too and my 'recently played' levels button under community doesn't work either. It just keeps saying 'no results'.
Lots of weird bugs happening recently.		2010-02-19 11:55:00

Author:
mistervista
Posts: 2210

It's weird... when I go look at the high scores, I don't see that. I see a 2-Player high of 435k (also you two as it turns out, lol), and I see Gilgamesh in the 1-Player high (not Duffluc, as it should be). I have noticed this several times - the high scores reverting (presumably only on my local system) back to previous (sometimes weeks old) rankings. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon, or is it just a quirk of my PS3/LBP system?

I had noticed that oddity while playing this level, and also I've noticed it happening on my own level. There is definitely a bug in the scoring system. It's also most definitely not simply reverting to old scoreboards, because I have seen impossible things such as the Top 10 becoming a Top 8 (same scores, but a couple of players completely removed from the scoreboard) and on my own level, every once in a while my own score would show up as 0, even though I had an established score and there was no way to reach the Top 10 with a score of 0.		2010-02-19 12:42:00

Author:
Gilgamesh
Posts: 2536

Well, while it's a relief to know that I'm not losing it, or that my particular level isn't in some way corrupted, it is a disturbing trend of database rooted glitches (I too have trouble with the recently played - it's basically useless, only showing page 1 [though it usually claims many more, I just can't go past page 1], and those only being the levels I've played that day).

BTW - I scored 1,000,000 last night in single player on my level (which was knocked down to 900,000 after I died). Really.








ok - not really		2010-02-19 13:41:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

By the way, I had noticed this too.... at one point I saw Gilgamesh as #1, I played the game, got a lower score.... then noticed a bit later I was #1 on the high score..... but then came back the next day and say his high score up there again. Confusing....2010-02-19 15:18:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Hey folks, I just got top spot on 1 player. Can't remember exactly, but I think it was about 344,000 ish.2010-02-21 13:03:00

Author:
mrsvista
Posts: 755

Hey folks, I just got top spot on 1 player. Can't remember exactly, but I think it was about 344,000 ish.
Oh my - the Vistas have taken over the VR Survival Challenge. You two should go see if you can't topple the masters in the original as well!

Congrats on the great score. I have tried a few times to beat my personal best (~250k) but have utterly failed. You have now set the bar ridiculously high. Nice job!		2010-02-21 13:45:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Sorry and thanks. :blush:

I am totally and utterly addicted to your level v0rtex. Just got the 3 player to sort out now!!! 		2010-02-21 16:14:00

Author:
mrsvista
Posts: 755

Hey just a little bump to let y'all know that I've released a redux of the first two challenges:

Virtual Reality Survival Challenge 2.5 (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=23625-Virtual-Reality-Survival-Challenge-v2-5-by-v0rtex2002)

Have run at it, if you like. It's mostly recycled rooms, so I chose not open a new showcase thread for it. 		2010-03-09 03:06:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878


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