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The Machines That Feed on Our Dreams

Archive: 36 posts

The Machines That Feed on Our Dreamsskumchunk
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n499/breel1/DSC00207.jpgIn the land of the machines, great power is given to those who are willing to follow the rules without question.
What happens when the rules are broken?

I've been working on this level for a LONG time. It's been a labor of love that I started on over a year ago.
I was having trouble with slowdown, but I think it's ironed out for the most part.
Please let me know what you think of it.


Image Gallery (http://s1136.photobucket.com/albums/n499/breel1/)		2010-12-27 18:17:00

Author:
skumchunk
Posts: 57

This looks fantastic, exactly the kind of levels I intended to play when I bought the game. I'll give it a try!2010-12-27 18:45:00

Author:
Oddmania
Posts: 1305

i just finished your level and i have to say...OMG THAT WAS AWESOME! >9000 stars!...actually just 5
this level is incredible. i'm going to go put it on recomendations right now!

for F4F: ginormo burger or zombie survival. 		2010-12-27 18:49:00

Author:
harbingernaut
Posts: 126

I liked it a lot too! The character design is really cute and the whole level design is very neat and stylish. Your style is awesome, and I hope I'll get to see more levels from you. Keep up the good work!2010-12-27 19:19:00

Author:
Oddmania
Posts: 1305

This was a really great level. I loved the art style, I thought there was a very good use of stickers (especially the ones you made; I really liked those smiley faces), and the characters were very charming. Even when they were just silhouettes they had a lot of personality. I thought the platforming was above average, but it got repetitive in some parts. I felt that area where there are little robot turrets shooting plasma at you and you use the paintinator to take them out could have been greatly improved if each turret was a little more difficult to combat than the last.
That being said, I still gave the level :star::star::star::star::star: and a <3.		2010-12-27 23:24:00

Author:
Doc_Rockefeller
Posts: 7

Great level - I did get frustrated that no check point after the hook swingy bit and before the moving floors - I kept dying and having to go back trough it again, similar spot in the beginning - but that's more probably me being crap at jumping. I love the dark eclectic style. Would have been good to see some effect on the robot as each of the emotions were turned off. Good mix of different challenges especially for each of the 4 feelings areas.

I found the boss very easy - too much so - i could hit it easily standing on the first platform and jump very rarely if the odd plasma ball came at me. The lit coloured world at the end didn't feel quite as amazing as it seemed in the dark, perhaps a greater contrast needed.

Please F4F Lost Christmas Tree Angel (http://lbp.me/v/vnzt8p)		2010-12-28 01:13:00

Author:
Unknown User

I just played this in LBP2 beta... and I was thinking it was too LBP1y for an actual LBP2 level Still, it was awesome and epic and stuff so yeah.2010-12-28 01:19:00

Author:
RockSauron
Posts: 10882

I just played this in LBP2 beta... and I was thinking it was too LBP1y for an actual LBP2 level Still, it was awesome and epic and stuff so yeah.

I nervously loaded it up in the Beta this morning because I was have some issues with it yesterday. I wanted to see if it would run better in LBP2. (it did actually)
Now that it seems to be resolved and functioning in LBP1 I'm going to use the one in the Beta to try out the new tools.
Is there any word on how long the Beta will be going yet?		2010-12-28 01:32:00

Author:
skumchunk
Posts: 57

Great level!

I loved the atmosphere, reminded me of the book "The Doom Machine". The robots were fantastic, and I loved the absence of color in the level. It actually added a lot to it. At the beginning of the level, the trees were sorta poorly corner edited, but that might have been the look you were going for. The gameplay elements really weren't anything special, but they were good enough to keep me wanting to explore the fantastic world you built.

Please F4F my level, Prisoners of the Deep. It's in my signature.		2010-12-28 13:50:00

Author:
Jaslow
Posts: 775

I really liked this level a lot when I played it last night. The lighting and color, and the hand-drawn style of the robots and the tubes and what-not went really well with the story and theme. I sent you a PSN messege about one possible issue (that a noob might have) with the level. Five stars for sure, thanks for the great level!2010-12-28 18:48:00

Author:
JakePutz
Posts: 92

Okay so i played your level....... It was terrible and let me tell you why. This level was way too detailed for my eyes. You put so much creativity into the design which was stupid and you had obstacles that were very cool. So terrible. It was also bad because the plot to your level was too original and too interesting. Overall i hated it because it was sooooooo fun! I rated it :star::star::star::star::star: and gave it a <3 because it was soo terribly awesome!!!

LOL

The F4F levels are in my link		2010-12-28 22:17:00

Author:
Unknown User

This level was great!

I'm not really one for feedback, reviewing isn't really my thing, but this was the first level I played today, all nice and ready, sitting in my queue, and I LOVED IT!

Okay, the things needed for a good level-

Robots? Check.
Atmosphere? Check.
Rhyming? Check.

Ticks all of my boxes!		2010-12-28 23:57:00

Author:
tomodon246
Posts: 624

Okay so i played your level....... It was terrible and let me tell you why. This level was way too detailed for my eyes. You put so much creativity into the design which was stupid and you had obstacles that were very cool. So terrible. It was also bad because the plot to your level was too original and too interesting. Overall i hated it because it was sooooooo fun! I rated it and gave it a because it was soo terribly awesome!!!

Haha! I agree! I loved the lighting, really good look. The camera angles throughout it made it look kind of 2D, which in my opinion, was pretty cool. It was great that there was actually a story, about time people start using actual characters and such in levels! Also I noticed you even named your stickers! Talk about Bonus Points! Just the little things like that made this level so great, like those lines on the tubes, quite cool.

Overall :star::star::star::star::star: from me! Good job!

F4F: If you could please check out one of the levels in my signature, don't mind which, I'd love it! 		2010-12-29 04:21:00

Author:
Jayhawk_er
Posts: 403

:star::star::star::star::star: and <3'd
absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED the gradiential art style. stunning. Especially the depth you get with the 2d layers. I really hated the part with the Paintinator and the robots shooting down at you, took me 10 minutes lmao. Great level.

Also, try my level Sackbot Costume Tutorial (PRIZES INCLUDED) too. 		2010-12-29 04:58:00

Author:
nunsmasher
Posts: 247

just played it :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: and <3, just wow, it had some awesome visuals
play my level F4F, 365 days of escaping high school		2010-12-30 17:37:00

Author:
wait wtf
Posts: 853

Thanks for the positive reviews!

Last night I added a few checkpoints and tried to adjust things in such a way that hopefully helps avoid the problem some have had getting stuck by the elevator.

I'm trying to come up with some clever ways to get rid of some moving objects. That's the only thing I can think of to help cut down on some lag.

How crippling is the lag issue? I'd love some feedback on that subject before I add too much more to the level.

I'm also trying to think of a way to make the boss fight a little more interesting. I just need to come up with a way that doesn't involve MORE movement.

I better quit typing now and get to some F4Fs!
2010-12-30 19:22:00

Author:
skumchunk
Posts: 57

Great level :star::star::star::star::star: and <3

One suggestion though. I noticed most of the level was just glass that wasn't colored. It would be great if you could color the glass, then it would look even more fantastic.

p.s. I didn't have any lag issues, and I was playing with 2 other people. maybe it's just some other connection problems.

No Feedback Required. :3		2010-12-30 19:27:00

Author:
wolverine_2008
Posts: 304

I played this level yesterday, I loved it, I hearted it, gave it 5 stars and tagged it beautiful. You show alot of promise, I hearted you aswell, I bet you'll come up with some really artistic and awesome things in time. I Like the platforming in the level, not many artistic levels have complex gameplay but this one was good, I loved the silhoute factory style (You made me delete a level I was making XD) but no hard feeling, this was way better than the one i was making anyways .


Other than that great job, Idk F4F works XD but if you can play my levels, then thanks ^_____^		2010-12-30 19:38:00

Author:
Bloo_boy
Posts: 1019

Great level :star::star::star::star::star: and <3

One suggestion though. I noticed most of the level was just glass that wasn't colored. It would be great if you could color the glass, then it would look even more fantastic.

p.s. I didn't have any lag issues, and I was playing with 2 other people. maybe it's just some other connection problems.

No Feedback Required. :3

I'll look into the colored glass thing.
As long as the thermo isn't full is it possible to have too many stickers?
Just about all of the detail in the level comes from various stickers.		2010-12-30 19:40:00

Author:
skumchunk
Posts: 57

This level was really good! I really liked the artistic style, and the rhyming and story were great! The varied gameplay was fun and original, although the boss was a paint gun boss which isn't horribly original, but it was still good.

Great level! 5 stars! F4F: Fight for Justice... link is in my sig.		2011-01-02 16:56:00

Author:
SackRacer77
Posts: 153

One of my favorite levels. The art for it is great, the somewhat of a story, the characters, even the prize bubbles. I especially loved the the black and white though, for some reason, it just makes levels a whole lot better in my opinion. The assistant reminded me a lot of Fawful from Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, which is good. :J
Only thing I could say that would really help you is sequel.

and F4F for Light at the End of the Tunnel, please.		2011-01-02 23:42:00

Author:
Tupandactylus
Posts: 10

This level was a real pleasure to play, it was fun and just the right level of difficulty. I loved the custom made stickers and the sepia tones. Great concept and dialogue, nice smooth lag free game play with good direction for the player. Loved the change to daylight at the end and the music choice too. No negatives, only positives. :star::star::star::star::star: and hearted. Great job!.

For F4F please play Little Big Noise.		2011-01-03 00:22:00

Author:
Destiny_Waits
Posts: 49

I love this level. The artwork is superb and the platforming is fun. Plus, I got 7th on the scoreboard! Woot!

5 star and a heart.		2011-01-03 00:50:00

Author:
Dorktron2000
Posts: 33

F4F
Hi there, i played your level a couple of days ago after adding to my queue, and it was an absolute blast to play, i loved the look of the robots, cute, and very original, as with the the two villains, i found them very humourous. All the machines and contraptions complimented the level very well.
Overall, i gave your level :star::star::star::star::star: and <3 as i see alot of hardwork went into it, well done.
Could you do F4F on my 'Union Freight' level in my sig. thanks 		2011-01-03 15:24:00

Author:
Blanchrocker
Posts: 142

Great level, the art design was fantastic. I've played a lot of silhouette levels but you brought something really special to this visuals and characters with this one, I loved it.2011-01-03 15:30:00

Author:
julesyjules
Posts: 1156

Oh right, I did play this level so why shouldn't I leave feedback (because everyone loves feedback, yay)

First off, the art style is just brilliant, I really do like the design of... well, pretty much everything in this level. The two silhouette guys are very simple but yet they seem to have very deep personalities. Then there are the robots in this level and I have to say those look really awesome, great use of stickering
The four challenges you had in the one part (with the four faces) were well made and kinda gave the player a little freedom although it still isn't too free but just enough to give the player a feel of non-linear gameplay.
Gameplay was fairly challenging but nowhere near impossible and yet not too easy. The boss seemed a bit easy but that can also be because I was playing with a friend. I like how the level ends, taking you out of that gray world into a really happy and colorful world.

I wasn't the one hosting the game session so I didn't get to rate this level but it is definately worth five stars

For F4F you could try my level Cool guys don't look at explosions, a link is in my sig 		2011-01-03 17:44:00

Author:
napero7
Posts: 1653

Hey man this level was great. The original art design is what really made it shine. Keep up the good work...well worth the long time you spent on it. Thanks!2011-01-04 02:38:00

Author:
Lockstitch
Posts: 415

Wow ok, a perfect run of 5 star reviews.
There has to be something wrong with it! /jokes

...

Ok, yeah, it was pretty good. The asymmetrical pipes and stuff were interesting.
My only critiques are that the boss is too easy, and the ending scenery looks below average when compared to the silhouette parts.
Great work.		2011-01-05 06:35:00

Author:
midnight_heist
Posts: 2513

With the release of the latest Spotlight I was able to see this level. I played through a few times and enjoyed the set design, the stylized art design, the character models and the challenge of the level.

It is fun to see a level with a consistent and unique art style and I think that the squiggly, curvy haphazard lettering and architecture can be a hard thing to pull off well in LBP levels over the straight lines and angles approach. You've done a good job with the stickering and artwork and the level set design is very minimalistic yet still sets the atmosphere and character of the environment well.

Your character models for the robots is also clean and easy to identify with and the antagonists are simple and iconic.

The platforming challenge curve was fairly well done as well with a steady increase in challenge and complexity from start to finish though I don't think it was ever very hard in any particular area. The bosses and paintinator obstacles can be a bit easy but this isn't a strong negative matter. The length of the level seems a bit of a weak point, it is almost too long for the relaxed, smooth pace the level sets up.

The pacing is tied to the length part I just raised as the level has a nice clean flow from section to section for the first 3/4ths of the level. Each challenge is set up in sections that are not too far apart nor too close together until you reach the four challenge zones before the final boss. The player's focus and flow gets a bit bifurcated/scattered playing through the hub section for a while before any forward progress can resume.

This isn't a real problem in the level but it did stand out as I played through the level a few times last night.

I had fun with the level, I think it sets up an interesting story and environment without a lot of intrusive, motion stopping cut-scenes and text. The set design is different enough to be refreshing and fun.

Good work on this level. Cheers		2011-01-12 18:07:00

Author:
Trindall
Posts: 297

Hey i played your level and i found amazing and i must say that is one of the best I've played lately in LBP, i love the layout, colors, the characters, obstacles, enemies and the boss at all surprising if , you had a great idea and you could represent the best possible way, is clean and harmonizing.

It is a wonder to us players to see and play this kind of levels as cool, fun, and original game play, thank you for making your time a great example for many artists and making re-think that love LBP.

Of course you have :star::star::star::star::star: and <3
I hope to play my level https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=43323-Steam-inc and return the fedback. thanks 		2011-01-13 16:49:00

Author:
psyntens
Posts: 562

Ok, it's been a long while since I've wanted to immediately log off LBP and come on LBPC to do a real, full review a level after playing it, but I had to with this one. I don't want to gas you up, but you guys did something really special here. This level is interactive art, and the rare instance where art games are actually fun. A masterpiece of cartooning and sensible level design.

It brought back a lot of subtle memories of so many of my favorite levels from the past two years of LBP. The witty, engaging and humorous characters of sighwhatever's 'sackboy's inferno' series, the silhouetted glass and dystopian menace storytelling of JonMartin's 'Little Big Apocalypse', the cartoon precision and tastefully colored modest sticker work of BlackToof's 'The Artist's World', the noble feeling of fighting the future and perspective/scale 'drawing the eye' horizon techniques in mrsupercomputer's 'Manufactured Madness', the smart point and platform placements of Allurian's 'Things that Go Bump in the Night' and the ease of assymetrical line work of jump_buttons 'Black and White Planet' series. By no means was it derivative, though, it was totally unique, genuine and peerless. So take those comparisons of my years of fun on LBP1 for what they're worth. It also doesn't follow any of the latest trends in level design to where I immediately think 'oh he got that from [so and so], but didn't do it as good'

It's worth mentioning too, that with the coming of music sequencers and original scores in LBP2, that I don't think any level's ever fit the Tricky Business music so well.

Unlike alot of silhouette or filter effects, this wasn't visual trickery or a disguise for poor craftsmanship and an inability to balance material types, lighting and sticker work. It came off as an intentional design choice with a clear vision and the design ideals and personality to take full advantage of it. The gameplay flowed beautifully, in terms of point placement, ease of movement and platforming. No frustration, no layer changing mishaps, no inconsistency in scale or proportion. Nothing relied on the glitches and tools that have become a fundamental crux of creation over the last year either, with thin-thick, therm cheats etcetera. There was so many smart design choices, from the use of thin layers to create the illusion of a fully modeled three plane spike on most of the crushing hazards, that also complimented the parallaxed art style. Even the geometry of the terrain was a thermo efficient choice that benefits the level's frame rate, that also fit with the offkilter box make of the characters and sticker cut outs. No cornering madness, just a lift and bump here and there to keep it lively. Nothing was slathered in decorations, or over saturated with lighting, and layers upon layers, so nothing ever lagged at all. That made wanting to ace it, and try to maximize point opportunities actually compelling, worthwhile, and never based on luck. That's a trait you usually only see in more basic skills-based platformer levels, and rarely in artistic, story driven levels.

I thought the difficulty of everything, the variety in obstacles was perfect. Even the boss. Easy to die if you don't care, but easy to ace if you just sit up straight and move a few times. That's very MM-style fundamental. I like that it wasn't a hulking logic showcase of confusing behavior patterns and sometimes unavoidable attacks. It fit with the stress free, but never pandering flow of the level. Wonderful ending, in how it played itself out. A structural collapse, with no blaring alarms to annoy, your nemesis being finished off in a 'cartoon mischief' way that reminded me of Oddworld's corporate Glukkons, and a long stylized drop into a serene placid body of water. A perfect curve of a sandbank to waltz up, and a great lowered cam shot from under the water... and then day breaks, the smiles show their true colors and even in daylight the art style and design still fits... and the good old Garden's music starts playing, as LBP1's final chapters start to close.

You might have made one of my all time favorite levels. I was hoping I'd see something like this before 2 finally came out.		2011-01-13 19:00:00

Author:
Unknown User

Thanks a lot for the awesome feedback everyone!

I just published a pretty extensive update to the level in LBP2.
Many seemed to think the boss was a bit dull, so I tried to make it a little more difficult. I'm nowhere near as good at boss fights as some in this community, but hopefully he's a little bit more interesting.
The lag issues that some mentioned seem to be addressed now. I put a shiny new level link in the middle so there aren't so many moving parts in one level.
I also got rid of the tilting platforms that quite frankly bored the heck out of me and replaced them with something that's hopefully a bit more fun.
I added a few bounce pads that I thought livened things up a little bit as well as some new music and effects.

I should mention that this version is called: The Machines That Feed on Our Dreams - LBP2 Edition
It's the only version of the level that is playable in LBP2.
I marked the original version as "LBP1 only" to avoid confusion.

I'm pretty happy actually with how this level has turned out, and I know that has a lot to do with the feedback that I've gotten here, both positive and critical.
As always I'd greatly appreciate any feedback on the changes that I've made.
Here's a link (http://lbp.me/v/xdpnwq) to the new version's lbp.me page. Please check it out when you get a chance.

Thanks everyone! 		2011-02-05 05:42:00

Author:
skumchunk
Posts: 57

Amazing! The atmosphere really looks like a Factory, it's fun and nice to play. 5 Stars!
If You want, please leave feedback for my Temple of Molten Flame level.		2011-02-05 20:01:00

Author:
Flame Dragon
Posts: 312

Amazing! The atmosphere really looks like a Factory, it's fun and nice to play. 5 Stars!
If You want, please leave feedback for my Temple of Molten Flame level.

Thanks for the input! I'm glad you got the factory vibe that I was going for. I'll queue up your level and check it out later.

I finished another update a few minutes ago in the LBP2 version that replaces the "Donkey Kong-like" area just before the level link. I've gotten a few complaints about it and also noticed that many players don't finish the level and I had a feeling this section was to blame.

I watched <3lynstigator<3 play it and realized that it may stop some from finishing.
Anyhow, I changed it a little and hope it's less frustrating now.		2011-02-06 22:30:00

Author:
skumchunk
Posts: 57

Oh wow, LBP2 edition! This was probably one of the best levels on LBP1 I've ever played, can't wait for this. Queued.2011-02-08 15:55:00

Author:
kirbyman62
Posts: 1893

Funny story and characters, super gameplay, awesome visuals.
I loved it! I'm really excited!

The only thing to suggest: Maybe here and there some more cameras. Sometimes you walk and just see yourself until the next camera activates. I would like to look at something while I'm walking!

Yay and a heart!

F4F: https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=48028-The-Forest-of-Dreams-Wake-Up-!		2011-02-12 12:43:00

Author:
RedShadow_88
Posts: 100


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