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The Castle Of Mad King Dane

Archive: 12 posts

Hello everyone, this is my first post here at LBPcentral. I have only created 3 levels, one was an unpublished "birthday card" for my wife made by myself and our two kids. The second was a published level dedicated to the birth of our third child. I am severely a n00b at this, but have spent a lot of time on this third level, The Castle Of Mad King Dane.

The Castle Of Mad King Dane is an easy platformer with a somewhat simple boss battle at the end. It was a learning experience for me in LBP creation and was a blast to create. What's more is my kids were amazed that I actually made when I let them play it.

I hope you enjoy it.

-logga
http://lbp.me/v/xkw42q		2011-02-09 18:50:00

Author:
loggahead
Posts: 6

First off, you are no noob at this, I have played some terrible levels with over 15k plays and this was better than many of those. I really liked it. It seemed like the movies were maybe a few seconds too long, don't want to lose the attention of some kid with add too fast, I would use a material and the destroyer for whatever you were using the dissolve material for, makes those things not stand out. Also, when in the water and trying to scrounge all the points I ran down to 4 seconds of air before I got to the bubbles, perhaps another bubble source, unless you meant for that to happen. Other than that great job, keep at it!2011-02-09 19:32:00

Author:
Birquah
Posts: 17

First off, you are no noob at this, I have played some terrible levels with over 15k plays and this was better than many of those. I really liked it. It seemed like the movies were maybe a few seconds too long, don't want to lose the attention of some kid with add too fast, I would use a material and the destroyer for whatever you were using the dissolve material for, makes those things not stand out. Also, when in the water and trying to scrounge all the points I ran down to 4 seconds of air before I got to the bubbles, perhaps another bubble source, unless you meant for that to happen. Other than that great job, keep at it!

YES! Thanks so much for the feedback!

The material destroyer... I never thought of that! Thanks! I haven't liked using the dissolve material because of it sticking out like a sore thumb. Im going to change those over. Can I make edits to a published level or do I have to edit my "moon" version and then republish?

Also, I have another question. I stretched out the movie where King Dane starts the "donkey kong" section to allow the logs time to roll down to the players. Any ideas of how I could change that mechanic so I could shorten the movie? I toyed with emitters on each level that spit out the logs but I felt it cheapened the experience I...

Thanks again, creating is an intimidating task and I appreciate the encouragement and feedback. I qued up Wailing Caverns and will return the favor!		2011-02-09 19:59:00

Author:
loggahead
Posts: 6

I've made some changes based on recommendations and republished with the following tweaks/additions:

- Replaced my dissolve material components with regular materials and used material destroyers to destroy them as needed
- Found a way to stop the player sensor from replaying the bridge sound effects after the bridge had fallen
- Used an emitter to create Princess Pupcake so that she now respawns without the need to use the game ender
- Tweaked various camera angles in cutscenes
- Changed Princess Pupcake's costume to better match my 4yr old daughter's vision of her
- Added some more score bubbles
- You now get points when your bombs blow holes in the castle wall on your way to the scoreboard

Hope you enjoy the polish!

-logga		2011-02-16 21:02:00

Author:
loggahead
Posts: 6

Impressive first level. cant wait what u can do when u get pro!

https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=49396-Raiders-of-the-Last-Couric		2011-02-16 21:09:00

Author:
Unknown User

Q'ed the level2011-02-17 04:21:00

Author:
Hoplyte
Posts: 100

I found it pretty slick. It's short and sweet with a nice risk reward system (I really gotta learn to swim gently near bombs - darn multiplier temptations). I loved the princess/castle gag (no spoilers from me) and the kong parody. As you say you're a noob there's not much I can suggest as this worked so well. It's a small niggle but the princess couldn't get quite high enough to jump over the holes left by the bomb blasts (I had to pop a couple of times to go fetch her) - perhaps chucking an anti-gravity tweaker onto her microchip would allow her to jump higher. Great job overall though!
Appreciate it if you found time to F4F my 'Dark Heart of the Wood' level.		2011-02-17 11:27:00

Author:
Tanuki75
Posts: 172

Thanks for the feedback Tanuki!

I've noticed the jumping issue while escaping as well. I had intended for the players to help her escape at the bottom level of the castle (thats why I scripted the camera to show the bottom level when she mentions how to escape). Its easy to escape there because of the abscence of jumpers and it being flat ground.

I toyed with the idea of maybe destroying the jumpers? Wait, that wouldn't work because of the chance that you may have to go back up to get the princess is she gets popped... hmmm.... I like the idea of the gravity tweaker for her... maybe that'll work. I'll give that a shot! I guess I could also look at repositioning the jumpers to be on the flat area and see if that helps?

I qued up Dark Heart and played a little of it. I didn't have enough time to finish it. I will go back through it as soon as I get some time and leave soem feedback!		2011-02-18 18:57:00

Author:
loggahead
Posts: 6

Just like I said in the review in-game, this was a lot better than you let on. Didn't feel like a so-called kiddie level.

My level is at http://lbp.me/v/xqgfb4		2011-02-19 12:49:00

Author:
Hoplyte
Posts: 100

Thanks guys!

Tanuki, I really like Dark Heart of The Wood! I like the unique setting and the creative look to it. Very moody. I also thought the gondola falling in the water to then have a pixie flying around the candle was awesome. Oh and the paddleboats... they were sweet! Did you make those?

I liked your unique vision of exploration.

-logga		2011-02-25 18:16:00

Author:
loggahead
Posts: 6

Again, thanks for all of the feedback guys! Hoplyte, I qued your level.

I've reposted Mad King Dane with some more additions/changes/polish:

- Made new creatures and got rid of the Mm created assets (King Dane is my only modified Mm asset now). My son said he wanted more creatures, so I made him some.
- Replaced the two bats and the snake with said creatures
- Modified the castle section to make it more interesting by adding original creatures and changing the rolling logs.
- Due to people trying to blast the castle wall from areas other than ground level, I put wood shielding in to force players to escape where the cutscene shows
- Added some polish here and there in the basement and castle sections in the way of decorations, stickers, etc.

Anyhow, I spent a good deal of time on the new creatures I made, I hope you like them! I'm somewhat proud of them. Let me know what you think!

-logga		2011-02-25 18:30:00

Author:
loggahead
Posts: 6

I liked it. It is really polished. Only problem I had was a small one. The princess would lag behind a little and I would have to go back for her.2011-02-26 17:35:00

Author:
OrangeTroz
Posts: 90


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