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Mayan Sane Temple

Archive: 27 posts

Hi Everyone,

I've just published my fifth level, "Mayan Sane Temple" (no quotes), which represents close to 80 hours of work & testing. I consider it to be my best level so far. I spent an inordinate amount of time ensuring the experience melds with the soundtrack.

There are a few sidequests and score challenges, which are completely optional - if you want the points, you'll do them, if not, you can breeze through the level in about nine minutes. There is 2x section, as well as a key hidden in the maze that unlocks a related challenge stage.

Spoiler Warning!
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Here are a few screenshots:

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/renderfx/Mayan%20Sane%20Temple/Mayan12.jpg

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/renderfx/Mayan%20Sane%20Temple/Mayan15.jpg

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/renderfx/Mayan%20Sane%20Temple/Mayan16.jpg

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/renderfx/Mayan%20Sane%20Temple/Mayan18.jpg

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/renderfx/Mayan%20Sane%20Temple/Mayan20.jpg

Level Name: Mayan Sane Temple
PSN ID: RenderFX
Location: South America		2008-11-25 04:53:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

I like the look of it, seems pretty well done... I'll give it a shot whenever possible.2008-11-25 19:56:00

Author:
aer0blue
Posts: 1603

Hey I played your level, extremely well polished, good job man, really.
I loved the area with the snakes, even though it didnt really pose a challenge, it still looked cool		2008-11-26 00:45:00

Author:
Gondito
Posts: 1082

How-ho-how did you make that snake?!
Also if you write it like this...
my insane temple

LOLZOLZOZLZOZL		2008-11-26 01:02:00

Author:
Unknown User

That looks like a nice level - I will try it.

How do you get such good quality pics from the screen - do u have a screen capture type thing? I would love to put some pics of my level up so people can see it and make them want to play..... - u are welcome to try. Its called Monkey in the Jungle.		2008-11-26 01:09:00

Author:
chillum007
Posts: 228

absolutely awesome level. I even made a thread on another forum recommending it.

http://forums.littlebigworkshop.com/lbp/board/message?board.id=promozone&thread.id=3933

if you dont mind I will be using the screenshots you have posted here		2008-11-26 01:45:00

Author:
tyboogie
Posts: 96

Wow, I can tell how much work you put into this, it's astonishing. I'm going to heart and five star it, I may even tell some of my friends about it!2008-11-26 01:52:00

Author:
BlueSpike
Posts: 20

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I really appreciate it. I'll try to answer everything in one post.

I had to force myself to make it easy enough for anyone to complete, but tough enough that hardcore players will have a hard time collecting every bubble and getting the combos for them - for some, you only get one chance per play.

There will be more content added to the level, including at least three more challenge keys.

The screenshots are frames taken from the video. Scaling them down to 1/3 resolution removes most of the pixelation from the TV screen. When taking screen videos, it's best to lower the exposure a few steps.

Yes, the name is a pun for 'My Insane Temple'. And, while it did take close to 80 hours, a lot of that time was spent fixing things that self-destructed when I wasn't looking. I even had to revert to older backups a few times.

It's really kind of sad creators have to resort to viral marketing to get plays, since the cool levels feature still doesn't really work. Almost every play on this level so far has come from forums & YouTube. So, thanks for spreading the word. 		2008-11-26 17:55:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

I played it, and it is a lot of fun.2008-11-26 19:15:00

Author:
Walter-Kovacs
Posts: 542

Awesome awesome level! Recommend this to anyone and everyone.2008-11-27 00:28:00

Author:
Neverynnal
Posts: 374

Update: I've tweaked a few things, added a few aesthetic elements, introduced some randomness, and republished.2008-11-28 15:10:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

WOW THAT IS A REALLY NICE LEVEL but i have to say, how did you manage to get the water effect at the very end of your level, it was really cool, and i mean like really cool
congrats man on the nice level

Cheers!		2008-11-28 21:10:00

Author:
RAINFIRE
Posts: 1101

Umm, how in the hell did you make that awesome water effect? Like seriously I want to know, I could use it!!2008-11-28 21:14:00

Author:
Whalio Cappuccino
Posts: 5250

The water itself is just a few rotating discs with stickers. The mist is a combination of toxic gas and a low boost rocket hidden behind the stone.2008-11-28 21:33:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

G-Ge-Genius!!!2008-11-28 21:35:00

Author:
Whalio Cappuccino
Posts: 5250

Congrats on making community spotlight. You definetly deserve it. ;P2008-11-29 02:07:00

Author:
UmJammerSully
Posts: 1097

Just finished it, Awesome level by the way, no seriously it was one of the best levels I have played. Lots of replay value, unfortunately not for me because I got everything ( I think so ) on my first run, I even got the secrect challenge key or whatever it is. 10/10 From me, and an awesome waterfall or whatever, cool fishy too...


EDIT: Never mind, got 66%... Wow what am I missing?		2008-11-29 04:21:00

Author:
Whalio Cappuccino
Posts: 5250

Just finished it, Awesome level by the way, no seriously it was one of the best levels I have played. Lots of replay value, unfortunately not for me because I got everything ( I think so ) on my first run, I even got the secrect challenge key or whatever it is. 10/10 From me, and an awesome waterfall or whatever, cool fishy too...


EDIT: Never mind, got 66%... Wow what am I missing?

66%... Did you complete the 2x section?

There will be more items to collect later on. Right now I'm working on an additional two locked challenges, with keys that will be added as soon as they're published.		2008-11-29 06:44:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

Oh yeah, I didn't do that, well I guess I get everything that's for single player then. I really liked how you had to get the key. Very, very clever 2008-11-29 06:51:00

Author:
Whalio Cappuccino
Posts: 5250

Congrats on making community spotlight. You definetly deserve it. ;P

Likewise!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update:

I've added a shortcut near the beginning that allows you to bypass the mini-maze and go straight to the temple. Obviously, if you take that route, you won't be setting any high scores. It's there mainly for convenience while trying to collect prizes.

The two additional challenge levels were nearly complete. Then, my save data corrupted and took my progress, levels, objects, and stickers with it. grr So, I've played through the game again to unlock (most) everything, and will be trying to recreate them this week.		2008-12-05 09:29:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

Awesome stuff, though some parts do feel a bit repetitive. The maze at the beginning is quite long. Also, the one sidequest part where you snake upwards in the narrow corridor is not really too much fun - zero challenge, but still takes a while.

The presentation of the level is awesome. Truly top notch - on par with the MM levels. I guess the biggest problem is that it is really quite very long, without much variation between segments. Therefore it's an excellent level and I envy your ability to make the levels look and feel this cool, but the gameplay elements could use a bit of improvement.

Note that I'm fairly critical in my assesments, so don't misunderstand; I truly admire the level. Awesome job - I need to check out the rest of your levels and your future stuff. 		2008-12-05 10:02:00

Author:
Linque
Posts: 607

Awesome stuff, though some parts do feel a bit repetitive. The maze at the beginning is quite long.

I felt the maze was slightly repetitive (after going through it too many times to count), which is why I added the shortcut. But, if you look at it from the observation deck of the new shortcut, you'll see it's actually a very small maze. There are only a few places you can make a wrong turn and not notice immediately. The player also knows the exit is at the top, which makes it much simpler to solve. I think it takes 12 sponge grabs to get out of it. The real point to the maze is to find your way to the key; and something else I won't mention.


Also, the one sidequest part where you snake upwards in the narrow corridor is not really too much fun - zero challenge, but still takes a while.

The challenge there is to get all the bubbles in one combo. If you succeed, it goes really quickly (a few seconds)...and the jumps are in sync with the music. It's possible to run the entire time - see the video (page 1). It's optional, so you don't have to do it. The 'trick' is to jump while running towards the wall, then bounce off the wall back into another run on the next level.



The presentation of the level is awesome. Truly top notch - on par with the MM levels. I guess the biggest problem is that it is really quite very long, without much variation between segments. Therefore it's an excellent level and I envy your ability to make the levels look and feel this cool, but the gameplay elements could use a bit of improvement.

I'm trying to keep the gameplay simple so the level serves as more of a gateway to the harder challenge stages via the hidden keys.


Note that I'm fairly critical in my assesments, so don't misunderstand; I truly admire the level. Awesome job - I need to check out the rest of your levels and your future stuff.

No, I really appreciate the feedback. Once you've seen your own level so many times it's easy to lose the player's perspective. It's still very much a work in progress - progress made difficult by the constant 100% thermometer warnings. I just spent an hour simplifying meshes before I could add the shortcut. So, while I can't implement or fix everything I'd like to, I can keep these things in mind for new levels.		2008-12-05 17:04:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

Wow, just wow. Honestly one of the best levels I've seen!2008-12-07 20:28:00

Author:
Karma_Cat
Posts: 35

holy....wow this level looks really really good! ill check it out and give feedback asap 2008-12-07 23:54:00

Author:
xbriandeadx
Posts: 134

Wow, just wow. Honestly one of the best levels I've seen!


holy....wow this level looks really really good! ill check it out and give feedback asap

Thanks for the kind words.

On another note, I've just published "Mayan Credible Challenge" for those who get the key by completing the 30 Second Challenge atop the Temple. It's a more difficult version of that challenge, which, when executed correctly, has a great flow. I haven't really touched on aesthetics yet, but the gameplay is solid. Don't hesitate, Don't Panic, Don't Fall.		2008-12-08 18:47:00

Author:
RenderFX
Posts: 22

I'm sure you already know I love your levels, but I just played this on on Sunday night, and it was pretty darned amazing. Keep up the great work!2008-12-10 04:12:00

Author:
xkappax
Posts: 2569

I just ran across this level while playing online and it's FANTASTIC!! I was headed straight here to let everyone know they should check it out and thought I'd check to see if you were a member or if it was already posted... good thing I did.

Anyways, I think it's just a stellar level! I played for quite some time and only got 45%... sad but true. Later this weekend I think I'll go back and see if I can do better.

Cheers!		2009-02-01 07:41:00

Author:
Rustbukkit
Posts: 1737


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