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Rubik's Tube by comphermc

Archive: 49 posts

Hey guys! My new level is finally finished. It's called Rubik's Tube (thanks for the name, bagheadinc)! This one only took a month to build, so I'm pretty happy with it, overall. It's not really an easy level, so be warned! To get the most out of it, see if you can't collect all 25 hidden orbs. If you find at least 20, you'll be given a sticker that unlocks a Race Mode.

Link: http://lbp.me/v/0bz7d5

The story is super simple. You accidentally overload a facility and you have to race through to fix your mistake. Expect lots of tubes and bounce pads in this fast-paced puzzle/platformer. I even made a teaser trailer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSv4quNtZgs

And lastly, here are some pictures:

http://i.imgur.com/L8Z0P.png

http://i.imgur.com/auMfz.png

http://i.imgur.com/6cXVi.png

http://i.imgur.com/wkC7h.png

http://i.imgur.com/x0uNv.png

http://i.imgur.com/XJN21.png

Thanks!
http://lbp.me/v/0bz7d5		2011-05-18 19:41:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

This looks awesome, must play this2011-05-18 19:57:00

Author:
Willman4
Posts: 170

I will play this when I have the time. looks EPIC.2011-05-18 20:41:00

Author:
DominationMags
Posts: 1840

I've been waiting for the chance to play this! Will definitely make sure to do so before I go to bed even though I'm completely tired out my mind. XD2011-05-18 20:47:00

Author:
Moonface
Posts: 310

Looks pretty cool.

I'll probably try it out today, with some of my PSN friends!		2011-05-18 20:53:00

Author:
Unknown User

Great stuff, comp.

The voiceovers sound perfect and add an awesome touch to what looks like another brilliant level.		2011-05-18 21:40:00

Author:
jblalock78
Posts: 24

Loved it! The blue and purples really went together well and gave the level a nice feel to it, and the puzzles and obstacles you used were excellent. I particularly liked the spinning curved tubes, those were something I really liked a lot. The secrets will definitely make me play this again to try and get all 25, as I only managed 20, but even if I had got them all I could definitely play this again just for how much fun it was. I have yet to try the race mode too. Definitely plenty of replay value with this one, and a great level. 2011-05-18 22:08:00

Author:
Moonface
Posts: 310

Well done! I was looking forward to this having played your Wizard level (which was awesome). I can't imagine how much planning went into this. The level design was excellent, and I never knew where I was going next. I really liked that this made you think to get the orbs. Left a Yay, level Heart, creator Heart, and a review. Can't wait for your next one!2011-05-18 22:40:00

Author:
SongfireVarda
Posts: 24

Y'know comph, there are days I hate you.

Then i play an awesome intricate level like this.

And read that it only took you a month.

And it suddenly becomes one of those days when I want to punch you.

July 28... wear your armour.



(Seriously, awesome fun level, practically tailor-made for the kind of fun platforming I love.)		2011-05-18 22:53:00

Author:
roux-
Posts: 379

Well what's to say. It's brilliant!

Intricate, complex, challenging, fun, everything people have come to expect from a comphermc level.

The originality of the game play is superb. Reminds me of your Roller Inc. level in many ways in terms of pushing game play in new directions and providing a genuinely challenging level for those of us who've been playing LBP for years. Love it and I know I'll be back many times in the future to try and perfect my play. It's pretty sad right now.... 12 deaths for one secret bubble... just disgraceful

Well done comphy. 		2011-05-18 23:04:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

About halfway through my brain fried itself, and it wasn't the secrets ( I have a love/hate relationship with the grapplehook and this level proves exactly why). It's playing something as beautifully designed as this that it strikes me I could never ever make something similar. The kind of intricacy in planning and exploiting the layers here is just so completely removed from how I go about things in create that I was y'know, just a little bit in awe as it was all unfolding. (Grant, Jack & Vandz have inspired a similar kind of envy on occasion). Gushing aside, its brilliant.2011-05-18 23:40:00

Author:
julesyjules
Posts: 1156

It's pretty sad right now.... 12 deaths for one secret bubble... just disgraceful

Only 12? I mean.. yeah... I only died 12 times too.... uhh...

And to be more detailed than before:

Best use of hamster tubes ever. Especially the rotating curvy bits. I may steal that. I have serious doubts that anyone will top this use of tubes for a very long time.

The voiceovers are excellent. GLADOS by way of Monty Python.

In your levels, it's always the wee details that get me. For example the part where you can jump down to get half a dozen score bubbles hanging right above the plasmafied floor... but a couple of bounce pads shoot out of the wall right before you hit.

You somehow manage to put together a complexity in layering that no matter what I do, I can't come close to emulating. Well done.

(As a side note, I'm kinda with julesyjules on the grappling hook stuff; I think the grapple is a bit too mushy for really pinpoint accuracy as is needed in a few places. Or I just suck. Also, can you confirm/deny that to get to the right of the flippy platform where it says 'just let go' (excellent exploit of game physics btw) you need two players? I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to do it on my own).		2011-05-19 00:48:00

Author:
roux-
Posts: 379

Also, can you confirm/deny that to get to the right of the flippy platform where it says 'just let go' (excellent exploit of game physics btw) you need two players? I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to do it on my own).

Confirmed. 		2011-05-19 00:53:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

Looks neato! Ive always loved your visual style, and Ive been itching for a platforming level for quite ahwile! Ill look it up

One question: How did you manage to get those cubes to go through the tube like that? Ive tryed to get an effect like that, but nothings working.		2011-05-19 01:19:00

Author:
grayspence
Posts: 1990

One question: How did you manage to get those cubes to go through the tube like that? Ive tryed to get an effect like that, but nothings working.

You have to use thack material. It was annoying having to work with that stuff just to get it through the tubes.		2011-05-19 01:22:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

I just finished playing the level, and I have to say that I thought it was a good experience. There is one thing that I would do to improve the level though:

Change the music- The song you chose for dramatic ambiance is good at first, but it gets really annoying very quickly. Might I suggest the Cosmos theme music or something else that is fitting? It could start playing after the beginning section of the level.

No other complaints really. I only wish I was able to get 20 bonus secrets. I got 18, and I don't feel compelled to try to get those two more. Some of the grapple puzzles are frustrating I admit, but that's what kept me from finding enough secrets. Bounce pads and grapple puzzlers are sometimes unpredictable. They can't be controlled. Still, overall it's a very good level. If you had to use thack material to get those boxes in the tubes, that shows that MM should have redesigned the hamster tubes so they themselves would be thack objects.		2011-05-19 01:33:00

Author:
synchronizer
Posts: 287

Really loved this level comph. It's rare that I come across a challenging level which begs me to finish it, but this one did just that!

As many have already said:

BEST. TUBES. EVER.

Seriously, the details are just mind boggling. I especially liked the little comedy touches "If you're readng this" "Just let go" etc - gave the level a friendly (in a creepy, overlord/portal kinda way) feel that made me chuckle a lot.

Lek's voiceovers added a lovely element of comedy too! Agree with the Glados/Monty Python comment above - describes it perfectly!

And re: Morgana's 12 deaths - girl, I beat you down to the dust. At one point I think it was 45 and counting :O		2011-05-19 01:33:00

Author:
rialrees
Posts: 1015

Comphermc, I have a question- How do you go about designing your levels? Do you draw it all out on graph paper first? I'm currently trying to mobilize so I can start creating my next level, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to lay everything out at the beginning. i think part of the trouble originates from the fact that I don't want people to be bored of my level once they begin. On the other hand, if I don't walk the players through my level's concept, they might get frustrated. I already know that I will have the sackboy start by running into the level, but I want a seamless transition into action. That's about it. Any advice?2011-05-19 01:49:00

Author:
synchronizer
Posts: 287

Comphermc, I have a question- How do you go about designing your levels? Do you draw it all out on graph paper first? I'm currently trying to mobilize so I can start creating my next level, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to lay everything out at the beginning. i think part of the trouble originates from the fact that I don't want people to be bored of my level once they begin. On the other hand, if I don't walk the players through my level's concept, they might get frustrated. I already know that I will have the sackboy start by running into the level, but I want a seamless transition into action. That's about it. Any advice?

Just start building obstacles without any mind of how they will fit together. Do things that are interesting and fun. Once you have some assets, start to piece them together. Build outward and link them. This level was very much built in sections and then pieced together... I was pretty easygoing with where it would take me, and a lot of the gameplay came about from trying to get the pieces linked together.

In fact, the story linking the beginning and the end together came about only because I realized I had built in a circle. Heh. 		2011-05-19 02:08:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

I really enjoyed it, it was super hard to play 3 player, but we eventually made it. I really like the simple but elaborate decorations. It didn't seem overdone but it still looked great. All the pipes were really cool, how you bounced through them at all the different angles and all that. It really impressed me how well everything was used over and over, and how pieces would move in and around to fill in other gaps, really looked nice. Also I was laughing a lot throughout, especially when I pulled out that sticker One thing that I thought was a little, say.. disappointing (I don't know if that's the right word) but some of the prizes were just stickered pipes with a material tweaker, I was hoping for something super logic and awesome haha But that was ok, I'm not much for prize giveaways anyway

I thought it was fun, liked the visuals, and we got 18 of 25 orbs Well done comphermc		2011-05-19 02:37:00

Author:
Jayhawk_er
Posts: 403

You have to use thack material. It was annoying having to work with that stuff just to get it through the tubes.

Ah. Thanks! Never thought you would have to use a glitch! I'll try that after I play your level 		2011-05-19 03:00:00

Author:
grayspence
Posts: 1990

My mind is blown yet again Comphermc. The design and look of the level is so so nice! Its the small details everywhere that you use which makes it even better looking
And its the most fun I have had gameplay wise in a level for a long time!
You really outdid yourself here! I am currently rank 2 in scoreboard but I can see many people (like myself) loving the level and going back and back to play it again and again!

Great job!!!		2011-05-19 12:45:00

Author:
Unknown User

Congratulation for the...
WHAT! This is not Mm-Picked? Shame on you Mm...

Ok, seriously, I really enjoyed your level. The obstacles, the design, visuals, everything was amazing. It was tough, but not too tough to stop and return to pod though. It was so awesome, even if I had known about the elevator, I wouldn't have used it, just to play this level.

P.S.: mabe you could change the animation style of the factory employee, because his head spinned around as I slapped him.

EDIT:

I've got 23 secrets, yeah!
http://i0.lbp.me/img/ft/d7045ac8ca41549114e411293f3c4853ee7b2431.jpg
I'm happy and nyan cat too.
http://i1.lbp.me/img/ft/c8171bf584c959b39a7cb313f5032e0031ea56cc.jpg		2011-05-19 16:47:00

Author:
frexy18
Posts: 62

Errr, comphy.... why'd you lock the level? Makes me a sad panda.2011-05-19 20:08:00

Author:
roux-
Posts: 379

Comph this was indeed a great one. I'm planning on playing it again tonight to take the level in a bit deeper. What I liked most about it was how everything was woven together. It seemed I was constantly crossing back over a previous path. Also, many parts really made you think and were a bit confusing to my mind... I always try to map out the level in my head and this one was too much to wrap it around many times... thats what I meant by "hurts like portal" in my LBP review.

Anyway, thanks for the great experience man!		2011-05-19 20:26:00

Author:
Lockstitch
Posts: 415

Why do all the amazing looking levels come out right after my PS3 gets YLOD?!

I'll deifnitely be playing this once my PS3 is fixed. 		2011-05-19 20:50:00

Author:
Plasmavore
Posts: 1913

Errr, comphy.... why'd you lock the level? Makes me a sad panda.

That locked one is the beta level which I haven't deleted yet, in case I manage to break something in an update. The actual level should be right under my polaroid.

2011-05-19 21:07:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

Good work Comph!

The intricate design of this makes my head spin. I only gave it a quick blast, so i'm yet to find all the secrets, but I had a fun time doing so!

The design of the level was nice to look at, and even though the "tubes" concept has been done many times before, you put a new spin on it to give a wonderful outcome.

I also really liked the intercom announcements, the sound quality was surprisingly clear. What kind of headset was used?

Cheers! 		2011-05-19 21:47:00

Author:
Mr_T-Shirt
Posts: 1477

I love it when so called elite creators show the cry baby haters why there held in such high esteem. Wow, you knocked that awesome level out in a month? MM get this guy more slots. 20 not going to be enough before lbp3 comes out. Great job bro2011-05-19 22:30:00

Author:
CENTURION24
Posts: 266

Absolutely love the color scheme and the gameplay. The tubes may be used a lot in the community, but when they're used this well, it's still impressive. The story is also nice. I personally like light-hearted, short stories. Great looking level!2011-05-19 22:34:00

Author:
piggabling
Posts: 2979

I also really liked the intercom announcements, the sound quality was surprisingly clear. What kind of headset was used?

I'm not sure what leklack was using, but I think she just uses a standard blutooth headset. I had the reverb set to 15% and set the sound type to Hangar. It sounded much better than the standard recording.		2011-05-19 23:15:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

Alrighty: Played your level!

-Fantastic use of the tubes. I dont think Ive seen a better example of using an object to its full potential.
-Cute story, had me laughing all the way through!
-Great use of layers! I actually felt like I was trying to save a dis-assembling factory.
-The sackbots at the beggining dissapointed me a little bit. They didnt animate when they talked, and I felt like you just put them there to get a story rolling.
-The music choice was'nt the greatest. The same 25 second audio clip gets old really fast, but it did fit in to the theme.
-That computerized voice was fantastic. Made the level feel like a factory a lot more.

A top notch quality level, (Again) by Comphermc. You and Morgana really keep the game's core gameplay alive and jumping, and it's something I really think you two should continue doing.
Thanks for an awesome level!		2011-05-19 23:39:00

Author:
grayspence
Posts: 1990

I'd just like to mention quickly that I came across one or two issues with plane switching in this level. I photographed them both, but you can only see them in-game while PSN is half down :/

Basically, one of them you had a checkpoint right above two bounce pads, and you can't jump on a layer that holds a checkpoint for some reason. I believe it is a game bug, but you could fix it just by moving the checkpoint up a little. I passed it by killing myself and then spawning above said bounce pads.

Another point I was stuck at is difficult to describe, and I have NO idea why I couldn't pass it. Basically, you drop down from a checkpoint and land on a green button. This causes a pipe (and two bounce pads) to slide around you to the left, causing you to land on the pads. This catapults you up, and a ledge above the checkpoint moves a layer forward to catch you. At this point, for some reason I couldn't hop back a layer to move to the right. I could clearly see it was possible, and there were bubbles in the plane behind me on the right hand side of the wall. I've done my best (whilst half asleep) to sketch the situation.

Basically, I was stood on the blue block and couldn't hop back to the purple layer, to pass the yellow wall.
http://i55.tinypic.com/wi4nrs.jpg

Oh yeah, apart from that, I loved it! The animations, signs, jumping through moving tubes and the GLaDOS-esque voiceovers were superb! 		2011-05-20 00:24:00

Author:
Weretigr
Posts: 2105

This looks great!
In fact, I'll pop in LBP right now.		2011-05-20 00:44:00

Author:
Maxi
Posts: 1176

Great level! Your level design, especially the look and atmosphere of the level really make me jealous! The hamster tubes were brilliant, and my futile short attempt at creating with them with any success, especially shoving anything through them, makes me appreciate it more.

There is one note: near the end of the level, or rather the beginning after you've gone through, the room right before the final switch with the door you have to open gave me an issue. I really wish I had realized what happened because I got sent back to the start of the level from there and couldn't work my way back up and had to restart. I apologize for the vague bug as it probably doesn?t help you at all, but I thought I'd mention it
2011-05-20 01:13:00

Author:
Bluetonberry
Posts: 9

Basically, one of them you had a checkpoint right above two bounce pads, and you can't jump on a layer that holds a checkpoint for some reason.

Ah, you're a ThecX-man! Basically, you have a corrupted profile that makes your player exist in the checkpoint layer. This means that you have problems with checkpoints and, less noticeably, theck glitch layers. I have a piece of theck material in that place where you got stuck, and thus you can layer shift backwards. I'm going to fix that tonight when my fiance is done with the TV.

Sorry, bud!		2011-05-20 02:06:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

Another creative level from CompherMC.

VISUALS:
The level is greatly polished with material choices, decorations, and blue colored Hamster tubes. This level has some great cinematics, too.

SOUND:
You found a right voice actress to do a computer voice. Great music choices and sound effects, too.

GAMEPLAY:
The best in this level. The puzzles are very tricky and satisfying, and the secrets are super tricky. Great use of bounce pads and grappling hook, too. My favorite part is "Just let go".

OVERALL:
A very solid level with challenging gameplay and ingenious details. A yay and heart.		2011-05-20 02:20:00

Author:
JustinArt
Posts: 1314

That was mind-numbingly great on all fronts. So much stuff changing around. And just when I feared I was hopelessly lost the hint about the dots popped up to tell me was going the right way. Loved the voice work, really fit in well. The only bad thing about playing this level is that now I feel like hanging up my create hat. 2011-05-20 04:09:00

Author:
fullofwin
Posts: 1214

The only bad thing about playing this level is that now I feel like hanging up my create hat.

Nooooo! Don't do that! D:		2011-05-20 05:32:00

Author:
comphermc
Posts: 5338

Ingenious. I don't know how you always come up with such original platforming mechanics, but every time I play your levels I think "now that's something I haven't seen before". Not entirely "my sort of thing", since I prefer levels that fit into the dark, weird and arty category, but for a straight up platformer this was up definitely up there with the best of them. Well pitched challenge, expertly constructed, intuitive and fluid to play...great stuff.2011-05-20 09:15:00

Author:
Ungreth
Posts: 2130

Nice visuals.
In my opinion the changing/evolving elements combined with the folded gameplay and the multiple layer use made the platforming suffer.
I never was 100% sure where/what I was doing, (which direction/layer/etc) and completed it mostly by trial and error, which didn't feel very satisfying.
Probably just me being picky though.
Loved the announcer, reminded me of that voice from that snail/crab/tractor beam planet in Ratchet & Clank: GC.

And how all you guys and gals release (highly polished) levels so frequently is beyond me. O_O		2011-05-20 10:21:00

Author:
midnight_heist
Posts: 2513

I've already played it 2 times and trust me it wont be the last one,it got a greate and addictive gameplay also i want to get all the secrets,i just found 21.
Really good job		2011-05-20 10:24:00

Author:
xkjz3l
Posts: 113

I left some in game comments (under Jester946) but wanted to give my thoughts here as well.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why this has not been picked. Wizard was picked in a couple of hours and I think this one is better than Wizard, IMHO. I liked wizard and had fun playing it, but I love Rubik's Tube and will play it many, many times.
There were so many unique gameplay mechanics in this level that I just sat going "Wow" the whole time.
The look and feel of this level blew me away and what first got me was seeing those boxes fall down the tube and then after things start going bonkers, two boxes flip out into your layer. That was genius. The color scheme went well together and having the voice give imminent danger warnings was very humorous.
That area with the "just let go" was pretty cool and I may have to borrow it, and also this:
http://i.imgur.com/L8Z0P.png

^ is genius. I will have to borrow this idea as well. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?
The level was fun and challenging and just a blast throughout.

Anyway man, great level from top to bottom, left to right, front to back. Thank-you for sharing it with us and for the experience. You the man!

MM, Pick this now!		2011-05-20 15:43:00

Author:
biorogue
Posts: 8424

This was great. I like this style more than Wizard, although there is more story potential in Wizard.I am sure you lost some sleep and sanity trying to get all those pipes to flow together. Awesome.


Although I did get stuck.

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4638/aphotow.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/aphotow.jpg/)

I pushed the block into the holder and then jumped for no reason other than to jump toward the now lowered green door (the 3rd part of the puzzle I think). Anyway as I was jumping my foot caught the block causing it to lift up and out of the holder, at the same time I went through the green door, which promptly re-set the layout to part 2, locking me in the cubical.



This hugely glaring mistake is the obvious reason why this hasn't been Mm Picked; your blocks are too light.

I also thought the employee nagging you at the end was great. Berating you with a super lame joke that was groaningly amusing.		2011-05-22 07:18:00

Author:
Mr_Fusion
Posts: 1799

I really enjoyed this level. Great design and everything. Its also super challenging too! Great job, deserves an Mm Pick for a challenging platformer.2011-05-23 15:01:00

Author:
DominationMags
Posts: 1840

I played this and the whole time was wondering how you made it without getting confused yourself, my brain hurt after playing. Also, I was good at getting the orbs at first but eventually their very presence was taunting me. And I thought you were cool comph >.>

You are really, super awesome level, can't wait to show it to everyone.		2011-05-28 11:10:00

Author:
kirbyman62
Posts: 1893

In the beta I messed around with those tubes for quite awhile... that you were able to exploit them so smoothly is an amazing feat. It looks and plays brilliantly. Really enjoyed how you worked layer switching issues into the level so naturally.

I couldn't be bothered looking for the 'bonus thingies'... the journey itself consumed my entire attention. If its all in the details, than brother you left it all in this level. Perhaps I am so amazed because I've been devouring large chunks of the spotlight back-logue... perhaps not.

An expertly crafted level containing all the Compher hallmarks. Well done.		2011-05-28 19:39:00

Author:
Gravel
Posts: 1308

Wow. Another great level by compher. Visuals were awesome, gameplay was too. (Found some of the grappling hook parts to be a pain in the rear though lol) I ended up only getting like 5 orbs lol. I'm scared to think of how difficult it would have been to get them all.


and <3		2011-06-01 15:48:00

Author:
Unknown User

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MjG9QHqaBLw/TRjdBd5_ciI/AAAAAAAAABQ/JisuKBBhKDA/s1600/challenge-accepted.jpg

xD!

You know me all your levels is a challenge?

Very well made ​​platform, is a perfect calibration jumping platforms, is what caught my attention. I also enjoyed the puzzles are quite clever!!

Thanks again for an amazing level guy!! 		2011-06-01 23:02:00

Author:
Kaumy
Posts: 63


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