Archive: 21 posts

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(formerly known as "The Sands of Time") This is a pretty beautiful level IMO, and I've changed and improved on it over and over since it was first published. It features fully functional hourglasses, an epic boss battle with Janus: the Roman God of alpha and omega, methodical and precise platforming, and truly poetic narration/dialogue courtesy of myself. The story is one of escaping mortality and becoming a God, and discovering the truth about yourself as well as all that which exists on the road to omnipotence. There are secrets to be found, and anyone who can finish this level without dying will receive a custom designed trophy that contains the true power of Janus. It's definitely nicer looking than the obligatory bird-shaped bronze/gold/silver/platinum trophies that are floating around. I recommend that you play this solo, as multiple players can make the camera drag difficult and the complexity of the mechanics doesn't fair too well depending on the connection speeds involved and may cause your frames per second to crawl. If you like this level please leave some feedback, and a link to your level. You might also like the sequel to the Idol series "Divine Intervention" (formerly known as Free Will Hunting) which has 2 separate routes and can be extremely challenging. It also continues the story with it's own unique approach.

2008-12-10 16:07:00 Author: Unknown User

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I liked it. I'm not sure why there are giant hourglasses or there is a boss trying to kill you as it is not really told to the player, but it's fun. I did like the hourglass effect too. Were those score bubbles inside? lol

2008-12-13 06:38:00 Author: Voltiare Posts: 646

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It's just supposed to be a surreal concept of time. I named the boss, Janus because "In Roman mythology, Janus (or Ianus) was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. His most prominent remnants in modern culture are his namesakes: the month of January, which begins the new year, and the janitor, who is a caretaker of doors and halls." The sequel to the level is Free Will Hunting, and in my ideal story sequence, I suppose the destruction of Janus would open the gateway to the next realm of philosophy - life and death... I thought about providing a key to players to put them in better serialization but meh. I'm working on a 3rd "Idol" level, but it's slow to progress. Glad you liked it though, man... I really admire your work, so it's good to hear.

2008-12-13 10:25:00 Author: Unknown User

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Hey man, I just tried this about an hour ago. Here are my thoughts: Pros: - Very strong visuals. I like the lighting, choice of materials and theme you are working with. Evrything works and the atmosphere is great. - Camera zones. There are 2 camera zones right near the beginning where the angle is from the ground. I have not seen this view used before and I must admit it was pretty cool. - The hourglasses are a well thought out and excuted design concept. The way you created that glowing sand added a visual punch that was very pleasing to the eye. - The boss is very well done. Suggestions: - The boss was a little tedious. I love the look and the design but I was spinning around for over 5 minutes trying to get all those brains lol. - No story. I definitely think you could work a story in here and I genuinely felt like the lvl deserved/needed a story to move things along. - Slowdown. Due to the amount of moving elemnets and detail at times there was quite a bit of slowdown. It did not make the level unplayable but it was a little irritating. - The first time you use the jetpack at the beginning there is no indication of where to go and I was flying around trying to find a path. Maybe a cutscene here would help. Overall this was a satisfying level that was well executed and I will check out the sequel when I get a chance

2008-12-16 04:48:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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Thanks alot... glad you liked it. I HATE the slowdown - it drives me nuts. The only thing I can do is remove sand, but it's minimal already to avoid breaking pieces inside and if I remove any more pieces, the effect of pouring sand is lost. The odd thing is, if I'm logged off and I play it offline on my moon, I never lag or slowdown - but even solo player online almost always lags. Maybe I can add a strategically placed camera to direct the player towards the door on the second hourglass - anybody I play it with never knows where to go, and always flies to the left before it starts turning. I had to make the radius so small to keep the player from flying into the smog above (which is the platforming hazard for the area above it) but it hitches the player and if they don't get to the door, pull the switch out, and fly in reflexively they are stuck waiting for another rotation... forces them to look at the hourglass in the meantime and bide their "time" lol Ah I know... maybe an emitter that emits arrows that immediately dissipate to create an ethereal look. That would fit better than a sticker or an awkward angle. I'll try that later.

2008-12-16 04:59:00 Author: Unknown User

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Hi NinjaMicWZ, I had the Chance to play this level few minutes ago. It is now called "False idols I". I will made some short comments. I haven't read previous comments so sorry if there is redondancies. PROS: - Visual aspect. Your level is great in this point of view. All fit well, and there is some point of view in the level i'have never seen before (after the first jump at the start of the level, for exemple). -Puzzle construction. I think the overall copnstruction of the level is impressive. There is a good plateforming challenge with element moving simply. And it fit perfectly. Good work! -Your Boss is AWESOME. Viusually as well as in term of gameplay...but... and we will go to the suggest part: SUGGESTIONS: -Yousr Boss is awesome (you know that! ) but it take at least 5 minutes to understand how to kill him. I was initially desperatingly trying to jump on one of the arms to crush the brains and dying, again and again...then..i understood that i could grab the arm. The fight was not the same. I killed him ( i admit i was a little proud at this moment)... VICTORY!!! Epic, but quite frustrating at the beginning. I just suggest adding a bubble speech at the strat of the fight indicating to the player that he could be eventually find a way to go in the air to fight the boss. -...perhaps could you edit the name of your thread with the new name of the level Personnal Question: I'm not used to do such a section in my comment but... In fact, i would like to ask you what is the tittle of the Music you used in your level, and where you found it in the solo game. I desperately search it since days because i think it could perfectly fit with one part of one of my levels but i can't find these infos. Thank you very much by advance. Finally, a great level, 5 stars, "SPLENDIDE" tag (in french in the text!) and a deserved heart! SYS

2008-12-22 22:14:00 Author: Takelow Posts: 1355

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Thanks, man... glad you liked it so much. That one's my baby out of all off them, and I couldn't ever leave it finished for some reason. I'm pretty much done with it now that the paint balls are in the mix and level design feels so different. It feels like SoT is bland now without them heh. I'm not even sure if I'll ever finish the 3rd entry in the series now, but meh... If a mod could change the title for me, that'd be cool. The new level name is "False Idols I: Time Is of the Essence" to fit better into the serialization I tried to do with it. The music is called Cries In the Wind... I'm actually not sure where I got it from. I tried to check all the level prize lists, but my eyes had no luck spotting it. Just hit up gamefaqs I guess...

2008-12-25 23:53:00 Author: Unknown User

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Thank you very much for your answer NinjaMicWZ!! If a mod could change the title for me, that'd be cool. The new level name is "False Idols I: Time Is of the Essence" to fit better into the serialization I tried to do with it. You can do it yourself: "edit" and "advanced edit"

2008-12-26 00:02:00 Author: Takelow Posts: 1355

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Man, I am just not very observant sometimes lol... thanks.

2008-12-26 00:27:00 Author: Unknown User

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No problem !

2008-12-26 10:40:00 Author: Takelow Posts: 1355

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You know Ninja, I played this level before you renamed it and thought it was great. I played this level again today and realized just how awesome it is. The camera angle you use at the beginning was really cool. It added this extra depth to the level that you really never see when playing other levels. The hourglasses and the custom artwork are fantastic and the 'prose' is top notch..did you write that stuff yourself? The effects were great, I've never seen anybody use a strobe emitter like that to direct the player around and it left this real mystical-magical feel in my mind and I don't remember it from my first play through. The boss is fantastic, definitely one of the best I've seen, with all the moving parts and the art design was so intriguing. I loved this level and 5 starred it..it was already hearted. If I had to mention any cons it would be what you already know...the slowdown. It doesn't make the level difficult it just makes me sad cause I'd love to see this thing move the way you intended it to. Oh well, doesn't change the way I feel about the level. Top notch.

2009-01-03 02:37:00 Author: Jaeyden Posts: 564

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Pros - Looks Beautiful - Some nice platforming in there - Nice Boss Cons/Suggestions - The brains on the heads of the boss can be really tough to reach - Now, here's what made me majorly sad. I beat the boss, FINALLY. Then I start walking to the scoreboard, and the door comes down, I pushed on because it didn't look hazardous, right into it. Then I get electrocuted. On top of that, my checkpoint has disapeared, so I've run out of lives. - The bit with the flaming hourglasses, you can walk right under them which is majorly easy. Graet level. 5 stars/hearted.

2009-01-05 23:14:00 Author: BassDeluxe Posts: 984

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Pros - Looks Beautiful - Some nice platforming in there - Nice Boss Cons/Suggestions - The brains on the heads of the boss can be really tough to reach - Now, here's what made me majorly sad. I beat the boss, FINALLY. Then I start walking to the scoreboard, and the door comes down, I pushed on because it didn't look hazardous, right into it. Then I get electrocuted. On top of that, my checkpoint has disapeared, so I've run out of lives. - The bit with the flaming hourglasses, you can walk right under them which is majorly easy. Graet level. 5 stars/hearted. Wow... you're the first person to figure out the easy way through the flaming hourglasses without me telling/showing them - even with the easy way out, for the max score you gotta venture into them, and also to get the prize bubble at the top for the all prize trophy. (doesn't matter anyway, since I can't reset the scoreboard from beta days without deleting and losing my play/heart count completely :/) I used to have gas lining the bottom, but when I playtested with people they'd continuously fly into the gas and then leave - so I changed it, and on suggestions to make the parrt easier I made an alternative for anybody who's perceptive enough - which I guess doesn't really help anybody who CAN'T make it through to begin with. If you've got any ideas, let me know... With practice you can nail all the boss brains in a couple rotations without ever hitting the ground - but the terrible slowdown can make it tough, and the godawful multiplayer cam makes it all guesswork. I apologize about the gate - the electricity is for looks, and I think I'm going to delethalize it now. My infinite checkpoint there must be too glitchy. 9 times out of 10, just jumping or moving off the checkpoint activates the new one, but you must have been the 10th. I haven't looked into any of the newer techniques for IC's, so anyone who's got a good one or a tutorial send it to me on PSN, or let me know who's tutorial to play If it wasn't for the multiplayer cam causing repeated deaths, I wouldn't even have an IC for the boss battle. Someday MM will let us control our checkpoints... Thanks alot for the play, the heart, and the feedback...

2009-01-07 01:17:00 Author: Unknown User

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Soo, I played it with 4 people because my siblings wouldn't quit. Which isn't really fair because I think it was made for 1 right? So I will ignore things that only occurred because of four. I agree with most of the stuff OCK mentioned. For me the beginning seemed a little boring and overall the level was pretty empty, not visually by any means it looks amazing. I mean empty or lacking in gameplay elements. Your dialog was really cool even without much plot it was fun to read. If there is slow down with just 1 that is an issue, it was ridiculous with four but that doesn't really matter. I liked the boss but it spun a little bit slow fore me, not a lot but it kinda made it take awhile. Overall it's a really cool level I think, you are really could at making stuff look awesome. You did that in the level of yours where you choose to destroy the planet or not. Another thing that really impresses me is the large amount of published work you have. Very cool and it got you a creator heart. Keep up the good work!

2009-01-14 19:38:00 Author: Hexagohn Posts: 335

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Thanks, man... I feel about the same way with this level - I've always wanted to try and think of some tasteful ways to spice up the gameplay, and I tried to actually increase the overall length with a whole new section one time but it just 'caused prior sections to irreparably malfunction, so I just focused on improving what was already there. The movement of the boss might have been slower than normal because of the frame rate drop, but he is a little paced. Also, when you're fighting him by yourself you can actually head up and around with him instead of having to stay in the 4 player camera zone. I only rarely lag by myself, and never lag when I play it offline with multiple players - I just can't break that P2P barrier without a problem. ...and thanks for the comment on the looks. That really is my main strength, and it's starting to become a problem; the more detail oriented I get, and the better I get at creating realistic and complex mechanical objects the less space I leave myself for the level length. Thanks for the heart too... hopefully I'll have some new stuff coming soon. I used to have alot more levels published, but had to remove/delete them to make space for back-up files of current projects. I might eventually have to make a new profile if I hit the 20/20 limit again.

2009-01-15 00:34:00 Author: Unknown User

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I played this again about a week ago and man do I love the additions you made with the lighting! I also love how you made custom emmited arrows to guide the player that are unlike anything else I have seen before. For most people the tendency seems to be to use the sticker arrows from story mode so I appreciate that you did something that is not only original but looks 100X better. This level was beautiful to begin with but now it's drop dead gorgeous. For those who have not played this yet your really missing out so gove it a go and let Ninja know what you think. If I could I would give the level 2 hearts, it's that good

2009-01-15 09:28:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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Gave this one a try today. I really liked the implementation of the lighting. Also, the use of the camera tool provided for some really cool shots. The hourglasses were a really cool aesthetic choice. Most of the time I feel patronized when people use arrows, but in this level, not only was it needed, but it was done in a unique, stylized way. Very cool. I did, however, find the platforming to be a bit rudimentary and simple. Not to say that is a bad thing, but I am a sort of an "adrenaline junkie" and there wasn't much in this level that really got the blood pumping. The boss was unique and fun, but at the same time I never really felt threatened. I did not feel like it was a complete experience, but I'm assuming that is mostly because this is merely one chapter in a series. Over all, I feel this level alone isn't an overly fantastic level, but it was enough to make me want to play the rest of the series, so I will reserve my judgment for when I have played through the full experience. One good thing is that this level is proof of the diversity of the creator. Not many people, that I know of, can create sci-fi themed levels and dream-like fantasy themed levels with equal skill. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for your future works.

2009-01-23 18:18:00 Author: Dimo1138 Posts: 179

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This was a challenging level! The good stuff: - Very unique design and concept. - It was beautiful. Ethereal, weird, but very nice to look at. - The boss was awesome. Janus was one of the more intimidating bosses I've faced so far in LBP... at first glance, he seemed pretty impossible to beat. But he isn't... which is good. It was a great challenge! - Great platforming and puzzle sections. I too, though, found the easy way through the hourglass! - Loved the rhymes and riddles, they really set the stage for this level. Minor issues: - I might be only one of the few who has experienced this, because LBP constantly warns me about the suckiness of my internet connection, but there was a lot of lag in some areas. I know this isn't your fault though; it's either the game engine's itself, or my internet connection. - Kinda of short, but then again, not your fault. There was so much going on in the level it must've brought the temperature pretty high. Overall, great level! 5 stars and hearted.

2009-01-27 06:19:00 Author: mostevilmilo Posts: 131

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Thanks, man. You're probably the first person to realize that the dialogue is also a hint and a foreshadow of the challenges ahead. "have patience my son, as my patience is none" = wait here, while I spin, because I won't stop for you "fear my movements and move as I do" = pretty obvious reference to how to deal with the rotating platforms and the boss "to run as rivers" = run on that giant hourglass "find solace in time" = wait between the hourglasses "wet thy feet in the flames" = walk on the ground I changed all the sand in the glasses from circles to triangles and I have about a block and a half of therm left. Did that about three months ago, and I had initially planned to slide Janus over a little, and put an interesting door puzzle between the hourglasses and him, but when I tried to cut the section apart and move it, it wouldn't budge and just resulted in everything collapsing and breaking apart. I still have the door mechanisms built and saved on another file, so I may someday be able to incorporate it. I'm still pretty proud of Janus... for a good couple months I think he was the best boss out there, and is still pretty unique IMO for being a platforming-heavy, non-paintinator boss which you don't really see anymore. It was the first boss I made and features no logic switches, emitters, or behavioral patterns. It's simply a test of your platform precision. Has anyone ever aced this level? I've done it a few times. The score counter is broke from the early version that was full of points, so I can't ever guage who's getting a good score. I wish I could get MM to reset the scores from the top 5, without having to delete the level along with it's play count.

2009-01-27 07:24:00 Author: Unknown User

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Thanks for being so encouraging and supportive - and for the lovely comments about my level. You were right, I do love your False Idol Series. They have so much depth and meaning and are absolutely beautifully made. I love the textures, colours, music choice. I actually want to stop and read the dialogue because it's so important to the storyline. The slow, deliberate movement of the hourglasses gives such a feel of serenity. The level styling also makes it feel mythical - part of an ancient civilisation. This is a credit to your skills as a creator. Thoroughly enjoyable - 5 stars and hearted.

2009-06-11 22:19:00 Author: IceMaiden Posts: 1057

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Thanks for being so encouraging and supportive - and for the lovely comments about my level. You were right, I do love your False Idol Series. They have so much depth and meaning and are absolutely beautifully made. I love the textures, colours, music choice. I actually want to stop and read the dialogue because it's so important to the storyline. The slow, deliberate movement of the hourglasses gives such a feel of serenity. The level styling also makes it feel mythical - part of an ancient civilisation. This is a credit to your skills as a creator. Thoroughly enjoyable - 5 stars and hearted. ....don't forget one of the coolest bosses of all time. (it's a guilty pleasure of mine... periodically playing this level JUST for the big spinning boss!)

2009-06-12 00:04:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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