To the Puzzle Makers:

Loirae · Post by **Loirae** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:58 am

To those who make levels: Where do you start? With an end in mind? With a concept? With a path? Random placement of objects? do you dream them and then wake up and create what you dreamt?

Some of you come out with a new level every day, it seems and they are always fresh and always great. I can't even figure out how to start a real puzzler.

So, tell me. Where do you get your ideas?

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:48 am

Hi Loirae - I never plan anything! I just open up the Editor - spend about half a day chosing and changing the "decor" (stupid really but I do like mine to look nice - to me that is). Then I just start with an idea and build from there. I never have a clue about a particular trick/puzzle - it just comes to me whilst I am building the level.

Kaz on the other hand ......................... I will let her tell you what she does - cracks me up though

mette · Post by **mette** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:01 pm

Hi Loirae,

Sometimes I get an idea for a level, draws it all out on paper and then go to the editor (it's rare though). Most of the time I just open the editor and decide which elements I'm in the mood for. Let's say I want to make a teleporter puzzle. Then I start playing around with teleporters untill I have something resembling a level. Then I test and refine. When I'm satisfied I upload it. Other times I give myself a task like: Can I make a level with 2 z-bots, 1 UFO and no buttons?" I then try to solve the task and it usually ends like a level.

That's how I do it anyway

Mette

popo · Post by **popo** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:22 pm

I open up the editor, stare at it for a while, mumble to myself a bit, then say 'Nah!' and close it again.

The few levels that I have made, I had to have the complete idea ready in my head before I could start. That's probably why I haven't made many.

janetgalle · Post by **janetgalle** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 1:46 pm

My levels are mostly visual, not very puzzling....so if I see a model or a house I like I try to build a level around that.
Any excuse for a level..... gone shopping? gone on a trip? lost a tooth? chased by a dog? got mad at someone/something? had a dream? found something? lost something? impulse? seen a pretty picture? had a good day/bad day?kids said/did something funny/naughty? etc, etc.....
I am in a "can't think of anything" phase right now....but sooner or later something will click and away I'll go!
Most important...it should be fun for you to sit down at the editor!
jg

popo wrote: I open up the editor, stare at it for a while, mumble to myself a bit, then say 'Nah!' and close it again

ann3120 · Post by **ann3120** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:04 pm

Loirae wrote:To those who make levels: Where do you start? With an end in mind? With a concept? With a path? Random placement of objects? do you dream them and then wake up and create what you dreamt?

I'm so glad you asked this question - I think I would like to make a level or two, but have no idea where to start.

I've been through the tutorials - and then did what Popo does - stared at it and gave up.

It took all this time for me to learn how to post comments - guess I'm just a slow learner

popo · Post by **popo** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:14 pm

I see they let you out into the excercise yard, jg.

janetgalle · Post by **janetgalle** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:54 pm

popo wrote:I see they let you out into the excercise yard, jg.

Yeah, I couldn't find one that was running in circles, or running in place, so this it is.

jg

PS: Altho I may be "rejailed"........it's Monday...... littledg (talk talk talk, run run run, talk, run run) will be here soon.

EEEKKK!

Willwonka4442 · Post by **Willwonka4442** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:22 pm

As a football player i think logically, well sometimes.
I just think cause and effect. 'You must do this to
get this to happen' sorta thing. What kind of elements
are you thinking of putting in a level. Do you want a theme?
The one I like is rescuing another character. Or if you not on
the side of puzzles you can make an action level that requires
nerves of steel and quick fingers to beat. Or if you searching to make it hard, Combine both and really frustate the consumers. Hoping to see
a new level maker on here on here and just maybe another contestant in mettes challenge. Start small and easy with a simple design. Good
luck!

(wow that was odd! a never type this much! ahate typing)

kaz67 · Post by **kaz67** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:58 pm

Oooo .. what a question ??

Try some of these

1. I lie in bed at night and think of ideas and sometimes I dream about a design too (I can't believe I'm sharing this

)

2. I'll just play a few levels and get inspired with an idea or part of an idea from each level

3. I love having a "make a level" challenge with a model to work off - the ideas just pop into my head.

4. Probably my most frequent method - I spend hours trying someone else's level and I'm doing it the wrong way over and over - then, I incorporate my [wrong] way into a new design where it is the right way for that level .. clear as mud ?

5. Very occasionally I will put 2 or 3 things on a basic level and see how they interact. My greatest discovery was walking thru a z-bot without getting killed but I can't work out how to incorporate it in a level without driving you all mad.

6. Kids levels - I kinda throw them together just for fun, it's the logic puzzlers that take the time.

7. And finally - I like to see exactly what I'm doing and for those who don't know, the basic editor screen is 14x14 .. I don't like straying outside the edges too far ... bet you guessed that already

Lesson ends ... go on girls, you can do it !!

Kazza

PS - I would wager practically every level I've ever put together has been each of the themes twice over with different floor designs before I actually post it .. I'm so FUSSY

Loirae · Post by **Loirae** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:00 am

Thanks all! I've been having dreams but when I wake up all I know is I was solving a puzzle. Of course, sometimes these dreams incorporate things that aren't really in the game. Most recently, using cannons to blow other cannons up, reflectors that shatter like crystals, and being able to swim in the water, not just building bridges over it. Most of these things can be replaced with real objects like replacing the self destructing cannons with UFOs, or replacing the reflectors with crystals. Swimming? Well, ....... not yet.

So far I'm just a kids puzzle maker because my levels aren't really that challenging.

My biggest fear was addressed by Kaz. I keep thinking of ideas but then remember that i saw it in another level. I don't want to plagiarize the other makers here so i abandon it before starting. I'm afraid I'll make something and have <insert any puzzle makers name here> say, "hey that was MY IDEA!" But then again, we all use a wooden box in the water at some point.

Anyway, thanks again.

kiki · Post by **kiki** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:11 am

Loirae. We all share ideas and we all use elements that we have seen at one time or another on some other level. What I do is when I get an idea, If I can I go right to the Editor and put it on screen, Most of the time it will evolve into something totally different from what it started out to be, And like Kaz. I get inspired by something I saw in another level or I build on one of my own levels, But for me It is not easy, But somehow I keep making levels that I hope are fun for other people, So just open the Editor up and start building and don't worry about if its been done somewhere else, Just do it.

PS Hey Willwonka I have a level called Cause and Effect. Check it out sometime.

mette · Post by **mette** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:25 am

kaz67 wrote: My greatest discovery was walking thru a z-bot without getting killed but I can't work out how to incorporate it in a level without driving you all mad.

That happened to me too, but I could only do it once and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't do it again. I convinced myself that I had seen it wrong

(some sort of trick on the eyes

), and that it didn't happen at all

Thanks for restoring some of my faith in being able to see

Mette

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:31 am

I too have seen it but could never create it myself again

Spooky glitches in Wonderland - too cool

Kazbag - you forgot to mention the graph paper, ruler, pencils and rubber! And also your shed where you sit drawing and planning levels

Oh yes, and the text messages you send me asking me "What do you think of this idea, etc...." NUTTER

kaz67 · Post by **kaz67** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:46 pm

Oh yes .. graph paper and crayons in the shed ... I do go back to that method for the big ones (Coming soon to a forum near you .. KAZZA250

)

mette · Post by **mette** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:56 pm

I also tried having a boulder run straight through Qookie without any harm being done

. When the boulder returned - harm was done

Mette

Liz Mayhew · Post by **Liz Mayhew** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:23 pm

Walking through the z-bot happened to me too! I couldn't believe it. This happened twice at one point on one particular level, but I can't remember which. It might have been one of Deetster's.

I tend to get most productive if I have a story theme to hang levels on, like the Warrior Tomb series. What inspired that whole set was the Chinese terracotta tomb figures - hence the warrior tomb made out of loads of Stinky statues in the shape of a huge Stinky. So I started the series with an idea of how I wanted to end it!

Then I think about the situation the characters would be in at different stages on their quest and build a level around that.

Making Kids Levels can help to spark ideas. You can make something for the kids and then make a more complicated version for the rest of us kids.

Thanks for asking this question Loirae - it's been very interesting hearing from other level makers.

To the Puzzle Makers:

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