Lost in Space #7:The Breakdown

Willwonka4442 · Post by **Willwonka4442** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:23 am

A little story development.

Willwonka4442 · Post by **Willwonka4442** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:22 pm

Are you stuck?

Bearsland · Post by **Bearsland** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:05 pm

Fishing for compliments, kid???

Has it not occurred to you that people may be playing the 20 competition levels at the moment????

Willwonka4442 wrote:Are you stuck?

Bored, actually; I fell asleep reading the story.

If you want some serious feedback and criticism, Will, I'll give you some.

Your levels seem to depend a lot on people having to guess what is killing them and what is under, or inside objects. There's no fun in being killed (over and over) by electro-tiles, spikes and boulders hidden under trees, giant boxes and inside walls. There is nothing more frustrating than getting 90% through a level to be killed by something you can't even see.

Some of the very best level designers here are able to produce high quality puzzles and levels that are lots of fun to play without resorting to hiding all the important things. Maybe you should try that.

Bear

Willwonka4442 · Post by **Willwonka4442** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:06 am

Ok.

Well that is the kind i like. just thought i'd share it with you.
Sorry.

Bearsland · Post by **Bearsland** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:28 am

Willwonka4442 wrote:Well that is the kind i like. just thought i'd share it with you.
Sorry.

Don't be sorry. We like having you here and having you share your levels. I'm extremely sorry if my comments upset you,

that was not my intention at all; I was trying to help you.

You asked for feedback and that's what I'm trying to give you. I don't wish to upset you in any way, but you should realise that people will not play your levels if they are just too hard. The harder levels posted on this board get the least feedback; anyone here will tell you that.

Look at this series so far:

Lost in Space #1. 120 downloads: 4 replies, 3 of them are yours
Lost in Space #2. 106 downloads: 13 replies, 8 of them are yours, 5 by Lillian (4 pointing out the level is either too hard, or has errors)
Lost in Space #3. 118 downloads: 13 replies, 8 of them are yours, of the other 5, 4 say there are errors and 1 is saying there isn't enough time.
Lost in Space #4. 91 downloads: 4 replies, 3 of them are yours, the other is saying it's too difficult, (probably down to hidden boulder area at the beginning). See my comment above.
Lost in Space #5. 83 downloads: 3 replies, 1 of them is yours giving a spoiler, the other 2 are saying it's too difficult to get started.
Lost in Space #6. 69 downloads: 4 replies, 3 of them are yours, 1 from a player saying she has probs, (again due to a largely hidden area). See my comment above.

Do you see a pattern emerging here?

Look at the amount of feedback most other players get; you'll see that it's a lot more than you are getting, and as I said above, feedback says more about a level than anything else.

No-one is questioning your ability as a level maker and it's obvious you have put a lot of time and effort into these, but if you make them so difficult and/or have most of the level hidden, so that only you can do them, who is going to want to play them?

Why not try making a couple of 'easier', more 'out in the open' levels for us mere mortals with aging brains and stiff fingers. I think more people would play them; I certainly know I would.

Go on, give it a try, you know you want to.

Bear

btw. To everyone. Please don't flame me for this or PM me telling me I'm picking on Will, because I'm not. He's a lovely young man and a great Wonderlander and he certainly has the potential to be a great level maker, but only when he starts making levels for everyone and not just for himself.

Willwonka4442 · Post by **Willwonka4442** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:43 am

Ill start on the weekend. Make the levels so you dont have to guess.
5 is all visible and all startable.

Bearsland · Post by **Bearsland** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:00 am

Willwonka4442 wrote:Ill start on the weekend. Make the levels so you dont have to guess.
5 is all visible and all startable.

Good man! I'll look forward to them.

Willwonka4442 · Post by **Willwonka4442** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:05 am

I've already started working on them.
My dad is brainless so he likes these.
Thanx for this constructive feedback.

Bearsland · Post by **Bearsland** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:12 am

Willwonka4442 wrote:Thanx for this constructive feedback.

I'm extremely happy that you've taken my comments in the way they were meant, Will.

I also glad you're not setting the aforementioned Dad on me.

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:44 am

This thread is SO sweet! Almost brought a tear to my eye this morning!

Willy Bonkers Wonkers - you are such an adoreable sweetie! You know in the past I have tried to play all your levels and have managed to complete a few of them (after a couple of little changes here and there

). I also know that Lizzie and Maldelsol always attempt your levels too. Your levels always look fantastic and are really adventureous - but Uncle Bear is right in his advice to you. Too much hidden and also a little too big and dangerous for most people on here. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see one of your levels with about 20 replies on it saying how brilliant it was. You deserve that after all the work you obviously put into them

I guess what I am trying to say is that Uncle Bear is being really kind to you in what he has written above and I truly hope that you take his advice in the helpful way it was intended and alter your levels just a bit so that we can all enjoy them and complete them.

Just one other thing Willy - a lot of the time kids come on this forum and act really stupid and immature and can be really annoying. It is different with you - you are sweet, sensitive and really funny. I always enjoiy reading your posts - well done mate

PS: Nicely put Bear

You said what I have wanted to say for ages but was scared to post it. You can be really fatherly sometimes - I really like that side to you

Superterv · Post by **Superterv** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:41 am

I have to agree with the Bear and Lillie on this Wills, your levels are amazing but for me most are too big and my computer jumps about somewhat. I have tried all your levels but have had very little success in completing any (now there is a confession ), I have also had the comment that people don't like stuff hidden. Keep up your hard work, but think of us poor souls out here in Wonderland who aren't as bright or as quick as you (or Bear) who'd like to be able say that they had completed more than the odd one of your levels.

TASHA · Post by **TASHA** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:23 pm

First to Bear: Thank you for saying so eloquently what most of us were thinking but found it hard to put into words. You really are a most caring person.

Second to Will: Your levels are truly amazing & I can only imagine the tremendous amount of work you put into designing them. I almost completed one but it was so huge I gave up starting over & over. Would really appreciate it if you would make some easier levels that most of us could enjoy. You are so talented that making a more user friendly puzzle should be a "piece of cake" for you. Looking forward to playing your newest adventures.

Armando · Post by **Armando** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:30 pm

I feel alot better now that I have learned of Bear having it tough with your levels. Not being as accomplished as Bear, I have stopped downloading your levels awhile back because of their difficulty. I, too, appreciate the time involved and the dedication used to design these levels and I thought I would just leave them to someone more capable than myself to solve them.
Armando