New level (Advanced) - Snakes & Ladders

[popo]

Here's a very quick level to pass a couple of minutes on if your brain needs a rest.

No nasties of any kind, just get the coins.

Unzip the Snakes & Ladders board into your CustomModels folder. No renaming necessary.

EDIT. LEVEL FURTHER DOWN THE BOARD.

[SharonM]

OOOOOHHHHHH, can't wait to try this one, Popo. I loved your Monopoly level.

[Carolyn]

hi popo... Don't know if I did something wrong or what... but I saw nothing in this level but ice and coins... and a piller of course... Fun level but I was expecting and looking forward to something custom made... .. I didn't get it... So sad....

[janetgalle]

Hi Popo,

Another great level!!!! But you you have the wrong model listed in the level.. I had to go into the editor and change it. (You had HENGE listed as the model to use.)

This is a very very good idea......makes for a fun level!!
thanks,

jg

[LinkyNStoof]

cute level (once I followed janetgalle's instruction to fix the level)! Did you find the image for the board or did you make it yourself?

By the way, how's it going with that level you're trying to come up with a storyline for?

[Carolyn]

I changed it like janet said... and I got the snakes and ladder game board... Very well done popo... I loved it!!...

[majic1]

I'm glad I read the comments before trying to play - otherwise, I probably would've gone nuts trying to figure out what I'd done wrong!! This could EASILY happen to anyone creating levels with custom models tho!

Anyway - fun level - it brought me back to my childhood days!! Thanks Popo!!

[popo]

Oops I did change it but must have forgotten to save it. It was called 'henge' because I was messing with a model of Stonehenge and just happened to test the snakes and ladders in the same folder.

Here's the corrected level for anyone who hasn't changed it.

[popo]

cute level (once I followed janetgalle's instruction to fix the level)! Did you find the image for the board or did you make it yourself?

I found the picture of the board on a web site for 'board game geeks' Apparantly it's a Walmart board.

By the way, how's it going with that level you're trying to come up with a storyline for?

The storyline for the level is going nowhere My son Tim is supposed to be thinking it up but I don't see him very often so it's very slow going. It's a shame cos I can't wait to show everyone this model. It's very atmospheric. If we don't get a move on someone else will find it and make a level with it.

[Ramonda]

Fun, fun, again Popo. This one is for kids of all ages. My grandkids will love it!!

[twohappylane]

I downloaded the corrected version but am still not getting the game. How do you change that in the level editor? I loved the Monopoly game!!! Thanks, Susan

[LinkyNStoof]

By the way, how's it going with that level you're trying to come up with a storyline for?

The storyline for the level is going nowhere My son Tim is supposed to be thinking it up but I don't see him very often so it's very slow going. It's a shame cos I can't wait to show everyone this model.

I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for your son, but have you consider perhaps asking someone here and see if they'd volunteer chipping in for some ideas on the storyline? Having more than one person brainstorming ideas for a story sounds like it could be fun. Do you think you'd be willing to spill the beans on the level to just one person for the benefit of bringing your level out sooner to everyone else?

Anyway, just a suggestion. Whatever your decision, count me out though, seriously, I'm definitely not very good at storytelling.

[popo]

I downloaded the corrected version but am still not getting the game. How do you change that in the level editor? I loved the Monopoly game!!! Thanks, Susan

You need to make sure that the name of the folder with the board in is the same as the name of the model used in the editor. So load the level in the editor, at the bottom of the screen it should say 'model:snakesnladders'. If it doesn't, press 'shift-M' and a text box will appear. Delete what ever is in that box and type 'snakesnladders', then press 'enter'. Then click 'save' and press enter again. Now when you start the level you should see the board.

I really should do a better job sorting it out in the first place, but I'm so eager to get it posted I'm overlooking things.

[popo]

I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for your son, but have you consider perhaps asking someone here and see if they'd volunteer chipping in for some ideas on the storyline? Having more than one person brainstorming ideas for a story sounds like it could be fun. Do you think you'd be willing to spill the beans on the level to just one person for the benefit of bringing your level out sooner to everyone else?

Anyway, just a suggestion. Whatever your decision, count me out though, seriously, I'm definitely not very good at storytelling.

I've got the bare bones of the storyline, but it needs filling out, and also needs some sort of puzzle fitting in so it's not just a quick tour around the model. Then, of course, it will need to be tested to make sure it's fully playable and that you can navigate around the model without too much difficulty.

It might be ready for Halloween, which would be a good time for it considering the theme.

[LinkyNStoof]

Ooh, Halloween eh? Well let's see...about two months from now. Well, I've waited nearly that long for DRTW, so I guess no big deal.

What you're doing sounds quite ambitious. Can't wait to see the final results! Good luck.

[popo]

I think it's getting a bit over ambitious. I checked the file sizes for the models and skins and they're already at 1400kbs. and I haven't finished yet.

Is there a total limit for model file sizes for them to work properly? For instance, if I had four models in a level, would their total file size have to be less than say 2.5mbs? I haven't tested them all at the same time yet.

Uploading isn't too much of a problem, I'd just have to put them in several files, which would have to be reintegrated after download.

PS I want to include your pumpkin, but it might just take the file size too high

**only joking**

[LinkyNStoof]

I checked the file sizes for the models and skins and they're already at 1400kbs. and I haven't finished yet.

Is there a total limit for model file sizes for them to work properly? For instance, if I had four models in a level, would their total file size have to be less than say 2.5mbs?

I don't think there's any hard limit, but certainly big models will slow down older systems, and if it's really way too big, the level might not run at all on older systems (though I think 2.5 mb is still some ways off from "way too big").

The best to do is try to see if you can get away with smaller texture files. JPEG skin files are generally smaller than BMP files, and with the appropriate program, you can adjust the compression ratio of JPEGs so that you trade off image quality for a smaller size.

If all else fails, there's also the option of splitting it into multiple levels, and release the whole thing as a series.

[popo]

I have changed the bmps to jpgs without much loss of quality but some models have more than one skin file, and some models have quite high kbs to start with. One model has a TGA file which is bigger than a jpg but not as big as a bmp, but I don't want to lose any quality on that one, it's the main model around which the level will be based.

I'll just have to keep testing it to make sure it runs smoothly.

How's your modelling coming along, have you decided if AC3D is better than Milkshape? I've bought Milkshape, I'm used to working with it now. I haven't tried AC3D yet even though I dowloaded it.

[LinkyNStoof]

How's your modelling coming along, have you decided if AC3D is better than Milkshape? I've bought Milkshape, I'm used to working with it now. I haven't tried AC3D yet even though I dowloaded it.

Me? Unfortunately I'm finding myself with less free time these days, so my modeling efforts have mostly stopped lately.

Here are some stuff I've been working on before my forced break, and hopefully I'll get around to completing them soon enough:

1) I have this model (from Internet) of some sort of "palace" that looks kinda like Taj Mahal (not exact, but has that circular-ish dome thingie). It's a rather high-polygon model though, and I still haven't decided on how to color certain parts of it (some of the skin files the model expects are missing in the download, so I have to substitute something for it, and my exploration with various textures did not give me satisfactory results. Finding a good color to match the already-colored parts is just hard for some reason).

2) I have this model (from Internet) of a complete castle town, with lots of stuff in it including the castle walls, a well, a church, etc. But there's that dreaded "triangle-hole" problem, and as I've stated the only way to fix things is to do reverse-vertex-order surface by surface, which for that model is quite impractical.

3) I'm thinking of creating from scratch a public mailbox, you know the kind that looks blue (at least in the US) and you drop letters you want to mail in it. Also a corresponding personal mailbox, this one I can borrow a model from the Internet. I haven't really started on this though.

4) I'm thinking of creating from scratch, with a little help from AC3D, a witch's cauldron, based loosely on some picture of a cauldron I've found on the Internet. This is probably my lowest-priority modeling project though. It's one of those random-ideas thing.

5) I had this model of a school locker at some point, but let's just say it needs major rework, including a lot of reverse-vertex-order, so say the least. I gave up on it after a while, maybe I'll recosider at some point.

6) I'm thinking of trying to find or create a model of an elevator. The idea being that you can walk into it, and you'd put a teleporter at the tile where you see the elevator...you get the idea. Not yet started.

7) I'm thinking of creating from scratch a model of a banner of various lengths, you know, the kind of banner you stretch across either a wall or across one wall to another. Obviously the skin image is customizable so level creators can make the banner say different things on their own levels. Not yet started.

You're more than welcome to take over some of the ideas I've listed here, especially the ones which I don't have a model from the Internet and where I said "not yet started". I'm actually also interested in hearing any requests level creators may have for new models, even though I can't promise following up on any such requests.

--------------------------

As for Milkshape vs. AC3D, at this point I'm kinda open to both. Though I definitely still feel that AC3D is superior, not only in terms of general operations but especially in texture mapping and methods of creating 3D models from scratch (for example, it has this "solid of revolution" thing that makes it easy to create "tube-like" things like bottles etc, something I'd definitely use to make the cauldron). Of course, I'm not even sure now if AC3D's trial period has expired or not. My Milkshape's trial period is also quickly approaching its end too...

It's true though that Milkshape supports doing animation with models, which AC3D has no features for.

Actually, one other thing I've done recently, although perhaps I should've waited until I have more free time, is I downloaded and installed a trial version (30 days) of 3d studio max. Yes, that expensive $150 3D modelling software that's supposed to be like the best for professional work. All I can say right now is, the controls are different enough that I still don't know how to use it even to do basic things.

[popo]

I know exactly what you mean with the 'work in progress'. I must have hundreds of models now, some of which I've resized etc. to fit in RTWD and some of which I've just played around with. Some of the models you mention I have had a look at, the castle being one. That would have been great if it wasn't for the 'black holes'

I have a couple of mailbox models, the small ones you put at the end of your drive if you want them, and I think I saw one of the blue ones you mention but I can't remember where. I, in turn, have been looking for a model of a British Telephone Box, the red ones you see in old films, but I don't think they exist.

For the cauldron, couldn't you customize a bowl of some sort, I think there's one on the 3D Studio site, and add a handle?

The school locker. Is this to be part of a 'school' level? If so I've got a chalkboard (blackboard in England) that I cutomised like your billboard so it can be written on.

I've got a set of stairs you're welcome to, but it's nothing like an elevator.

It would be a good idea to have a model 'swap shop', because I download anything that's in 3ds format whether I can make use of it or not, and I'm sure some of them would be useful to someone.

At least with Studio 3D Max you can import max files, and I think save them as 3ds files, so you would have more scope. If only you could work out how to use it.

[LinkyNStoof]

I, in turn, have been looking for a model of a British Telephone Box, the red ones you see in old films, but I don't think they exist.

I thought I might've saw something like that, but I can't be sure since I never watched much old films so I don't really know what you have in mind. And I don't remember where I saw it either.

For the cauldron, couldn't you customize a bowl of some sort, I think there's one on the 3D Studio site, and add a handle?

Hmm, well that's one possibility. What I was doing is, AC3D has a very simple way to take a 2D curve, and rotate it to generate a solid of revolution. For example, visualize revolving a vertical line very fast around some other vertical line. What that line sweeps out would be a cylinder. And so with that AC3D feature, basically you just need to draw a curve of the object's outline, and then AC3D will use the rotations to generate the solid of revolution from the outline--perfect for things like bowls, buckets, etc.

I didn't even think about a handle, does a cauldron have to have one? The picture which I'm basing my work off on doesn't actually have a handle I think. But I can probably make one or steal it from some other models.

The school locker. Is this to be part of a 'school' level? If so I've got a chalkboard (blackboard in England) that I cutomised like your billboard so it can be written on.

Well, I never have a specific level in mind when I do the models, but certainly a school locker will fit a school-themed level very well, and the addition of the chalkboard will definitely add more to a school-themed level. Maybe when I got around to fixing the school locker and release it you can also release the chalkboard and see what our level creators could come up with.

I've got a set of stairs you're welcome to, but it's nothing like an elevator.

Robbie might be interested in stairs and the like. Again, I don't have a specific level in mind, but I just see potential in using these objects in a level. Basically they'll act as fancier forms of teleporters etc., in line with Robbie's idea #3.

It would be a good idea to have a model 'swap shop', because I download anything that's in 3ds format whether I can make use of it or not, and I'm sure some of them would be useful to someone.

Perhaps we can make a "model request/exchange" thread, where people can either request for models of something, or post that they have such and such models available.

I too have downloaded more 3ds files than I actually posted here, but the fact is, there are a lot of objects that don't fit well in the Wonderland environment. Even simple things like tables can look a little out of place, given that the height of our gang-of-4 are like midgets when compared with humans in terms of proportions. So you'll end up with either a table that looks far too tall for use by Stinky, or a table with the legs so severely shorten that it just looks funny. And so forth. Then again, truth be told I haven't really tried testing out such models, maybe they'll look acceptable in Wonderland with certain modifications. And of course, even objects that seem oversized in Wonderland can still be useful in levels with certain themes, say something like "Stinky climbs up a beanstalk and visits the giant's house" or something.

At least with Studio 3D Max you can import max files, and I think save them as 3ds files, so you would have more scope. If only you could work out how to use it.

Oh don't worry, I will definitely find some time to learn 3D Max at some point. In fact, the whole reason I downloaded the trial version is so I can take advantage of all those max files out there.

[Ramonda]

LnS,
Here's a link to many different cauldron pictures. This will give you an idea of what they generally are considered to look like.
http://images.google.com/images?q=cauld ... gle+Search

[TheoX]

Wow! Just got a chance to try this level It's great!!
This level is not as hard as monopoly, and I love that gameboard(I also loved the monopoly gameboard)!

[Davimad]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I enjoyed that Popo.

Haven't played Snakes and Ladders for years, great fun.


Well done.


M.A.D.

[SharonM]

Sorry I didn't comment on this earlier, Popo, but I kind of lost track of it. I really loved the gameboard. I haven't played This game in years (since the kids were little). Thanks so much for the fond memories you invoked.

[Jersey]

Like Sharon, I too apologize for not posting earlier.

What a great level, not too tricky for a braindead like me. Nice way to relax after work!

I still like playing Snakes and Ladders, but my competition is about thirty years younger than me, so it's definitely more challenging then I remember...'specially when she wins!

[Robbie]

Really nice level Pauline

I haven't downloaded many but knew I had to check this out. Just about 180 or so deluxe levels still to download (and must be close to 300 of the regulars.... aargh!)

Haven't had much time either lately but have been playing around with model creation - I bought AC3d & find it quite good in terms of the controls and object placement/sizing. Nothing too advanced yet.

Been thinking I should get in & put something together along the lines you were mentioning LnS... not setting any deadlines

Robbie

[Robbie]

Hey Pauline,

Just found this little program (free!) dedicated to creating plant-life in 3d.
Haven't downloaded it to try it out or test even if the export files are compatible with MilkShape but maybe you might be interested (being our resident botanical expert ) when you have some time.

http://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/PlantStudio/index.htm

Robbie

[popo]

Thanks Robbie.

I've had a look at it and it can export DXF files, which Milkshape can import. I've downloaded a couple of sample models and if they work ok in Milkshape I'll download the program.

[Robbie]

Ooooh I can feel some plants coming on

Have fun Pauline - looking forward to what you can come up with.... and how's the room going???

Robbie