Autumn 2016 LD Contest [VOTING]

[mobius]

Welcome to the Late Autumn/Winter Lemmings Forum Side Contest!

VOTING PHASE HAS BEGUN!
It will be open for about 2 weeks at least.?

it's too late to join! or enter another level; sorry.

folder of levels: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/72760678/AutumContestLooseLevels.zip

levelpack (thanks to Flopsy): https://www.dropbox.com/s/s563vhc7vpzbb70/mobius%20LD%20contest.nxp?dl=0
(currently has an issue with my level I'm working on)

entries so far: 15 levels
Colorful Arty
Flopsy
GigaLem
namida
mobius
IchoTolot
rtw


Anyone may join by entering a level. Even if you don't enter a level you may participate by playing the levels that are submitted later; during the play phase and voting phase.

standard contest rules:

Spoiler

Latest change: Fixed a mistake in 2c (previously said "at the end of the playing phase").
Section 1 - Rules concerning entering levels
a. For each contest, each user is limited to one entry for each possible entry criteria, and two levels total.
b. Submissions must be made via a private message to the user hosting the contest during the initial submission phase, or in the update topic during the playing phase.
c. A level is not eligible if it has had a prior public release, even if that was on a different engine. Small-scale private releases (such as asking one or two people to test your level) will be tolerated.
d. The user hosting the contest may enter a level.
e. Any user caught attempting to manipulate voting or otherwise cheat will be disqualified from the contest, and may be banned from entering future contests. For the avoidance of doubt, voting for your own level is not considered cheating.
f. The user hosting the contest has the final say on whether or not a level meets the contest criteria. If your level is determined not to meet the criteria, you may modify it so that it does then resubmit it, or submit a different level, if you like.
g. If your level is acceptable according to the letter of the contest's criteria, the host may still reject it if they feel it goes against the spirit of the criteria; or in other words, don't use loopholes in the contest's criteria.
h. If your level uses any graphic sets, music, or so on that are not included by default with the engine you're using or capable of being downloaded automatically by it, you must include a link to, or a copy of, said content with your submission.

Section 2 - Rules concerning updating submitted levels
a. Any updates prior to the end of the creation phase should be submitted via private message to the user hosting the contest.
b. Any updates during the playing phase should be submitted by posting them in a dedicated updates topic as a new post (not as an edit to a previous post). Posting updates to more than one level in the same post is acceptable, provided that they're both posted at the same time (not editing the post later to add a second one).
c. The newest version of your level at the end of the submission phase will be considered V1 of the level, with the first update being V2, the second V3, and so on.
d. If an update to the level causes the level to no longer comply with the contest's criteria, that update will be ignored.
e. The deadline for submitting updates will be slightly earlier than the end of the playing phase and start of the voting phase, to give some time for other users to get and play the "finalized" versions of the levels.
f. Failure to follow the guidelines on how to post an update will result in that update being rejected. Repeatedly doing so may result in the level being disqualified altogether.

Section 3 - Rules concerning allowed engines
a. Submitted levels may be for any of: Lemmix / DOS Lemmings, NeoLemmix, Lemmini, SuperLemmini, or Lix.
b. In the case of Lemmix / DOS Lemmings levels, please mention when submitting the level which version of mechanics the level is intended to be played with (if it doesn't matter, please state so rather than saying nothing).
c. In the case of Lix levels, they should be single-player levels made for the D version.
d. In the case of NeoLemmix levels, they should be made for the stable version (V1.43n-F).

Section 4 - Rules concerning deadlines
a. All deadline dates and times are in UTC. If you are using the default forum settings, this is the same as the time displayed in the top-right of the page.
b. The deadline for initial submissions will automatically be extended if necessary so that it is not less than 72 hours from the time the most recently-submitted level was entered. This no longer happens once a contest has at least six entries (the 6th entry itself can still extend the deadline, but no entries after that can).
c. The deadline for level updates will automatically be extended if necessary so that it is never less than 72 hours from the time the most recently-updated level was last updated.
d. The contest will be cancelled if less than three entries have been received by the time of the initial submission deadline.

Section 6 - Rules concerning determining the winner
a. Contest winners are determined via a vote, which is open to all users to vote in (including those who did not enter the contest).
b. Voting is done in multiple rounds; the exact arrangement is at the discretion of the user hosting the contest, but the general formula is three rounds, with 4 votes per user and 4 levels qualifying in the first round, which halves in each subsequent round.
c. There is no specifically designated criteria to consider when voting; it is simply a matter of which level(s) you like the most.
d. For the avoidance of doubt, the number of allowed votes is a maximum, not an exact number; and it is perfectly fine to vote for a smaller number of levels.

Section 7 - Rules concerning prizes
a. Unless the contest in question states otherwise, only first place gets a prize.
b. If the contest does offer multiple prizes, then the same prize cannot be chosen twice unless stated otherwise. In the event of an overlap between chosen prizes, the higher-placing winner gets first pick provided they choose within 48 hours of the winning being announced; after this it is strictly "first in, first served".
c. Any monetary prizes are payable via PayPal; or if you live in New Zealand, bank transfer. Other payment methods may also be considered upon request, such as Bitcoin, direct donation to a charity, or so on.
d. Prizes may not be put on hold for later use, except prizes of advertisement on the forum's news ticker. If you have not supplied the details nessecary to claim your prize (eg. a PayPal address for a monetary prize) within one month of choosing it; or have not chosen a prize at all within two weeks of your win being announced; it is forfeited.
e. If the user hosting the contest wins, they do not get a prize. Unless the contest offered multiple prizes, their prize is passed on to second place.
f. If a prize can be put on hold, it must be claimed within 12 months, or else it is forfeited. This does not apply to prizes that were won before this rule was added, even if they weren't chosen until afterwards.

Section 8 - Miscellaneous rules
a. Although this will be avoided as much as possible, the host of a contest may choose to add / modify / remove specific prize options, or even cancel the contest altogether, for any reason, at any time.
b. This is not a legal agreement. The contests are for fun, the prizes are a bonus, and entry into the contest does not create any kind of contract that ensures you a prize if you win.
c. In the case that the rules of an individual contest contradict these general rules, the contest's specific rules override.
d. No discussion of the contest levels is allowed anywhere on the site, except via private message, during the voting phase. This does not apply to any levels which have been eliminated from the voting.
e. Discussion of contest levels during the voting phase via private message should be kept to a minimum, generally only for purposes such as sending solution replays to the creator.

IMPORTANT
-submit your level(s) to me via PM. Levels will be posted publicly when the playing phase begins.
-if you're making a Level for Lix, please use the D version of Lix.
-if you're making a level for NeoLemmix, please make sure you're making it compatible with the latest stable release (not experimental, it may, but this is not required).
-You must include a replay of your intended solution to the level to prove it's solvable.
-You may include some levels for one engine and some for another.
-Depending on participation I may allow entering up to three levels, one for each rule. But as of now it's a maximum of 2 levels per person.

The Submission phase will be open initially for about 3 weeks. So from now until Dec 7. If I get a lot of submissions I may close it sooner; if I get very few I may lengthen it. Regardless, I will post near this time to ask what the participants would prefer.

The Playing phase will then go for about three weeks after that, again depending on participation and what the participants prefer. During this time level submitters and anyone else may play the levels, the submitters may update their levels.

The voting phase will then go for about three weeks after that, again depending on participation and what the participants prefer. During this time the submitters are finished updating their levels and cannot submit any more fixes or new levels.

the rules/restrictions:

one type of skill
You're level must have only 1 type of skill available. The amount of this skill may be any number (including infinite) and it may be any skill of your choosing.
You may include pick-up skills, as long as they are all the same as this one skill.
You may have preplaced lemmings or entrances with preassigned skills but the said preassigned skill must be the same as the single skill you've chosen.

Hard-for-Flopsy
You're level must follow the following conditions;
-99RR
- Lemmings are heading for trouble, eg water, trap, fatal fall [in other words; not in a state of infinite safety at the start like in a holding pit]
- tight time limit
- 100% save requirement

alter existing original level
[this rule is only applicable to NeoLemmix or Lemmini/SuperLemmini]
You must take a level from either; Original Lemmings, Oh No More Lemmings, The Genesis version of OL, or L2 and alter it to have a different solution. There is no strict definitions on this rule, you may alter the stats and terrain or objects of the level. Keep in mind; the original level must be recognized in your final product. If I can't determine which level this is even by looking at a picture; it doesn't count.
-Please indicate which level you picked with your submission for this rule.

Feel free to ask for any clarifications.

Change of rules:

-The only modification to the standard rules I can think of at the moment is; I don't care to disallow talking about the levels during any phase of the contest. You may discuss this contest at any time.
-Also, sorry but I can't give any kind of prize to the first place winner; unless the first place winner happens to want a free copy of contraption maker but apparently nobody wants that

[Proxima]

D Lix no longer supports time limits. Are we allowed to relax that restriction?

[mobius]

That's a good point--I vote to relax that restriction. I'd say the level will be hard enough anyways without the time limit. And if the lix levels can't have it; it might make more sense to relax it for other engines as well.

[GigaLem]

one type of skill
You're level must have only 1 type of skill available. The amount of this skill may be any number (including infinite) and it may be any skill of your choosing. You may include pick-up skills, as long as they are all the same as this one skill.

If there are Preplaced lemmings, are Preassigned skills allowed?

[Flopsy]

Just sent my entries in.

Hope this contest gets a nice amount of entries

[Colorful Arty]

Oh, I really hope Flopsy sends in an entry for the "Hard for Flopsy" category.

[Flopsy]

I have Arty, if you really want to know.

I'm good at making Hard For Flopsy levels you know!

[mobius]

one type of skill
You're level must have only 1 type of skill available. The amount of this skill may be any number (including infinite) and it may be any skill of your choosing. You may include pick-up skills, as long as they are all the same as this one skill.

If there are Preplaced lemmings, are Preassigned skills allowed?

Another good point-- Preassigned skills are allowed--- as long as the preassigned skill is the same single skill (the same which would appear in the menu or as pick-up skills. So still only 1 skill allowed. I've updated the main post.

I have Arty, if you really want to know.

I'm good at making Hard For Flopsy levels you know!

If you're good at Hard-For-Flopsy levels, then the name doesn't seem really appropriate anymore does it?
Right you said good at "making" them, not playing them.

[bulletride]

Are we allowed to have 2 entrances* for the 99RR rule?

[mobius]

I posted after reading your post incorrectly so disregard that if you read it [I deleted the post]

Are we allowed to have 2 entrances* for the 99RR rule?

Yes, I don't see why not.

[rtw]

Quick question, how do I save a replay again?

Also where do I get a classic level to modify it?

[namida]

Quick question, how do I save a replay again?

You can press the "Save Replay" hotkey (default key: U) at any time during gameplay or on the postview screen. By default, NeoLemmix is also configured to automatically save a replay any time you successfully complete a level.

Also where do I get a classic level to modify it?

Press F4 on the title screen to save LVL copies of all levels in the current NXP (only works if the pack you're playing is configured to allow it; the NXPs of the official games do allow it). Note that this feature is broken on V1.47n, but works on all other versions (including V1.47n-B, -C etc).

[mobius]

we now have 13 levels entered from 7 people! Still plenty of time left to enter a level if you'd like!

[mobius]

we've gotten 13 entries, more than I expected. Would anybody like to/be opposed to starting the playing phase sooner than Dec7? Keep in mind, either way you can still enter a level (or two) while the playing phase is going on. I'd like the playing phase to remain open for longer (unless it really isn't needed). You can also retract/change a submission during this time.

[Flopsy]

I'm not opposed to the playing phase starting earlier. I'm actually hoping for more stuff to do because I'm off work this week

Let's see what everyone else thinks though