Lemmings Forums Level Contest #12

[namida]

Well, finally, we have another normal contest, with the rules picked by zanzindorf as his prize for winning contest #11.

For those of you who are new to the contests (and if you haven't entered before, I strongly encourage you to try - even if you don't win, it's fun to participate; and we have had cases where first-time entrants have won before!) or haven't participated in a while; there are three choices of rules given, you may enter one level each for up to two of the rules. You may use NeoLemmix, Lix, or SuperLemmini. If you have two entries, they may (but do not have to) be for the same engine.

We'll be keeping the new rules on how the submission deadlines work. So:
- Initial submission phase deadline will extend such that it's 72 hours from the time of the last submission, up to the 5th submission (inclusive). After this it no longer changes no matter what.
- Update phase deadline will extend such that it's 72 hours from the time of the last update, with no limits on how much it may extend.
- Even if you missed the cutoff date for the initial submission phase, late entries are accepted until the update phase ends. There is no penalty for a late entry, beyond that people are less likely to spend as much time on the level before voting begins.

So, here's the three rules for this contest!

Rule 1 - Create a level with a time limit of one minute or less. (Note: This rule cannot be done in Lix as it no longer supports time limits.)

Rule 2 - Create a level without Bashers, Fencers, Miners or Diggers. (Bombers are allowed.)

Rule 3 - Create a VGASPEC-type level.
This must be original, and not a clone / modification of one of the ones from the official games. Additionally, it must actually *feel* like a special graphics level and not just technically be one. Creating such a level these days, is done by simply creating a custom graphic set with one large terrain piece for the entire level's terrain layout (and optionally, a second one for the steel parts of the level, if applicable).



Submission phase ends 7th May 2017 at 00:00 UTC. Deadline for the playing / update phase will be announced when it begins.

Prize selection:
- US $5.00
- One month's advertising on the forums news ticker

(The "pick next contest's rules" prize is not available this time. It will return in the next contest. I may add more prize options, we'll see.)

Entries so far: 11
bulletride (1)
Colorful Arty (2)
IchoTolot (2)
mobius (1)
namida (2)
Nepster (2)
Ron_Stard (1)

[Colorful Arty]

Are we allowed to submit one level per rule, or are we keeping the limit of only 2 level submissions allowed?

[namida]

Two submissions, which must be for two different rules.

[Proxima]

I wonder if Rule 3 should also be NL-only. While Lix certainly supports custom terrain pieces, and there would be no problem about making one the size of an entire level, the terrain wouldn't ship with the game so we would have to host the level together with instructions on installing the terrain on the user's own copy. Any thoughts from Simon?

[Simon]

terrain wouldn't ship with the game so we would have to host the level together with instructions on installing the terrain on the user's own copy. Any thoughts from Simon?

Offer level and pieces for download, with instructions on how to install terrain. There is no convention for where in images/ such tiles would go. Invent something and manage the system yourself (= if you delete the levels, delete the orphaned tiles scattered throughout images/). Painful, but a necessary workaround.

Lix isn't designed for level packs with exclusive assets. Unsure if this is a feature or a limitation. The issue dovetails into package management and dependency hell, I don't have any long-term plans.

-- Simon

[Colorful Arty]

Since VGASPEC is no longer supported, should we just make a new graphic set with one terrain piece instead?

[IchoTolot]

Since VGASPEC is no longer supported, should we just make a new graphic set with one terrain piece instead?

Yes, I already made that in my case

IRC: 

<IchoTolot> Never worked with VGASPECs, but I assume making a tileset with only 1 giant tile is legit?
<namida42> IchoTolot: tileset with 1 mega tile is the *only* way to do it these days

Also:

<IchoTolot> namida42: Regarding the contest: Is < 1 min (in my case 55 secs) also viable?
<namida42> hm, zanzindorf picked the rules so i'll refer that one to him

Waiting for an answer right now in that case.

[Colorful Arty]

I already know what I'm doing for a VGASPEC level. It will take quite some time to make, but it should be awesome.

[zanzindorf]

I just messaged Namida, less than a minute is fine

[Colorful Arty]

Mwahahahahaha!

[Flopsy]

Question: If I have released a level as part of a demo, is that level not allowed to be entered in the contest?

[namida]

If it's had a public release, no.

If it's a test version you've sent to a small group of people, it's fine.

[namida]

Just a reminder that there's one week until the initial submission phase ends. You can still submit levels late (until the update phase ends) without any direct penalty, but this will mean people have less time to play your level before voting begins.

[namida]

Initial submissions are now closed. To anyone who wanted to enter a level but ran out of time - you'll be able to submit it during the playing / update phase, which I will be putting up shortly (just got to handle a few last-minute submissions and build an NXP).

(EDIT: Mostly ready, but I've noticed one style file is missing. I'll wait a few hours in case the person comes online and can send it; if not, I'll remove the level in question for now and they can re-submit it as a late entry.)