Today we have a guest article by a very special friend of mine, Prototype. He’s been a supporter of the Atmosphirian since the very beginning, and I’m very happy to have him write an article for it.
Atmosphir is one of the most flexible game making tools out there. The possibilities are virtually endless. Semi-recent updates have expanded those possibilities, enabling many advanced concepts to emerge. Over the past few months, great levels from great designers have set the standards for a good level. The following tips will help even the worst designers improve their levels.
1. Plan
One of the most important things you can do, is to plan out your level before you start making it. Not just in your head, either. A sheet of paper, a pen, and an imagination is all that you need to get started. What kind of level will this be? Will you collect treasure, battle enemies, race to the finish? Decide upon the ultimate goal of the level, and build upon it. After that, start drawing. Decide the shape of the level and where you want to end up. Plot where you want enemies to be, and where you want to place powerups or treasures. Try to make it as clear as possible. After you have thought about almost every aspect of your level, you can start making it.
2. Gameplay
In the end, your level has to be fun to play. If just one of your levels is really fun, the player will want to play the rest of your levels. So, what makes good gameplay? Extreme difficulty certainly isn’t the answer. Just because you can make a near-impossible level, doesn’t mean you’re a good designer. In fact, many players resent those who purposefully steal their atmoscore. It would be hard to describe what exactly makes good gameplay. So my advice to you, would be to look at popular levels and see what you can get from them. See how they are designed, and any concepts you can get from them. If there is something you like, copy it in your own level.
3. Concepts
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.” -Pablo Picasso
The previous tip advised you to see what you could copy from other great designers. If you want to be truly great, you won’t do that. At least, you won’t leave it at that. Great designers take it a step further. Once you have the idea, mold it and transform it into your own. The further you transform it, the better. Originality is greatly appreciated, and the original designers will be grateful that you built upon their concept.
4. Environment
A visually appealing level is like candy for your eyes. Not only does the level have to be fun to play, but it has to look good. Sometimes the scenery makes the level, and therefore it is important that you get it right. Just because you’ve thrown props around the level, doesn’t mean it looks good. One thing you can do to greatly increase the quality of your level, is to diversify your walls. When you use the same block to make your walls, the level looks kind of plain. It works for some levels, but not all of them. Throwing in another block or two adds diversity, and makes the overall look of your level more pleasant.
5. Capacity
Pay attention to the capacity bar. This tool can be the difference between the life and death of your level. A level the lags a lot isn’t enjoyable to play at all. Props, Hazards, and interactives take up the most capacity, while blocks and connectors don’t. The capacity bar is there to ensure that all levels work on most computers. The lower the capacity, the better. If you stay below 50 percent, almost every atmosphir user will be able to play your level.
6. Playtest
Just as location is to real estate, playtesting is to Atmosphir. Many consider this to be the most important thing you can do when designing a level. Make sure it is beatable. No one likes an impossible level. Playtesting will also help you prevent people from cheating your level. When playtesting your level, think like a player. Think as if they want to win the level as fast and as easy as they can. Once you prevent any bugs or cheats in your level, you can upload it.
7. Advertise
This is the easiest and shortest tip of all of them. No one is going to know about your level unless you advertise it. Make a thread in the Cool Levels section of the forums. Include a picture, a link, and a brief description of your level. You can also advertise it in your signature, or PM specific users, asking for feedback. Youtube is another great way to advertise your level. Upload a short preview of your level, and bam! You have people playing your level that didn’t even know about Atmosphir!
While there are many ways to make a level, there are many more ways to make a great level. Your designs are sure to get better with more experience. Thanks for reading, and I’m sure Picasso will greatly appreciate you using his advice.
DO THE PROOT
awsume tibs broh.
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