Sonic The Hedgehog: Level Layouts

Current Version: v0.3SHITTYBETA


Okay, so for a while now I've been making and breaking several hacks with varying breaking levels. This is a test hack that I'm going to only make GHZ, because I want to get a feel for how to make level layouts. I was hoping for some feedback, positive and negatives instead of just one or the other would be appreciated.


Do you think this level layout is any good at all?


Not the object placement or anything, the layout itself.


GHZ1 edited only because I want to know if I should continue this basic hack or actually pull for something bigger. Once again, beginner's hack, NO EYE-RAPING PALLETTES, and what I consider to be a bit of a bitch-like difficulty. I apologise for the first jump, I could not make it without the speed monitor.


Thank you for your time, and I apologise if a moderator thinks this thread is useless. If it is, just tell me and I WILL take it down. (Or you can, I'm probably not able to.)


Oh yeah, and there's a certain area where you turn left and find lots of nice little monitors? Don't go there, IT'S A TRAP


http://www.mediafire...1mfx4d4eaty</u>


EDIT:


NOW WITH SCREENSHOTS


OOPS


/monthly_11_2012/post-2274-0-02261900-1354203481_thumb.png


/monthly_11_2012/post-2274-0-81619600-1354203504_thumb.png


/monthly_11_2012/post-2274-0-26326200-1354203517_thumb.png

 

If you're posting a hack for people to see, screenshots need to be posted.

 

My bad, updated...


Can't believe I forgot them.

 

It's really hard to say anything about a level's layout without making any kind of note on the object layout since it ultimately brings the level together. That being said, I'll point out every instance of the level's chunk layout that need addressing...








(The rest are linked to save space in this post.)


http://imageshack.us...16/cutoff05.png


http://imageshack.us...57/cutoff06.png


http://imageshack.us...71/cutoff07.png


http://imageshack.us...61/cutoff08.png


http://imageshack.us...37/cutoff09.png


http://imageshack.us...71/cutoff10.png


The red circles show where cutoffs in the chunks take place. There's many instances where the layout suffers from chunks that just don't go together, resulting in a look where the art abruptly stops and breaks flow. Some of the linked images above show examples of where the art on some chunks run off or "end", but look correct in doing so (marked in green). Study the difference between what's marked in red and marked in green to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it.


Onto point number 2...





http://imageshack.us...nmatching03.png


http://imageshack.us...nmatching04.png


As I mentioned earlier, some chunks were specifically made to be places along other chunks. In the first example here, you have a chunk that immediatly cuts off into another chunk that is obviously meant to be placed alongside an empty space. This gives the layout a seam that sticks out like a sore thumb. In other cases, it appears that there are chunks that are missing from the layout all together, resulting in empty, square spaces where they don't belong. This doesn't look right for obvious reasons, so when looking over your layout for final touches, please don't pass by these mistakes or it gives the impression that the layout was rushed and it ruins the overall atmosphere of the level.


I know you requested that we not give any attention to the object layout, but this last bit is critical...





When you reach the end of the level, the art in VRAM gets switched around a bit and, as a result, some object art gets glitchy and garbled as seen above. Sure, if you destroy the fish badnik before reaching the end, it won't be a problem. But in my case, I avoided it and was greeted with the above. In short, leave little to no objects near the end of the level.


I can't say much in a positive light in regards to the layout since, as I mentioned before, object layouts bring the level together. If there's anything I can say about your current layout, it's not the most abysmal layout I've played before. Keep practicing at it and you'll get better over time.

 

I appriciate the tips on level layout and thank you for helping me to get this better. I CAN say I am working on the layout even as we speak and your thoughts will be addressed in the next build.


Oh, and one last tidbit - Cutoff05.png's red circle was intentional, as I am going to put a couple of monitors if you run through the wall. And I am kinda ashamed to admit that a few clipping errors were covered up with spikes so they weren't a problem. Still, beginner hack, and thanks for the help!

 

There is one more thing I wanted to quickly mention. MarkeyJester made a post regarding common layout mistakes back about a year ago, which can be found here... http://sonicresearch.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2915


I'm not sure which topics or posts trialists have access to, but if you can read this post, it should prove to be of great help. Good luck in your endeavors.

 

Yeah, that sort of helped me with spike and rock placement but the biggest problem is the GRASS cutting off, not the wall. I'm struggling to fix the layout.

 

http://mediafire.com/?hc5j1mfx4d4eaty


Updation Station v0.2! Fixes and additions -


- Walls cut off a lot less now


- Pirhanna Badnik no longer garbles at the end of the stage - 'cause it's not there


- I'm aware that the spikes go INTO the wall, I'm just trying to get the wall object 44 to be INFRONT of the spikes so it just pops outta the wall instead of going through


- Rings are obtained between stages (Though this is one stage, so until I do update v0.3 it's useless.)


I thank SonicBoom for telling me just how much I fucked up with the walls, next up - fixing the grass


The one spot I couldn't fix:


/monthly_11_2012/post-2274-0-82068700-1354213726_thumb.png


Stupid walls.

 

Object number 44 is your friend here, it's designed to be put on edges like that to hide the cut-offs on chunk edges.

 

Yeah, but even object 44 is useless when it's used on a wall that's barely visble into the ground. Even worse, the grass looks horrible no matter WHAT I do.

 

...Object 44 is a solid wall, so it is quite useful.

 

Like I said, when it's barely visible, it doesn't appear to change anything.

 

...Other than keep you from running of the map... So it is useful...

 

No, I meant when it's used right at the bottom of a hill just to make it look smooth, it doesn't look smooth and instead looks the same.


Welp, Limbo. See y'all!

 

UH?


Okay, having an issue here. I've just gotten a new computer over the two days I was in Limbo and I've transfered everything onto there. I was working on an update to the hack with GHZ1 and 2 finished and when I updated GHZ1 I went into playtesting. The screen was just black, on Fusion and on Gens. I don't know if this is just my computer, but here's the rom: http://www.mediafire.com/?htbazqjhhdh36hj


Can someone tell me if this is just my computer fucking up or is it my ROM?


- ThisIsMyTaunt

 

The ROM works for me.

 

Okay, so I got it working. But the only emulator on my computer it will work on is Gens Plus! which you can find at The Emulator Zone. Then again you'll only need it if it doesn't work on any other emulators.

 

Actually, the ROM you've posted works everywhere, even in Regen.


I have no idea why it doesn't work for you.

 

It's probably because the computer I'm forced to use now as a result of my other computer breaking down is a terrible terrible thing, and most emulators don't want to run rom files on a shitty computer. So, er...there's a tip for everyone. If you like classic Sonic The Hedgehog games and your computer might as well be from 1947, get yourself Gens Plus.


Oh, and the ROM I posted with the problem isn't the next build. Don't comment on that one.

 

If you put it on a flash drive, if that's the case, you have to take it out and put it back in. Then you can re-build your rom...


That's the only way I can work on my hack, and it sucks ass.