WoodburyRaider
12-30-2010, 01:05 AM
Create Mode Tips and Tricks & How to Prevent Level Corruption
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__________________________________________________ ____________
__________________________________________________ ____________
Precautions (Things to do while your level(s) still work):
I remember someone had put together something like this in the past, but I wanted to include some helpful tips and precautions of my own for what to do if your level won't load.
Please remember that these are just some helpful tips that are ONLY precautions. You do not have to follow them, however it is strongly recommended as they can be done quickly and easily.
*MOST IMPORTANT OVER EVERYTHING* Simple Things to Do:
1. Create a copy of your level. Everytime you save your level and return to the main menu, copy the level you were just working on and overwrite your old copy.
2. NEVER switch off your PSP (put in standby) while in your level. This has always been the reason for my levels eventually freezing on the loading screen. (Your level still may work for a couple more edits/plays, but eventually it will freeze.)
*However, if this happens to you do not panic, it is not a big deal since you can use your copy as your new default level or finish your level quickly. Who knows, maybe this only happens to me.
3. NEVER use the 'Unpause' and 'Pause' feature. This can simply mess up your level in many ways.
4. After making an edit and before entering 'Play Mode," click the 'Save Changes' button. Even though it asks before entering Play Mode whether you want to save or discard changes, always just save changes before hand. I'm not sure if this helps, but it hasn't failed me yet and only takes an extra second.
5. Try not to have too many levels on your moon. This slows down your PSP and even makes loading times a little longer.
Complicated Things (That should be done at least once):
1. MOST IMPORTANTLY always have a backup on your computer. I will find the link to the posts about this already out there at some point, but you should easily be able to search for it on google if you need to. The reason this is so important is that if you lose your data from file corruption, you lose all of your levels. Not only that, but you lose your story mode progress and all of the materials and costumes that you worked so hard for. Simply put, this process only takes five minutes (less once you know how) and is a nice safe way to guarantee that you always have your data.
- Trust me, this happened to me before I had any clue it could happen. I had to restart from scratch and almost put away LBP for good!
Create Mode Helpful Tips and Tricks:
While creating, I have come across a few of these tricks to make creating easier, quicker, and simpler.
Brushes VS. Shapes:
*Use the brush for everything in your level except extra shapes that are simple to make with the corner editor and can be placed "freely" throughout the level.
- When using the circle brush and creating a larger shape, you may notice that when trying to fill in the shape by making a full outline that a little gap doesn't fill in. There are 2 ways to fix this:
1. Press the "circle" button on your PSP once and select the square brush and continue filling in the shape.
2. While still using the "circle brush" press "x" on your PSP to where you would normally fill in the gap and then (while still holding "x") move the brush inwards towards the gap to make it disappear.
Corner Editor:
*To create detailed shapes, start big and shrink the shape later.
- Let's say you want to make a square outline, here's what you do:
1. Start big, 5x5 would make the outline wider than a 10x10 with the brush stroke.
2. While making the outline, make the 3 sides of the square and continue onto the fourth side but DO NOT connect the fourth side to the first (since it will fill in the shape). Instead, use the corner editor to drag the "2 corners" that need to be connected into the first side.
*Note that when corner editing, dragging a corner to an impossible place makes the color of the dot on the corner turn red. If this happens press "circle" to undo that corner correction before placing that corner. Although it still may work, the red corners cause random problems. If you accidentally press "x" on your PSP, saving the corner, simply wait several seconds and the corner should reset. (As long as you didn't touch anything else after pressing "x" on your PSP). The best way to do this is by dragging the two corners close to the other two so as not to get red corners. Then, slowly drag them until they go red, and then adjust by eyeballing where it is before they go red. (NOTE: It is okay if the corners go red as long as you are dragging them, just don't let go!)
- To add a corner to the center of an object, simply select the object with the popit once, deselect it by pressing "circle," and use the corner editor to place the corner.
Copying Objects:
- If the object you're trying to copy makes a noise that sounds like something rapidly repeating itself and the object doesn't appear when you try to copy it, it still is possible to copy it. Since this usually happens with very detailed objects, all you have to do is place a square block next to it and copy both shapes. Simply delete the extra square shape when you are done! This can also work if you have two separate objects that you are copying. Even if you only want one to copy, simply copy it with the nearest "free" (not attached to strings or anything) object in your level and then just delete that extra object after.
*Note that this is different from "Capturing Objects."
*IMPORTANT* How to Keep Level Copies Uncorrupted
*NEW*: I just discovered a flawless way of keeping your copies uncorrupted and another reason why it can happen in the first place.
- Basically, if you only "Return to the Main Menu and Save Level," your level could be corrupted without you knowing. This is because it doesn't matter if your level works in create mode because that doesn't necessarily mean it works in play mode. This means that your latest edits to your level are essentially useless. Luckily, I found a way to prevent this by following these simple steps.
1. Whether you're about to "Switch to Play Mode" or "Return to Main Menu", always press "Save Level" before hand. (Separate buttons). Even though before you exit to play mode or the main menu it asks you to save if you haven't, for some reason only doing this can corrupt your level.
2. Due to this unfortunate fact, you have to press another button beforehand (and it takes a whole 2 more seconds to do so!). All you have to do is press "Save Level," a separate button from the other two, before pressing "Return to Main Menu" or "Switch to Play Mode." Your level will no longer corrupt in this fashion. 3. To prevent yourself from copying over your uncorrupt level (that is behind 1 edit session) with an unknowingly corrupt copy, simply have 3 level saves. 1 original and 2 copies (basically 3 copies, it doesn't matter which one is the original as far as I know). Switch off which one you copy over, always keeping the same original to keep things simple. Here's a diagram explaining what to do:
Let's say you're in the crater that looks like this with three level spaces:
O 8
Things to keep in mind:
-NOTE: (Only "Edit" the original level - in green - to keep things simple).
-In each circle (there are three) is a level save and the original is in green, the two copies in blue.
-After saving your level and returning to the main menu in order to make your copy, copy your original level into the top "Blue" copy. Now you're ready to go back to your editing in the original level!
-Next step, after returning to the main menu after saving, copy your level to the BOTTOM "Blue" copy. Now you can continue this process over and over and you won't lose all of your progress again!
(NOTE: After returning to create mode after a long time you may not remember which copy you copied over last. I've done this several times and just risked it. However, it wasn't much of a risk since I follow everything listed above and ever since, my levels haven't become corrupted. Basically, don't fret if you can't remember which one to copy over if you forget, so long as you follow the other tricks.
I WILL BE ADDING MORE WHEN I GET THE CHANCE
Fine Print:
Nothing was meant by the new title of this thread and you are in no way in fact "a dummy," and nor are your fellow creators. Most of these are just nifty tricks that I thought of on my own by creating. Some of you may have also come up with these on your own and thought, "HEY! I came up with that! He's taking my trick!" Well the answer that question is "No, I did not take your trick because I thought of it all by myself, unless you happened to use Inception, then it was your idea." If you are reading this I am very glad because that hopefully means that you read the rest of the thread either recently, or at some point in the past. Private Message (PM) or Visitor Message (VM) me anything you have questions about. If you are messaging me to tell me that you read this, please keep that in the Visitor Messages. Thank you and best of luck creating.
__________________________________________________ ____________
__________________________________________________ ____________
__________________________________________________ ____________
Precautions (Things to do while your level(s) still work):
I remember someone had put together something like this in the past, but I wanted to include some helpful tips and precautions of my own for what to do if your level won't load.
Please remember that these are just some helpful tips that are ONLY precautions. You do not have to follow them, however it is strongly recommended as they can be done quickly and easily.
*MOST IMPORTANT OVER EVERYTHING* Simple Things to Do:
1. Create a copy of your level. Everytime you save your level and return to the main menu, copy the level you were just working on and overwrite your old copy.
2. NEVER switch off your PSP (put in standby) while in your level. This has always been the reason for my levels eventually freezing on the loading screen. (Your level still may work for a couple more edits/plays, but eventually it will freeze.)
*However, if this happens to you do not panic, it is not a big deal since you can use your copy as your new default level or finish your level quickly. Who knows, maybe this only happens to me.
3. NEVER use the 'Unpause' and 'Pause' feature. This can simply mess up your level in many ways.
4. After making an edit and before entering 'Play Mode," click the 'Save Changes' button. Even though it asks before entering Play Mode whether you want to save or discard changes, always just save changes before hand. I'm not sure if this helps, but it hasn't failed me yet and only takes an extra second.
5. Try not to have too many levels on your moon. This slows down your PSP and even makes loading times a little longer.
Complicated Things (That should be done at least once):
1. MOST IMPORTANTLY always have a backup on your computer. I will find the link to the posts about this already out there at some point, but you should easily be able to search for it on google if you need to. The reason this is so important is that if you lose your data from file corruption, you lose all of your levels. Not only that, but you lose your story mode progress and all of the materials and costumes that you worked so hard for. Simply put, this process only takes five minutes (less once you know how) and is a nice safe way to guarantee that you always have your data.
- Trust me, this happened to me before I had any clue it could happen. I had to restart from scratch and almost put away LBP for good!
Create Mode Helpful Tips and Tricks:
While creating, I have come across a few of these tricks to make creating easier, quicker, and simpler.
Brushes VS. Shapes:
*Use the brush for everything in your level except extra shapes that are simple to make with the corner editor and can be placed "freely" throughout the level.
- When using the circle brush and creating a larger shape, you may notice that when trying to fill in the shape by making a full outline that a little gap doesn't fill in. There are 2 ways to fix this:
1. Press the "circle" button on your PSP once and select the square brush and continue filling in the shape.
2. While still using the "circle brush" press "x" on your PSP to where you would normally fill in the gap and then (while still holding "x") move the brush inwards towards the gap to make it disappear.
Corner Editor:
*To create detailed shapes, start big and shrink the shape later.
- Let's say you want to make a square outline, here's what you do:
1. Start big, 5x5 would make the outline wider than a 10x10 with the brush stroke.
2. While making the outline, make the 3 sides of the square and continue onto the fourth side but DO NOT connect the fourth side to the first (since it will fill in the shape). Instead, use the corner editor to drag the "2 corners" that need to be connected into the first side.
*Note that when corner editing, dragging a corner to an impossible place makes the color of the dot on the corner turn red. If this happens press "circle" to undo that corner correction before placing that corner. Although it still may work, the red corners cause random problems. If you accidentally press "x" on your PSP, saving the corner, simply wait several seconds and the corner should reset. (As long as you didn't touch anything else after pressing "x" on your PSP). The best way to do this is by dragging the two corners close to the other two so as not to get red corners. Then, slowly drag them until they go red, and then adjust by eyeballing where it is before they go red. (NOTE: It is okay if the corners go red as long as you are dragging them, just don't let go!)
- To add a corner to the center of an object, simply select the object with the popit once, deselect it by pressing "circle," and use the corner editor to place the corner.
Copying Objects:
- If the object you're trying to copy makes a noise that sounds like something rapidly repeating itself and the object doesn't appear when you try to copy it, it still is possible to copy it. Since this usually happens with very detailed objects, all you have to do is place a square block next to it and copy both shapes. Simply delete the extra square shape when you are done! This can also work if you have two separate objects that you are copying. Even if you only want one to copy, simply copy it with the nearest "free" (not attached to strings or anything) object in your level and then just delete that extra object after.
*Note that this is different from "Capturing Objects."
*IMPORTANT* How to Keep Level Copies Uncorrupted
*NEW*: I just discovered a flawless way of keeping your copies uncorrupted and another reason why it can happen in the first place.
- Basically, if you only "Return to the Main Menu and Save Level," your level could be corrupted without you knowing. This is because it doesn't matter if your level works in create mode because that doesn't necessarily mean it works in play mode. This means that your latest edits to your level are essentially useless. Luckily, I found a way to prevent this by following these simple steps.
1. Whether you're about to "Switch to Play Mode" or "Return to Main Menu", always press "Save Level" before hand. (Separate buttons). Even though before you exit to play mode or the main menu it asks you to save if you haven't, for some reason only doing this can corrupt your level.
2. Due to this unfortunate fact, you have to press another button beforehand (and it takes a whole 2 more seconds to do so!). All you have to do is press "Save Level," a separate button from the other two, before pressing "Return to Main Menu" or "Switch to Play Mode." Your level will no longer corrupt in this fashion. 3. To prevent yourself from copying over your uncorrupt level (that is behind 1 edit session) with an unknowingly corrupt copy, simply have 3 level saves. 1 original and 2 copies (basically 3 copies, it doesn't matter which one is the original as far as I know). Switch off which one you copy over, always keeping the same original to keep things simple. Here's a diagram explaining what to do:
Let's say you're in the crater that looks like this with three level spaces:
O 8
Things to keep in mind:
-NOTE: (Only "Edit" the original level - in green - to keep things simple).
-In each circle (there are three) is a level save and the original is in green, the two copies in blue.
-After saving your level and returning to the main menu in order to make your copy, copy your original level into the top "Blue" copy. Now you're ready to go back to your editing in the original level!
-Next step, after returning to the main menu after saving, copy your level to the BOTTOM "Blue" copy. Now you can continue this process over and over and you won't lose all of your progress again!
(NOTE: After returning to create mode after a long time you may not remember which copy you copied over last. I've done this several times and just risked it. However, it wasn't much of a risk since I follow everything listed above and ever since, my levels haven't become corrupted. Basically, don't fret if you can't remember which one to copy over if you forget, so long as you follow the other tricks.
I WILL BE ADDING MORE WHEN I GET THE CHANCE
Fine Print:
Nothing was meant by the new title of this thread and you are in no way in fact "a dummy," and nor are your fellow creators. Most of these are just nifty tricks that I thought of on my own by creating. Some of you may have also come up with these on your own and thought, "HEY! I came up with that! He's taking my trick!" Well the answer that question is "No, I did not take your trick because I thought of it all by myself, unless you happened to use Inception, then it was your idea." If you are reading this I am very glad because that hopefully means that you read the rest of the thread either recently, or at some point in the past. Private Message (PM) or Visitor Message (VM) me anything you have questions about. If you are messaging me to tell me that you read this, please keep that in the Visitor Messages. Thank you and best of luck creating.