Silence in the LIbrary

Wow, I came to get feedback on my new levels and now my queue is about 20 pages long. It had been getting light lately too, so I'm glad to have a new source of great looking levels to try!

For fans of Doctor Who, this is a must play (in my humble Doctor Who fan opinion). For others, I ask for F4F and also hope that you enjoy it. Primarily it is a platformer, so a lack of Doctor Who love shouldn't slow you down. This level is a 2-parter, plus a very short intro video. This F4F applies to either part 1 or part 2 or if you play both and leave feedback for the overall effect, I will be sure you leave you extra helpful feedback :)

I did my best to make these mutliplayer friendly but you probably need to stick together fairly closely or risk being left behind. There are 3 two-player co-op spots in the two parts so you may want to bring a friend along for those. I spent months on these levels so I really appreciate any feedback you can offer.

Now, screenshots!

http://ia.lbp.me/img/ft/83ac716b841a...825088a5a6.jpg

http://ie.lbp.me/img/ft/5fe4ea261795...1a24bf1b15.jpg

http://i2.lbp.me/img/ft/cf2e2ea0b197...7566df6e92.jpg
Don't forget to look for the 15 secret areas! (over two levels)

http://i2.lbp.me/img/ft/41208a067586...c4f28b8521.jpg

http://ib.lbp.me/img/ft/18b41b863e26...cec3d64612.jpg

http://ic.lbp.me/img/ft/85cd0aca58af...19a5d76d10.jpg

http://i4.lbp.me/img/ft/204c86daa00f...d636a85493.jpg

The dark ones are from part 2, and after uploading them to the computer I'm now worried it's too dark, so feedback to that effect would be helpful.

ONE NOTE: It is my preference to leave feedback directly on your level in LBP2, or to PM you via PSN. If this doesn't work for you or you have a preference for another method, please inform me in your post. I play LBP2 a LOT so I am inclined to not put a limit on the number of F4F's I'm willing to do, but I will say I won't do more than... 10 which require me to reply by computer. If you are happy getting feedback in the form or reviews or comments or PMs, then no limit.

http://lbp.me/v/1p8d0j

this is an interesting looking level, will add to the queue and leave some feedback after i get to it.
if u get a chance check out my level "Nature's solitude" which is more of a scenic platformer.
lbp.me link http://lbp.me/v/0kn3j2
thread http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/sho...ure-s-Solitude

cool, I love DR Who. will give a go this evening

biorogue: Great! I hope I don't disappoint, it was hard to fit even a small piece of the great story of Silence in the Library/Forests of the Dead into these levels :) Do you have any levels you would like me to look at?

juscallmej: Realized I had already played your level! But I played again and left you some feedback in your topic. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

hey i just played both your levels. the first one was really well done. definitely not your typical platformer. i enjoyed the exploring aspect to the gameplay.
the 2nd one was a bit difficult, one was the darkness which kind of got in the way of the platforming in certain partsand the lack of direction in some parts eg when you get the grabanator to throw the green brick after the little step platform came out i was stuck.
overall it was an interesting gameplay tactic though( the light/darkness theme)

Thank you for giving it a try! I will revisit that room ASAP and remove the confusing ramp.

Hi there! Thought I'd write some feedback for this, so here goes. I'm writing this as I play it, so bear with me, also I was a fan of Doctor Who (the David Tennant ones) and never really got round to the newest ones, so again, bear that in mind :)

TARDIS looks very nice, good effect with the holo. The trees look a bit odd and lack variety, but it's not too big an issue. Love the leaf effect, but you might want to set the emmitters to one-shot, as if you stand in the same place it keeps shooting them up and ruins the magic a bit. Layer-wise it's decorated buitifally, each one is different, which was something I could never really do, so I applaud you on that. Cutscene was good, I enjoyed and it was just the right length, not too long that I was on it for ages and not too quick that I couldn't read the bubbles, which judging by many other levels by the community is a hard thing to grasp, so again, well done. Jumping over the flowerbed was nice, a good puzzle but not too hard that I got fustrated.

Into the bit where the Doctor's cutscene was, nice change in the atmosphere with the music and lighting. After seeing the cutscene, I think I do recall this episode a bit. Where there random bits in it where some girl was changing TV channels? That's how I remember it. Very nice effect with the pendulum. I keep dying randomly from some blue plasma, is that ment to happen? Realised it was the pendulum, maybe signpost that it's deadly a bit better. Liked using the clock to get up. It really is good how much you've crammed into a small space with all the different layers, again, that's not something I find easy to do. Died from blue plasma at the torches bit again. Struggling to work out what to do at the torches bit, and I keep getting killed randomly. The ladder in leading up the bookcase is a bit hard to climb. The bookcase mase is very nice. Not many secrets for me ._.

Loading the level link...It's taking a while (laggy internet)...

And we're done. Interesting change, but again with the blue plasma, please, please signpost it. Finished the bits were you had to stay in the light and I am now very confused. I stood on the button and the camera angle changed, but now it won't happen again and I can't see where I'm jumping. Pulled the switch, another camera angle change. Took me a long time to realise the platform goes up and down, it should be immediate. Again, didn't get what was going on with the book throwing bit. It's too dark. I can make a hill appear, but what then? After quite a long time, I finally got the book in the green area. Got stuck in the bit after you bounce pad up the ladder and get chucked into a small room. What's going on? At the bit with the controlinator, again, too dark to see. I'm afraid to say I gav eup at this bit, how was I ment to get the floating thing up so high?

Overall, this level is on two ends of he spectrum. The first part is very enjoyable, with lots of fun layer-switching platforming and only a few minor tweaks needed. I'm afraid to say the second part however is infuariating and far too difficult to see. It's still a very good level, and I'd love to see more, but please make the second part nicer.

I don't have any levels for you to play, so cosider this free :)

Wow! What a fantastic and entertaining review! I was coming back to say "Yay, I've fixed the problems!" but now I see I'd better not say it just yet. I really appreciate your insight, I hadn't considered danger markers and they sound like a great idea so thank you. I will get to fixing the things you have mentioned, and I will make the second level lighter - it has been a concern for too long now.

If you don't mind, after I have made some changes, I would like to invite you play the second part with me so I can try to find a better way to communicate the goal of the controllinator room. Even if you never want to go back, I really appreciate you taking the time to leave such thoughtful feedback for me.

Edit: OK, I have made the changes and I'm very happy with the new danger indicators. Future players, please let me know what you think :)

Played your levels earlier, so here's what I thought of them.

My first impression wasn't too good, I have to be honest, I thought the garden section was quite simplistic and the initial room was quite clumsy trying to get things to work and get into nooks and crannies. The S bend to the right I missed out on because I missed the jump pad, so the whole thing kind of failed for me. I then realised how it should have worked and was quite disappointed I didn't get to experience it as I like little sections that that where you're forced through a path like a rollercoaster (that's the best way I can think to describe it, but I'm sure you know what I mean XD). Maybe try to install something so that it's impossible to miss the pad?

I also didn't really like the warning signs, kind of an odd thing to do. Is there no other way to make it more obvious of the shadows? Perhaps use a deep purple instead as it stands out and is commonly used as the shadowy colour in games.

Ok so that's negative out of the way. The rest of the level I loved. Like I was saying before, I like sections in levels where you're forced through a path that requires little effort from the player but is visually entertaining - and you had this in spades!

The side facing book cases were really well implemented and varied, but the front facing book section was genius. Loved that part, must have taken you a fair while but it paid off. One minor point is about the section with the three lamps you lower then raise back up to swing across - at this point I think you hit a dead end and have to go back and raise the lever, but you're told exactly what to do. Maybe make it a little more subtle? I'd suggest have an up and down arrow printed on the wall next to the switch and that would probably be enough to give a player a small hint. And do away with the grab icon that pops up. It's a nice little puzzle, but the player doesn't get a chance to actually solve it.

So yeah, overall a very enjoyable level, good work. :)


I also continued onto your second level, but it was a slightly different story. I actually glitched and fell out of the level entirely ending up on the floor of the background. It was at the section early on with the three lights you swing across next to a 2 player area. It was on the left jump pad down below, I must have fallen through a gap.

I'm sorry I don't really have much more to say than that, dark levels aren't really my thing (the Boo themed spooky levels in Mario games are my least favourite!) and I'll be honest I didn't have the motivation to retry it. I don't know, it's probably not a reflection of the level itself, I just don't like that style. I still gave you a yay for it though ha.

I liked your level a lot. The decoration of the library has so many details, and the puzzles are tricky but not impossible ^^ There are a lot of secret ways that make the level more interesting.

The only cons is the end: the room goes dark, you fall suddenly and can't see the goal marker :/

Please leave me feedback at my level http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/sho...llionaire-Quiz :)

Thanks for giving feedback on my level first of all. :) Cool level, I don't really know what doctor who is, but it seems kinda weird. I wasn't really sure who that guy in front of me was, or why I was in the library and what that computer was all about. Normally I wouldn't ask these questions but I think the story was actually important in this level. As for gameplay, I found the platforming and puzzles to be very unique. A lot of the exploration and and secrets added lots of length to the level, and were hidden quite well. I felt a little claustrophobic and confused in some areas but it wasn't a big deal. The coolest aspect of the level was using darkness as a danger, it was very unique. For visuals, mostly everything looked really great. The only things that stood out were that the danger symbols didn't really fit in with the overall aesthetic and that the plasma was unusually blue (but then again that might be a doctor who thing I'm not aware of) :). Overall really great level, I had a lot of fun.

Heya Slime, i gave your levels a whirl since you gave me a hand in my Bloomin' Oni-On thread.

i had something worked up to say...and then found that KirbyMan had ripped it out of my brain and posted it before i could.

The platforming bits of your level were great fun. i really enjoy the back and forth layer switching, it seems to me most creators don't really take advantage of that, but you did it great. i thought the presentation was a little bit...flat? Just straight, one coloured materials...maybe slapping a sticker over them for a bit of texture (but like i said in the in-game stage review...i'm completely stupid for twiddly bits of detail).

But going into the second part....yeah...the puzzles were...well a bit hard to follow in their presentation. i never really figured out what i was supposed to do with the hot air balloon bit. i had a similar issue with your steampunk stage (the name escapes me at the moment). The jumping/platforming was great fun, but then i got to the bit with the glass pistons and the switches and couldn't for the life of me figure out just what you wanted me to do. Maybe you're too close to the puzzle, since you're the designer, and so the answer seems really obvious to you (i had a similar issue with one of my LBP1 stages)?

Still as an overall i did definitely enjoy part one of "Silence" and i'll take another look into part two and see if i can't finish it this time around.

Good creating and great day!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by waffleking23

i had something worked up to say...and then found that KirbyMan had ripped it out of my brain and posted it before i could.

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Sorry about that :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by silmedriel

Wow! What a fantastic and entertaining review! I was coming back to say "Yay, I've fixed the problems!" but now I see I'd better not say it just yet. I really appreciate your insight, I hadn't considered danger markers and they sound like a great idea so thank you. I will get to fixing the things you have mentioned, and I will make the second level lighter - it has been a concern for too long now.

If you don't mind, after I have made some changes, I would like to invite you play the second part with me so I can try to find a better way to communicate the goal of the controllinator room. Even if you never want to go back, I really appreciate you taking the time to leave such thoughtful feedback for me.

Edit: OK, I have made the changes and I'm very happy with the new danger indicators. Future players, please let me know what you think :)

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Lol, thanks :)

Lol, I'd love to go back, it seemed like a great idea.

I didn't actually see this post until today, are you still up for me coming and checking it out? It sounds great and I'd really love to help, drop me a PM if you're still interested.

The intro has that sense of "CRASHBANGWOLLOP"; it's over in a matter of seconds and seems rather pointless to have it as a standalone level. When the doctor enters the libary, the music should change to suspense, but its still at the happy, up-beat music. When you enter the level, and you come to the fountain, I think it should just have the name inscribed on it and the magic mouth comming up is abit out of place. I died alot without really knowing why, especially when you pull the ladders down and climb up them, I had no idea how to get across the chandilier-type things without dying. That's all the negatives I can think of! Other than that it was great level design and the idea of staying in the light was really cool! (and reminds me of a horror film I've watched before..:P).

If you can, can you give me feedback on my 'calmity cavemen' level, you'll find it in 'my creations', thanks.

I just played this 2 part level the other day and I have to say I was quite impressed. The intro leading up to the library was quite intriguing. I really like how much attention you put to detail of your level. The gameplay was both fun and a brain teaser at that. The only problem I encountered was the part where You had to grab the parachute and control it with a controllinator. The parachute, after bringing it to the fire, had broken on several occasions when trying to bring it up. So I wasn't able to complete the level. Other than that , the level was superb in many ways. I hope you can explain what I had done wrong so I can reattempt it again.

When you can, I'd like for you to try my level and see what you think http://lbp.me/v/2dws9k

I don't know how I have been missing these posts, I thought this thread had been abandoned! Thank you all for taking the time to play and tell me your experiences. I'm feeling pretty awful that a lot of people are having trouble getting through the level, I would love to help everyone get through it and hopefully get some input in making the puzzles more clear. I will send an invite to each of you, please feel free to reject it if you aren't up to another play or I've just been too slow getting back to you (I'm sorry!). I would seriously appreciate anyone who is willing to try again with me and hopefully I can get a better idea of what my puzzles look like to someone who didn't make them :P

I have queued tripple_sss and liamdaniels' levels and will play them today (hopefully). Thank you both for your feedback.

OptimaFrogg: I would suggest watching the intro video before playing the level if you are interested in a little bit of story, but then liamdaniels points out that it is very short (maybe too short to deserve its own level) so now I don't know, lol. As for the blue plasma, I'm afraid that was the best thing I could come up with as the method for the shadows to kill you, it is not a Doctor Who thing, just my method of LBP adaptation. I tried black gas and fog machine and was disatisfied, then moved to plasma and blue was the closest color to black available. Many people have had an issue with the blue plasma, I just wish I knew how to fix it :(

WaffleKing: LittleBigDrill is the name, and I appreciate you taking the time to check it out as well! I'm sorry it gave you trouble. To get past the glass you need to bounce on the metal pads til they lock in place, then the glass will retract. I'm afraid sometimes my attempts to be original end up creating some strange/confusing puzzles. This is another one I would be happy to play through with you, if you are interested.

Tripple_SSS: You bring up a very valid point, I set the parachutes to destroy on impact because if one of the fans above knocks out the fire, it falls to the ground where the falling apart makes sense. What I didn't consider, of course, is the fact that it could hit the ground BEFORE it even gets a chance to take off, which is a major flaw in my logic. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

Again, thank you all for taking the time to leave feedback, this level has improved enormously since I first published based on people's comments here, and I hope to further improve it based on this new input.