Nature Tech Demo

Hey guys, just threw together a showcase of some toys I've been playing with for a nature themed level I plan on making some day... lol, after I get all my toys done that is. So far, I have
-lighting effects of the forest floor, like sun breaking through the trees.
-fully working lightening
-fully working rain
-a river with motion and sound
-snow that lights up in the dark, slows down as it approaches ground
-Earthquake camera, stick it ANYWHERE for earthquake effect
-Cheesy fire, meh.

Any other suggestions to work on that appear in nature?

Level: Nature Tech Demo
PSN: LuckyShot
icon: Lightening bolt screen shot right in the middle of North America

UPDATE

Worked in the snow, and you win the lightening, snow, and rain emitters for completion, so if you don't want them, just quit before the end scoreboard.

I checked this out primarily to see your forest lighting as I'm currently playing around with that myself. Yours is pretty similar to mine and I think it looks pretty good. As for your other effects, they all looked pretty good. The snow was probably the only one that might need to be tweaked a bit, but I'm not sure how exactly. I recall playing a Christmas level that had really good snow, maybe Happy Holidays Little Big Planet, but I can't remember for sure.

Anyway, nice effects.

Yeah the snow was the only effect I used from a previous level - It looks almost perfect in a really dark level, which this demo was not - I'll take the LEDs out of it, and shrink it some. Thank you for checking it out man - hope to see the lightening in some levels, cause that's my personal favorite.

Have you done the waterfall yet? Try the "Seal of Silveren" level by Vmethos, it is in one of the topics in the forums

I'll have to check this out, I'm always interested in these "ambient" type of effects in levels. I've played with it quite a bit myself. My Sony Christmas level contains quite a bit of snowfall which I'm pretty proud of, as well as custom explosions and fire, and The Movies (latest update) has some really cool lightning storm effects which I spent a hell of a chunk of time on. I look forward to checking yours out too. As dkjestrup mentioned, the Seal of Silveren has a lot of effects, including beautiful waterfalls and earthquakes.

I've also seen a cool wind effect which involves emitting minuscule (invisible) objects at the player at high speeds.

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Originally Posted by Teebonesy

I'll have to check this out, I'm always interested in these "ambient" type of effects in levels. I've played with it quite a bit myself. My Sony Christmas level contains quite a bit of snowfall which I'm pretty proud of, as well as custom explosions and fire, and The Movies (latest update) has some really cool lightning storm effects which I spent a hell of a chunk of time on. I look forward to checking yours out too. As dkjestrup mentioned, the Seal of Silveren has a lot of effects, including beautiful waterfalls and earthquakes.

I've also seen a cool wind effect which involves emitting minuscule (invisible) objects at the player at high speeds.

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Funny you should say that, was just thinking of emmiting invisible rubber at a sackperson for wind earlier today! Is there a Youtube video of this level?

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Originally Posted by Teebonesy

I'll have to check this out, I'm always interested in these "ambient" type of effects in levels. I've played with it quite a bit myself. My Sony Christmas level contains quite a bit of snowfall which I'm pretty proud of, as well as custom explosions and fire, and The Movies (latest update) has some really cool lightning storm effects which I spent a hell of a chunk of time on. I look forward to checking yours out too. As dkjestrup mentioned, the Seal of Silveren has a lot of effects, including beautiful waterfalls and earthquakes.

I've also seen a cool wind effect which involves emitting minuscule (invisible) objects at the player at high speeds.

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Yeah I am proud of my lightening as well, I'll have to check out your levels... as soon as I can put down street fighter 4 that is. I'm going to be making a volcano, lava, a waterfall, fire, and an earthquake - but it's eventually have to be in another level because my thermometer is at 80% from these effects alone.

something hard... VERY hard... Hurricanes...
good luck with getting that to work if you try

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Originally Posted by Zommy

something hard... VERY hard... Hurricanes...
good luck with getting that to work if you try

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I think that would be pretty easy, with some invisible rubber for wind, then a tiny bit of dissolve with a leaf attached to it to give a visible representation of the wind, then just have stuff emitted rotating counter clockwise and flying across the screen to represent the buildings breaking up around you.

The hard thing I think would be a tornado! Which now since I said that, I have to make one. Grrrrr.

Hey LuckyShot!

How about doing it in two thin layers. Have the back layer going up and slightly to the left and the front layer going up and to the right. (Done with emiting leaves like you were thinking for the hurricane.) This should create the illusion of a 3D spiral if done correctly.

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Originally Posted by dcf

Hey LuckyShot!

How about doing it in two thin layers. Have the back layer going up and slightly to the left and the front layer going up and to the right. (Done with emiting leaves like you were thinking for the hurricane.) This should create the illusion of a 3D spiral if done correctly.

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Yeah I was thinking something along these lines - maybe incorporating black toxic gas, not sure how I'm going to get the spinning effect though.... man this is a tough one.

Set it up like a screw and it should give a spinning effect if the emitters are synched properly.

Just added an earthquake

You could make an avalanche, falling leaves/petals, fork lightning(Not sure if you have done that) or maybe a flood? Im not too good at ideas...

I will have to check this out some time.

wow sounds pretty cool luckyshot, ill check it out, im interested what youve dont in your lightning effects, since my current project involves those things.

well since your asking for some suggestions, ill just throw this in:

i dont think anyone has done lava flow off a volcano.

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Originally Posted by graygoose

wow sounds pretty cool luckyshot, ill check it out, im interested what youve dont in your lightning effects, since my current project involves those things.

well since your asking for some suggestions, ill just throw this in:

i dont think anyone has done lava flow off a volcano.

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Chaz O Sulls has made a lava flow, although it doesnt look too magnificent. (SORRY <.<)

Ok, I'm publishing a new version as we speak. As of right now at 95% thermometer I have:

*Forest with lighting effects, sun through the leaves and such
*BRAND NEW: Wind effect (see notes at bottom)
*Lightening
*Rain storm
*River that moves up to down, going for a flowing look into the forground - almost got it, still working on this
*Snow storm - still first generation, will change this out with newer better looking snow, just want to finish the level first
*Earthquake


Notes: For wind, did the invisible thing, very unprofessional - every time an invisible piece hits the sack boy it makes that breaking sound, and I hate when you hear something break in one of my levels. So I made it small dissolve so it goes away when it hits sack boy, and attached some leaves to every couple bits of material for effect. Still get the breaking sound sometimes :(

Ok, working on fire right now, then fixing snow.

Going to have to make a whole new level for the following:
*Volcano, coupled with an earthquake effect, followed by lava flow... and falling burning rock of course
*Waterfall
*Tornado with wind and debris effects

And those 3 things will most likely eat up the thermometer alone, lol. Thanks for checking this out guys. Things you win for completing:
Rain maker
Snow maker
Lightening maker
Earthquake cloud (cloud with a camera in it that makes the effect)
Tree with wind emitter

all share-able of course - Enjoy!

UPDATE
Added fire and the level is now complete (maxed out completely as well so no way to add any more)

I'm interested to see how you created an earthquake. I will try your level tonight. My jewel thief level has an earthquake in it. I cretaed it by suspending a house I created on springs then on the roof have an semi circle of stone (cam) attached with a motor. When this motor spins the Cam the whole house vibrates up and down on the springs. The effect needed toning down quite alot as it can easlily make moving sackboy around impossible.

I think there's good looking waterfall in the MotorStorm level.

Thanks everyone who checked this out. I would love to see other examples of waterfalls, lava, volcanoes, or storms for my next project.

There's a watrefall in one of my levels that I think is quite effective. It's basically just lots of small pieces of blue sponge falling from an emmitter. The sound is really what sells it I think.

I also had a waterfall in another level which was pretty much just a spinning piece of round glass with just one side showing and the rest hidden by a cliff.

If you want to check them out just search for author Sosaku. The best one is in Mukashi Mukashi pt3 and the simple one is in pt1.

There's also a really well done waterfall in the level Seal of the Silverean. (The same couple that made Centralia, and that autumn level. I forgot the author name) It's basically just a flat piece of glass that's either falling or is on a piston (With the flipper turner on) so that it looks as though it's constantly falling. The wave stickers on it also work really well.

Nice just played the demo. Very impressive. The wind and lightning are really nicley done. The earth quake is very good and shakey cam give a very good impression of an earth quake yet you still can move about without any troubles.

capybara-chan b TJapan has a pretty cool water effect also he's used paintball material for water splashing when a fish jumps out of the river... i suggest you checking it out...

PS

i still havent seen your level since i got too hooked creating villains last night (im making another level, and i want you buddy to check it out in beta testing, just like you did in my Metal Gear Karas level, and dont worry ive learned alot about tweaking difficulty so it shouldnt frustrate you that much like in KARAS lol, well maybe just a little bit):D:D:D

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Originally Posted by moleynator

Chaz O Sulls has made a lava flow, although it doesnt look too magnificent. (SORRY <.<)

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i may have to check that out when i got some time. :)

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Originally Posted by LuckyShot

I think that would be pretty easy, with some invisible rubber for wind, then a tiny bit of dissolve with a leaf attached to it to give a visible representation of the wind, then just have stuff emitted rotating counter clockwise and flying across the screen to represent the buildings breaking up around you.

The hard thing I think would be a tornado! Which now since I said that, I have to make one. Grrrrr.

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yeah thats what i meant lol i wrote that when it was like midnight i think so i wasn't paying much attention, and living in england and failing geography i get stuff muddled up...

yeah I think I'll only have room for 3 things in my next one - simply because the complexity they will involve - gotta use wind, rain, and lightening to make the tornado believable... and use an earthquake and fire for the volcano. And I'm not really a big fan of my own fire.

whats your fire like? just spikes or spikes and flame tool ? or just flame tool?

Its lights, fire cut out in red glass, yellow and black toxic gas, and emitted embers of floaty material that are flamed tool. The lights rotate a little to flicker, and the flame cutout glass slides around to look like moving flames.

kudos to you man... brilliant stuff you got there.

i played around with your blowing leaves tool and i discovered if you tweaked your angular velocity, it would then separate those leaves (depends on how much you want) making it more realistic. just wanted to let you know...

your lightning effects was fantastic... using the metal in the mgs pack was perfect.. toping it off t=with a lighting effect made it look better.

great job with everything else...

now, i know its gonna be of some challenge but i wanna see your lava.

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Originally Posted by graygoose

kudos to you man... brilliant stuff you got there.

i played around with your blowing leaves tool and i discovered if you tweaked your angular velocity, it would then separate those leaves (depends on how much you want) making it more realistic. just wanted to let you know...

your lightning effects was fantastic... using the metal in the mgs pack was perfect.. toping it off t=with a lighting effect made it look better.

great job with everything else...

now, i know its gonna be of some challenge but i wanna see your lava.

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Hey thanks man... Means a lot from you - when do we get to test play that new level? Yeah I have some of the wind emitters rotating, not too much becuase it made that breaking sound that i hate. It looks great if you stagger the emitters on a diagonal line, but that maxed out my thermometer so I couldn't do it.

Also put a wind gust environmental sound on the ground where the leaves hit, and set it to on contact and invisible for the sound effect.

I have some really good ideas for lava, it's gonna look sweet.

The seal of silveren by Vmethos has a good waterfall in. So does Magnificent Ruby by Geosautus. If you want to see an earthquake (ish) effect check out my level, just search my PSN: @dkjestrup
Just done by putting a camerazone on a wobble bolt really fast.

The above methods of waterfall were both simple:

Seal of Silveren: An invisible dark matter track, emitting stickered glass (I think).

Magnificent Ruby: I like this a lot. He has Aztec Jade in the background, and emits a thin layer of glass on top. The area was tweaked so that the stone made a track for the glass.

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Originally Posted by LuckyShot

Hey thanks man... Means a lot from you - when do we get to test play that new level? Yeah I have some of the wind emitters rotating, not too much becuase it made that breaking sound that i hate. It looks great if you stagger the emitters on a diagonal line, but that maxed out my thermometer so I couldn't do it.

Also put a wind gust environmental sound on the ground where the leaves hit, and set it to on contact and invisible for the sound effect.

I have some really good ideas for lava, it's gonna look sweet.

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dude it will be awhile for the beta test, since im still half way through my thermo.. but its looking good, really good... did i say good? lol thats just from me i cant wait for what people think when they test it tho...

the problem lies with me, im having a hard time coming up with ideas and all... but its coming along slowly... ill let you and a few others know when its testable. :)

Holy crap I am going to be late to work becuase of LBP... again... anyway, published a really basic lava flow
Search:
Lava Beta
@LuckyShot

Finally got round to checking these out.

I really like how the snow sort of falls quickly then looks as if it slows down in mid air. I may use that effect in my next level. The wind and leaves look great and the earthquake camera is a really smart way of doing earthquake effects without messing up the players movement.

I also checked out the flowing lava demo you just put up. Looks great.

I'm wondering how you're going to pull off that tornado now...:idea:

Yeah I have to play with the lava, mix up yellow, red and black gas and then get it to really GLOW with some lights. It's almost there, turned out much better than I had anticipated thus far. Right now it only uses black gas, and orange lights. Still a work in progress.

My plans for all of these is to make a short platforming level soon about a tropical island that falls apart from a volcano erruption... and all you have to do is get your sack boy or girl off alive. I can't really think of any bad guys or bosses that would work with such a theme, which is a shame because I love making bad guys!.. and bosses for that matter.

Ok there is no more Lava Beta, now it's called Disaster Beta, and it has my first attempt at a tornado. Check it out, it's not as good as my other effects, but I'm still working on it.

Also note worthy, I have Killzone 2 now, and it's going in the ps3 as i type, so I might not be updating the beta anytime soon... but I probably will, because I'm a perfectionist

Really cool demo... I like the earthquake section alot - that was really cool, and the leaves used in the wind the most.

If you want to see some pretty cool rain and lightening storm effects check out my "False Idols 0: Lost In Limbo" level... although, you might not see the bolts unless you stop and and try to watch. That was the first paintball rain I'd ever seen, and I think the water effect in my "Fountain of Youth" mini-game was a first of it's kind too. They're both pretty old levels.

TheGide's "Shadow Moses Site B" also has some really nice snow effects in the beginning.

Yeah, why haven't I seen moving lava yet? That would be cool.

But a tornado would top anything. :hero:

I checked out both of these today. Well done!

The moving lava looked great! (As did many of the others, but you called that one a rough beta and I think you're underselling it.)

Cool man nice i like the lightning idea