(Little Big Planet Myth)--Creators is it luck or Skill ??

[Outlaw-Jack•]

My thing is, im kind off insecure to show everyone my levels, its not that there not good, i love em but ive never heard someone tell me..."OMG DUDE YOUR LEVELS ARE SO GOOD LOL LOL".

NOW we're gettin' somewhere .

Dude, it's ok if you abit worried about publishing your level; I can almost guarantee that everyone on here has had that same feeling because, well... everyone's been a noob (not trying to be mean and all, but that's what happens when you buy a new game). It can be abit nerve-wracking at first (why with releasing your first level evuh to THE WORLD), but once you publish it, consider it a great burden lifted off your shoulders. Now you're free to focus on other ones. Finally, you can't expect a perfect run the first time around. Nobody's perfect (except God). In fact, in almost every level I've played I can at least note 3 flaws. Your expectations should be based on what crowd you're trying to get to, how much effort you've put into creating it, and what point you're trying to get across.

It's all a matter of how you handle the situation... and if you work hard and diligently, then, in time, good things will come.

[Bloo_boy]

Thanks guys youve really helped me out, i just wanted to know if its just that im not having luck or I suck rofl, but anyway ill keep on my levels and then problably have the courage to post them soon here on LBPC guys thanks for all the Help!! You guys rock!, I mean i dont know if you guys like potatoes or redbull, but even if you dont, you guys still rock!!! lol

[NinjaMicWZ]

My thing is, im kind off insecure to show everyone my levels, its not that there not good, i love em but ive never heard someone tell me..."OMG DUDE YOUR LEVELS ARE SO GOOD LOL LOL".

Neither have I, I don't think. I've gotten some awesome feedback and comments from time to time, but nobody ever going "YOU ARE TEH UBER GAWD OF LBP!" no matter how much work I put in lol

You can be your own worst critic sometimes... which can be good, but don't be afraid to show off and be confident.

[Thegide]

If you really want to step up your game as far as your levels are concerned, I think it helps to do a bit of research before you create. Here are things you can do to help your creation skills:

- read up on level design strategies employed by real game designers. learn how flow, pacing, and movement work in level design. how to implement difficulty in a fun way. how to brainstorm gameplay elements and bosses.
- play spotlight levels and take notes on what impressed you or what you enjoyed most. ask yourself why they work so well. apply this type of thinking to your own design
- plan your levels out before you create. plan your levels out before you create. this is so important, I had to say it twice.
- don't be afraid to delete and change things that you aren't fully happy with. odds are, you'll replace these things with better ideas
- have reference images handy when designing objects and scenery. Knowing what an object is supposed to look like is a huge help when designing it.
- look for inspiration in the world around you, and keep a notebook handy to sketch your ideas when they hit you... on more than one occasion I've recorded great ideas I had while drifting in and out of sleep at 3am.
- don't rush your levels! perfection takes time. it's not uncommon to spend a month or more on a single level. dedication and patience are virtues.

[Belweg]

Well.. one way to get noticed, some more plays as well as awesome feedback is to post your levels in the Level Showcase as well as utilize the F4F system. If your level is good enough, you may just earn a Spotlight which is one huge step in getting some well earned recognition for all your hard work. Good luck!

It sounds easy when you put it like that, but the reality is a bit different in this forum. I´ve noticed a lot of good levels in the Level Showcase, but those level´s are rarely noticed. Why´s that? Because those levels were published by the new users of this forum, and because of that people are not so interested of their levels, no matter how good they are. It´s the same thing like in the game, it´s not about how good you are, but how known you are. When you are known, people will also comment more your levels. Of course new comers also get noticed, but not so much as the others. In some cases when someone who´s known comments a new comers level, then suddenly everyone are interested of that level, because a celeb commented it. It´s just a good exampele how much fame affects even in here :P

[jwwphotos]

It sounds easy when you put it like that, but the reality is a bit different in this forum. I´ve noticed a lot of good levels in the Level Showcase, but those level´s are rarely noticed. Why´s that? Because those levels were published by the new users of this forum, and because of that people are not so interested of their levels, no matter how good they are. It´s the same thing like in the game, it´s not about how good you are, but how known you are. When you are known, people will also comment more your levels. Of course new comers also get noticed, but not so much as the others. In some cases when someone who´s known comments a new comers level, then suddenly everyone are interested of that level, because a celeb commented it. It´s just a good exampele how much fame affects even in here :P

Well.. To be honest it really isn't easy. Sorry if I made it sound that way. The quality of the level has to be really really good as well. Not saying yours or anyone else you mentions isn't...

For one thing just getting some recognition is a huge challenge, when you consider the sheer amount of creators as well as levels that pop up in the Level Showcase and how many new members arrive each week. However if you produce amazing levels, you will be noticed at some point. The Spotlight team really does get around to going through most if not all the levels.

When I started here, I was in the same boat. However it just happened I had a level already published that was a really fun simple level and got tons of amazing feedback from some amazing creators here on how to improve the level. In turn I played some amazingly jaw dropping over the top levels that I learned a great deal in what makes a level truly pop in both design, ambiance and fun factor. Over time, those skills helped me make better levels (well.. at least I hope!?!?), but I never lost sight of who I am as a designer and what appeals to me both in design and fun factor. My skills simply improved and my very first level I did under the care, inspection, and feedback of some other really amazing creators here at LBPC, I got a spotlight. ..but make no mistake it was a ton of work to be sure.

I suggest proactively doing your feedback for feedback. In other words, Go and play other F4F levels and leave feedback!! ..especially of creators that ARE more well known as well as other levels in the showcase doing really well. Not only do you get to learn from them, but as you mentioned you might attract some attention along the way, but only if your levels are really really good. If not, hopefully though in the process you learn enough to do better your next level, plus possibly being a bit more known, as well as meet more creators in the forum that might give you some advice on how to improve.

Good luck!