Fat Chipmunk

[fullofwin]

Fat Chipmunk by Elvenbane
A greedy striped rodent has inadvertantly plugged up his burrow entrance with acorns and now needs your help getting back inside.

Even the ordinary becomes an obstacle when your sack-person is no bigger than a honey bee in this forest themed puzzle/platformer. Find all 8 hidden gold acorns for points and um fame and glory?!?

Have fun, comments appreciated.

* I'm pretty happy with how my bees and spider webs turned out...

[shropshirelass•]

This is an absolute gem of a level. It has all the amazing artistry we have grown to expect from you. The first section of the level in particular captures brilliantly the feeling that Sackboy is a small creature in a much bigger world. And this world is such a beautiful one. The opening forest scene has got to be one of the most gorgeous in LBP.

Then there are the insects which Sackboy encounters along the way. I was absolutely blown away by the bees, the beetle and the spiders. I loved the use of feathers (I think!) for the spider’s legs. I have no idea how you made the bees – the sting in the tail is a great touch btw. In fact your use of different MM objects and decorations is masterful. Using the bear’s nose to make your beetle is just ingenious. The stickering is beautiful throughout too – really “painterly” if that’s a word!

The level also has a good combination of platforming and puzzles. I enjoyed hunting down the 8 golden acorns and once I’d got the hang of your catapult that section was fun too, though I did wonder whether there should be a cheer sound effect for succeeding as well as the “aawww” one when you miss. I loved getting caught in the spider’s web – that was really unexpected and hearing the spider descending from above gave me a moment’s nervousness. The level is not without it's hazards either. That beetle may look cute and innocent but he has a very lethal horn and those flower slides require delicate handling.

The level was not long but with the hunt for the acorns and just gazing at the scenery, you certainly don’t feel short-changed. One of the most charming levels I’ve played in a while. Oh, and I can’t end without saying how cute your chipmunk is, lol and I loved his thought bubbles!

and

[CCubbage]

Gorgeous.... You use stickers and decorations in ways I've never seen before.

Couple things - the part where you drop the acorn onto the catapult. The acorn fell onto the grass, which made it really difficult to move it onto the catapult because I kept grabbing the grass.

It wasn't obvious at first that I needed to bounce on the branch because I thought I needed to get on the bug raising and lowering on another part.

Awesome job!

[Chump]

You know what I'm going to do?
IMMA PLAY IT ASAP..
and brb with comments

[CCubbage]

One more thing. My son was just playing it and the part where you get back to the beginning (you can see the first check point to the right). He went to get the checkpoint and had to start over. You can get through back to the beginning to the right.

[fullofwin]

Shropshirelass,

Thanks so much for the kind words...and most of all for helping me get this level to a playable state before inflicting it upon anyone else here! It has the best play/complete ratio of all my levels. If painterly wasn't a word before it is now. The acorn catapult now includes a celebratory sound.

CCubbage,

Thanks to both you and your son for playing.

I think I've finally blocked moving in either direction between the start and burrow entrance. It's definitely confusing and poor level design on my part.

With regards to the catapult acorn landing on the grass...it's not grabbable (you have to push it) so I didn't think the grass being grabbable was a problem. I did do a little terrain deformation which should prevent plane shifting when pushing the acorn and make things less annoying.

For the part where you weren't sure where to go...do you mean the green sprung bolt branch with thorns below the first bee with flapping wings? I do have a green arrow showing the direction to go there there...so I'm thinking you mean somewhere else...

Thanks!

[Littlebigdude805]

At the begginning i was able to jump and grab my way to the end, popped myself of course to play it right. On the acorns catapult it landed between a rock and the blade of grass guarding the burrow entrance >< couldn't finish

EDIT: oh hehe nvm continuing will update

EDIT: Great level, best scenery and sticker usage ive seen yet! 5 stars heart and creator heart!

[CCubbage]

With regards to the catapult acorn landing on the grass...it's not grabbable (you have to push it) so I didn't think the grass being grabbable was a problem.

If something can't be grabbed, holding the grab button will keep you from plane shifting while pushing an object, but if the terrain you're on can be grabbed it prevents pushing a non-grabbable object. But it sounds like your solution will work.

For the part where you weren't sure where to go...do you mean the green sprung bolt branch with thorns below the first bee with flapping wings? I do have a green arrow showing the direction to go there there...so I'm thinking you mean somewhere else...

Actually, that's exactly where it was. I saw the arrow and was wondering how to get up there, but failed to notice the branch was on a sprung bolt. So noticed the leaf on the right that I could get up on to jump up to the bug floating up and down. From that point I kept concentrating on grabbing that bug thinking I had to somehow swing up. It's just one of those silly things a player may do because it looks possible and more obvious than jumping up and down on the limb, so I thought I'd mention it. Once I realized I could jump up and down to bounce, I felt "gee... THAT was obvious! I should have noticed that!".

[fullofwin]

CCubbage,

I learn something new about LBP all the time...I had no idea about grab stopping plane shifting. Oh well, my solution doesn't require knowledge of these fancy advanced techniques of yours! Sprung bolt foliage forever!!!

Littlebigdude805,

Thanks! Sounds like you realized you can keep getting acorns for the catapult until you get one in? I'm not worried about anyone duplicating your climbing feat and going the wrong way at the start...I'd be worried if you thought that was what was expected!

[X-FROGBOY-X]

Wow, the pics look awesome for this, I'll play this.

[GruntosUK]

The visuals, use of decorations and stickering on this level is fantastic, the amount of detail is excellent. The creatures look fantastic, and set against the beautiful design of the background, it really brings everything to life. I loved the spider, again, excellent use of the decorations and stuff LBP gives you. The platforming sections are well thoughtout and fit in with the setting perfectly. The section where you get the beehive looks fantastic, its really well stickered (no suprises there), the camera angle is spot on and the lighting superb. I loved the little catapult idea, really well implemented, although I was'nt keen on the sound effects. Cave looked awesome, and the web is brilliant, you got some nice puzzles to match the platforming.

A couple of things, I had the same problem as CCubbage, I thought that the platform behind the flower at that bee was the way to progress, so tried for ages, its only when I fell off that I realised the branch moved. I'd add a sound effect on there to attract attention, and remove the platform behind the flower or block the player getting to it. Invisible thin gas would cover it completely.

Those flowers you use to move down the tracks were a little jerky when they moved

You got a bit of dark matter, after the bee's hive when you grab your way down, its on the last section before you swing on the bees.

Probably one of the best looking levels I've played lately, really well designed and a blast to play.

***** and hearted.

[fullofwin]

Thanks GrantosUK,

> I loved the little catapult idea, really well implemented, although I was'nt keen on the sound effects.

I have no particular attachment to the current sounds...any suggestions for better ones? I believe I'm currently using the following:

Get acorn - Tubey Thonk
Launch acorn - Catapult noise
Miss - Crowd noise (don't remember exact name...some sort of displeasure/failure noise)
Hit - Stoney collapse followed by Hah Zah

> A couple of things, I had the same problem as CCubbage, I thought that the platform behind the flower at that bee was the way to progress

I'm going to have to stare at this part again...you had to hop on the vine to get to the platform behind it...didn't it bounce then? Not sure what sound would help here...I'll have to see what I can do about tweaking this section. I didn't understand the invisible thin-gas suggestion (or even know how to make thin gas)? Also attached is a quick sketch to make sure I understand the right area if you would be so kind as to confirm (sprung bolt parts in purple).

> Those flowers you use to move down the tracks were a little jerky when they moved

Yes, I'd originally intended something completely different for these that just didn't pan out. What I have now is basicially upside down and the sack person makes it top heavy...the original plan involved pushing one. I've heard this criticism enough times now that I think I need to address it.

> You got a bit of dark matter, after the bee's hive when you grab your way down

Cool, and easy one. Can't wait to get home from work to start tweaking stuff.

> really well designed and a blast to play.

Haha, thanks! If this level appears designed in any way it's purely coincidental I assure you...

[CCubbage]

I'm going to have to stare at this part again...you had to hop on the vine to get to the platform behind it...didn't it bounce then? Not sure what sound would help here...

I can tell you exactly what is wrong with this section.... all you really need to do is move that flower with the little platform on it up a bit. The reason people will have a problem with this area is earlier you get used to hanging on the bottom of bugs - so when you see that little piece of material to the right and the bug moving up and down, the first thing you think is "hey, I need to somehow get on that bug to get on the platform above".... and it never occurs to the player to bounce (which the player hasn't been trained to do anywhere else in the level up to that point).

Simply move up or get rid of the flower with the piece of material behind it, and the player won't be distrated by it as a solution. You could also use a think piece of material to glue the flower to so the player can't hop up on it.

[GruntosUK]

> I loved the little catapult idea, really well implemented, although I was'nt keen on the sound effects.

I have no particular attachment to the current sounds...any suggestions for better ones?

It was the hit and miss sounds, they didnt really fit with the rest of the level I didn't think. I don't really know what to suggest in there place to be honest. Its not a real issue though

I'm going to have to stare at this part again...you had to hop on the vine to get to the platform behind it...didn't it bounce then? Not sure what sound would help here...I'll have to see what I can do about tweaking this section. I didn't understand the invisible thin-gas suggestion (or even know how to make thin gas)? Also attached is a quick sketch to make sure I understand the right area if you would be so kind as to confirm (sprung bolt parts in purple).

Yeah thats the section. I didnt notice the vine moving at first, when I saw the floating bee I thought that was the way up, theres a tiny little platform behind the flower that you can jump on, I just thought that was the way. Maybe the creak sound would work? Invisible thin gas is a glitch, I just found it myself thanks to jww and comph. It stops people layer changing. It can still be selected and moved, is completely invisible and does'nt make a sound. You can move it over other layers like regular gas without it deleting anything. A simpler way would be to remove that little platform though. I wouldnt have mentioned it if CCubbage had'nt had the same problem (I played the level before I read the comments BTW so was'nt aware anyone had had the same problem).

Yes, I'd originally intended something completely different for these that just didn't pan out. What I have now is basicially upside down and the sack person makes it top heavy...the original plan involved pushing one. I've heard this criticism enough times now that I think I need to address it.

A little sliver of glass on the track and flower will solve the problem I would have thought. This is'nt major either, they certainly didnt break, they just looked a little odd

If this level appears designed in any way it's purely coincidental I assure you...

You've done an excellent job then

[fullofwin]

That thin gas sounds really useful, I've always made spaced invisible dark-matter bars to prevent plane shifting...which can be a pain when you have to select/modify them...and I find I usually have a need to do this in at least one place on every level.

I know exactly what you mean about the sounds...I didn't really want anything "un-natural" but felt I had to have a "failure" noise or you might think getting the acorn to the higher level was enough...the success noise is then required for symmetry! I had played around with a bunch of animal noises, etc. but was unable to convince myself that they were appropriate or would convey the desired meaning. I'll probably make another pass through the sounds and maybe use something like the basic task completed/failed sounds and see how they work out.

Oh that platform!!! I thought you were referring to the non-sproingy part of the vine; it will definitely go. I should definitely be able to improve this spot now, thanks a bunch!