The Collector's Vacation Island **SPOTLIGHTED**

[Richasackboy]

The Collector's Vacation Island by Richasackboy
How long have you worked on a level and then published it to find no recognition even though you've advertised like... (continued on p. 94)

A great, brilliant, awesome level by me and myself, and also a bit of help from I. You might think I'm being arrogant, but if you look deep down, you'll see I'm being satirical/sarcastic/ironic.

BTW, lighting is cool. Play the level. Or else *flintlock pistol shot*

Hello, all!
Here to show you my new level that I have worked my **** off to make within a month by myself. Usually, I'm a slow creator, thinking about how to make more challenging puzzles and platforming and gameplay before I get to the end of it. But in this case, I've had to sacrifice length for lighting and visuals and gameplay, and I hope you like it. It's a nice short, funny level that sees sack sucked (try saying that with a mouthful of mushrooms) into a devious land of traps and puzzles compiled by the cretin Collector. Only about 4-6 minutes of gameplay (if you end up gaping at the lighting), and 1 minute of speech bubbles.
I know I have no chance now that I've gone up against comphermc, Keldur, and Holguin86 all in one level (which I myself think is unfair - the rules should be changed for that...), but I'm still gonna keep going...

I tried my absolute best with this one, but if I had more time (like, a month ) I could probably double the length. Actually, that's probably what I'll do after the contest. The thermo was already fit to burst when I got to the wobbly platforms, but I somehow managed to fit EVERYTHING in.

DUUUUURP!!

Now if you want pictures right now, you are going to get them.I feel very defeated, so I'm not going to even bother with being pitiful and emo... I mean, what's the use? I publish a level I've worked on for long hard hours, republish like crazy, TRY to take people's suggestions to make it better, advertise and advertise and advertise, and then what happens? Nothing. None of my levels have ever snowballed into a hit. Maybe I should focus on making jump levels, and copying other people's levels...?

I turned the contrast up to get rid of reflective screens. :S

Well, if you want to play the level, go ahead. I'm not gonna. I made the level, so I'm not going to play it anymore. *yay*
If you think it's good, or if you think it's absolute rubbish, tell me. And then I'll tell you WHY it's good, and WHY it's NOT absolute rubbish, and that your view of the world is strangely perverted (I'm taking the wrong attitude here, aren't I...)

People tell me (my close friends) that my level is great. I have reached 120 plays (I think that's pretty respectable). I should probably get more close friends. However, I can't get a hold of any at the moment, so that's probably why I get stuck at 100-200 plays. Wouldn't you feel some sense of hopelessness when that happened to you? A level you've worked on for months, stuck at around 200 plays, and because you feel bad, you have to use the restart-play glitch to jump it up to 500 on your own. Hang on... That's a pretty good idea actually!

Scary fire.

*large rant about how bad my chances are*

Scary asplosion!

You likey screenshots?

Not a very revealing screenshot.

Some feedback from the good and goodly Spotlight Crew! (Figured out the BBCode!!)

An eclectic styled level with plenty of stuff to do await players in this level from Richasackboy. I loved all the quirky shapes and color combinations lit by some nicely subtle lighting in many places. The sense of humor in the dialogue will have you chuckling along as you play as well. Considering how much time he had to produce it, it's an awesome example of a creator who can get the job done when he has to and still get a fun and beautiful level published!

Morgana25

A very solid entry for LBW6, this level combines the diverse themes of holidays and wilderness contraptions to make a rounded, pacy level with a great storyline. Some of the obstacles are very unique, and the change of environments is pretty and seamless. A very original concept with cool attention to detail, this level is a must-play for those keeping up with the LBW6 competition.

Holguin86

Who ever thought the collector had his own vacation island? Only a crazy mind like Richasackboy could think of it. Traverse the dastardly tricks left by the collector in this great looking level. Wonderfully detailed from the sandy shores to the dark factory the island holds.

killzonequinn07

This isn't the sort of holiday where you wake up at 10 to a full english breakfast then lounge about by the pool for a few hours, oohhh no. This is more the kind of holiday-from-hell package deal, courtesey of The Collector. Naturally it's an offer you can't refuse and then you're on your way. A very interesting take on the LBW6 competition guidelines, one to watch for!

Asbestos101

I hope you play my level and give me good feedback.
Thanks for your attention, people of LBPC.
Antarctican salute;
Richasackboy

[Keldur]

That was friggin outstanding!

I played and I very, very much loved it. Seriously. Who would guess that the collector had a vacation island? I guess all that stealing is pretty tiring, so he needs some relaxing after a while.

Anyways... where do I start? The character design was very good, and I very much loved the first part, with the collector in it. The visuals were also great. Actually, this is my fav thing of this level. How it looked. It really looked like the collectors vacation island! You mixed the two themes perfectly. You really did.

The gameplay was also very good. I got to say, though, that I liked the visuals more, since I didnt think that the gameplay was THAT innovative, specially compared to the aesthetics, but hell, it sure provided some good fun!

The music did also fit very well, and I just could find no flaws in the whole lvl. Thanks for such a masterpiece!

...and 5 stars indeed!

EDIT: Didnt realize this was a F4F thread. I sure coul use that; would you mind giving some feedback on this?

[Littlebigdude805]

picatures wuld rlly halp, ppl dun play lvl w/o pictres

(lol i feel your pain, ill play and brb with feedback)

[Holguin86]

This level has a great chance of winning LBW6. Great stuff man, loved the story, too - very awesome.

[piggabling]

Hmmm... I'm feeling a sense of love going on here... 0.~

That means I should really get in on this...

[Richasackboy]

Wow! Thanks for the comments, everyone! I'm gonna get round to doing F4F!

That was friggin outstanding!

I played and I very, very much loved it. Seriously. Who would guess that the collector had a vacation island? I guess all that stealing is pretty tiring, so he needs some relaxing after a while.

Anyways... where do I start? The character design was very good, and I very much loved the first part, with the collector in it. The visuals were also great. Actually, this is my fav thing of this level. How it looked. It really looked like the collectors vacation island! You mixed the two themes perfectly. You really did.

The gameplay was also very good. I got to say, though, that I liked the visuals more, since I didnt think that the gameplay was THAT innovative, specially compared to the aesthetics, but hell, it sure provided some good fun!

The music did also fit very well, and I just could find no flaws in the whole lvl. Thanks for such a masterpiece!

...and 5 stars indeed!

EDIT: Didnt realize this was a F4F thread. I sure coul use that; would you mind giving some feedback on this?

Thanks piles for that comment there! I needed something for inspiration, and I went for the Collector. I had to study the Collector's Lair studiously in order to get the feel for the beginning. The idea of the Collector's Vacation island came slowly, because at first, I went for a plane, then a submarine (you had left to your pod by your own free will) but I eventually went with the Collector sending you to his vacation island. I had to a few problems with the thermo, seeing as the whole introduction took up about half thermo (I had to... y'know... Not saying anything here ).

Thanks. I really wanted to be able to mix thin and theck and thick together to make a good visual level. I think I succeeded in at least one way. I wanted more variety in it, so I added newspaper as one of the main materials, being as it doesn't repeat easily (so you can see the pattern). Surprisingly, my complicated shapes thermo didn't fill up. Probably because the level was kinda short. :S

Yup, the gameplay was more of something to accentuate the visuals, so that you could see more of them in your playthrough. I am thinking about making the level about three times as long with better gameplay after the winner and runner-ups have been announced, and publishing it as a new level. Thermo's fit to burst though.

Since my second-to-last level, music has been a problem. Repetition and the music being the same all the way through was a minus for some of the players. I decided that Rainbow Warrior didn't fit for the whole level, so I decided on generic pirates music until you got into the big geary part. I switched to wilderness music (what else? ) and gave it a whirl. I wanted to use the boss music so much, because I hadn't had the opportunity before.

I wouldn't mind that at all! I'll take a gander down to my chief competitor and garner what I can from my playthrough.
Thanks for the feedback!

picatures wuld rlly halp, ppl dun play lvl w/o pictres

(lol i feel your pain, ill play and brb with feedback)

Pictures are now up, even though they may not be HD. Well, that's because LBP isn't HD... so...

This level has a great chance of winning LBW6. Great stuff man, loved the story, too - very awesome.

Thanks for the feedback there. Thanks for saying I have a chance! As do you! D:

Hmmm... I'm feeling a sense of love going on here... 0.~

That means I should really get in on this...

Yes, perhaps something of pity from the onlookers...?

Antarctican Salute,
Oh, nvm. I'm not doing that


Richasackboy

[jergi20]

Just finished the level and I must say I'm impressed, it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Great job!

[KQuinn94Z]

Best 12 year old creator out there? Maybe just that.

[LilNeL]

Woah! That was a long level description/depressed suicidal rant!
Dude if your visuals are so great just post pictures. Even if it doesn't make your level an instant hit it will at least motivate the forum browsers of LBPC to play it. And if your thermo is so packed, publish a sequel instead of lengthening it. It will save you a lot of frustration.
And it does sound like a good level. When I get the chance (and that might be a while) i will play this.

[Sabre_]

yea good level man only thing i thought could of had been done better is destroyin the core other then that it was good

[midnight_heist]

- I would add more detail in the level's description.
- Thank you for not using "Rainbow Warrior"! I get so sick of that one track.
- I'm not a fan of 3D glitch in the foreground (as it looks walkable), but i'm in the minority there I bet.
- The part with the 2 spinning gears, sackboy should be visible before he jumps onto the button. The 45 degree angle on the side of the jump platform knocked me into the middle of the 2 gears, and I had to pop myself to get out.
- "Oh deary me part". If you grab onto that sponge on chains, then let go, it takes a while to fall back down. I would speed this up if possible.
- The red elevator looking thing with the circle inside looks like a checkpoint, but isn't. (it uses the Port Hole like your checkpoints). Keep it consistent.
- The glowing ball looks like plasma. You have plasmified danger in the same area, so it's easy to be confused here.


I would add some score bubbles thoughout the level.
Top visuals+effects, and some solid gameplay in there too.
A lot of little touches in this level, very detailed.
Definitely worth a play.


How did you do the "water" in the glasses at the end? :o
When I zoom in it looks like bubbles.
(No need to F4F, just tell me the secret)

[snowyjoe]

Loved the use of materials well done.

Sometimes the puzzles were hard to get because it was hard to see >.<

[abbaqu]

Really GOOD LEVEL... Overall I love the light enviroment and the music ... 5 stars for me!

[Richasackboy]

Just finished the level and I must say I'm impressed, it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Great job!

Why thank you!

Best 12 year old creator out there? Maybe just that.

That might be a slight formality, seeing as I just turned 13 on the 12 of June.

Woah! That was a long level description/depressed suicidal rant!
Dude if your visuals are so great just post pictures. Even if it doesn't make your level an instant hit it will at least motivate the forum browsers of LBPC to play it. And if your thermo is so packed, publish a sequel instead of lengthening it. It will save you a lot of frustration.
And it does sound like a good level. When I get the chance (and that might be a while) i will play this.

Oh no, I can fit it in. Cheating the thermo is what I could do to add space, and making a sequel just isn't my style. :S
If you read the first post properly now, you'll notice pictures are included. Maybe I should put them on in a more inyourface manner. Hmm.
Well, thanks for saying you'll play it! Suicidal rant is not suicidal rant, more like point of view rant... LittleBigPlanet isn't something to wrtie a suicidal rant about.

yea good level man only thing i thought could of had been done better is destroyin the core other then that it was good

At the end, I was extremely pressed for time. I think that the "boss" (as I would call it) is a bit silly. It's not the best, but it works. I wanted to add a full length boss, but my time constraints were too much.

- I would add more detail in the level's description.
- Thank you for not using "Rainbow Warrior"! I get so sick of that one track.
- I'm not a fan of 3D glitch in the foreground (as it looks walkable), but i'm in the minority there I bet.
- The part with the 2 spinning gears, sackboy should be visible before he jumps onto the button. The 45 degree angle on the side of the jump platform knocked me into the middle of the 2 gears, and I had to pop myself to get out.
- "Oh deary me part". If you grab onto that sponge on chains, then let go, it takes a while to fall back down. I would speed this up if possible.
- The red elevator looking thing with the circle inside looks like a checkpoint, but isn't. (it uses the Port Hole like your checkpoints). Keep it consistent.
- The glowing ball looks like plasma. You have plasmified danger in the same area, so it's easy to be confused here.

I wanted it to feel like one of the Mm story levels.
- I couldn't stand that track for the introduction, but it fit well. So I had to use it there, at least.
- Hmm... Yeah, I bet a few people are like that, and it does provide a bit of confusion, but I think the scenic value it provides is worth confusing the player slightly.
- I'm probably gonna rework that bit later.
- I'm aware of it, and I think it's something to do with one of the winches not being properly attached.
- It actually is a checkpoint. I have no idea why it doesn't make a noise when you go past it, but if you die, you do spawn in it, and are able to jump forward to the front layer.
- I tried to use plasma there too, but failed.

I would add some score bubbles thoughout the level.
Top visuals+effects, and some solid gameplay in there too.
A lot of little touches in this level, very detailed.
Definitely worth a play.

Thank you very much. The score bubbles are a must, but I'm just waiting for my feedback to rack up.

How did you do the "water" in the glasses at the end? :o
When I zoom in it looks like bubbles.
(No need to F4F, just tell me the secret)

Look up Josh_Of_Souls, and you'll find a glitch bubble level. This level contains a bubble that was accidentally copied from the water, and stands alone. It's a bit like a candle flame.

[Gravel•]

Hey Rich,

I left you some feedback in the comment section of the level itself... thought i'd pop in here and leave you a word or two- as well. First off, I think you have a good, short, little level here. I am trying my best not to judge you on a curve because of your age... so please bare (bear?) with me... [incidentally, I am impressed by both your knowledege and skill for your age ] So visually I found the level a little chaotic, as in all over the place, but was also very intrigued by the use of materials... so visually it is a win! I also loved the story arc-- very nice!

The lighting was very well done but I dont think it necessarily always worked in favour of the level, while on the other hand, I think I need a lesson from you on how to better use the global lighting tool... because unless I'm way off base here, you used it several times with great results to compliment the action on screen. I thought the level design was good and the obstacles in sackboys path good as well.

For me, your use of the 'extra layer glitch' did the exact opposit of your intended purpose. Because of it, I was never sure which plane I was on, how best to approach an obstacle, where to proceed next, and exactly what and where was obtainable...

I think when you couple the added layers with your lights and what seems like at times only a single layer to play on and proceed-- you get a very 'flat' experience. It is just my humble opinion, and I have proven myself only to be a three star creator, but this level would be stronger with the deletion or reigning in of the Bakscratch glitch.

Now we don't know each other so I really want you to understand this next bit OK? I liked your level. I'm looking forward to your next level...

Incidentally, the last scene- you should move the magic mouth from off of 'the collector as butler' and on to the left somewhere so it is a little more clearer that in fact the player is ordering the drink...

Keep up the great work, and Good Luck in the competition...