Trouble coming up with ideas

[Fading-Dream]

I'll get right to it. I like creating, but I can't come up with any good ideas to put in my level besides the usual "swing from sponge on rope" and "rotating platforms". This has always been my issue. I don't want to create one of the endless levels with the same play mechanics. I need advice on creativity, I guess...

[anoken]

I feel your pain. Trust me, I've had those times.

But, here's some advice. Plan it out, and be patient.

Get a piece of paper out. Then hold the idea of creating something lightly in your mind while you do something else. Sooner or later something will come to mind. That's what works for me

[Phalaina]

Sorry if my advice isn't so reliable (if I finish the level I'm working on it will be my first real one ^^) but maybe you can try make a blank 'rough draft' level and use it to experiment with different gadgets just for fun. Like maybe you could try playing around with switches and other creation tools, fiddling with their settings or putting together different combinations of them. You might stumble upon something you like.

Adding a story may help making your level more unique too, I think. It may also inspire a few useful gameplay ideas.

Anyway, I hope that helps =)

[BlackWolfe]

Here's an idea that's been tickling my fancy for a while...

A level that starts off mostly empty, where triggering a switch emits a set of platforms leading to the next switch, which emits a set of platforms leading to a switch...

Guess what one of the puzzles in the "Remastered" version of Memetic Hazard is?

Darn, but it's been fun to rig.

[Coxy224]

I like to think my levels have a bit of unique gameplay in them from time to time, and everything I do spawns from one of two things
1) Taking one unique thing and repeating with new ideas added on/ harder difficulty
2) Inspiration from other levels.

If you do get a good idea, implement it but don't just leave it at that. Think how it could be made harder for later on in the level, or how it might be implemented in a slightly different way. For example my latest level (shameless plug BUT it does help illustrate this) I took a minecart and let you ride in it. Then later on you have to jump out of it just in time. Then further you have to jump out, grab a switch to emit another one. It's easy to think of new ideas from just one concept and it doesn't feel too repeptitive if you keep mixing it up.

The second point requires you just to play loads of cool levels - easy huh? Then look how they've made their levels fun. Maybe they've done something that will be good in your level if implemented differently? Or it might make you think of a new way to use a switch or piston etc. Really simple, but it's how I get a lot of my own ideas

Hope this was of help to you, and anyone else reading it

EDIT:

Sorry if my advice isn't so reliable (if I finish the level I'm working on it will be my first real one ^^) but maybe you can try make a blank 'rough draft' level and use it to experiment with different gadgets just for fun. Like maybe you could try playing around with switches and other creation tools, fiddling with their settings or putting together different combinations of them. You might stumble upon something you like.

I know a lot of people who do this, it really is a good idea because even if you can't implement it into your current level, you can always come back to it in the future Quality idea to do!

[Fading-Dream]

Hmm.... Seems that the over-arching idea is to take old ideas and twist them/ combine them?

Actually, I think I've got some ideas! Thanks for all the help guys! Also, feel free to keep posting tips!

[metsfan1025]

First of all, just like other people said, you could play other people's levels for inspiration (don't completely steal their ideas though, just borrow them :P). You could also try playing other games for inspiration; for example, I've been playing Portal 2 and some Zelda games recently, and these have given me ideas for some puzzles/game play.

Secondly, you could just mess around in a non level create mode and try to think of some original ideas; you could always scrap anything that doesn't work out.

Thirdly, I feel like anything fast tends to be pretty entertaining. For example, those launcher sections that are in a lot of platforming levels are easy to build and although you don't really have to use any platforming skill at all to get by them, they are still fun. Moving parts can really bring a level to life (although too many may cause lag).

Lastly, even if game play elements aren't too creative, if you can incorporate them into the theme of the level, it seems that much better. For example, swinging on a vine from one ragged tree branch to another will seem far more fun than just a circular sponge on some string. And you could always use game play that fits in with the environment, like a tree branch snapping when you step on it.