00Sack - Betrayed (Spotlighted!)

[v0rtex•]

Can a double-0 really trust anyone besides himself? Agent Sack finds himself on a mission to retrieve stolen data from the enemy HQ. Plenty of platforming, puzzles and paint before we find out our hero's fate!


Well, I've finally managed to get this published publicly. Let's look at the numbers... My 4th level; my 3rd with any real forethought put into it; my 2nd F4F thread; and my 1st truly FULL thermometer.

It's an MGS paintinator level (I know... another one?? but this one is awesome!) with some puzzling, and a sort of mini game thrown in. I also hope you enjoy my boss battle finish.

Thank you so much to Gilgamesh, Madafaku, Morgana25, and TheGide for their playtesting, feedback, and kind words. Greatly appreciated!

Please let me know what you think. I am an F4F participant, so if you have more than one level published let me know for which one(s) you'd like feedback.

Level Name: 00Sack - Betrayed
PSN: v0rtex2002 (please note... the 0s are zeros)
Level Location: South America

EDIT: Video!


Video capture and edit provided by Vanemiera. Thank you so much!

EDIT: Pics!

[dkjestrup]

I might just take a look... when I've aced endurance dojo

PS. I'd reccomend changing 00sack to 009 or something.

EDIT: I like your BR2 boss btw!

EDIT2:

Okay, playing now. The visuals are nice, but I don't think they suit the setting. A big factory/living quarters makes more sense. Also feels more MGS and les Bond.

For the VR training section, you need to add a paintinator by the check points, otherwise you are screwed!

[v0rtex•]

I like your BR2 boss btw!

LOL! Did you like the boss in this one!? Haha... What can I say? I'm lazy. One of the BR2 themes was Mech, and I had this guy finished.

As for the name... sorry you don't like it, but I'm not likely to change it. Or the visual theme for that matter. I appreciate the input though.

As for the paintinator, it's only needed in the last room of the VR training, and an easily timed jump will get you back down to the one in the room. But you may be right... that might just tick people off. I'll have to give that some serious consideration. Thanks.

[dkjestrup]

Didn't you have to shoot the green parts with the lights? Or was that like a bonus round type thing?

[v0rtex•]

Didn't you have to shoot the green parts with the lights? Or was that like a bonus round type thing?

No... just stand on the green platforms - they are the safe zones. The last room has a paintinator trial though. Were the instructions unclear? I amde need to add to or correct them, eh?

[dkjestrup]

No... just stand on the green platforms - they are the safe zones. The last room has a paintinator trial though. Were the instructions unclear? I amde need to add to or correct them, eh?

I'm replaying, this time I'll read more carefully lol.

EDIT: forgot to say that I like the use of paintinator switches>buttons or 2 ways, quite uncommon

EDIT2: Regarding the VR challenge, I'll admit, it was completely my fault lol!

[GruntosUK]

I just played the level, I was intrigued by the name, seeing as I have a 00** set of levels my self.

+ Level looks nice, good lighting, it was a little dark on my TV I had to later the Gamma in settings though.
+ Nice lifts, I liked them
+ Nice original enemies, I liked the robot in particular.
+ Liked the VR training section and how the different stages drop, I've never seen this before, it was very well done.
+ I liked it when you got outside, the vehicles look very cool.
+ Awesome boss, it looked great.
+ Nice way to hide the scoreboard

- The section with the turrets is a problem, you have a LOT of green plasma shooting on the different planes, I would suggest a different colour plasma ball for each of the planes, so you can make it out a little better.
- Better camera angle needed after to start the computer to see the ventiliation shaft and a better camera in the section with the rats
- MM scorpions, everything else is created by yourself, seeing these was a let down

I was a good level that I enjoyed playing through, a couple of minor faults but overall it was well done, especially the VR section and boss

Good work

**** and "hectic" tag left

[v0rtex•]

I just played the level, I was intrigued by the name, seeing as I have a 00** set of levels my self.

Yeah... I didn't research it, but I rather figured it wouldn't be unique.

+ Level looks nice, good lighting, it was a little dark on my TV I had to later the Gamma in settings though.

Do you feel I need to address this? Lighten it on my end or add a note to players to adjust their gamma?

+ Nice lifts, I liked them
+ Nice original enemies, I liked the robot in particular.
+ Liked the VR training section and how the different stages drop, I've never seen this before, it was very well done.
+ I liked it when you got outside, the vehicles look very cool.
+ Awesome boss, it looked great.
+ Nice way to hide the scoreboard

Thanks! The VR section took two weeks to get right. Actually deleted it entirely twice because it just outright didn't work. Eventually came on the winning solution for it and am quite pleased with the result.

- The section with the turrets is a problem, you have a LOT of green plasma shooting on the different planes, I would suggest a different colour plasma ball for each of the planes, so you can make it out a little better.

Excellent idea! I will adjust this tonight.

- Better camera angle needed after to start the computer to see the ventiliation shaft and a better camera in the section with the rats

OK - not disagreeing here, but I have tweaked those several times (trust me... they are so much better than they were). So, can you be more specific as to how you think they might be tweaked? (I understand the view to the ceiling after the you pick up the disc - it doesn't really show the open door up there)

- MM scorpions, everything else is created by yourself, seeing these was a let down

Actually, to be fair... the vent shaft fans are Mm too... I just stickered them to get rid of the taxi yellow and checkerboard. But I really like their scorpions... and if I could make scorpions even close to that, I would. However I will definitely consider removing them because I do like having my own content in there. In fact... thanks for mentioning the vehicles... they are rather dear to me (lots of work)

I was a good level that I enjoyed playing through, a couple of minor faults but overall it was well done, especially the VR section and boss

Good work

**** and "hectic" tag left

Thanks for your feedback! Very much appreciated. Expect reciprocation on your Siberia thread soon (probably not til tomorrow night though - real life and all )

[GruntosUK]

Do you feel I need to address this? Lighten it on my end or add a note to players to adjust their gamma?

It was actually only at the very start, from the first lift in it was fine. I type the comments as I'm playing so I don't forget anything, I forgot to add this in, sorry! Maybe a few more lights at the start, I played in bright sunshine, this could have been the problem, wait for more feedback, see it anyone else picks up on it, could just be me

Thanks! The VR section took two weeks to get right. Actually deleted it entirely twice because it just outright didn't work. Eventually came on the winning solution for it and am quite pleased with the result.

You can see how much time went in to it, it works flawlessly and is a great idea.

OK - not disagreeing here, but I have tweaked those several times (trust me... they are so much better than they were). So, can you be more specific as to how you think they might be tweaked? (I understand the view to the ceiling after the you pick up the disc - it doesn't really show the open door up there)

I'd stick a magic mouth near the door that opens with a cutscene camera panned out. Connect it to the puzzle so when its done the mouth activates and shows the hatch. For the airvent, it needs to show above the player more, you can't really see whats ahead. Its hard tweaking cameras for such sections, I know.

Actually, to be fair... the vent shaft fans are Mm too... I just stickered them to get rid of the taxi yellow and checkerboard. But I really like their scorpions... and if I could make scorpions even close to that, I would. However I will definitely consider removing them because I do like having my own content in there. In fact... thanks for mentioning the vehicles... they are rather dear to me (lots of work)

Actually yeah I recognise the airvents now you mentioned it, I actually never noticed, probably because they were so brief and stickered differently. The scorpions are'nt bad (theres only 3), they just stick out when everything else is well created.

Thanks for your feedback! Very much appreciated. Expect reciprocation on your Siberia thread soon (probably not til tomorrow night though - real life and all )

Thanks, its actually a 4 part series with a running story and slow build up, play the rest to get whats going on (although its not important if time is short, they were finished a while ago).

[ThommyTheThird]

Hey, i've played trough this just ago, and i really liked it I liked how you implemented paint switches to operate doors and elevators etc. And the best part of the level was the puzzle room. You had me a bit puzzled with the Pentagon shape for a while.. it was huge and i had no idea where it should've gone :P Also, the boss was pretty well done A bit random at times, since bullets fly in all directions when he flies in midair, but it was nice

[v0rtex•]

Thanks Thommy! I appreciate the recognition on the paint switches (working out such logic is one of my favorite aspects of creating in LBP). Glad you liked the puzzles, I had fun making them. As for the boss - random was what I was shooting for (in truth, it's the same every time, but it changes paths often enough that even after 100 plays I haven't got it down).

[Morgana25]

I just love this level. The first section of the level is cleanly designed and has some very nice details. The floaty communication screen is a nice touch and the paint activated lifts are cool. The level really starts to shine imo with the introduction of the sequential VR section. I can't begin to imagine how tricky it was to wire that up and it looks and plays great. Nicely challenging but not so much so you want to chuck the controller at the tv (bad idea kids - don't do that at home.) The puzzle section is also really well designed and makes you work a little to complete it. The cherry on this sundae for me has to be the boss. The design is great and I really appreciate that you have to be mindful of the plane of the level you are in. I think the amber colored plasma are some of the prettiest color lights I've seen. Nice choice for the lighter yellow green in the back too. I also wanted to mention I appreciated your attention to detail in the sand dunes. The truck and the sweeping almost sculptural arcs of the sand are well done.

5 stars and a heart - got a creator heart from me too for the evolution of your levels too. A really great level with some fantastic game play. Nice work.

[v0rtex•]

Thank you Morgana! Such kind words. I am very pleased you liked the level and appreciate the accolades. It is always nice to have someone recognize areas that one has poured so much time into. And to have a creator with your artistic eye compliment my design choices is very flattering.

[Gilgamesh•]

Hey, I've replayed the level. I notice you've done some additional polishing up, nice job.

Final verdict : The visuals are great, the length is good, the difficulty is fair (not too easy, but not frustrating) and there's a lot of innovation not seen in other LBP levels. Although it's touted as a Paintinator level, there's a lot of puzzling and storytelling going on, which is a nice change of pace.

The definitive highlight for me has to be the green platform room and the puzzle room.

I had no idea your thermometer was full on this level, but looking at all the things you managed to squeeze in I can understand why it would be.

Awesome stuff, five stars and a heart from me.

[Thegide]

Ok, I know I helped you test this stuff out, but I went back this morning to see what changes you had made.

Everything is pretty smooth now. The really tricky, tedious bits flowed much better and didn't have me on the brink of a tantrum

Overall, it's a great level. The room-switching minigame is incredibly creative; I have no idea how you even thought up such a wonderful idea. Great work.

The boss is brilliant. Enough said.

Two additional issues I ran into along the way:

- Rockslide. I got stuck because the rocks fell in such a way that the path was completely blocked and I had to restart. This is yet another reason why you might want to consider changing them to stickered styro or dissolve - so you can grab and move them. I have a pic if you want to see.

- Boss area. Previously, you had electrified glass in the foreground and background layers, forcing you to take out the robot to proceed. When I played this time, the foreground glass was nowhere to be found, so I simply walked past the bot and shot him in the back. This seemed to completely undermine the point of having the bot there at all (which is to provide a challenge in the middle layer). I'm not sure if you removed the glass, or if it went "crunch" sometime during play.

Anyways, 5 stars, hearted. Great level, great mechanics.