Description

Hey, Pisanos! In honor of RMN’s official Mario Month, We're bringing back the Mario-making spirit in the form of a level-design contest in the Super Mario Bros. X engine!

… Come again? You heard me right! We’re not really making a collaborative game this time around. This is a CONTEST to see who can make the best level in SMBX! The winner will receive lucrative prize of ANY GAME OF YOUR CHOICE ON STEAM UNDER $20.00, in addition to a nice achievement and makerscore!

Regardless of placement, each level submitted will be compiled into a custom-made SMBX game where everyone will be able to play and view feedback from our four judges: Isrieri, Deckiller, Halibabica, and your host, Ratty 524!

OKIE-DOKIE! WHAT ARE THE DETAILS?
As mentioned before, this is a CONTEST to see who can create the best mario-focused level, using any style of your choice. In light of this, we do have a few ground rules:

  • Hopefully this is a given for most of you, but the level you submit must be made in Super Mario Bros. X, either version 1.3 or 1.3.0.1 (The only differences are in some graphic edits and sound). You can download the latest version of the engine HERE.



  • Each participant is allowed to submit ONE level for the contest. No more, no less. You CAN submit a replacement to your submission, however, but you must indicate which level is the one to be judged somehow.



  • Your level should be built around the vanilla version of SMBX. This means NO HACKS/LUA CODE to modify your level beyond what the engine is already capable of. We want to keep this a fair competition, after all, and trust me, we'll know a hacked level when we see it.



  • Your levels must be built around Mario and Luigi ONLY. Yes, we’re aware that Peach, Toad, and even Link are playable characters in the engine, but it makes the judge’s job easier to compare levels that are built around characters with similar mechanics, so there we go! This also means that the character blocks (the ones that allow you to switch between characters in a single level) are banned.



  • With that said, all the other NPCs, exits, tiles and whatnot are NOT BANNED! Go ham! Keep in mind, however, that your use of these elements will be judged, and that some NPCs are known to be buggy (such as the SMW Bowser Statue) or bring unwelcome challenges to them (SMW Dry Bones for its hitbox, and SMB3 Lakitu for its spamming of homing spikeballs). Depending on how severe their impact is, your level CAN be docked points for its abuse of poorly-functioning NPCs. You've been warned.



  • Please make sure that all the files needed to make your level function are included with your submission, if applicable, before the deadline. If you plan on using custom graphics or audio, for instance, include that in your submission. In addition, we expect that all your sound/graphic paths to be correct. Getting a level that doesn’t play its music right won’t get you disqualified, but it may cost you a chance at winning.



  • Failure to abide by these guidelines may result in your level being disqualified or docked in points.



POINTS, EH!? WHAT-A-POINTS?
Glad you asked! We judges will use a 1-10 rating system for judging each level in this contest; a score of "1" in any category will be the lowest, representing an area your level functions poorly in, and "10" is the highest, showing an area the level does well in. Here is the criteria you should be considering for your submission, It’ll also be the criteria we judges will use to rate your levels:

  • DESIGN:
    - How deliberate does the level feel with its choices, such as platform or pipe placements?
    - What is the theme or overall concept of this level, and do the level’s elements work well with it?
  • AESTHETICS:
    - How cohesive/nice are the graphics used in the level? What visual themes contribute to creating a distinctive atmosphere in the level, and do they work well?
    - Is the audio used in the level appropriate, and how well does that contribute to creating an atmosphere/emotion in the level?
  • PLAYABILITY:
    - Does the level contain bugs or poor design decisions that hinder the way a player can play the level?
    - Is the level’s difficulty challenging in a way that is fair and not obtuse. Could the level, hypothetically, be beatable on the player’s first try, without the reliance on trial-and-error?


The final score of a level will be averaged between judges, with your final score being a total of the ratings in each category. The level with the highest total, obviously, will win. Aim for 10/10 levels in all categories, folks!

PASTA PRIZES
1st Place Golden Mario Achievement; 75 MS + 1 Steam game under $20 of your choice
2nd Place Silver Luigi Achievement; 60 MS
3rd Place Bronze Peach Achievement; 55 MS
Participated – Toad Achievement; 15 MS

HELPFUL LINKS
Not sure how to use SMBX or need help in making a quality level? Check out some of these plumber-approved tutorials and design articles to help you out!

RMN's Super Mario Bros. X Tutorial Portal - Contains many helpful articles that cover both working with the engine itself and performing some nifty tricks like making the Ball n' Chain obstacle from Super Mario World.

Anatomy of Super Mario Bros part 10, part 11, part 12, so on..., and so forth... - This is an comprehensive series of articles that dissects every level from Super Mario Bros, revealing a lot of deliberate and thoughtful design choices the game designers made at the time. I highly recommend you check these out if you want to create some really well-designed levels.

SMBX Graphics Portal - Check out these featured graphic packs on the SMBX forums for your custom asset needs!

All set? Then LET'S-A-GO!

Details

Achievements

Registration

You must be logged in to sign up for Super Mario Bros. Super Contest.

Posts

Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
hope you two weren't planning on writing any reviews anytime soon.
Punkitt
notorious rpgmaker 2k3 shill
3341
Curse that Eyore avatar, Solitayre. Makin' me feel guilty.
Solitayre
Circumstance penalty for being the bard.
18257
author=Punkitt
Curse that Eyore avatar, Solitayre. Makin' me feel guilty.


Mirak
Stand back. Artist at work. I paint with enthusiasm if not with talent.
9300
I am reminded how Eyore is called Igor in the latin american translation.
Frogge
I wanna marry ALL the boys!! And Donna is a meanc
18995
Well if Soli lost then that means the only 2 people who can compete with me left are...

Punkitt and Seironem! >:(

May the best one at bribing win.

Btw Ratty and Hali, did I tell you guys I love you so much?
Isrieri
"My father told me this would happen."
6155
author=Frogge
Btw Ratty and Hali, did I tell you guys I love you so much?

OHH I SEE HOW IT IS
Frogge
I wanna marry ALL the boys!! And Donna is a meanc
18995
But I love you a lot too Isrieri! Oh god, I'm the biggest idiot ever for forgetting you! I am terribly sorry senpai! *bows*

(Is that enough bribing I wonder)
NeverSilent
Got any Dexreth amulets?
6299
I feel like "Solitayre lost" should be considered an inofficial tagline at this point. Heh.


Also, stop trying to bribe judges with cheap compliments. Makerscore is the only thing that works for that.

How would I know this, you wonder...?
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
author=NeverSilent
Makerscore is the only thing that works for that.

Say do any of you judges have un-reviewed games?
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16948
Play Crowded Spelunky I DARE YOU.
Frogge
I wanna marry ALL the boys!! And Donna is a meanc
18995
I was thinking maybe I could put my current LP series on hold if you judges want me to LP your games. Also, any steam games you want?
Seiromem
I would have more makerscore If I did things.
6375
If I manage to complete the review before the winner is announced then I will be disappointed in you people. I don't finish things. Ever.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16948
Don't actually play it; it's terrible.
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
... You guys had your fun?

Well, Solitayre, you can no longer simply imagine your win.


The Results are in! The Grand Prize Winner is...

... For his amazing level "The Lost City!" You win the GOLDEN MARIO ACHIEVEMENT and ANY STEAM GAME OF YOUR CHOICE UNDER $20 (See PM for details)!

2nd place is OTABO for his stellar level "Reading Rainbow!" They win the SILVER LUIGI ACHIEVEMENT!

3rd, but by no means the least is KENTONA for his awesome level "Littlebig!" He wins the BRONZE PEACH ACHIEVEMENT!


The rest of the participants will recieve the Toad Achievement. Better luck next time!

Here are the total rankings for each level:

Note: The total scores were calculated based on the mean average of the judges scores. In cases where ties happened, I compared the level to my personal ratings to determine who places above who.


Total Scores:
RANK / NAME / DESIGN / AESTHETICS / PLAYABILITY / TOTAL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1 / Solityare / 8.6 / 9.3 / 9 / 26.9
#2 / Otabo / 7.3 / 9 / 8 / 24.3
#3 / kentona / 6 / 8.6 / 9.3 / 23.9
#4 / Seiromem / 5.3 / 8.3 / 6.6 / 6.6
#5 / NeverSilent / 6.3 / 5 / 7 / 18.3
#6 / Frogge / 5.6 / 7 / 5.3 / 17.9
#7 / Mirak / 5 / 6.3 / 6 / 17.3
#8 / Punkitt / 4.6 / 8 / 4 / 16.6
#9 / Davenport / 4 / 6 / 6 / 16
#10 / Jparker1984 / 5.6 / 5 / 5.3 / 15.9
#11 / Blobofgoo / 5.3 / 5.6 / 5 / 15.9
#12 / piantotm / 4.6 / 3.6 / 7 / 15.2
#13 / lonestarluigi / 3.3 / 5.3 / 5.6 / 14.2
#14 / SweetMeltyLove / 3.6 / 4 / 4.6 / 12.2
#15 / AubreyTheBard / 5.6 / 4.3 / 2 / 11.9
#16 / Fflo / 3 / 4.6 / 4.3 / 11.9
#17 /Zeigfried_McBacon/ 2.3 / 3.6 / 4.3 / 10.2
#18 / InfectionFiles / 2 / 3 / 2.3 / 7.3
#19 / Insaneraving / 2 / 3 / 2 / 7
#20 / higsi571 / 1.3 / 1.3 / 3.6 / 6.2

Ratty's Scores:
NAME / DESIGN / AESTHETICS / PLAYABILITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solityare / 8 / 10 / 9
Otabo / 7 / 9 / 10
kentona / 7 / 8 / 8
Seiromem / 5 / 8 / 7
NeverSilent / 6 / 4 / 7
Frogge / 6 / 5 / 5
Mirak / 4 / 6 / 5
Punkitt / 4 / 8 / 2
Davenport / 3 / 5 / 5
Jparker1984 / 6 / 5 / 4
Blobofgoo / 4 / 4 / 4
piantotm / 4 / 3 / 5
lonestarluigi / 2 / 4 / 5
SweetMeltyLove / 3 / 3 / 4
AubreyTheBard / 6 / 5 / 4
Fflo / 4 / 4 / 3
Zeigfried_McBacon/ 2 / 3 / 3
InfectionFiles / 1 / 2 / 1
Insaneraving / 3 / 3 / 2
higsi571 / 1 / 1 / 2

Isrieri's Scores:
NAME / DESIGN / AESTHETICS / PLAYABILITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solityare / 8 / 9 / 8
Otabo / 7 / 10 / 7
kentona / 6 / 8 / 10
Seiromem / 4 / 8 / 7
NeverSilent / 6 / 5 / 8
Frogge / 4 / 8 / 5
Mirak / 4 / 5 / 7
Punkitt / 3 / 8 / 5
Davenport / 3 / 6 / 7
Jparker1984 / 6 / 6 / 6
Blobofgoo / 4 / 5 / 3
piantotm / 4 / 2 / 8
lonestarluigi / 2 / 7 / 6
SweetMeltyLove / 3 / 3 / 3
AubreyTheBard / 4 / 4 / 1
Fflo / 2 / 5 / 5
Zeigfried_McBacon/ 2 / 2 / 4
InfectionFiles / 1 / 1 / 1
Insaneraving / 1 / 2 / 1
higsi571 / 1 / 1 / 3

Halibabica's Scores:
NAME / DESIGN / AESTHETICS / PLAYABILITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solityare / 10 / 9 / 10
Otabo / 8 / 8 / 7
kentona / 5 / 10 / 10
Seiromem / 7 / 9 / 6
NeverSilent / 7 / 6 / 6
Frogge / 7 / 8 / 6
Mirak / 7 / 8 / 6
Punkitt / 7 / 8 / 5
Davenport / 6 / 7 / 6
Jparker1984 / 6 / 5 / 4
Blobofgoo / 8 / 8 / 8
piantotm / 6 / 6 / 8
lonestarluigi / 6 / 5 / 6
SweetMeltyLove / 5 / 6 / 7
AubreyTheBard / 7 / 4 / 1
Fflo / 3 / 5 / 5
Zeigfried_McBacon/ 3 / 6 / 6
InfectionFiles / 4 / 6 / 5
Insaneraving / 2 / 4 / 3
higsi571 / 2 / 2 / 6

Thank you all for participating! A compilation game where you'll get to play every level in one SMBX episode is on its way!

InfectionFiles
the world ends in whatever my makerscore currently is
4622
Whooohoooo! Great event y'all :D
Blobofgoo
Legs are a burden. Return to snek.
2751
Hali. What did you like on my level so much? The scores you gave me are significantly higher than the other 2 judges.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16948
Which one was yours again?
Blobofgoo
Legs are a burden. Return to snek.
2751
The ghost fire one
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
It's Ghostfire.

I'd definitely say Hali was a bit generous on these scores compared to me or Isrieri, but opinions are opinions.

If you want my thoughts on your level:
It was an great concept for a level that, overall, I felt wasn't utilized enough, or milked to its full potential. You started off with stuff breaking due to the ghost fire, which was well-indicated right off the bat and the level was off to a good start. Then you add a generic rising lava section, and end it off with a section where you use the ghostfire as a power-up, but it felt kind of underwhelming to me.

The rising lava in particular made me dock major points from your level. It's snail-slow to lightning-fast movement made it difficult to time your jumps and it turned the entire level into a precision-platformer with little to no room for error. You even put them over an area with power-ups, which felt like a douchey move. Honestly, if that entire section was scrapped, replaced with an expansion on the breakable blocks concept introduced at the beginning, and the last section maybe had some of those same elements for reinforcement, it would have been an A+ level considerable for the top 3.
Blobofgoo
Legs are a burden. Return to snek.
2751
Those breakable blocks... So many events...