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Up to:  Biker's CafeThis should be a good place for all purpose talks, better than interleaving our discussions with "Time Trial Champions" comments.
Xuzz | Winter Pack!Its here! The fourteenth TTC levelpack, named Winter Pack, has arrived  ! Here is a listing in order of all the levels with previews. Download link is at the bottom. Sz can add this to the HoF one we get everything worked out and all is ready. Times gotten before the levelpack is official will be made to NOT count in the actual competition  .
Level Name: Ice Cave
Notes:
Created by bones, modified by Xuzz.
Gray is sticky.
This is around a 20 second level.
Preview:  Here!
Level Name: LaserTag
Notes:
Created by Laser, modified by mike flips.
The side metal ramps have sticky in the middle so you can make it up and down easier.
You can cablecar the platforms and collect the flags.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Everest
Notes:
BRAND NEW LEVEL by mike flips!
Each run should be easily reproducible, i.e. there is nothing that kills you for no reason.
Heavy use of portals, all invisible.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Fenway
Notes:
By PMD.
This level has almost made the HoF three times before this pack, I think it deserves HoF this time  .
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Claustrophobia
Notes:
Created by Cody, modified by Xuzz.
Smoothest level of the pack.
There are five flags that magically appear.
There is a portal to the left of the start (people often miss this).
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Haunted
Notes:
Created by Kris, modified a bit by mike flips, texturized by Xuzz.
There are many portals.
The ghosts are "italic pacman eaters ".
Easier than it used to be, as we have new iPhone players that want easier levels.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Bananas
Notes:
ALL NEW VERSION by PiNerd.
Slightly changed by Xuzz (new updraft to make it easier).
Fun, fast level.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Planet
Notes:
Created by Sz, modified and texturized by Xuzz.
Radial gravity.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Where am I?
Notes:
ALL NEW LEVEL by mike flips, end by Xuzz (with clouds stolen from PiNerd)!
Another level based off a song.
There are portals.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Icecap Run
Notes:
Created by PiNerd, edited by mike flips to make it slightly easier. I wonder if anyone will even notice the edits.
Mostly the same as before.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Artistic
Notes:
By someone I don't remember , texturized by Xuzz.
Laser, mike flips, Gus, _alex_, and more all like it.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Bounce That
Notes:
Created by Laser, edited by mike flips, texturized by Xuzz.
Much easier than before.
Preview: Here!
Level Name: The Climb
Notes:
By Mr.pickle., bombs to finish flags by Xuzz/mike flips.
MUCH better than before  .
Fun level!
Preview: Here!
Level Name: Inspired
Notes:
Created by Xuzz.
Will not show up right from the flash tool, so play it on the palm/iDevice.
One of Mike's favorite levels in the pack.
The Zodiac is purely decoration.
@Sz: Can you fix whatever the problem is with this level?
Preview: Here!
Levelpack Download (try it for yourself): http://xuzz.net/winter/BOD%20-%20Winter%20Pack.prc
For iPhone levelpack download type this into safari WITHOUT SPACES: bikeordie:install:http: //xuzz.net/winter.prc
@All: Please download and try this levelpack to make sure there are no stupid bugs or any other issues . After a week or so Sz should be able to add it to the HoF .
@Pickle: No, the finish flags are NOT being changed back into mines. |
Vega
|  |  | He is from planet Dill, Ibanez.
Pickle... Although Kris has made some good levels in the past, I was talking about Kris making a voting system website, not a level.
You were not around for OS/NG voting, so I understand why you would not know what I meant.
As for endless level tweaking, I love it. The only problem I see with it is that it takes a lot of time and effort with no $$.
I was pretty much lambasted by my family when they found out how much time I actually spent on my levels (and those 2 packs) without pay.
And in reality, that's fair. I simply don't have the time to give BoD what it needs.
The thing about level tweaking is that no matter how "perfect" you make a level, there will always be fierce competition, and oddball routes.
I think the HoF deserves great levels that are very well made. This is what I mean by testing/tweaking.
I think it's very important, as evidenced by several "runaways" that have slipped through the cracks. We have enough of those already. |
| Mr.pickle.
|  | | Yes ibanez, I have many times also said that I like the way SZ makes levels as well. I have to dissagree about the tweaking tho ibanez, I like things to happen fast as well. Tho if it happens fast and is not done well its not worth the speed. For instace, bike force was a great success! and it was srung very fast, and added to HOF almost imediatly. but there were flaws in the levels! Look at bike or pi for instance, he accedently took out the mine that used to prevent the jump there.
(No offence pi nerd, I love bike or pi, just proving a point) So sometimes its worth the wait for a better product in the long run.
@Vega, I see your point,lol. Tho you said "kris can you make one for this pack?" So I dident see anything about voting there...lol. THo I have seen the voting tool kris used back when we were nomenating levels... |
| Ibanez
|  | | The tweaking and improving behind the scenes is of course necessary to get a level as good as it can be, but in an open forum there are too many opinions and hurt feeling. Any changes made are just a matter of opinion, some will agree some won't. To get to finish there either has to be a leader of the levelpack, or a public vote, which did work well before. |
| Mr.pickle.
| | | So long as the "leader" you speak of isent Xuzz or mike I am fine with either method lol
Seriously,I think voting is best. THo I have read through the making of next gen and OS and the maker usally got the final say in a level.. |
| Vega
| | | OS was a bit unique in that they were pulled from the archives of the levels. (hence the name Old School)
So I was free to modify/improve levels at will and, graciously, most players approved.
With new levels, I think only fixes and/or popular suggestions to design change should be made.
The veterans of BoD should be able to identify what needs change...
and in theory, if the levels pass through the gamut of hawk-eyed BoDers, we should be fine.
Just don't rush it. No need to rush it!
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| Xuzz
| | | Actually Vega -- there is . Winter ends, you know, then we have to wait nine months .
I fixed planet so it is better...and about Haunted, who ever said it was a piece of crap? I don't remember anyone saying that. In fact pickle, you said, "haunted,  for sure not moving "...not a piece of crap from that post.
The thing mike and I did was just get the levels ready for discussion -- now its for everyone to edit and decide on! Nothing about mike and I continuing in private, we just wanted something to start with.
I have a new version with a MUCH better planet and a new Bananas with just two red flags removed (unneeded) .
Artistic: pickle, if you agree with BB so much, he said it was fine .
Icecap run: We need to keep this relatively easy, and there were almost no changes. All mike did was change one point at the start, un-ice one block, and move two more points later on. I moved the finish flags for the same reason as on The Climb: we don't want to waste good runs for the sake of difficulty, do we?
ONE general thing about this pack is as mike said, we wan't levels to be consistent. If a level willing to let you play it well consistently, then A) it is more fun and less frustrating and B) easier for new players to go slow on as there is nothing that kills them for no reason.
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| Xuzz
| | | Sorry for the double post, but pickle: Everest looks GREAT! I can't believe that you would say it doesn't...maybe not in the flash replay, but on the palm it is awesome! BTW, about syncing, you should have been able to this afternoon...it IS wednesday ... |
| Mr.pickle.
| | | Than its only on the version that I can see online...
As I said Xuzz, we will come to a COMPRIMISE(no I cannot spell it...)on the ending of climb.
Artistic just...Theres nothing really all that impressive about it...Its a cool looking level, and its sorta fun to play, for for competing on times...I still say it doesent work..
about huanted,who said it was a peice of crap? I said that about artistic for HOF but huanted...Idk, accoording to BB it gets better once you figer out where the portals are...
so you must have changed it a bit..I spent 300 tries on the origenal version and never even beat it |
| Xuzz
| | | BB/Pickle: Just flip on the first ramp and you will make it through easy and fast...then brake as soon as you touch the sticky, and again after the curve to place you down. Slowly jump into the ground-portal and continue, bouncing up for the next one. Turn around, then continue back to the ramp, and go up at a reasonable speed and come through the portal going forward. At the grandfather clock, turn around, then just accelerate for the rest of the level. I can get 42-43.xx every 10 tries . It is much easier than before (the hardest part, the third portal, has been moved so it is easy).
Pickle: "I agree with what he(BB)said about
Ice cave,huanted,inspired.", when BB said, "this level is horrible (sorry Kris ) I understand that the weird portals are what makes it haunted, but it was the opposite of fun for me." |
| mike flips
|  | | @Vega - This is ready, trust me on that, I have spent the time to test the levels thoroughly and have looked specifically for bugs that could ruin the essence of each level. Not to toot my own horn but I think i have done an adequate job to say the least on this part. And Xuzz has spent a long time playing the levels as well. We arent trying to rush, we just feel that it is actually ready now.
@Pickle - Artistic actually is unique in 2 ways. The first way is looks. The second is the fact that it has gaps everywhere along the floor. So the handling of the bike is actually different from that of a normal level making this level much more interesting than it seems.
@BB - I actually made a version of haunted that was much more playable where you could go through the portals at a decent speed and not lose momentum anywhere. The portals have a learning curve which was frustrating to me at first as well. If people really think this level is annoying we can for sure tweak it to improve it. But try editing the level and place a start point beside each portal. Spend a minute or two at each portal and you should be ready to beat the level. About planet, we spent most time fixing other aspects of the level. I had the ending on a todo list but i completely forgot. Good job catching this!
A word about voting - we did have the pack listed with an initial lineup of levels that is nearly the same as the levels we have released now. There was much discussion and debate back then. I think we are a bit past the voting stage and that the vote really is not needed. It seems like there are not really any major issues on most of the levels and the issues that exist look like they can be solved fairly easily. Even pickle was willing to compromise on his own level. |
| Xuzz
| | | A note about Everest and Fenway: I had Yuzz play these levels for a "normal player" (less BoD-crazy) view of them, and he could not get down to the ground in Fenway at all, but easily beat Everest as there is nothing that killed him for no reason.
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| PMD
 | | 5 | | | 6 | |
|  | | Funny. I have played my fair share and I can't easily beat Everest. Maybe I am missing the obvious.
Of course I have no problems with Fenway (you just need to go for the jump down--don't try to land on the flat--land on the curve down). |
| Shane
 | | 5 | | | 6 | |
|  | | BikerBrian
|  | | O.k., I'm sorry for unloading on Mike/Xuzz yesterday. After reading the responses to my post, I played through most Winter Pack levels again and I am beginning to feel much better about them.
Ice Cave and Claustrophobia still don't excite me, but I am enjoying the other levels. Mike, you've done a superb job on Everest. Once you learn where the portals are, it is really fun. My best time so far is 58,14. Where am I? is really cool too. After just a few minutes, I was able to get 34,28.
Fenway is a blast to play. My best time is 30,66. I agree with Shane that Inspired is a great level. Once Mike gave me the hint about starting with the upper right flag, I finnaly "got it". I currently have a 1:01,30.
Hauted isn't as bad as it first appeared. After I figured out the route, I got about 44 secs. I'll go on record to say that I no longer have a problem with this level. I don't think the portals need to be changed. If you could just fly through the building, it would be called "Inside Building" istead of "Haunted".
I appreciate the consideration that was given to my comments. The only things left to do in my book are: 1) decide what to do with the climb, 2) fix the ending of planet and 3) fix the ending of IceCap run back to the way it was. I also like the idea of PiNerd offering his expertise.
Great job, guys. Again, I'm sorry for snapping yesterday. I misunderstood what you meant by "easy". I agree that after you've learned these levels (or seen recordings of them), they could be considered easy.
Let's keep up the momentum. I'm ready for a 14th pack! |
| Xuzz
| | | Laser
|  | | I didn't play the new versions of Bounce That or LaserTag, but I don't think they were really as hard as everyone makes them seem. The key is bouncing at a slower speed- you don't have to be able to rush through a level for it to be called easy. (and I still don't know why Claustrophobia was given that name) |
| mike flips
| | | @BB I am glad to hear that. You just need to play them to truly appreciate them.
Oh just some times if you are interested that i have heard from other people or gotten myself:
Where am I? - 33
Fenway - 24
Haunted - 42
Inspired - 59
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| Xuzz
| | | Ice Cave: 20.48  . |
| Mr.pickle.
| | | @Mike; "Even pickle was willing to compromise on his own level. "
My level the ending needs to be harder still it is NOT done, Xuzz has been ignoring me...we WILL be comprimizing ok? I am fine with not doing the same ending of going through the 2 mines, but it needs to be harder than the way it is now. A somewhat tricky ending is required...the level is to easy as it is... |
| bones
|  | | before you edited ice cave xuzz i had 18.82 so |
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