FreeGameDev

I started to look through all the levels, which are currently present in the forest world. I wanted to check which levels could be improved. (at least a bit.)
Currently I have only improved one level, which is: Two Tiny Towers, because I had ideas for this level, since I made the Level: Above the Treetops.

What has changed? (please say you fixed dispenser direction, I kinda added it but it was removed, a long story)

I haven't really done such huge changes, because the level itself was actually very good. Mainly the look of the level has been changed.
For example, the background (Paralax) and I've removed the lava which was at the beginning. (Because it looked a little strange.)

Nice idea with the background.

Great idea for the start. @Tobbi said the owls/skydives would be a little challenging. Not sure if we should do something about that or not (what do level guidelines say? is it okay to make it challenging because it's a castle level?).

Also we can probably already include this change in 0.5.

mteufel {l Wrote}:@Tobbi said the owls/skydives would be a little challenging.

That's true. I wasn't exactly sure, how I could use Owl, without making it too hard or too easy, to avoid him.

I opened a pull request at https://github.com/SuperTux/data/pull/19. @RustyBox: we can also credit you with your whole name, if you prefer that.

mteufel {l Wrote}:@RustyBox: we can also credit you with your whole name, if you prefer that.

I prefer my whole name.

I'm going to assume the name in your email (Carsten Wirtz) is your whole name?

mteufel {l Wrote}:I'm going to assume the name in your email (Carsten Wirtz) is your whole name?

Yes it is.

I'm thinking, if I should completely rework the Level Going Underground.
Reasons would be that it is very confusing, the background (ghost forest) makes no sense and there is an area which is impossible to pass as big tux.

(This level could also be used as an entering level for a cave area in the forest world.)

RustyBox {l Wrote}:I'm thinking, if I should completely rework the Level Going Underground.
Reasons would be that it is very confusing, the background (ghost forest) makes no sense and there is an area which is impossible to pass as big tux.

If you think you should do that, go ahead. It's indeed a little bit strange. Removing wouldn't hurt anyway if we'd need it again in the future: our source code control system also keeps history.
I think it was intended as a transition level from normal forest to ghost forest.

mteufel {l Wrote}:I think it was intended as a transition level from normal forest to ghost forest.

I always thought that the level A Ghostly World was intended to be the transition level to the ghost forest.

Possible too. Some parts of old developer's notes say the transition should happen using a 'portal' (that would be A Ghostly World then), others say it should happen via a cave (Going Underground, I guess).

Well I like the idea of reaching the ghost forest via a cave, but the level Going Underground doesn't really fit, because the level already started in the ghost forest. If it's going to be via a cave, it would be better to make a new level for that.

RustyBox {l Wrote}:Well I like the idea of reaching the ghost forest via a cave, but the level Going Underground doesn't really fit, because the level already started in the ghost forest. If it's going to be via a cave, it would be better to make a new level for that.

I don't think that level Going Underground should be removed. It should be completely reworked like what we have done with Two Tiny Towers. IMHO The only levels that should be definitely removed are mentioned in the following post http://forum.freegamedev.net/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=7046

Well, it would need a lot of redoing. It is unclear where to go, and there are too many badguys.

Savs {l Wrote}:I don't think that level Going Underground should be removed. It should be completely reworked like what we have done with Two Tiny Towers.

I didn't say that the level Going Underground should be removed. I said that the level shouldn't be used as a transition to the ghost forest . Instead it could be used as a transition to a cave area. (If it is going to be via a cave)

I actually already started to rework the level.

So. I think I'm done reworking the level: Going Underground. I think you could say that it feels like a different level... .

Changes:
- changed the background to a normal forest
- removed the rain (still not sure if this is good or not)
- added some moles
- used spikevines instead of spikes
- removed the zeeklings
- changed the second secret area (the one with the door)

Actually it looks like a new level... .

Looks good.

Looks nice. But what's it supposed to be now :/ ? A transition level? From normal forest to ghost forest? Or from normal forest to a forest cave? Or a level in ghost forest? If it's ghost forest related, it's missing the "ghost" a bit.

The message of the secret area shouldn't be in German. Did the editor set this by default? If so, this is a bug.

The water at the very bottom of the level could be changed to the new tiles (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/SuperTux/data/master/images/tiles/water/antarctic-1.png).

mteufel {l Wrote}:The message of the secret area shouldn't be in German. Did the editor set this by default? If so, this is a bug.

It did it by default. I will change the text back to english.

This is an editor bug then. Thanks for finding it.

I think I've fixed it now.
The secret area text in the level two tiny towers was also in german. (because of the editor bug) I changed it, too.

Edit: Wait I've forgot the water!
Edit: Done

mteufel {l Wrote}:Looks nice. But what's it supposed to be now :/ ? A transition level? From normal forest to ghost forest? Or from normal forest to a forest cave? Or a level in ghost forest? If it's ghost forest related, it's missing the "ghost" a bit.

I would say this level should be a transition level for a forest cave. (because of the name)