Comments on: Retrofit Contest – Week 2 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/ A chronicle of the development of a video game Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:42:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Amorphous http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2227 Amorphous Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:07:12 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2227 Nice, someone really took their time going through the submissions. Brings back memories of how I once rated and reviewed every level pack I'd played. Nice, someone really took their time going through the submissions. Brings back memories of how I once rated and reviewed every level pack I’d played.

]]> By: InsaneJetman http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2226 InsaneJetman Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:42:18 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2226 New level updates: Alex W. has really outdone himself with a couple of his latest levels: ARTEE025.JET ("Locked In") and ARTEE026.JET ("The Funnel"). Joe C.'s update to JUMPIN.JET ("Jump Over The Chasm!") still hasn't fixed the problem. The fix is still to swap the blue and green barriers (except for the one you've already swapped) that lead to the fuel (not the ones between the green gems). The latest submissions from Joe S. all are excellent introductory levels - just what the doctor ordered. I'm afraid that the bonus level VENTUZBL.JET ("Risk for Big Fat Golds!!!") might be a little too lucrative. I had 10 new lives by the end! Saga Musix's new CRATES.JET ("Crates Exist for a Reason") is another good introductory level. Tim Bell has contributed a set of fairly uncomplicated set of levels. Some of the switch control systems they have are neat. Eric F. has contributed a straightforward beginner level - EFE1.JET ("Learning the Basics"). Juan G.'s second set of submissions has got some great introductory levels along with some other intriguing challenges. TRAPS.JET ("Traps") and GO!.JET ("Three, Two, One... Go!") are my favourites from this set. And I definitely remember playing Jumpman, that was a long time ago, nice idea. New level updates:

Alex W. has really outdone himself with a couple of his latest levels: ARTEE025.JET (“Locked In”) and ARTEE026.JET (“The Funnel”).

Joe C.’s update to JUMPIN.JET (“Jump Over The Chasm!”) still hasn’t fixed the problem. The fix is still to swap the blue and green barriers (except for the one you’ve already swapped) that lead to the fuel (not the ones between the green gems).

The latest submissions from Joe S. all are excellent introductory levels – just what the doctor ordered. I’m afraid that the bonus level VENTUZBL.JET (“Risk for Big Fat Golds!!!”) might be a little too lucrative. I had 10 new lives by the end!

Saga Musix’s new CRATES.JET (“Crates Exist for a Reason”) is another good introductory level.

Tim Bell has contributed a set of fairly uncomplicated set of levels. Some of the switch control systems they have are neat.

Eric F. has contributed a straightforward beginner level – EFE1.JET (“Learning the Basics”).

Juan G.’s second set of submissions has got some great introductory levels along with some other intriguing challenges. TRAPS.JET (“Traps”) and GO!.JET (“Three, Two, One… Go!”) are my favourites from this set. And I definitely remember playing Jumpman, that was a long time ago, nice idea.

]]> By: AdamDobay http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2225 AdamDobay Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:48:17 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2225 Hey InsaneJetman, thanks for the feedback! I did move the Rock the Puzzle level two blocks to the right, added some extra symmetry and it looks wonderful now, much better than before. Thanks! Also, I agree that the Jungle level is the least good in the pack. Hey InsaneJetman, thanks for the feedback! I did move the Rock the Puzzle level two blocks to the right, added some extra symmetry and it looks wonderful now, much better than before. Thanks! Also, I agree that the Jungle level is the least good in the pack.

]]> By: Denilson Figueiredo de Sá http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2220 Denilson Figueiredo de Sá Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:25:57 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2220 Joseph S. tiles look great, but somehow I feel that Tim K. tiles look a bit more high-def. But it's still hard to compare them. I see that Joseph S. tiles used different colors for double and single fuel tanks. Please, DON'T do that. Different colors will mean "different effects" for the player, but that's not the case here. Thus, it's better that all fuel tanks look the same, otherwise the player will be confused. (I like the one with a red strip) Joseph S. tiles look great, but somehow I feel that Tim K. tiles look a bit more high-def. But it’s still hard to compare them.

I see that Joseph S. tiles used different colors for double and single fuel tanks. Please, DON’T do that. Different colors will mean “different effects” for the player, but that’s not the case here. Thus, it’s better that all fuel tanks look the same, otherwise the player will be confused. (I like the one with a red strip)

]]> By: InsaneJetman http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2219 InsaneJetman Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:47:56 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2219 Really? Well I've tried every trick I know to no avail, and I know a lot of tricks including the fact that only your body needs to make it to the finish line. The only way I can see it working is waiting around for a shield to appear. Anyway, I see there's a bunch more levels for me to try so ... :D Really? Well I’ve tried every trick I know to no avail, and I know a lot of tricks including the fact that only your body needs to make it to the finish line. The only way I can see it working is waiting around for a shield to appear.

Anyway, I see there’s a bunch more levels for me to try so … :D

]]> By: Jojo http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2218 Jojo Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:50:09 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2218 "What’s with the stuff behind the door, I’m sure it makes the level impossible." - It actually works very well. :) But yeah, maybe they should be removed in the final version, I dunno. :D “What’s with the stuff behind the door, I’m sure it makes the level impossible.” – It actually works very well. :) But yeah, maybe they should be removed in the final version, I dunno. :D

]]> By: InsaneJetman http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2217 InsaneJetman Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:21:47 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2217 SN The 'easy' levels are just what one would hope: a set of decent easy levels. My personal favourite is EASY1.JET ("We Get Signal"). The 'hard' levels demonstrate some precision design. They are also infuriatingly difficult. HARD8.JET ("Go With the Flow") is perhaps the best overall of the hard ones. I also like the concept of HARD7.JET ("Fuel Conduit - Be Advised"). SN
The ‘easy’ levels are just what one would hope: a set of decent easy levels. My personal favourite is EASY1.JET (“We Get Signal”).
The ‘hard’ levels demonstrate some precision design. They are also infuriatingly difficult. HARD8.JET (“Go With the Flow”) is perhaps the best overall of the hard ones. I also like the concept of HARD7.JET (“Fuel Conduit – Be Advised”).

]]> By: InsaneJetman http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2216 InsaneJetman Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:21:28 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2216 Sebastian M. This is a good set of well thought out levels. GOLDFACT.JET: A nice level with a good concept. For use in an actual Jetpack game, there's too many free lives. One could simply collect a bunch, suicide, repeat for essentially infinite lives. Are you sure you want one missile going backwards? HARDONE.JET: A devilishly well constructed puzzle. There is one thing I wonder about and that is the green barrier to the left of the yellow teleport. It makes the jump from the green barrier below it to the one to the left a jump which, try as I might, I cannot get with any kind of consistency. I suspect that the barrier is there for the player who has phased out both boxes immediately up-left of it can still make it to the yellow teleport while the green switch is on. However, since it is unnecessary to phase both, this isn't strictly necessary. I recommend removing this barrier. HARDONE2.JET: This an reasonable obstacle course. SPIKY1.JET: A good level with a neat design which isn't too difficult (for those who can handle a jetpack). SWITCHES.JET: A nifty puzzle with more than one solution which doesn't punish mistakes too harshly. TRAPS.JET: A straightforward set of challenges forming a reasonable level. TRICKY.JET: Yet another quality obstacle course. Sebastian M.
This is a good set of well thought out levels.
GOLDFACT.JET: A nice level with a good concept. For use in an actual Jetpack game, there’s too many free lives. One could simply collect a bunch, suicide, repeat for essentially infinite lives. Are you sure you want one missile going backwards?
HARDONE.JET: A devilishly well constructed puzzle.
There is one thing I wonder about and that is the green barrier to the left of the yellow teleport. It makes the jump from the green barrier below it to the one to the left a jump which, try as I might, I cannot get with any kind of consistency. I suspect that the barrier is there for the player who has phased out both boxes immediately up-left of it can still make it to the yellow teleport while the green switch is on. However, since it is unnecessary to phase both, this isn’t strictly necessary. I recommend removing this barrier.
HARDONE2.JET: This an reasonable obstacle course.
SPIKY1.JET: A good level with a neat design which isn’t too difficult (for those who can handle a jetpack).
SWITCHES.JET: A nifty puzzle with more than one solution which doesn’t punish mistakes too harshly.
TRAPS.JET: A straightforward set of challenges forming a reasonable level.
TRICKY.JET: Yet another quality obstacle course.

]]> By: InsaneJetman http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2215 InsaneJetman Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:21:06 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2215 Nick R. RAIN2.JET ("Avalanche") is a pretty cool level. It's great for honing those jetpack skills. Saga Musix Some of these levels were great, others I didn't find quite as appealing. The good ones were: THEPARTS.JET ("Many Parts in One Level"): This is a good challenging level. What's with the stuff behind the door, I'm sure it makes the level impossible. Get rid of it (coins too) and you got yourself one good level. TOUGHHUN.JET ("The Hunt / Tough Version"): This is a toughie, but when I slowed it right down I was able to manage. If you think it's too hard, just remove some robots. WHERE.JET ("Where Is My Breakfast"): This is a well designed level, and it's not too difficult either. I'd get rid of the spikes on the side of the platform above the starting point. Nick R.
RAIN2.JET (“Avalanche”) is a pretty cool level. It’s great for honing those jetpack skills.

Saga Musix
Some of these levels were great, others I didn’t find quite as appealing. The good ones were:
THEPARTS.JET (“Many Parts in One Level”): This is a good challenging level. What’s with the stuff behind the door, I’m sure it makes the level impossible. Get rid of it (coins too) and you got yourself one good level.
TOUGHHUN.JET (“The Hunt / Tough Version”): This is a toughie, but when I slowed it right down I was able to manage. If you think it’s too hard, just remove some robots.
WHERE.JET (“Where Is My Breakfast”): This is a well designed level, and it’s not too difficult either. I’d get rid of the spikes on the side of the platform above the starting point.

]]> By: InsaneJetman http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/2010/02/20/retrofit-contest-week-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2214 InsaneJetman Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:20:35 +0000 http://www.jetpackhq.com/blog/?p=355#comment-2214 Joe S. I like this fairly straight forward set of levels. They're all fairly well designed. My first picks here would be VENTUZ01.JET ("Switch Order Matters") and VENTUZ06.JET ("You Need Jet Pack Here"). Jonas R. Woah! These levels of yours are great! There's a problem with WER06.JET ("Detour") in that it is possible to phase the brick up-right of the green gem and hence jump back up to the teleport and bypass the entire level. Juan G. These levels aren't too bad. Probably the best one is WASTSTUN.JET ("Don't Waste the Stunners"). JUSTONE.JET ("Just One Diamond") is also a decent overall level. There are lots more good ideas contained in the other levels as well. Honourable Mentions: BALLRAIN.JET ("Ball Rain"), BIGLADDR.JET ("The Big Ladder"), JPTETRIS.JET ("Jetpack Tetris"), SAVEFUEL.JET ("Save Fuel!"), TOOSPIKE.JET ("Too Many Spikes") Joe S.
I like this fairly straight forward set of levels. They’re all fairly well designed. My first picks here would be VENTUZ01.JET (“Switch Order Matters”) and VENTUZ06.JET (“You Need Jet Pack Here”).

Jonas R.
Woah! These levels of yours are great! There’s a problem with WER06.JET (“Detour”) in that it is possible to phase the brick up-right of the green gem and hence jump back up to the teleport and bypass the entire level.

Juan G.
These levels aren’t too bad. Probably the best one is WASTSTUN.JET (“Don’t Waste the Stunners”). JUSTONE.JET (“Just One Diamond”) is also a decent overall level. There are lots more good ideas contained in the other levels as well.
Honourable Mentions: BALLRAIN.JET (“Ball Rain”), BIGLADDR.JET (“The Big Ladder”), JPTETRIS.JET (“Jetpack Tetris”), SAVEFUEL.JET (“Save Fuel!”), TOOSPIKE.JET (“Too Many Spikes”)

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