Keen: Modding

Fleexy · Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 281 Location: Blogham Tower

I couldn't restrain myself. I was going to make a lot of Vorticons mods before modding Galaxy. But, I started Commander Keen at Ballican IV. I have one level completely done, and level two needs points and bugfixes. I can only get bridges to disappear, doors, and key doors to work. I can't get anything else to work though. Please watch the full starting "COMMANDER KEEN" scroll. This is beta, hence the "_b1" on the end of the zip. This is far from done, but enjoy! I am releasing this on Mort Day because the levels are Mortimerish.

--Fleexy

BTW CK Guy, can you show me your switch tricks? (Key holders affected by switch, door affected by switch, "Double Toggle", and any other tricks.) I really want to use them.

Ceilick · Deputy Administrator Joined: 03 Sep 2003 Posts: 360

Good to see your experimenting with Keen 4 modding :) I really like what you did with the bounder, it can be fun to mess with, but also is exceptionally annoying near edges.

The enemies in the world map really shocked me; I had never even considered that possibility. Might make use of that for some world map eye candy or something.

The levels aren't really my type. They feel to random and compact, not enough room to run and jump around. You did make good use of switches, which I liked, but try to cut down on the doors and instead provide some more movement space between 'objectives'.

Fleexy · Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 281 Location: Blogham Tower

Thanks for feedback! It certainly does have a different feel than Keen levels, but this is a hard mod and I naturally make this kind of level. I will try to incorporate your feedback. Thanks again!

--Fleexy

BTW, did you find the four lives?

Tulip · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:35 am Post subject:

A Keen 4 mod already. You're astonishing. I hope you won't let your Vorticons mod die, though.

The Shifted One · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 71 Location: Utopia

Eh what the heck?
Seriously?

Is this stuff finished? (I dont mean bugwise).
This is the most confusing stuff Ive seen in a while, I suppose its not all bad but it really needs some graphical work man.
Its one of the most confusing masses Ive seen in a long time.

The levels are cramped and I really cant see what anything is supposed to be.
Theres death tiles everywhere which makes me wonder why you even bothered to put certain objects in the same room if you wanted to make them unreachable at that moment.

There are some things I kinda liked though.
Like the different colours for text and such. (like when picking up points).

All in all, I suppose its cool to see someone try to mod Galaxy but at least try a bit harder :P

shikadi · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 147 Location: belgium

not bad (more then i want to do :p) , a colorfull background
but some (kouch , all i have seen) hazards are hard to see (you don't see the flamethrowers good until it fires , usually to late)

you could work a bit better on the worldmap or don't edit it at all

those boxes with an arrow on (i think slugs) get trapped when reaching a edge , and they can't be shot without jumping and shooting down

you should't put bounders on a precision jump place

and what are those bounder on the worldmap , "eyecandy" or bug?

its fun (mostly the fact its galaxy , and not vorticons) , but the tiles don't fit togethe well , but with some improvements , bugchecking , playtesting (all things were i never heard off XD) the end result will be good . don't stop , i believe in it :)

Tulip · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject:

Pretty much has been said. Generally the background looks interesting, but it is a bit confusing. That Wormouth replacement killed way too fast, it wasn't even possible to see it before it got you. You should slow that one down severely. The slug bugs were already mentioned by shikadi.
I don't like the monsters on the worldmap they don't work correctly I think, and one made the game crash as I ran into it.
I don't think your killy tiles are hard to identify, I just think there are too many possibilities to die overall (like you said a >2000% chance)

I didn't submit a vote yet, too much still has to be done to be sure, but I think you should keep it up (naturally).

Ceilick · Deputy Administrator Joined: 03 Sep 2003 Posts: 360

Yeah, the worm mouth on the map did the same for me. I suggest using the Schoolfish for a world map sprite.

Fleexy · Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 281 Location: Blogham Tower

Thanks for the feedback, guys! I have a slight problem here. If I change one thing to what one person wants, but then I change it away from what someone else likes. This is beta, so only two levels and some graphics are done. The creatures on the world map were a test, and I forgot to take them out in the release. I guess that is what betas are about. Happy modding!

--Fleexy

Paging all people to the EZ-MODKEEN thread!

Ceilick, I think in the next release there will be a Radioactive Mystery Box in that secret area in hard mode (and yes, Radioactive Mystery Box is the real name of those 'things with an arrow.' :) ).

levellass · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:54 am Post subject:

Mink · Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Providence, RI, US

I like your level design so far, Fleexy; it shows a lot of potential. However, I have to agree with levellass that the backgrounds are slightly too "neon" for my taste.

Here's a post by CK Guy from his Keen 5 level pack thread which explains the whole "Double Toggle" trick. It's actually pretty ingenious.

levellass · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:56 am Post subject:

Aaaaaaah. Heh heh.

A simpler explanation, for me, would have been 'If you want to make two bridges controlled by one switch, simply make one long bridge, with its middle tiles looking like normal ground. This can be done by making some bridge tiles that look like normal ground' but your explanation describes how to do things fully.

I have some variants on these I'm using in my mod, should I release a demonstration release?