Level Remake Contest

[FireSworD]

This is just a small contest, although I like to think of it more as a challenge.

JJ2 lacks good level remakes. Every time someone mentions or sees an edit, they automatically think it's poor; They are poor, or at least most of them are. That is quite sad, because remakes could be wonderful, since people already know the levels to a great extent, and they can enjoy them with a different and preferably improved form. Creativity does not have to be hindered, since I am looking more more than just tileset changes, music changes or any other simple things. I am looking for greatly altered levels; they should still resemble the original quite a bit, about enough for one to recognize the level in 5 or less minutes.


A remake that should be done in your style. :)


Rules:

It must be a remake of an official jj2 level. Anything other than an official level should be discussed with me and the author for its acceptance.
Only remakes specifically made for this contest are allowed; I will not accept previously made remakes.
You can only send me one remake.
The remake must not be someone elses; Do not send me a remake that you did not work on.
Multiple people are allowed work on a single remake; Only the team as a whole receives credit.
The level's gametype, tileset and music can be altered.
I have the right to deny any remake.



Deadline: Saturday, December 17th '05 (You don't need a more specific time). Judging may commence after the deadline.


As for the prize:

$20 money order. As I stated before, this is more of a challenge. An attempt to put remakes in a better light, and mainly for the fun of level making!

[blurredd]

Count me in.

[Black Ninja]

Darn, I wish I hadn't already made HocusB2. I have a feeling that's what inspired you to make this contest ;p

Anyway, I'll be sure and make something.

[Radium]

Can I remake Voldard's Cool Treasure Jungle if I ask Voldard for permission?

[FireSworD]

It is a well known level... Sure.

[Voldard]

Can I remake Voldard's Cool Treasure Jungle if I ask Voldard for permission?
yes ding

[Sonyk]

What if we remade levels from other games for JJ2? Would that count?

[FireSworD]

No.

[Radium]

yes dingFair enough.

[EvilMike]

If a level is altered in a way that the gameplay is significantly affected or expanded, but the level itself remains easily recognisable (for example, blur's battle 1 edit) does that count as a remake or is that something else? I ask mostly because I'm curious.

I'm also currently messing around with an old level (not mine), but it's a test level so I don't think it qualifies for this.

And since you are accepting well known non-official levels provided the authour's concent is given, would it be allowed for someone to remake their own levels?

[Ðx]

* Count me in *

[cooba]

I'm in... will try to convince other IC members so the level group could make the remake together, though. It would give us PRESTIGE if we'd win. ;|

[LittleFreak]

I'm in.

Do I need to edit the eyecandy aswell?

[cooba]

I'm in.

Do I need to edit the eyecandy aswell?You're supposed to edit as much as your level still resembles the official level you remake's based upon.

(In other words you should)

[White Rabbit]

I'll try to make a CTF out of Treasure1, battle out of Capture1 and treasure out of Battle3, and submit the one that will embarass me the least.

[FireSworD]

If a level is altered in a way that the gameplay is significantly affected or expanded, but the level itself remains easily recognisable (for example, blur's battle 1 edit) does that count as a remake or is that something else? I ask mostly because I'm curious.

It does count.


And since you are accepting well known non-official levels provided the authour's concent is given, would it be allowed for someone to remake their own levels?

Ofcourse.

[DanYjel]

yay for my ideas

[R3ptile]

I'm in... will try to convince other IC members so the level group could make the remake together, though. It would give us PRESTIGE if we'd win. ;|
Hi :D

[snzspeed]

I'm in... will try to convince other IC members so the level group could make the remake together, though. It would give us PRESTIGE if we'd win. ;|
<~*~* HeLLo DuDe *~*~>

[cooba]

Hi :Dhay<~*~* HeLLo DuDe *~*~>hay

[DoubleGJ]

I have thought of making multiplayer levels out of singleplayer levels long ago but never had time to do this.

[LittleFreak]

My sister's PC died yesterday. So unless someone helps me in the topic I posted in Technical Help, I'm out.

[FireSworD]

If any of you are wondering about the absence of contact information: I am planning to reveal all possible ways of contacting me near the deadline <strike>since I am lazy</strike>.

If you use msn messenger you can add akliensmith@msn.com. As I said before, more contact information will come later, or you can just check my profile.

[Nitro]

I made a remake of battle1 once, I really liked it, and people said they enjoyed it.....too bad I lost it and if I try to make it again it won't be nearly as good.

[DoubleGJ]

Oh, you made me remember I made a fun Battle1 remake once. Maybe I still have it somewhere.

[LittleFreak]

I have a feeling the contest will get flooded with battle1 remakes... because I planned to do one too. =P

I have JJ2 installed at my friend's computer and we often battled. However, we found that we didn't use things like ice or TNT anyway and that it was unbalanced - the one to use seekers and run away generally always won.

So I edited it and balanced it more, and I think it's pretty fun like it is. I had to remake it over here again, but JJ2 is not working.

Maybe I should pick another level, should I get JJ2 fixed?

[cooba]

Oh, you made me remember I made a fun Battle1 remake once. Maybe I still have it somewhere. Only remakes specificly made for this contest are allowed; I will
not accept previously made remakes.&nbsp;

[DoubleGJ]

I did not say I want to submit it.

[FireSworD]

People are welcome to send me screenshots of their remakes in progress, like previews. Actually, I suggest it. I can use the pictures for advertisement purposes to inspire more people to join.

Also, I might join the contest myself. Don't worry, as I won't be the one to decide the winner(s) if so.

[Grytolle]

Er...how is this coming along? ^^

[White Rabbit]

No non-TSF rule...? :D

I'm not quite satisfied with using Epic's MP lvls. Is there any chance I could remake a homecooked lvl made by an author who has probably left the community (e.g. martin)?

[Grytolle]

Can I remake "darksemi"? It's made by a jj2 legend, and could use some revising...

[FireSworD]

No non-TSF rule...? :D

TSF levels are allowed. I guess you can remake any level that came with it as well...

Can I remake "darksemi"? It's made by a jj2 legend, and could use some revising...

You can make remakes out of other remakes. I highly doubt you're going to do that, though.

[blurredd]

Right now I'm curious to see how far others have progressed. I finished most of my level a while ago, but I still have to tweak the eye candy a bit.

[Grytolle]

I haven't started on my remake yet :/ Count on me adding more evil tricks into it, though! I plan on adding extra warps that does a number of things to you ;)

[FireSworD]

Currently, Superjazz just sent me his entry. Problem is, he wasn't aware Newspaz already made a battle1 giant version.

[Birdie]

Currently, Superjazz just sent me his entry. Problem is, he wasn't aware Newspaz already made a battle1 giant version.
Poor Superjazz...

[blurredd]

Though if it's fully playable, I may be interested in seeing it.

[Birdie]

i think they're both in "Caste 1 x2" but i'am not sure just a guess

[blurredd]

I'm just wondering if the warp below the seeker powerup is accessible.

[DanYjel]

It's really surprising that everyone remakes b1 ;). And me too ;).

[FireSworD]

Only 17 more days until the deadline. Just a little reminder.

[CrimiClown]

Have a CrimiClown Christmas! (http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=3917)
Pageclaim, by the way.

[FireSworD]

This is the last week. It's best to start on your remake now if you haven't already.

[CrimiClown]

As I said, I fixed some bugs. I will upload it ASAP on j2o, as soon as TeeJ is done with the music.

[blurredd]

I don't even know if what I'm doing is acceptable, which I have been meaning to check for a while.

[Blackraptor]

If I get my level done, it wont look very much like the level I'm "remaking". Hopefully it will still be in the limitations.

[FireSworD]

Good news guys. A prize has been added to the contest. The grand winner will recive a $20 money order.

[CrimiClown]

\o/ Hmm... Do Europeans get it in their currency? =P

[FireSworD]

Probably.

[Sacrush]

Good news guys. A prize has been added to the contest. The grand winner will recive a $20 money order.

And what if whole IC wins?

[cooba]

(3 members)

[FireSworD]

Good question. Maybe IC should decide on who the money should be given to or how much to each member. They should inform me of their decisions if they win.

[CrimiClown]

I found more bugs in my level (Epic never learned to mask...), so I'll just upload it on the day of the deadline... Sorry for the confusion I may have caused.

[White Rabbit]

People are welcome to send me screenshots of their remakes in progress, like previews. Actually, I suggest it. I can use the pictures for advertisement purposes to inspire more people to join.

Also, I might join the contest myself. Don't worry, as I won't be the one to decide the winner(s) if so.
Heh, it is too late now, I guess. :P
I do have some screenshots now that everything's almost finished, but the deadline is close, and I'm not sure if anyone's going to enter the contest at this time.

[CrimiClown]

Final Version, ready to be judged. (http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=3937)
Still ccbattle1.j2l, but I changed a few maskbugs. Overwrite the old one, if you have downloaded it already. After this, I WON'T UPLOAD IT AGAIN! =D

[FireSworD]

This is the final day.

I may extend the deadline if I am not satisfied with the amount of entries I recieve by tomorrow.

[DanYjel]

This is the final day.

I may extend the deadline if I am not satisfied with the amount of entries I recieve by tomorrow.
Yeah, please... Be so kind ;(((
I need to complete my b1 remake which is done from about 80 %...

[FireSworD]

A small extension to the 22nd. Judging will begin right after.

Winners will be announced on Christmas day.

[DanYjel]

A small extension to the 22nd. Judging will begin right after.

Winners will be announced on Christmas day.
THX A LOT!!! You are suppah ;p

[blurredd]

That's great news. <strike>Now I have enough time to create another remake</strike>.

[White Rabbit]

A small extension to the 22nd. Judging will begin right after.

Winners will be announced on Christmas day.
I love you, but not quite enough to make this post awkward. O+

Here are some screenshots of my level (i wasn't going to choose this one at first, but it just seemed easier :p):

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9767/jazz19vd.png

http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/2753/jazz29hi.png

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6798/jazz32ja.png

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4849/jazz43xd.png

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/599/jazz57dr.png

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3429/jazz60rm.png

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8379/jazz74hm.png

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8773/jazz89dg.png

(These are all hosted on Imageshack, so if they're not loading, wait a few minutes.

[CrimiClown]

A small extension to the 22nd. Judging will begin right after.

Winners will be announced on Christmas day.
Just so everyone knows, I won't be around then. Not that I expect to win, though. Just in case. =D

[DanYjel]

Who will decide the winner? You, or "normal" people looking at eyecandy? ;( Thx ;) And... Where I have to send it?

[White Rabbit]

I have uploaded my entry to this contest here: http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/downloads/info.php?levelID=3951

[DanYjel]

Hey, I'll send it via e-mail in something like 10 hours... Just before the GMT midnight...

[Super_Jarno]

well iam still waiting for......the winner!
<s>ill give the winner a hug!</s>

[FireSworD]

I am still waiting on a couple entries, otherwise I'm pretty satisfied.

They are due today.

[DanYjel]

Well, I sent it.

[blurredd]

Download here (http://www.jazz2online.com/d3/dethroned.zip).

For all intents and purposes, this is the final version. I fixed several problems I originally overlooked on the 17th, so it's now more evil than it ever was before. I think I did an overall decent job with my remake and I hope others agree. I suggest trying to find all of the secrets (even if it's with JCS) before judging.

[FireSworD]

Time's up! The entries are in.

Thanks to DoubleGJ, BlurredD, Blackraptor, Danyjel, CrimiClown, White Rabbit, IC and SuperJazz. Your contributions have helped to make an impression on the community by changing many opinions on jj2 remakes. More is revealed, and proves again that what was once thought to be impossible is not anymore.


Now I will discuss one of the most important aspects of the contest. There is a panel of judges. The need for this is simply to avoid any sort of bias possible by selecting judges not by social rank, elitism or any of that nonsense; but by diverse points of view. Every judge has their own opinions, they are not affected very much by influence of any sort of culture, or standards but their own. Ofcourse it was I who had picked them, so there may be a chance I was the one who was biased in the chosing them, but I'm pretty confident I made the right choices.


Theese are the ones who will decide the fate of your remake:


Trafton
Well known for his rather...Gigantic reviews. Once was a top reviewer on J2O since retired.


Sonyk
Relatively new, though not inexperienced. He seems to know more about the less observed aspects in the community.


Spotty
Completely oblivious to the universal standards of quality. Spotty is the creator of (most?) the foo race series. Despite what they actually are, they are extremely successful and continue to defy peoples' expectations.


And Myself, FireSworD
Need I say more?


There is more information on the way. Until then, create more remakes!
Prizes and Awards will be given on the 25th, Christmas day.

[White Rabbit]

<s>What do you mean all the judges are North American?! :(</s>
I honestly thought there were more than just 8 contestants...9 including FS.

EDIT: I reuploaded my level. Please use the new version instead when judging, judges, since I only changed ONE event. No, I did not add two bases of the same colour... :P

[CrimiClown]

\o/

As I said, I won't be around. See ya next Thursday!

[White Rabbit]

(Please confirm my request.)

[FireSworD]

Request confirmed.

As for north american judges: I need them to be on around my time.

[R3ptile]

Oh. That makes sense. Good luck.

[LittleFreak]

Good luck to all. ;)

[blurredd]

I fixed a huge typo that somehow went unnoticed for some while. This shouldn't affect judging my entry (or at least I would hope not), but I just want everyone to have the better version of the level (the older one can be deleted). It can now be downloaded from here (http://www.jazz2online.com/d3/dethroned.zip).

And since I didn't mention this earlier, my entry is a level made just for Team Battle.

[White Rabbit]

It's very nice... :p ... but there is a float up bug around pos 76, 45. I can see you've already tried to fix it, but the bug's still there, for both sides (except I had to use jjfly twice, for the right side, in order to position myself correctly...or incorrectly ;)).

And about the typo: I thought that was just a weird play on words that I couldn't understand.

[blurredd]

So much for testing for bugs (reuploaded btw).

[DanYjel]

pageclaim...

Good luck to everyone! XD (btw have you noticed that... Erm... Lot of reviewers are Americans?) :D :D :D

[FireSworD]

Due to circumstances beyond my control the juding might be delayed for a day. Results will be posted as soon as possible.

[DanYjel]

Darn.

[Grytolle]

I assume a cool levelpack will be created out of all the submissions^^

[blurredd]

I wouldn't count on it since it isn't completely necessary, but we'll see.

^{(Link to make sure update doesn't go by unnoticed (http://www.jazz2online.com/d3/dethroned.zip))}

[FireSworD]

Except for me and Sonyk the judges were absent. Though we came to a final conclusion. I'd also like to point out that the contest has been going since September to December, yet White Rabbit and Blackraptor so obviously decided to take a short cut make their levels symmetrical so they wouldn't run out of time near the deadline, which did cost you guys some awards.


Level name: Huge Battle Game LITE
Author: SuperJazz
Original level: Battle1


Comments:

"I liked it, but it was huge, kind of hard to get around when you're chasing someone" -Sonyk

"Superjazz's is more playable. I think Newspaz's version is more oriented as something just for show" -FireSworD


Pros: Slightly more playable than Newspaz's version
Cons: Too much like Newspaz's version


Level name: Dethroned
Author: BlurredD
Original level: Battle3


Comments:

"wasn't able to tell what it was a remake of, though it looked a lot like Battle 3" -Sonyk

"It did take a while to see though, so it wasn't much of a remake" -Sonyk

"If one didn't have the idea it was a remake, he would just assume it's another new level" -FireSworD


Pros: An awesome new level
Cons: Not much...Or too much of a remake


Level name: The Lost Battle Game
Authors: Impressive Creations
Original level: battle4


Comments:

"Okay, the big thing about that one was the eyecandy" -Sonyk

"I thought it was too much like the original layout-wise. The eyecandy was a totally different story though" -FireSworD


Pros: Best eyecandy of Diamondus B, ever
Cons Layout is too similar to the original


Level name: Voltage Village (Under Fire)
Author: DoubleGJ
Original level: Voltage Village


Comments:

"...That's also one of the problems, the areas that you can reach are nice, but some areas are designed solely for single player" -Sonyk

"Some areas are fairly questionable. It's creative but is it playable?" -FireSworD


Pros: Very original idea used
Cons: May be unplayable


Level name: Charnel Keep
Author: Blackraptor
Original level: Battle1


Comments:

"It was nice, but it just changed the original layout too much, and it made the level too large" -Sonyk

"I thought it was creative how he took significant areas and switched them around. Only thing I didn't like is that he took a shortcut and made it symmetrical." -FireSworD

"Right, the symmetry kind of killed it" -Sonyk


Pros: Creatively made, almost a perfect example of a remake
Cons: That shortcut used kills the level to some extent


Level name: Capuccino Sky
Author: White Rabbit
Original level: Abattle1 (not battlea)


Comments:

"I just want to add that I don't think the level needed to be in TSF" -Sonyk

"...Yeah only advantage to TSF would be for extra background tiles, but he didn't use them to create a great effect. So it's not very noticable." -FireSworD


Pros: Improves on the original greatly...
Cons:...Though the original wasn't much at all


Level name: ForestWar
Author: Danyjel
Original level: battle1


Comments:

"Areas that were left blank in the original were prettied up, but other than that it's the same level" -Sonyk

"ForestWar is certainly altered from the original, though no apparent concept has been used. It was just...altered" -FireSworD


Pros: General idea of a remake has been implemented perfectly
Cons: No real con except that it may contain a bit too much eyecandy


Level name: First day of Christmas
Author: CrimiClown (Frost)
Original level: Battle1


Comments:

"He used tiles meant for the sprite layer there, and it made the level really confusing" -Sonyk

"Pure tileset change, and little else" -FireSworD


Pros: A Christmas version of battle1 is a good idea since it'll actually be hosted; christmas themed levels at christmas time are always needed.
Cons: A mere tileset change


Awards:

Best Eyecandy change: The Lost Battle Game, Impressive Creations
Best Design Change: (Tie) dethroned, Voltage Village (Under Fire), BlurredD and DoubleGJ
Most original Remake: Voltage Village (Under Fire), DoubleGJ
Best Battle1 Remake: ForestWar, Danyjel
Most balanced Remake: Charnel Keep, Blackraptor
Best theme: First day of Christmas, CrimiClown
Most improved of the original: dethroned, BlurredD
Best TSF Remake: Capuccino Sky, White Rabbit

Honerable Mention: Huge Battle Game LITE, Superjazz


It was a tough decision to choose from DoubleGJ's Voltage Village, BlurredD's dethroned and Blacky's Charnel Keep. They are all awesome in so many different ways. However, it were the levels' problems that decided the contest. You see, DoubleGJ's remake wasn't playable enough. BlurredD's remake took me minutes to figure out what it was made out of. It's a remake contest not a new level making contest. Blacky's level, although symmetrical stood out the most from theese two, therefore he has won.


Grand winner: Blackraptor

[Blackraptor]

gg. i guess i should just comment on stuff.

firstly let me start off by saying i'm one of the worst procrastinators. ever. i started on the level just a week and a half or so before the deadline, but i barely worked on it at all except for two days (one, sunday, was the day the deadline was originally going to be, so i tried to finish it by then, but later on FS contacted me and told me it would be expanded. the other day was the day of the final deadline =P). So yeah, the level was more or less rushed (and not betatested either, really. all the testing I did myself as either nobody was available and i didnt want to publically host it). Had I been less lazy, I could've made the level asymmetric but that takes too much work, testing, and balancing out things and I dont have the will or patience to do things like that anymore (one of the reasons I barely use JCS anymore, too). In an attempt to redeem myself I can say that I did NOT flip the level with the flip button ;), although its symmetric it was made by hand so I wasn't entirely cheap ;P.

i guess i'll go on and procrastinate on releasing the level then ;(.


edit: oh yeah, and congrats to everyone else too. I've seen some of the others levels in this competition and they looked really well made and some deserved to win this competition too.

"Best TSF Remake" - wasnt there only one TSF level submitted? ;P

[FireSworD]

I had elaborate plans for this contest, but they didn't work out <s>due to unreliable certain someones</s>. Other than that, I think everything worked out well enough.

EDIT: There were 2 submissions for TSF (White Rabbit's and DoubleGJ's). However DoubleGJ lost the award because his level hasn't playable enough to recieve it.

[cooba]

Hey, congrats to Blacky! And to the rest of the <s>losers</s> competitors, too.

[DanYjel]

Wow Blacky congrats (he made apparentely better B1 remake, no? ;p)
Also thanks for the award, it's awesome, when it's my 4th level ever. Woow ;)

And now... What balance are you talking about? It was my priority #1... ;o

By the way, I had TERRIBLE nightmare about the contest this night. Blur won there and second place got some n00b. So I was angry and I said I will never make any level anymore. When I got up, I was so extremely happy... And then I realized that today I'll get to know the results and I was nervous... Really very nervous.

[DoubleGJ]

I knew my level won't win but I knew I'll get an originality reward. That's what I was aiming for. =P

hehe, congratulations to Blacky for snatching the reward. =D By the way FS, you could also make links to the levels under the quotes for them.

[DarkSonic]

Good game! But where can I get the levels I didn't get yet? I wonder how the levels are. Or are they too private? I'll just ask the creators instead then.

[n00b]

Congrats to Blacky, Hip Hip Hoo- oh, and congrats to whoever got one of them awards too.

[FireSworD]

Wow Blacky congrats (he made apparentely better B1 remake, no? ;p)

Yeah, I know, but he made it symmetrical and cost that award.

And now... What balance are you talking about? It was my priority #1... ;o

As in how the level has been altered to a certain extent yet is still easy to tell what it is.

I may provide access to all the entries soon.

[DanYjel]

Kay... I didn't how much similar it has to be, for example Blur's level... Doesn't remind me battle3 a lot, except for some certain places. And also, Crimi's level is just b1 ;p. I didn't know what am I "allowed" to do, what I may. But although this, I enjoyed, and that's the most important.
Now there may be second thing, secondary product of the contest - if my level will be forgotten forever or not, if my level has potential to be played, to be in some packs, in what I, of course, don't hope in, but actually I don't mind, cause it was fun ;p.

EDIT
FS, copying few details and adding them to new concept is called remake? Movie remakes have same clothes used, music remixes have samples? Or they always have about some main concept? And, you don't think that Blur or Blacky used it (that concept). You like creativity, creativity can be done by new melodies, fitting to the main concept, by new secondary story line.

Don't forget that in remakes you should respect some limits, some line, which you will not step over. There creativity ends, there are needed skills now. The eyecandy, technical side, ammo placement, easy run thru the level.

Think about it. Don't tell me that I am just angry for that I didn't win (I had no chances, I knew it, don't worry, I was prepared ;p). Don't tell me the concept of the levels (actually I mean Blur's and Blacky's one, great levels as levels, but no remakes (now give the carrot place from b1 to the Security Breach, and we'll all faint from that)) is apparent. You know it isn't. ;(

Think about it. Please. That's all I want...


...-Da*n.

[CrimiClown]

Gratz, Blackraptor. And, ofcourse, good job. You all did a great job.

I got the best theme award *grins*

[blurredd]

I just want to say congratulations to Blackraptor and all the others who participated in the contest. It's good to see a contest with a successful end.

^{<strike>(I knew I should've gone with Plan A. The A standing for ASSAULT.)</strike>}

Just for those who were wondering, TheDeck2004 (links: 1 (http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/map_hub.php?mid=7284) 2 (http://www.mapraider.com/maps/?fileid=1991) - some objectionable language) is a remake of Deck 16 and the inspiration for my level. I like how TheDeck2004 stands out from all the other Deck 16 remakes, which is what I aspired to do with Dethroned.

[Speeza]

cool

[Raven aka StL]

GJ Blacky! :lol: