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Originally posted by stripe
Test levels. Why do we make them?
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Because they're fun.
Because they're fun.
Because pie. Wait.. because they're fun.
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Frankly, I wish we didn't. But seeing as that is obviously not the case, I've written this short bit of anti-test-level propaganda.
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Short indeed.
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Test levels are levels that "test" your jazzing abilities. They're often hosted online, so that the host can record the "best" jazzers that survive their tedium... whoops, I mean challenges.
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Well, yeah.
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Quick, let's answer the above questions before I make any more subconcious slips. We make test levels because it's fun to design challenges for other jazzers. We host them because it's fun to watch other jazzers pit their "skills" against our witty designs. We play them because it's fun to overcome aforementioned witty designs.
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Yes, yes it is.
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Or is it? In my opinion, quite frankly, the answer is a resounding "No", at least for the bit about playing the levels.
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IMHO, it's sometimes more fun downloading a test level from J2O, playing it, (usually beating it within five minutes), and rating it, then doing the same with a Battle/CTF/Treasure Hunt, say, and trying to figure out how the level would hold up in actual internet play.
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As far as making and hosting the levels goes, I've never made one but I would imagine it would be just as fun as creating race levels or normal single player levels.
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I'm not sure about race, but single player levels are generally funner (Again IMHO) to make then, say, Battle, CTF, or all that stuff. For one thing, you actually get to test the level while making it.
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The reasons that, for me, it is no fun to play test levels include the following:
-First and foremost, I find them reeeaaally tedious. About as tedious as doing long division, only more frustrating. It could be argued that I suck and therefore I would not "get" the fun, but to this I say: I find easy test levels just as tedious, minus a bit of the frustration.
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Your skills in finding difficult test levels are obviously much better then mine. Show me some of these hard ones, please, so that I may take delight.
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-Second, what do test levels test you on? Mostly maneuverability and little tricks or quirks in jazz or spazz's movement. Is this relevant to anything outside of this carefully controlled test-level environment? I say no.
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Here's a snippet from one of the reviews of EvilMike's "Alien Chemistry" Single Player pack.
"yes. I found secrets lurking around the corner. Some of the tests I took in Jazz2 over the internet help me navigate through many obsticles"
No, I didn't write that.
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Any jazzer worth their salt knows they're ten times better off learning levels they will actually play games in.
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And you ("you" being people in general, not stripe) don't play test levels?
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When's the last time you played a battle, ctf, or even race level in which there was a part so deviously constructed that you needed at least 10 tries to get through it?
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Race, yes. But with Battle and CTF, you're trying to say that all gametypes should be almost the same.
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Test levels are too specific to have real relevance to actual gaming.
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I'm not totally sure I understand what you're trying to say, but I think that's wrong.
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-In a test level, you really only compete against yourself. Somebody please remind me why my computer is plugged into the phone jack again. (in case that was too subtle for you, I mean this: why compete against yourself when you could be facing the much more wholesome challenge of real, thinking, and reacting foes?)
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With that argument, why don't you go after Single Player next? And, hey.... why bother making levels? You can't fight anyone while making levels, and it's just with yourself, so it's obviously a bad idea.
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In summary, playing a test level is like banging my head against a wall. Have a heart. Host a real multiplayer level.
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Translation.
"In summary, when I play a test level, I get tired of it. Because I want you all to be nice to me, host a non test or race multiplayer level during the time that I am online."