UPDATE: I uploaded it. Click here to go to the download page on j2o. Make sure you download the music, I linked it in the level description section.

It took longer than I wanted or expected it would to make, but it's finally finished. I'm talking about the third episode in the series that started with The Invasion of Deserto and continued with The Rebirth of Evil. Right now I'm doing final testing for the pack, which I have sent out to a few select people (and I am trying to get ahold of certain other people, you probably know who you are so please post here so I know you are still alive and I can send you the levels to test).

Like the previous episodes, this one is heavily story-based. In fact this one probably has more plot crammed into it than any other episode I have made previously. You don't even see any enemies until the fifth level, that's how crazy it is. Length-wise it's probably about the same as episode 2, maybe a little bit shorter since there are no gigantic levels this time around (though there are a couple of big ones).

The episode takes place immediately after the second episode, from the ending where you departed for Carrotus. I think you can get the idea of where the plot goes from there, from the title of the episode.

I expect to release this next weekend, but we'll see. The levels are completely done, I just need to finish the betatesting phase.

If you have any questions, I'll answer them here.

Also, no good advertisement thread is without screenshots. I'm not going to be fancy and make a bunch of special graphics around them because I'm old fashioned or lazy (you decide).

I've never liked Top Secret 3, somehow I always find levels using it look pretty generic and unoriginal. I can only hope the gameplay will compensate this and judging by your previous packs it will

The simulation shot is very nice though, similar to an idea I once had, but it looks better than I ever imagined. One question though, since you apparently plan to use a lot of text signs, did you use this thing to circumvent the 16-string-limit?

Is this a trilogy and are you finished here?

I know what I will be doing this weekend.

Most of these screenshots don't show anything very different from your second episode, but the second one does indeed look very impressive. And I'm sure the storyline will be great, so that should definately keep me busy this week.

Did you edit sprites for that second example? It looks odd.. But cool!

Do you have any new concepts implemented in the new episode? (like the fireball security system in episode 2)

Originally Posted by BattleSpaz

Did you edit sprites for that second example? It looks odd.. But cool!

No, Its because of the pallet of the tileset.

Oh... I see.

Originally Posted by Stijn

I've never liked Top Secret 3, somehow I always find levels using it look pretty generic and unoriginal. I can only hope the gameplay will compensate this and judging by your previous packs it will

Originally Posted by DoubleGJ

Most of these screenshots don't show anything very different from your second episode, but the second one does indeed look very impressive. And I'm sure the storyline will be great, so that should definately keep me busy this week.

The setting is very similar to the previous episode, yes. Luckily though, all of the actual *gameplay* levels use tilesets which I did not use previously. Top Secret 3 is used for a sort of "hub" level which you visit several times, and use to get to other levels. I used it because it is sufficiently versatile and lets me place characters you can talk to.

One question though, since you apparently plan to use a lot of text signs, did you use this thing to circumvent the 16-string-limit?

I did not circumvent the 16 string limit. In fact I had to split a level into two parts just so I could cram in more text strings.

Is this a trilogy and are you finished here?

The plan has always been to do 5 episodes, and I still hope to do that eventually. I already have a fairly detailed plan for episode 4 (which was actually the original plan for episode 3). I made that change for plot reasons, I felt like something was missing with the original idea. Unfortunately that led to an ep3 that was a bit similar to ep2, but these things happen.

Originally Posted by Xobim

Do you have any new concepts implemented in the new episode? (like the fireball security system in episode 2)

Yeah, quite a few. Hopefully less annoying too.

Sweet stuff so far! Your first two packs were great, so I hope this one is as good!

OMG 5 EPISODES!1!!!one

Looks good, although it's hard to say much about gameplay by looking at the screenshots. I'm really looking forward to the cyber-diamondus level

I'm looking forward to playing this episode. The Diamondus Simulation looks very cool.

Originally Posted by EvilMike

I did not circumvent the 16 string limit. In fact I had to split a level into two parts just so I could cram in more text strings.

Or you could try asking Neobeo for that JCS+ thing, it fixes the text string/character limit issues from what I've seen in the firetruck level.

Well, at least I know something to do over the holidays in two weeks.

Originally Posted by Cooba

Or you could try asking Neobeo for that JCS+ thing, it fixes the text string/character limit issues from what I've seen in the firetruck level.

True. But I have heard from Neobeo that feature is bascially just a dll file at the meoment, which means it's not as easy to use as JCS which has a nice gui for text strings. I'll probably move over to the JCS+ stuff once it evolves a bit more. Besides, firetruck was partially a proof of concept as I understand it.

Oh, and if you want to do betatesting for this level pack (I remember we talked about it months ago) you still can. Just give me your email address and I'll send the zip.

Are you still expecting it to release this weekend?

Originally Posted by WaterRabbit

Are you still expecting it to release this weekend?

I plan to upload it tonight or tomorrow. When I release it I'll post in this thread, and update the first post.

Can't wait. I love your Series.

Can't wait. If it does get uploaded tonight i'll be the first to download it ;P

WRONG. I will be the first to download it.

ha. Very funny. Can't wait.

You lost me at hello

I'm alive...I think.

I'm really looking forward to this.

Originally Posted by FireSworD

I'm alive...I think.

I'm really looking forward to this.

Heh, well it's too late to test it unfortunately.

But on the other hand, I just uploaded it so now everyone can download and play it. I'm editing the original post to provide a link.

I would like to report, that for some weird reason 'Mission Briefing 4' loops to itself after shooting "exit", for me at least. I tried using 'jjnext' there and it helped.

I would also like to report, that I got an access violation when I finished the Simulation level.

If it makes any difference, I had JJ2 windowed...

But other than that I don't know what could have happened...

Originally Posted by Vivando

I would like to report, that for some weird reason 'Mission Briefing 4' loops to itself after shooting "exit", for me at least. I tried using 'jjnext' there and it helped.

It's something to do with the shootable exit signs... for some reason jj2 sometimes loops back to the level. This is the second time I have recieved this bug report. It seems rare but I think I am going to make a quick fix for it. For now just jjnxt if this happens. I will reupload the pack later tonight with the fix, but don't worry about having to wait for the fix, it's a minor bug and it's easy to ignore.

Originally Posted by AzulAtomDragon

I would also like to report, that I got an access violation when I finished the Simulation level.

If it makes any difference, I had JJ2 windowed...

But other than that I don't know what could have happened...

JJ2 is unstable sometimes. Maybe you are playing with a hacked exe, maybe you were just unlucky. In any case the game crashes sometimes. Nothing in that level should be causing access violations. If it keeps happening though, tell me and I'll try to find out what might be causing it.

Originally Posted by Stijn

I've never liked Top Secret 3, somehow I always find levels using it look pretty generic and unoriginal.

It's an old set I made in MSPaint and I was pretty inexperienced when I made it. It's mostly used for tests today. I've always been amazed by Mike's TS3 levels and the way he uses the tileset. Never imagined it could be used like that.

Originally Posted by Overlord

It's an old set I made in MSPaint and I was pretty inexperienced when I made it. It's mostly used for tests today. I've always been amazed by Mike's TS3 levels and the way he uses the tileset. Never imagined it could be used like that.

The thing I like about it is it is versatile. The whole tileset is very abstract. Instead of everything in it having a specific use, the tiles are all very general and basic. What they are used for is left up to the creator of the level rather than the intentions of whoever drew the tileset. This is a very rare quality for a tileset to have.

Originally Posted by EvilMike

This is a very rare quality for a tileset to have.

I'm thinking of another with lots of animated characters/baddies. Actually it's about 20% done.

You're actually going to make me download something from J2O, and maybe even review it. If I do you're buying me a coke this summer. Deal.

Originally Posted by Trafton

You're actually going to make me download something from J2O, and maybe even review it. If I do you're buying me a coke this summer. Deal.

Ok! But only if you write a review.