HUB, World Map or both ?

[AirShip]

I have not seen a topic as this in forum, but if it already exists, delete it.

So which do you prefer and why?

[Zant]

World maps cuz it looks like the player is on a journey\adventure.

[zlaker]

I like the World Mao because you can find secret exits or have different types of levels, but I also prefer HUB because it's easy to go from one world to another.

[Magician]

Functionally, I feel like hubs are better. If you know what you're doing, you can do a lot more with them than with a world map.
Aesthetically world maps are really cool, but there's only so much you can do to them to make them unique. It's not often I see anything on a world map that surprises me. It can happen, though.

I would vote both because in the flagship episode of all of the episodes I've thought of, that's the method I want to use. I would apply hub levels in a different way than how most people would decorate around a door and a sign, though.

[HeroLinik]

Hubs. Definitely. For me, you essentially have none of the restrictions you have when you're designing a map, because it's just the same as a level. As a result, you have more customisation with a hub than a world map as custom graphics and music can be used. Yet when SMBX was released, hubs weren't used much, but now they've become almost crazy popular, in particular multiple hubs (it must be a result of SMSE; my project is built off the structure of that episode).

[bambooPenArtist]

For me its both. If it's executed correctly you can use the world map as a save point system thanks to the glitch which auto saves the game ever time you:
Exit a side exit
Use a warp exit to the world map

Now setting it up would be a little tricky, you would have to setup each level in the map to correspond to a warp entrance on the hub.
Note: Doing both removes the player's abillity to save on the hub and requires the author to select "Restart last Level" to prevent the player from having to back track to the level in the hub which can become irratating if level is long or difficult.

[mariogeek2]

Honestly, I like world maps better. They usually look better and give the player the sense of going on an adventure and traversing the landscape. However, it all really depends on two factors: how much experience the designer has had and how much time you've got to work on the episode's hub/world. Hubs are better for new designers with not a lot of experience with SMBX. And if you don't have a lot of time before you've got to get the episode out, hubs are usually faster to design. World maps are harder to design and usually take longer.

[Fuyu]

Which do I like the most you ask? Well, it depends.

Many have point this already, but HUBs allow the creator to express his originality on many ways you couldn't on a WM. This is what makes HUBs so popular these days, and can't be discussed. HUBs, also, allow many other gimmicks and tricks on them that aren't applicable on WMs, which gives HUBs even more popularity.

Though, WMs shouldn't be underrated, as they are the very source of the feeling of adventure on many Mario games and many other games such as Final Fantasy and Tales Of --- which is something that simply can't be described with words. Also, WMs feel more realistic and good appealing regarding representation of the environment the player currently is at the moment, and gives even a greater feeling to him/her.

I personally have no personal choice as "better than __" because both options are equally great on their own ways, so my vote goes to "both".

[Chill Pingu]

i find it fun to walk on world maps so i like world maps better.
maybe also because i suck at hub making.

[MrPunchia]

I prefer them both because while you can do more with hubs without worrying about bugs, while world maps are slightly more fun to make.

[icemario12]

Guess that I don't know, but you can use both, like in SMB: A New Beginning. All you need is a small world map and multiple hubs AND the "Restart Last Level At Death".
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!! :3

[ShadowStarX]

Hub isn't that limited, because if you have a 8 level world you can have a forest, an ice, a desert, an underwater, a castle, a non-mario (zelda, sonic, metroid, mega man), a sky and a cave level easily, without the need of level-combining. (did you see a desert forest or sky cave level in any episodes?)
But world map is cooler and designing it is very fun, but hub needs paintings and i hate that part, because boring and long to make a painting.

[Danny]

but hub needs paintings and i hate that part, because boring and long to make a painting.

Since when did Hubs need paintings?

[ShadowStarX]

but hub needs paintings and i hate that part, because boring and long to make a painting.

Since when did Hubs need paintings?

i wanted to say very well designed hubs, just forgot that part

[HeroLinik]

but hub needs paintings and i hate that part, because boring and long to make a painting.

Since when did Hubs need paintings?

i wanted to say very well designed hubs, just forgot that part

The only hubs that I know with paintings are Super Mario: Magical Paintings, SMSE and NGCA. Paintings aren't necessary to make a well-designed hub - even good hubs can get away without them. Look at the ToB series, for example.

[MECHDRAGON777]

World maps as they are easy and fun to make! World maps are easie to make then an actual level!

[Mable]

World maps as they are easy and fun to make! World maps are easie to make then an actual level!

Atleast hubs don't crash if you replace all the graphics. Also hubs aren't hard to do also.

[JupiHornet]

I think it depends on the episode.

In an episode like mine that is fairly straightforawrstraightforward and there is not a lot of new stuff going on, I like world maps.

For an Episode like Waddle Derp's old one that revolves a lot around story and atmosphere, hubs are better.

[bossedit8]

I do like to make both of them but I do think a World Map takes more time to create like in my older SMBX Episodes but it was a success. Currently by making Hub Levels on my newest SMBX Episode it isn't really that hard but replicating like what Touhou did it surely will be fun... as the Progression goes slowly anyway since I am more focused on Mario Builder as of now.

[Sewpah]

I like both the world map and the hub. I like the world map because it's traditional in a very good way. But I also like the hub because you can easily go from one world to another.