Average Episode length?

Princess Peach · Postby **Princess Peach** » Sun Sep 20, 2015 11:01 pm

Just curious, i have seen many SMBX episodes. Ive seen some episodes with only 2-3 levels for each world. Most of mine are 4 levels like SMB1, with 1-4 being the fortress/boss level

So just curious, how many levels are in a good Episode?

FanofSMBX · Postby **FanofSMBX** » Sun Sep 20, 2015 11:29 pm

Who cares? You should make however many levels you want to be in your episode.

RudeGuy · Postby **RudeGuy** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:11 am

FanofSMBX wrote:Who cares? You should make however many levels you want to be in your episode.

But don't have too many levels. Nobody would play an episode that is 500 or more levels long.

Postby **ShadowStarX** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:17 am

Usually something between 8 and 150 levels is okay, but the most common lengths are between 25 and 80 levels. I think you should start with a length smth like 25 to 40, just don't make it up as a very long episode, because you may get bored during a 150 levels episode. Do any length you want, just don't make it too long neither for yourself (so overplan) or the players. (more than 200 levels)

Shidomaru · Postby **Shidomaru** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:24 pm

From my experience as a fanfic writer I can tell you that it's important to avoid "filler". You should never feel the need to stretch your episode only to reach 150 levels. You CAN, however, put as many levels on the game as you need, and any ideas you think might be cool.

I personally prefer worlds of 3 or 4 levels each, but you might want to make them bigger or not depending on how many ideas you have. 4 worlds of 3 levels each (total 12 levels) is good if you're short on ideas, but if you have loads and loads of cool stuff you think you might add and think 12 levels won't be enough, feel free to add as many levels and worlds as you need.

JupiHornet · Postby **JupiHornet** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:26 pm

Usually 9 worlds and 7-8 levels in each, just like normal Mario games.

Shidomaru · Postby **Shidomaru** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:38 pm

Turtwig wrote:Usually 9 worlds and 7-8 levels in each, just like normal Mario games.

I might be a bit out-dated about Mario games, but what game is your example of a "normal" Mario game? To me, a "normal" Mario game can mean either the original SMB1 (8 worlds, 4 levels each) or SMW (7 worlds, 5 or 6 levels each, not counting secret levels and worlds).

JupiHornet · Postby **JupiHornet** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 5:10 pm

Shidomaru wrote:
Turtwig wrote:Usually 9 worlds and 7-8 levels in each, just like normal Mario games.
I might be a bit out-dated about Mario games, but what game is your example of a "normal" Mario game? To me, a "normal" Mario game can mean either the original SMB1 (8 worlds, 4 levels each) or SMW (7 worlds, 5 or 6 levels each, not counting secret levels and worlds).

I was thinking of the more modern ones like NSMBWii. Most of the worlds in that game look like this:

5-6 normal levels
1-2 secret level(s)
1 fortress
1 castle

Shidomaru · Postby **Shidomaru** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 5:25 pm

Turtwig wrote:I was thinking of the more modern ones like NSMBWii. Most of the worlds in that game look like this:

5-6 normal levels
1-2 secret level(s)
1 fortress
1 castle

That explains our discrepancy... Well, the length of Princess Peach's episode ultimately depends on herself, how much work is she willing to do and how many ideas she has. If she has a lot of things she wants to put in the game, then she should try your formula. On the other hand, if she has very few things to work with and/or a short attention span (like me), then she should keep her episode short.

Princess Peach · Postby **Princess Peach** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 7:01 pm

Well, thanks for the advice guys!
My episode is prob going to be 8 world's like a traditional Mario game, and with 4 levels each world. Except I think the 8th world will have like 5 or 6 levels, cuz I wanna make a little finale. If you wanna check it out, I did post a little overview of my project!
http://www.smbxgame.com/forums/v ... 34&t=11555