Let's Bring it Together With...Super Mario Bros 5!!

[aptuttle]

Alright! So, what I see is that we're all posting for help & announcements on dozens (or maybe hundreds?) of ambitious personal projects. There's so many episodes and partial episodes and full blown game attempts out there that they're beyond counting. Since beginning to use SMBX, I've seen some amazing work being done! But what I'd really like to see, and what I think all this talent is leading towards, is one great project that can stand apart as a shining example of what the SMBX community is capable of.

The Plan:

What I'm imagining is a full-scale game that looks and feels like a successor to Super Mario World (SMB 4). Or as I like to say, as if in an alternate reality, we'd gotten a true Mario Bros sequel rather than Yoshi's Island--after which, things went to 3D and just were a different animal altogether). The rules are simple: this game will follow the gameplay traditions of Mario 1-3 and SMW, with engaging and creative levels BUT remaining basically levels that you can run right through. The puzzles, tricks and switchy-things you have to activate in sequence just to be able to move through a level, a la Yoshi's Island, will be kept to a minimum except in levels (Castles or bonus levels come to mind) that its ok to make an exception.

More than anything, the graphics will undergo MAJOR customization to really give us the feeling that we're playing a brand new SMB release. I am a graphic designer, I've already begun work in this area and if this project attracts enough help I would like to spend the majority of my time just updating graphics.

Theme: I want to borrow some inspiration from the terrific work done on Donkey Kong Country 2. That has remained one of my very favorite 2D platformers because of its richness of imagery, sound & atmosphere. Particular attention will be given to implementing a beautiful, intriguing musical score that will really bring the levels to life. A typically pleasant and playful SMB score is great for some things, but as we stretch our creative wings on some very different scenes I want them to have real atmosphere. New level themes will be encouraged, I am already working on a mining town/mountain world, industrial/tech world and frontier town. The DKC series, particularly Diddy's Kongquest, had some amazingly imaginative settings and yet most levels still encourage constant movement with little need to stay in one place and unlock passages/gates to continue progress. I would like to present the story & settings as if they take place in an entirely new land as SMW did, with new friends and bad guys. Toad and Princess will be playable characters (I've made some code alterations to give them unique advantages) and the "Link" character will be replaced with a brand new playable character.

I have been testing a way to introduce a full custom worldmap, consisting of hand-drawn or Illustrator-built stylized overworlds, with ZERO reliance on SMB3 & SMW map components. So far I'm having great success and will have a preview very soon.

All of the partial games and episodes out there feature terrific ideas that could be incorporated. In addition to being heavily involved in the graphic improvements, I would oversee level creation to ensure consistent theming. Outside of this sort of "directorial" control and oversight, I want all who are involved to have creative license of their levels. Most custom graphics I build will be available for use throughout the game, anything that's going to need to be made specifically for your level would be your responsibility or, if it's a simple enough change (like putting miners hats on the goombas) is something I'd probably be willing to do special.

How to be a part of it:

Send me a private message or post in-topic your interest & what you're most keen about working on. As I've said, if folks want to bring in some existing unfinished work that's great, we have a very general theme we're shooting for so as long as it fits with the overall plan then great!

Progress Track:

Pre-Production

5% - design customized gameplay, including player adjustments, updates to recurring & common graphics, determine a workable "world map" alternative
0% - test custom elements for usability in various circumstances

Production
0% - Worldmap art
0% - Additional custom graphics as needed
0% - Worldmap design
0% - level design

Post-Production
0% - Online distribution including dedicated website
0% - word of mouth promotion, including link to DL from other websites

Some initial screenshots of work being done. I should have a video up soon of how the custom map design works but you can see enough to get an idea of how its being done.

Custom Map.jpg

Random NPCs on the screen are items I used to test ability (didn't get the chance to clean up and make them invisible before I was requested to post some stuff).

new goomba.jpg

Now capable of resizing NPCs along with new graphics (yup, I made this big guy unsquishable).

Mines1.jpg

Level 1 design is complete, new graphics to be dropped in as they get done.

[Superiorstar]

Uh...
if its gonna be called "Super Mario bros 5" then why would it have DKC and custom tilesets?

[Magna]

No images or vids. I request lock.

[Superiorstar]

Not yet let him reply first.

[bossedit8]

No images or vids. I request lock.

Use the report button next time instead of making a post just for that!

Please post screenshots or videos on your first topic so we can actually see what your SMBX Episode has to offer via Eye appeal. You have 24 Hours of Time until this Topic gets Locked!

Project Forum Rules: http://www.smbxgame.com/forums/v ... f=34&t=733

[Superiorstar]

I really think you should change the name, "Super Mario bros 5" is probably the most generic name ever, plus like I said before, Its unfitting, and a Screenshot wouldn't really hurt.

[aptuttle]

Uh...
if its gonna be called "Super Mario bros 5" then why would it have DKC and custom tilesets?

I use DKC only as an example of a series of 2D games that took theme & level originality to the "next level". There will be no DKC sprites or graphics whatsoever. Edit: OK so a cameo of some DKC baddies in the right instances would actually be pretty cool, but that's as far as it goes.

Please post screenshots or videos on your first topic so we can actually see what your SMBX Episode has to offer via Eye appeal. You have 24 Hours of Time until this Topic gets Locked!

Project Forum Rules: http://www.smbxgame.com/forums/v ... f=34&t=733

Don't worry they're coming...waiting til I get home this evening to get hold of my screenshots & vids.

I really think you should change the name, "Super Mario bros 5" is probably the most generic name ever, plus like I said before, Its unfitting, and a Screenshot wouldn't really hurt.

I considered that...but I chose this name for two reasons. First, I want it to stand out as a different sort of project, a collaboration rather that someone calling for assistance with a fully realized, very specific episode idea (Super Mario Bros: The Legend of Aptuttle's Pasta). By and large, the projects I find listed on the forums come with a plan in place that includes worlds to be designed, even levels already in place for those worlds. This is intended to be wide open, you are not helping me build my game but bringing all of our creative efforts into a cohesive whole. I also want us to really continue to think of this as an attempt to imagine the "next iteration" after SMW when we choose to design the gameplay and update the look and feel of the game. I may change it to something more creative later, when we get it close to completion, but right now I feel like SMB5 is a name to make it stand out for what it is meant to be.

[bossedit8]

Ah ok, good to know. Next time please do not double post on a very short amount of time!

[Mable]

Even though he didn't post them right at the start it's still against the rules as it says YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM and the topic actually should be locked since there is no timelimit said in the Project Rules.

You could like save it as draft and edit it later and add the screens and then post it.

[DarkMatt]

(Just because you promise screenshots does not mean you get to weasel out of project rule 1. Next time just hold off on the thread until you have them available.)

[aptuttle]

There. Sheesh.

Wanted to clean up some of the testing items left on the map but this'll have to do. Mario has a big 7 plastered on his chest as I was tracking the sprites for replacement when I took the screenshot. Interestingly, I learned that the sprites for ladder/vine/fence movement switch between 2 identical sets of sprites seemingly at random and with no discernible purpose. I suppose one is an extra set of sorts but I don't know what purpose it'd serve.

[Superiorstar]

This project "Super Mario bros 5" doesn't deserve the at all anymore,
-random cutoff
-background clash
-weird looking levels
this project NEEDS to change the name now.

[aptuttle]

This project "Super Mario bros 5" doesn't deserve the at all anymore,
-random cutoff
-background clash
-weird looking levels
this project NEEDS to change the name now.

OMG...

First you all demand that I post screenshots of what I'm working on. Then when I tell you that the screenshots are all items that are a work in progress as I swap out the graphics, you have the gall to say that my product doesn't live up to its title.

I kinda feel like your opinion is worthless. Feel free to continue to post here if you want, I will simply ignore it.

What I WOULD respond to from other folks, as the design starts to take shape and the placeholder elements are replaced, is how the level/world style comes across and recommendations on additional graphics that could use some customization.

Edit: Ah. I just read other people's comments on you and I see now this is just what you do. I will still ignore anything you have to say but it's good to know that you're well known around here for trolling.

[FanofSMBX]

The Goombas and Goomba hats have 1x1 pixels. I like the Goomba sprites though.

[aptuttle]

The Goombas and Goomba hats have 1x1 pixels. I like the Goomba sprites though.

LOL thanks, they were my first ever NPC edit and I about fell out of my chair with happiness when they appeared. Now that I've gotten more practice with them I have a revised version with a larger sprite (had to shrink the little stinker to fit the hat on him the first time). Goomba in my 2nd screenshot will be the default and will show up in different sizes w/ various accessories!

[underFlo]

This project "Super Mario bros 5" doesn't deserve the at all anymore,
-random cutoff
-background clash
-weird looking levels
this project NEEDS to change the name now.

OMG...

First you all demand that I post screenshots of what I'm working on. Then when I tell you that the screenshots are all items that are a work in progress as I swap out the graphics, you have the gall to say that my product doesn't live up to its title.

I kinda feel like your opinion is worthless. Feel free to continue to post here if you want, I will simply ignore it.

What I WOULD respond to from other folks, as the design starts to take shape and the placeholder elements are replaced, is how the level/world style comes across and recommendations on additional graphics that could use some customization.

Edit: Ah. I just read other people's comments on you and I see now this is just what you do. I will still ignore anything you have to say but it's good to know that you're well known around here for trolling.

Simple as that:

Your project doesn't have representative screenshots -> not ready to get posted.
Screenshots of projects are rarely final, but they shouldn't have loads of cutoff. Also, how was Surperior trolling in his post? A project is to be judged after screenshots of there's no demo, and that's exactly what he did and I agree with him. If even you think the screenshots need a lot of work and are nowhere near finished, then why did you post them? There should be atleast some progress you can show off that looks promising and isn't just testing or super WIP.

[Superiorstar]

@Aptuttle: Its called criticism, that's what were here for.
don't call me a troll because I criticized your work,noob.
but still I said it before and I'll say it again,
-random cutoff
-background clash
-weird looking levels
-unfitting name
This project needs work.

[DarkMatt]

OMG...

First you all demand that I post screenshots of what I'm working on. Then when I tell you that the screenshots are all items that are a work in progress as I swap out the graphics, you have the gall to say that my product doesn't live up to its title.

I kinda feel like your opinion is worthless. Feel free to continue to post here if you want, I will simply ignore it.

What I WOULD respond to from other folks, as the design starts to take shape and the placeholder elements are replaced, is how the level/world style comes across and recommendations on additional graphics that could use some customization.

OH JUNEBUG, YOU'RE JUST LIVING A THE BUG'S LIFE.

On a more serious note, bad criticism is one thing, being a hipster about criticism is another. If you're gonna keep up that attitude you better quit while you're ahead before you finish it and everyone says it's crap and you're crap.

[Superiorstar]

Darkmattwhyareyoufollowingme?
Anyways, I said the bad things and now the good.
-cool custom npcs
-Very cool map (I think)
-something yet to come
I think you'd get more feedback by post here: http://www.smbxgame.com/forums/v ... =69&t=4826
Also, I hope you have a nice stay at the forums.

[aptuttle]

Darkmattwhyareyoufollowingme?
Anyways, I said the bad things and now the good.
-cool custom npcs
-Very cool map (I think)
-something yet to come
I think you'd get more feedback by post here: http://www.smbxgame.com/forums/v ... =69&t=4826
Also, I hope you have a nice stay at the forums.

If I was creating the post for feedback, my initial post would have said "can I get some feedback please?" I'm perfectly capable of finding a feedback-requesting-oriented post. IF I WANTED TO. WHICH I DON'T PARTICULARLY WISH TO. Constructive and meaningful feedback is always welcome, but the purpose of this thread is, as I said, to invite other people to be a part of an open collaboration. If you can't even bother to read my description of what I am trying to accomplish, and you think this thread is more relevant to a feedback topic, then I have ample basis for deciding that you're spouting worthless nonsense.

Unfortunately your feedback--both the negative and positive--is complete gibberish. That's not an opinion or debatable: there's simply not much to be gleaned from any of those comments. Lets revisit:

- random cutoff - of??? it's a screenshot. Of something I felt like taking a screenshot of. If I decide to make a game comprised entirely of my photographic abilities to pull random screenshots out of a game and make them enjoyable, you'd be on to something. I'm making a game; thereby, your opinion on the worthiness of what area I chose to outline and crop for no purpose except to post something on FB, has no relevancy.

- background clash - not sure that anything in the screenshot is clashing with anything else, its actually a rather empty scene really and therefore almost nothing for it to clash WITH, but I suppose it's the least inane comment as if nothing else it cautions to be watchful for such things to happen

- weird looking levels - I haven't even shown you LEVELS, you have one screenshot of a single scene, and a test of a goomba standing on some blocks on an otherwise empty unsaved level, and a placeholder map with some mostly invisible architecture to facilitate movement. NON. SENSE.

- Very cool map (I think) - the map isn't mine, I didn't draw it, it has nothing to do with the game, it is a placeholder, it is not SMB, it is not meant to have anything to with the game, it is from lord of the rings, it has no purpose, it was handy and convenient for the test, it looked cool, I'm a LOTR dork, it will not be in the game, IT. MEANS. NOTHING.

- cool custom npcs - the screenshots show a grand total of two custom NPCs, one of which was done in about 90 seconds in paint because it was intended as nothing more than my first test of customizing sprites. Again the fact that you would even bother to make comment on it reiterates that you are not reading or not understanding anything I say. Or, barring that, you're aware that your comments mean absolutely nothing and you just enjoy making noise.

- something yet to come - and now I am at a loss for words.

I don't have to call you a troll, according to several people you've already made it clear what you are.