The 'I need inspiration and ideas, help plz plz' thread
 

The thread name says it all. If you need inspiration or you don't have any ideas, you can ask it here. At the moment it's hard for me to find a tileset, but I think I will find one soon. Some people might need layout ideas, or they don't know what they put in their new level. You can ask it here.

How do you decide on a good size for your level? Everytime I start one it's just empty and boring and I don't feel like continueing.

Plan your level before making it. If you do that, you should know what size your level should be and what to put in it. (It works for me)

When I start with my level, I dislike it at the start too and don't feel like continueing it too. Don't give up, the more you complete the level the more you are gonna like it and do feel like finishing it. If you really don't feel like continueing try getting ideas for the level or just start experimenting with some of the tilesets which might give you a great idea for the level.

Unfortunately for me it's usually the opposite, and I'm nearly finished my level any advice?

Make a "sky" level whitch starts with catapulting jazz somewhere...

What does that have to do with anything?

I do, but with the layout and stuff, it really is hard to just gamble on the size. Thanks Sacrush =D

Oh no it isn't. All the levels I've made I just gambled on the size, although I really did have a good idea of what size everything would be in jazz2.

I do :( How do you do it?

Well, normaly in my layouts there is always a spot that would be most convenient to start at like say xlma51, I thought about only the size of the small box in the middle for awhile, and then started drawing the layout into the level with just any tile I feel like, while keeping the size of everything else in proportion to the place I started at (the box). Then all I had to do is replace all the tiles with prettier ones.

Take a brick tile (like in castle) and follow this:
1. Above Ground/Underwater: Create a rough outer design.
2. Underground/Caves: Fill the level with tiles, then cut out paths.

Hmm...you could do that.

I need to know where to put power ups on this layout, the layout has changed abit as I've been making the level.
[img]http://www.freewebs.com/birdie8d/j3.png[/img]

Can you send me the level so I can have a good look at it?

Im making a swamp level for the levelpack that I showed on the past thread, and I was wondering what was a better idea:

Making a boulder crash into the roots blocking the base
or
Finding another route and clearing the roots in the way from the other side.

Either way, the roots blocking the base must go.

Finding specific ammo later on (Say, toaster) and use those to destroy (or in the toaster's specific case, burn) the roots could be a good way to do the latter.

I need inspiration to finish Wind Meister 4 and 5, since they are already so near completion.

Anyone?

Level size -- start from the top left and make the level bigger than what you expect you'll need. If it turns out you have extra space, you can resize the level, and hopefully, you won't lose any tiles (unless you REALLY wasted space).

Tileset -- Make um....um... The Underground -- a tileset with PROPER cave scenery and stuffs.

Listen to music and set your work in increments. Agree with yourself that you'll work from point A to B and once that part is done, you do something really enjoyable. You'll work faster, and quite possibly, get more work done than you expected.

...finish Blaster Battle when I get back.

I want to make a tileset, but I'm stumped as to what to make...

( Yes, I did have another one, but I accidently erased the file with all the tiles...oops...>_>...I kinda didn't like it, anyway....)

I want to make something different from everything else, I just don't know what....

Help plz. o.o;;;

Floating Island Paradise -- Kingdom of Zeal style of tileset with grassy floating rock stuff and castles.


Edit: Also, I have found an incredibly great way to keep your levelmaking going. Rather than thinking "Hmmm, what should I put next?" you should write down every applicable event that could be used in the level. Every appropriate enemy, scenery, platform, and food should be on the list. When you need to think of what to do for the next area, choose a random event and think "How can I use this event creatively?" It's working for me so far.

What gave me this idea? Violet's FSP2 preview. It uses so many different events! In fact, you should all go play and rate it. NOW >: o

Hahaha, I totally need to start paying you or something. :) I'll admit that is involved. It's kind of based off of the idea of making a game rather than a level pack... in many games, though Sonic comes to mind, there are certain unique gimmicks involved in each environment, so if I figure out which particular events and themes I want a level to have ahead of time, I know a great deal of how the level will work and what I can include. So Shade Castle had bridges, spike platforms, poles and horizontal springs, and some other things with less prominence. And all this is good, I think, because a level design based partially on events rather than just masking, is going to be more interesting, and the repetition of certain themed events gives more of a feel to the level.

I think nobody has ever made a music-themed tileset for Jazz2. Except for elements of Psych, but that's not quite it.

Do it yourself (-)it.

Done.

Might as well bump this topic as it's my own. Several people have tried to make original layouts, and some succeeded. A solid layout in a CTF level is probably better, as long as it's not too linear. A platformy level can be okay too, but don't make it like Diamondus Warzone, for example. In Battle levels there should be enough open space, so it can be a bit more platformy. Don't make too big platforms or too little ways. If people have trouble finding a tileset they can say it here too. Dunno about other levels, but it's logical that you shouldn't make Single Player levels too hard and Race levels shouldn't be too easy. Some obstacles are nice.

Well, that's my advice. I'm going to try to follow this. Some articles on J2O are useful as well.

Here's some underused tilesets which could really use some levels made with them if you feel like being original:

Grove Shrine - LRK
Coral Coves - Violet CLM
Chateau - Toxic Bunny
Some JJ1 tilesets - Various Authors
Beach/Beach + - Epic/Purplejazz
Colon - Epic
Inferno/Inferno 2.0 - Epic/P4ul
Persian Paradise - Disguise/Mirrow
Unreal Imagination - Disguise

There are loads more underused tilesets but these are a few suggestions.
Some of them are very hard to use but its worth a try. ;)

Nah, I don't think it's that underused.

Only 3 levels have been uploaded so far. (not including the example level)

And 2 of those were mine. The third level(PJ's) had ideas that my levels didn't have. I don't know who's going to use it, Snooze tried to make a level with it some time ago but I don't think he will finish that one.

Might as well bump this, because I don't have inspiration at the moment. What should I do? Does anyone know a good tileset I can use for level 8 of Impressions?

I'm making a conversion ATM. BTW DS ignore that thing where I said I'm not going to make any more conversions. I've changed my mind now.

What tileset??

Medivo.

@IC: There is nothing from any of the IC tilesets in it, and I'm serious this time! If you don't belive me I can show you it.