Linkrealms

Looking for a beta key?
Well you're in luck! Annoucing the first Linkrealms Realm Creation Contest. It's time to break out your big box of ideas and get to work!

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About the Contest
For this contest, you must create your own realm and submit it in a screenshot in this thread (instructions below). The winner(s) will be chosen on Friday, March 27th by a panel of judges. This week's theme is FREESTYLE (anything goes). Since it's the first week we'll accept any and all entries.

How to Enter

[1] Create your realm in the Linkrealms Map Editor.

[2] Capture and save one or more screenshots of your design. Make sure 'Show Grid' is unchecked in the map editors View menu.
To capture a screenshot, press the [PRT SCR] key on your keyboard and CTRL+V (or Edit->Paste) it into MS Paint or another paint program. Feel free to crop out the Map Editor menus. I would recommend taking multiple screenshots since an entire realm will not be shown in one. If you have a structure with multiple levels and details inside, be sure to show them to us by using the scroll bar on the left of the Map Editor (it adjusts at what height things disappear).
PLEASE SAVE THE IMAGES AS .JPG

[3] Upload your image(s) to a free hosting solution such as photobucket or imageshack.us

[4] Post the links (or thumbnails+links) to your images here in this thread.
This is so other members of the community can see your designs.

[5] Upload your final .LRML map file to a free file hosting service (such as rapidshare) and PM me the link to it.
This is so we can test your realm inside the game to help judge them.

Prizes
The winning entry(ies) will be awarded a Linkrealms beta key! The chosen winner(s) may also be eligible for a special bonus in-game prize!

Additional Details
One entry per person. This challenge is not only about how well you can utilize the Map Editor. We're looking for creativity, originality, and visible effort. Finding any new Map Editor bugs wouldn't hurt your chances, either.

Map Editor Tips
Here are some handy things to keep in mind when using the map editor:
-It is not recommended that you use the 'recently used tiles/walls/objects' bar at the top of the editor, as it may corrupt your file.
-There is NO UNDO. Save early, save often. Save your map as a different file after you've done a major change.
-Characters are 18 units tall, so entranceways should be at least 18 units high.
-Read the map editor guide and the editor faq for further information about the map editor. Feel free to ask any questions.

I got tired of begging for beta invite so...
Here's my entry: Central Park (because you can't be adventuring all the time...)



Notes on map editor:

Problems: show/unshow bounding boxes (under view) doesn't appear to work

Suggestions:
I had no problems using the recently used bar
undo function is a must
Some entrances (hedge arches) are below a character's height?
needs water tile that can tile blend with dirt (etc)
Lack of bridges other than log (i mean i can use walls to make bridges but it'll look ugly)
lack of birds in said birdbaths xD...
complete lack of sharks or tentacle monsters anywhere in the editor!
Should i bound the water tiles? or the hedge tiles? i'm not sure how to do that T.T
built in invisible blockers in some objects, ie bird baths

For the water, place the water tiles and then place grass/dirt/whatever in Tile Blend mode near the water to blend it.

it looks great with grass, but since i wanted a dark wet mud edging my grass, i did something else...



i'm asking for something like the effect of small dirt blend and little dirt blend added together. blending tile dirt around the water is just too much dirt/mud for my opinion

Ok, if I completed all the steps correctly, (not much into posting images on 3rd party sites) here are the links to my Cave Realm on Image

[img=http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1496/cave5.th.jpg]
[img=http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5977/cave4.th.jpg]
[img=http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/2644/cave3.th.jpg]
[img=http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9549/cave2.th.jpg]
[img=http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9076/cave1.th.jpg]

I was just wondering if I could add new sprites etc to the editor? If so could someone direct me to a place where I could find some new things to look over?

Plz feel free to send a pm tyvm

It is currently Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:03 am

Contest closed - no more entries accepted. I'll post again in a short while with the results.

Pan, the ability to add sprites to the editor was an original design concept, but for now is a bad idea as it could corrupt your files and make your game not update correctly. Until other issues have been ironed out and the team has time to reevaluate player added content it is safest to use the current stock of sprites.

However, if you create something and send it to the devs there's a chance they will consider adding it to the resources usable in the editor.

Firstly, I would like to thank arcainic and Grymmoire for participating in this contest. I am disappointed with the lack of people that participated, but not surprised.

Arcainic: You did a really nice job here. I like that it is symmetrical, yet you also managed to use different textures and sprites to make it different. I also appreciate the fact that you took the time to list out the problem you found with the map editor, and some suggestions on ways to improve it - thank you.
Here are a few suggestions for areas of improvement for your map (if you care):

• I think you could have used some more blending for the water tiles, especially those sharp corners.
• Instead of using the 'ground' as bridges through your water, you could use slopes and elevated tiles to make bridges over your water. This would allow the water to go all the way around your park without any breaks.

Grymmoire: You also did a pretty good job! I like all of the different entrances you made, and all of the different textures.
Here are a few suggestions:

• One area you can improve upon is the blending of your tiles on the 'southeast' side of the map; some of the brick tiles next to the 'lava' tiles aren't blended and stick out.
• You may also want to be a little more focused in defining areas within your realm. For example, you might want to make the area around your lavapit some sort of dirt tile, and as they go up and around your dividers they reach a desert - then they go down to your pentagram which is the grassy area.

When it comes to judging who is the winner this week - it is quite easy - you both win.

Yep, that's right, because nobody else took the time to enter something, you will both get beta invites.

Let this be a lesson to all you beggars out there: don't expect something for nothing. If you all had taken the time to enter the contest instead of sit around and bitch, you might have been invited too.

Additionally, because arcainic was the first person to enter the contest, he gets a special in-game reward from me. He will be given a complete starter package which includes everything he will need to be a successful "newbie," and more.

Congratulations to you both!

does wiggly dance

Congratulations arcainic!!

**wonders if he can make a "thief and "steal" arcainic's goodie bag hehehe!**

Congrats to you both! You did some quite good work, much better then anything I try to do to fix my generic little realm lol. Very nice work all around. Now that you have shown everyone how it's done, maybe next time we can actually see some competition. ^_^

Grats guys, I so thought about trying to enter this several times but i just am not a very creative person plus I am not very good with the world builder lol

Aaah looks like I missed a great contest while on vacation. What a wonderful idea Sage!
I'm hoping more people will take part next (this ?) week!
And congrats to the winners

Man, I'm glad I'm already in Beta, I can't make a fence work right
So what do the people like me with no patience or editor talent get?