Melinda's Bit Buster Clubhouse Crafter Challenge

Danni's picture
Sat, Sep 14 2013 10:00 AM
09/14/2013 - 10:00
09/20/2013 - 10:00
Etc/GMT-7

Melinda has sought to expand her Clubhouse beyond the original 148 levels ever since Chip McCallahan finished them all back in Chip's Challenge. Now she is enlisting prospective Bit Busters to make new levels! What do you say?

This is a Chip's Challenge level making event! Create one or more levels and submit them here as a level set!

Tile World is a pretty good engine recreation of Chip's Challenge (it even emulates some, but not all bugs found in the Microsoft game). It includes a facility for easily adding and playing custom levels. For legal reasons, the original levels (dubbed CC1) are not included, but there is an unofficial tutorial and a myriad of freely downloadable custom level sets to help you become familiar with the game's rules.

Here is a list of editors available for making levels:

CCEdit - the new version is cross-platform. Old version is Win32-based but runs on Wine.

Chip's Challenge Level Designer - needs .NET Runtime.

The levels themselves are stored in .dat files. Multiple levels can be placed inside a .dat file, so feel free to make as many or as few levels as you'd like.
For Tile World users, include a .dac file, which is a text file that describes the level set contained within a .dat file.

Editing tips:

- Get a feel for how all the objects and tiles interact with one another. Play some existing Chip's Challenge levels, or refer to the Chip's Challenge Wiki's list of tiles as a reference.
- Did you know that Chip's Challenge levels are actually composed of TWO layers? There is an upper layer and a lower layer. Depending on the layer you place tiles and objects on, different things will happen. For example, you can place a pushable block on top of a computer chip so that the chip is hidden under the block - pushing the block will make you pick the chip up. Use of both layers is also required for other things, notably clone machines...
- Functional clone machines are created by placing the clone machine itself on the lower layer and a monster or directional block on the upper layer.
- Clone machines and bear traps can only be activated by pressing a button, and you must connect this button to the desired clone machine or bear trap while designing your level. Your editor will assist you with this.
- Each monster moves in a specific order, one at a time. Depending on how you arrange your monsters, their movement pattern may be disrupted if they aren't ordered correctly (EG. monsters forming a line, the one in the back moves first and bumps into the one in front, changing course). Your editor should include a facility for adjusting monster order.
- Make sure you include enough time. As a general rule of thumb, time yourself as you play through the level. You should provide roughly twice as much time as it took for you to finish the level yourself. If the level is particularly lengthy and complex, consider removing the time limit.
- Make sure you set the required number of chips correctly. Do not require more chips than are actually in the level. On the other hand, it is okay for you to require LESS chips than are actually in the level - Level 12: HUNT is an example of such usage.
- You get a 32x32 grid to make each level in. This is larger than you might expect at first. Avoid the temptation to fill the entire space with the same gimmick, particularly if it's a repetitive gimmick. Basically, avoid making a level like WRITERS BLOCK.
- Use Blobs sparingly. Beginners and experts alike hate them. Beginners hate Blobs because they cause unfair deaths. Experts hate Blobs because their random movement makes levels hard to time attack. The infamous BLOBNET should be enough to convince you of this.

GO BIT BUSTERS!

(Post levels here when you're done. I would suggest uploading them as a .zip with the .dat and .dac files)


Games made for Melinda's Bit Buster Clubhouse Crafter Challenge

pensive-mosquitoes