The Builder Challenge for March is simple: Build a great 2D platformer… but, oh, you can only use the Terrain Tool to build the platforms.
The premise
We’ve all played 2D platformers, right? You can only move sideways, and you can jump. That’s it. Not much to it.
The trick is, of course, to design a platforming section that’s tough but also satisfying. One that lets you feel like a bad-ass when you make the tricky jump. One that doesn’t cheap-shot you with leaps of faith or jank.
But there’s a catch. You can only use the Terrain Tool to build the actual platforms. That’s right; you can’t use any assets from the Library to build places for the player to stand on.
Sure, you can add environment dangers – even enemies, if you feel like it – that use the Library assets. But anything the player stands on has to be Terrain made.
How to get started
As always, we’ve put together a simple template for you to get crackin’. It’s already got a locked off camera that follows the player from a distance. It’s also got the controls locked off so the player can only move sideways and jump.
You’re free, of course, to change the speed, momentum, double-jumping abilities, etc. of the player – even mess with the gravity, if you feel like it. Go nuts. Surprise us.
We’ve built three small platforms for you to get started, and the rest is just a blank canvas.
Over in the distance is the goal.
Now, the camera might bug some people, so I’ll briefly tell you how to mess with it to suit your needs.
Over to the right of the player start is a “Seeker” that follows the player. The camera is glued to it, so the camera follows along with it.
At the moment, the camera will also bob up and down whenever the player jumps, because that’s just how it works. If you want to stop that from happening, check the option that says “Disable Y.”
But that means that the camera will stay at the height it’s at and not follow the player down or up. So if you plan to build a level that has a bit of verticality to it, you might want to leave this off.
The distance from the player is directly related to the position of the Seeker. If you want the camera closer to the player, move the Seeker closer to the player.
Don’t uncheck the “Disable X” value, ‘cos then the camera will just smack up against the player’s head and the game will become nearly unplayable.
Why didn’t we just set the camera to “Follow,” which is a built-in camera option that follows the player along in a side-scrolling manner? Well, because the Follow mode has a set distance from the player, and I felt that distance was too short for what we’re trying to do here. You’re free, of course, to get rid of the Seeker altogether and just use the built-in camera mode if you like.
What’s the prize?
As with last month’s challenge, the prize for 1st place is 1,000 DKK (approx. $150 USD).
We’re not doing 2nd and 3rd place this month. Instead, there’s a Player Challenge award where your creation could become next month’s Player Challenge – which also has a cash prize reward of 500 DKK (approx. $75 USD).
Note: You must provide valid bank account information to receive your reward. We cannot accept PayPal or wire transfers. For non-Danish participants, we need your bank’s name, your own full name and address, IBAN no., and SWIFT code.
Criteria
Like last mont, the winners will be judged on the following criteria:
- Ingenuity – how clever we think your creation is
- Presentation – how good it looks
- Gameplay – how fun it is to play
- Wow-factor – how overall wow’ed we are
We’ll score each category from 1 to 5.
Deadline
The challenge starts Friday, March 4th and ends Monday, March 21st. That’s a little over two solid weeks to build yourself a smashing platformer.
Please submit your creation to the #challenges channel on the CREY Discord no later than March 21st at 4:00 PM CET.
If you’re not on Discord and still want to enter, you can also email a link to your creation to tp@creygames.com
On Friday, March 25th, Frost will play all the submissions on a livestream and declare a winner, as well as announce next month’s Builder Challenge and Player Challenge.
FAQ
Q: Can I collab with another creator?
A: Yes, but you’ll have to split the prize if you win.
Q: Can it be a multiplayer “level/game/creation”?
A: Wouldn’t recommend it. The “End Game” prop doesn’t affect multiplayer games, so there would be no way of winning your game.
Q: Who can participate?
A: The challenge is open worldwide to anyone aged 13 years or older who are registered with an account at CREY. Eligible minors must have permission from a parent or legal guardian in order to participate in the Contest. Employees of CREY, its affiliates, contest supervisors and members of their immediate families, are not eligible to participate or win.
Q: Do you have a terrifying barrage of lawyer-speak I can peruse?
A: Yes. Click here to read our Terms & Conditions.