Community Project or Spelunky Experiment

[Arucard]

Hey all, I had an idea inspired by the Knytt Stories project "Knytt Experiment". The idea is to have many different people each create a subsequent level resulting in a potentially very long journey through different styles.

For instance, I have created a short, easy level called One of Us. You should upload a level as an attachment to your post, maybe with a short description if you like. I will check it out and gauge the difficulty in attempt to place it in a reasonable place within the current level progression. The most current version will always be attached to the bottom of this post.

I would like it to include levels from as many different members as possible. If you have never made one at all, or are able to make just shorter levels or something, it doesn't matter. It should be more of a showcase than anything.

A few guidelines to make it interesting for everyone:
-I will try to follow the posts and put credits as well as the most recent version in the top post (this one). If you like, you can include a sign near the entrance with "made by..." such as I have done.
-Try to keep the difficulty to a somewhat fair-difficult level, at least the first say 5 rooms, for two reasons. One, I want everyone to be able to contribute and play so very difficult rooms followed by very easy will be somewhat strange. Two, if you make a room that requires a jetpack or some other special item, it will carry to later levels which may make them too easy.
-Please only make one level at a time. Again, to be fair to anyone wanting to contribute. Depending how well this goes, if interest falls off quickly and one or two people want to keep making more, this guideline may go kaput.
-Finally, realize I mark these as "guidelines' not rules. But please, only break them if you feel it really adds to the level as a whole.
Ok, so have fun creating and I hope many people will become involved! Thanks!

Edit: The "Spelunky Experiment V4" attachment is the full level as it stands now. It is in 7-zip format, so you need to unzip it and place it in your Spelunky folder. The followup levels are hidden in the level select to make it easier to start and less clutter. If you want to play any of the separate levels alone, you can download them below. If you want to play the harder version of Eguee's level "claustrophobia" delete the level with that name, and delete the "H" at the end of the other. (e.g. delete "claustrophobia" and rename "claustrophobiaH")
Current Progression
1-by Arucard
2-by Airsalad
3-by Q0099
4-by DirkRhyolite
5,6-by Eguee

-Changes-
*Spelunky Experiment will now start the game (renamed from "One of Us")
*The level progression has been moved around a bit.
*Now two versions, 4.1 contains the harder version of Q0099's level "king's tomb", alternatively, you can download it below and add it to your folder if you already have the version 4

[q0099]

I like the idea, but only if each level will be somehow connected with previous. Or all levels will be connected with something common.

Otherwise we just get bunch of levels, but not so far the community project.

[Chainz]

Hmm... This sounds interesting. I think I'll try my hand at it later!! Hopefully, you'll see those results soon...

[Pun]

Ooh, nice idea.
Might do something for this later.
This really got me excited.

[eguee]

Sounds fun.

[AirSalad]

Im keen, but theres a couple of things that would help out immensely. First is your bomb and rope count.
I tried your level out and its nice and simple but i see you included a random equipment box and a pack of ropes. It wouldn't matter too much but the fact is people end up finnishing the level with alot of ropes and bombs and also if they are lucky a piece of nice equipment (maybe even a jetpack).

So if you could do it so the person ends up with as near to 0 bombs and 0 ropes with no game breaking equipment by the end of the level, then that would be great.

[eguee]

Ropes I'm okay with.
Bombs and Jetpacks/Shotgun/Pistol/Climbing Gloves I'm not.
Teleporter I'm really not.

[Arucard]

Im keen, but theres a couple of things that would help out immensely. First is your bomb and rope count.
I tried your level out and its nice and simple but i see you included a random equipment box and a pack of ropes. It wouldn't matter too much but the fact is people end up finnishing the level with alot of ropes and bombs and also if they are lucky a piece of nice equipment (maybe even a jetpack).

So if you could do it so the person ends up with as near to 0 bombs and 0 ropes with no game breaking equipment by the end of the level, then that would be great.

I did think of that when placing the boxes, probably should just change them into chests instead. I put the ropes with the intention of the player using one to get to them, then using at least one in the little snake pit. Ok, the new one now has the box replaced with a pot or something. I don't want to make it full of walls just to force the use of all bombs or anything, but I have changed the starting equipment to 3 instead of 4. Hopefully you guys can work with that.

Had another thought though, instead of downloading the first or most recent level, then re-uploading it with yours attached. It might be easier to attach your level to a post, then I will add it to the end of the most recent. This way I can host it and provide a single link for the most current version. Also, it will keep any conflicting levels from showing up. For example if two of you download the first level and link yours to it. Then we have the first level going two different places, so it will keep that from happening. Hope you can understand that, I don't think I explained it very well. 

[eguee]

I can bat-jump for the three ropes and I can long jump in the pit.

[AirSalad]

Well i got one anyway, simple but i tried to make it look pretty ^_^

I guess you can do the level exits and shit.

[eguee]

That is one fricking beautiful level.
Edit: Here's mine:

[Arucard]

Nice job guys, this is exactly what I was hoping for, different styles by different people! Eguee's level is...hm a bit hard. Since it's just three now they are in the order of the posts, but if we get some easier ones I'll move yours down a bit. Seriously, I don't even think I saw the exit! Anyway, the levels are attached to the first post. Keep 'em comin'!

[eguee]

Should I tone down the difficulty?

[Arucard]

Should I tone down the difficulty?

It's up to you, I want it to feel like your level though, I really liked the challenges idea too. If you want to upload an easier one in it's place you could do that too. No other levels yet anyway, but as it stands it's the last level of three and it being hard is just fine. If we get three or four more, I'll probably try to put them in order of difficulty the best I can.

[eguee]

I've toned down some of the ouchiness in this version: