Official Level Design Contests of 2009
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January/February
- Host: FuriousFox
- Then-current SRB2 version: v1.09.4
This was the first contest since September/October 2007 not to feature a NiGHTS level. SonicMaster won a division of the contest for the fifth time in a row, submitting his ninth and tenth consecutive winning map. His Single Player entry, North Pole Factory Zone, had been made several months before and was only submitted because his next Single Player entry, Vibrant Vendetta Zone, was not finished in time. Compared to his previous few levels, it had a fairly lukewarm reception. New Super Mario Zone was a 2D map themed after New Super Mario Bros. While it was generally agreed to be an impressive effort, it received mostly negative reviews due to severe gameplay issues, such as blind jumps and buggy mechanics.
Sapphire Coast Zone Act 2, another level intended for Blade's level pack Lost Worlds, featured an early version of the Spring Shell, an enemy that is now featured in SRB2 itself. While the enemy was generally lauded, the level itself was seen as generic and received middling reviews. A remade version of this level would later win the January/February 2012 OLDC.
As a one-off bonus, multiplayer entries in this contest were allowed to use resources from the SRB2 Asset Pack addon for v1.09.4. Therefore, the SRB2 Asset Pack must be loaded when playing the multiplayer levels.
Single Player division
- New Super Mario Zone by Fawfulfan – 2.80
- North Pole Factory Zone by SonicMaster – 6.56
- Sapphire Coast Zone Act 2 by Blade – 6.00
- Mr E Special Stage 1 by glaber – 2.61
Match division
- MAPA1 – Boringe by SonicMaster – 5.00
- MAPA2 – Toxic Plant Zone by Hyperknux – 6.20
- MAPA3 – Rook's Valley Zone by Drake Spyker – 6.29
- MAPA4 – Destiny Islands by Darkness Claw – 3.71
- MAPA5 – Castle de Space by SpaceKGreen – 6.43
Capture the Flag division
- MAPA6 – Space Base Zone by Jellybones – 4.80
- MAPA7 – Overheated Zone by SonicMaster – 5.57
Circuit division
- MAPA8 – Heavenly Fountain Zone by SonicMaster – 6.38
- MAPA9 – Aqueduct Circuit Zone by Ezer.Arch – 7.00
Links
March/April
- Host: FuriousFox
- Then-current SRB2 version: v1.09.4
This contest had an empty Capture the Flag division. The name of Vibrant Vendetta Zone is based on an old community joke, in which new users would be told that Vibrant Vendetta is a hidden level in SRB2 that is unlocked by completing impossible requirements. Although the map received favorable scores, it was criticized by some for killing the joke. The Single Player winner, Mill Citadel Zone, was praised for its original theme; it is set in a mill and uses flour as an obstacle. A second act was released in the next contest, to even higher acclaim, and both acts were later added to Ezer.Arch's level pack Arch Pack. Aqua Caved Zone Act 1 was intended for Blade's level pack Lost Worlds, while Eggmansion Zone Act 1 was intended for CoatRack's level pack Chaos Domain. He would later remake the level twice, the first remake winning the January/February 2010 contest and the second remake being the current version featured in Chaos Domain.
Single Player division
- Beach Factory Zone Act 1 by Chisuun – 4.80
- Water Leaf Zone by Thompson – 7.00
- Dusty Desert Zone by Chrome – 6.13
- Frost Mountain Zone Act 2 by Hyperknux – 5.65
- Vibrant Vendetta Zone by SonicMaster – 7.96
- Floating Gardens Zone by Kyasarin – 5.52
- Aqua Caves Zone Act 1 by Blade – 6.96
- GS Poloy Forest by glaber – 4.45
- Darkvile Castle Zone by Simsmagic – 5.90
- Mill Citadel Zone by Ezer.Arch – 8.10
- Eggmansion Zone Act 1 by CoatRack – 5.81
Match division
- MAPA1 – Heaven Meadows Zone by Hyperknux – 5.67
- MAPA2 – Great Gorge of Water Zone by SonicMaster – 3.20
Capture the Flag division
No maps were submitted for this category.
Circuit division
- MAPA3 – Scale the Earth Zone by Chaobrother – 0.71
- MAPA4 – Volcano Park City by Darkness Claw – 4.20
- MAPA5 – Scorching Factory Zone by Jellybones – 3.86
- MAPA6 – Endless Woods Zone by Blade – 7.40
Links
May/June
- Host: FuriousFox
- Then-current SRB2 version: v1.09.4
This was the last OLDC for Version 1.09.4. As in the previous few contests, the Single Player division was large and of fairly high quality, with three maps scoring above 8 and only two below 5. The three highest-rated maps were all sequels to previously released levels. Aquatic Labyrinth Zone Act 2 combined the underwater theme of the first act with a factory setting. It was even longer more complex than the first act and garnered similarly enthusiastic reviews; it is now included in Kuja's level pack The Emerald Isles. Hidden Sanctuary Zone Act 2 was a GFZ-themed level set at nighttime. It was praised for its flow and strong visuals.
Mill Citadel Zone Act 2 expanded on the concepts found in the first act from the previous contest and received an even higher rating. After the release of v2.0, Ezer.Arch would continue working on the map, adding new features such as maces. A reworked version of the map is now included in his level pack Arch Pack. With Mill Citadel Zone Act 2, Ezer.Arch achieved his fifth consecutive win in the OLDC, tying with SonicMaster for the longest streak of winning entries.
Factory Farce Zone Act 1 is centered around a bouncy floor gimmick, similar to the one in Sonic CD's Wacky Workbench. A slightly expanded version was later included in XSRB2. Greenery Pass Zone Act 2, the first act of which had been released in the November/December 2008 OLDC, was intended for CoatRack's level pack Chaos Domain, but it was later replaced with Midnight Pass Zone Act 2 from the July/August 2011 OLDC.
Single Player division
- Green Canyon Zone by SonicMaster – 6.05
- Aquatic Labyrinth Zone Act 2 by Kuja – 8.11
- Hidden Sanctuary Zone Act 2 by Ice – 8.29
- Glaber Base 5 by glaber – 4.89
- Cosmic Galaxy Zone by Verifiaman – 3.17
- Flooded Forest Zone by Cheese – 5.08
- Factory Farce Zone Act 1 by Inuyasha – 7.64
- Mill Citadel Zone Act 2 by Ezer.Arch – 8.52
- Greenery Pass Zone Act 2 by CoatRack – 6.67
Match division
- MAPA1 – Diamondus Battle by glaber – 5.44
- MAPA2 – Aerial Match Zone by Cheese – 6.44
Capture the Flag division
- MAPA3 – Geometric Void Zone by SonicMaster – 6.80
- MAPA4 – Diamondus CTF 2 by glaber – 5.40
- MAPA5 – Illuminated City Zone by Cheese – 6.30
Circuit division
- MAPA6 – Submerged Cavern Zone by Cheese – 5.67
- MAPA7 – Star Reactor Zone by Kuja – 7.11
Links
September/October
- Host: FuriousFox
- Then-current SRB2 version: v2.0.4
This was the first OLDC for Version 2.0, following a short pause due to the release of the new version. Because the previous slots for the multiplayer maps were now filled by the SRB1 Remake, the slots were changed to MAPMx for Match, MAPFx for CTF and MAPRx for Circuit. Most multiplayer maps in this contest were deemed mediocre, because mappers were not yet adjusted to the new Match system and thus made many technical mistakes, such as using the wrong monitors or placing too many weapon panels.
Iron Turret Returns Zone was a remake of Iron Turret Zone, an official CTF stage that had been removed in v2.0 due to poor reception. After it won its division, maps that were based heavily on previously released maps were banned from the OLDC. A different remake of Iron Turret Zone made at a later date was added to the CTF rotation for v2.1.
Canyon CTF Zone was plagued with technical errors and a confusing layout. Due to these issues, it was widely considered to be unplayable and received a score of 0.00, the second and last map to do so under the old voting system. The first map to receive a 0.00, The Shining River Zone, had been disqualified, making Canyon CTF Zone the only true holder of a 0.00 score.
Magma Core Zone Act 2 was a remake of Magma Core Zone from the May/June 2008 OLDC. It reused a small section from that map but was otherwise completely redesigned and made use of many new features from v2.0, such as flamethrowers, rock spawners and rope pulleys. Refurbished Gadgetry Zone featured two paths stacked on top of each other, one in regular gravity and one in reverse gravity. Each Star Post was equipped with gravity switchers that allowed the player to switch between the paths.
Single Player division
- Gothic Gardens Zone Act 1 by VX501 – 3.18
- Graceful Coast Zone by D00D64 – 4.66
- Refurbished Gadgetry Zone by SonicMaster – 6.17
- Magma Core Zone Act 2 by Blade – 7.83
Match division
- MAPM1 – Battle Forest Zone by Aaron – 4.68
- MAPM2 – Misty Mesa Zone by Fawfulfan – 3.71
- MAPM3 – Acid Comet Zone by D00D64 – 5.06
- MAPM4 – Icicle Warehouse Zone by glaber – 5.13
- MAPM5 – Volcanic Desolation Zone by Scizor300 – 3.50
- MAPM6 – Azure Lake Zone by CoatRack – 6.20
- MAPM7 – 30 Minute Zone by fickleheart – 2.17
Capture the Flag division
- MAPF1 – Canyon CTF Zone by Eggmanfan – 0.00
- MAPF2 – Ancient Arboretum Zone by ComRante – 5.61
- MAPF3 – Red River Zone by Krabs – 5.33
- MAPF4 – Sunshower Canyon Zone by D00D64 – 6.50
- MAPF5 – Techno Laser Zone by CoatRack – 5.59
- MAPF6 – Iron Turret Returns Zone by Fred – 7.65
- MAPF7 – La Villa Strangiato Zone by Penopat – 6.00
Circuit division
- MAPR1 – Frostbite Peak Zone by fickleheart – 5.19
- MAPR2 – Egg Flower Zone by Mach – 4.75
Links
November/December
- Host: FuriousFox
- Then-current SRB2 version: v2.0.4
This contest broke the record held since 2006 for most entries ever submitted, with 34. It also included the first collaborative map submitted since July/August 2007; since then, most contests have included at least one collaborative map. Frost Columns Zone won its division and was added to the official Match rotation in v2.0.5, while Silver Canyon Zone was added to the official Match rotation in v2.1 as Granite Lake Zone. Midnight Ice was generally agreed to be a decent CTF map, but an illegal sector configuration in the version submitted rendered it unplayable due to massive lag; the score reflects this. Crimson Caves Zone was made in under 4 hours and entered minutes before the voting began, but surprisingly won its division.
The Circuit division also featured Not A Thokfest Zone, a joke level made to parody the community's attitude towards the Race gametype. At the time, most Circuit maps were perceived as "thokfests", i.e., largely flat maps with rudimentary platforming where the player who thoks most efficiently wins. By contrast, Not A Thokfest Zone hardly allows the player to jump at all: It consists almost entirely of pillars with springs that the players must bounce across. The pillars are placed over a water pit that teleports players who fall into it back to the last checkpoint. Despite its humorous nature, the stage was well received by many voters and remains the highest-rated joke level ever submitted to the OLDC.
Single Player division
- Fire Flight Zone by Fawfulfan – 6.38
- Dark Forest Zone by Videogame9 – 1.50
- Jadeflower Zone Act 1 by Blahblahbal – 2.41
- Cloud Cradle by D00D64 – 4.56
- Water Works Zone by Kyasarin – 7.67
- Moonlit Mountain Zone Act 1 by Krabs – 7.79
- Lava Rock Zone by Eggmanfan – 0.74
Match division
- MAPM1 – Abandoned Shrine Zone by Ash – 5.00
- MAPM2 – Two House Forest Zone by Kratzean – 2.44
- MAPM3 – Frost Columns Zone by Mystic – 7.86
- MAPM4 – Plasma Plant Zone by Krabs – 5.89
- MAPM5 – Waterfall Hill Zone by MajinD – 3.88
- MAPM6 – Crystalline Caves Zone by sphere – 7.22
- MAPM7 – Oil Operation Zone by fickleheart – 6.57
- MAPM8 – Lush Forest Zone by Blade – 7.14
- MAPM9 – VG Disco by Brawl – 3.44
- MAPMA – Disorient Battle Zone by JJames19119 – 5.43
- MAPMB – Strawberry Shortcake by Errol – 4.78
- MAPMC – Silver Canyon Zone by CoatRack – 7.14
Capture the Flag division
- MAPF1 – Twilight Groove Zone by Scizor300 – 4.00
- MAPF2 – Lava Fort Zone by Kratzean – 3.38
- MAPF3 – Magma Valley Zone by Krabs – 4.57
- MAPF4 – Abandoned Disco Zone by sphere – 6.00
- MAPF5 – Thunder Coil Zone by ZarroTsu/Mach – 6.00
- MAPF6 – Crosswalk by Shadow Hog – 6.00
- MAPF7 – Metropolis Madness Zone by fickleheart – 7.60
- MAPF8 – Midnight Ice by Ash – 2.50
Circuit division
- MAPR1 – Freaky Factory Zone by fickleheart – 5.50
- MAPR2 – Bleeding Green by D00D64 – 4.33
- MAPR3 – Quicksand Night Zone by Krabs – 6.09
- MAPR4 – Not A Thokfest Zone by Mystic – 6.38
- MAPR5 – Digital Dimension Zone by SonicMaster – 6.73
- MAPR6 – Sky Castle Zone by Mach – 3.22
- MAPR7 – Crimson Caves Zone by Blade – 7.22
Links
| Official Level Design Contests and Collabs | [view] | |
|
2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2014 • 2015 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 | ||