Candy Dreams Alpha

Post by **Levellass** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:23

Since I am no good at modding at all (Well, not at all, just with graphics and levels.) I have decided it may be a wise move to close up shop on my attempts at modding. As such I have been going through my mod projects and shutting them down.

As some may be aware, for the last three years I have been modding Keen Dreams, but have been forced to edit levels byte-by-byte due to nobody wanting to help me with any of the Keen dreams compression. Although I have deleted my beta mod, or at least lost it, my alpha was actually uploaded, so I present it here for anyone who's interested.

Unlike my beta, the alpha does not have all the graphics redone, nor does it have the enemy patches or new sounds. However, FYI, these are possible, if, in the remote future, someone wants to patch Keen Dreams. (Ha!)

Note that this was my first ever mod, almost as soon as KDPatch was released. So the graphics are even *worse* than my usual fare.

Here's the alpha: http://levellord.rewound.net/KDREAMS.zip

And here is a screenshot from the beta: (Final level, oh yeah, my graphics were that bad.)

I'll probably release my Keen 1 mod sometime this or next month and then retire. I leave Keen modding to the superior skills of all of you, you amaze me every day!

Post by **tulip** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:30

Awesome screen! Gonna try this out now.

Post by **KeenRush** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:38

Can't make graphics -- garg, this screen has some of the best I've seen in mods!! You definitely shouldn't quit (coming from someone who never accomplishes anything with his mod projects and takes two to three years to bring out a new one

)! Trying this mod out while writing this post, I see this mod has some of the coolest sprites I've seen in mods...

Oh, and what about that Keen 1 mod? Is that a finished work?

DaVince · Post by **DaVince** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:02

One usually keeps going in order to improve, or at least have fun in doing such things. You're not a bad modder at all (though levels can be frustrating at times, I have to admit), so keep going!

Now, to play this mod...

matonen · Post by **matonen** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 13:14

A keen dreams mod? Haven't been any of those before right?

That screen looks neat too! Must try it.

DaVince · Post by **DaVince** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 15:05

> Quit
FUCL you!

This mod seemed pretty promising. I like the theme you were going for, but what made you pick candy rather than the "Keen meets the meats" sequel promised in the original game?

Post by **tulip** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 16:21

Yay, the sprites are great indeed.

Did Levellord make some graphics or did you help Levellord with her earlier mod graphics? If not your style is very similar, but it seems you can draw better.

szemi · Post by **szemi** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 17:39

Is there a Keen Dreams level editor?

VikingBoyBilly · Post by **VikingBoyBilly** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 17:43

The pink rabbit looks like Jazz [insert Bonevolus's lost jazz emote here]

EDIT: Found it.

DaVince · Post by **DaVince** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 18:44

szemi wrote:Is there a Keen Dreams level editor?

levellass wrote:I have been modding Keen Dreams, but have been forced to edit levels byte-by-byte due to nobody wanting to help me with any of the Keen dreams compression.

I think this should say enough... If she went into the binaries to edit the levels that way, VERY unlikely. When you play the mod it should be pretty clear, anyway.

Post by **Ceilick** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 22:52

This is just stunning. The graphics here are absolutely excellent. These enemies are great. I really like the sky pattern as well as the clouds. I also like the new keen sprite; great walking animation and i love watching him jump for some reason.

The enemies are fantastic. Really like the tater trooper replacement and his electro pole. I also really like the grape/donuts as well as the jumping marshmellows and the bouncy...i think they're jelly beans?

The new platform is also great, looks like a cross of cookie and grahm cracker.

Levellass, you're great in the graphics department, fantastic even. Don't give up

At least, not on modding, I understand the need to give up on this mod since Keen Dreams level editing seems to be a dead end.

Post by **Levellass** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:26

I don't know. Certainly people are asking me not to quit,at least until I finish something, mostly the people who have contributed things. I'm sure someone else could finish my stuff though. And do a much better job.

Oh, and what about that Keen 1 mod? Is that a finished work?

I'm thinking of making it something to go out with a bang. My last mod.

but what made you pick candy rather than the "Keen meets the meats" sequel promised in the original game?

I'm a nurse, I figured candy was more evil.

Did Levellord make some graphics or did you help Levellord with her earlier mod graphics? If not your style is very similar, but it seems you can draw better.

Lervellord taught me how to draw. This was my style *before* her interference. The beta was full of this sort of stuff. At present I occasionally gain some tiles from LL, though I usually ask her for level advice.

Is there a Keen Dreams level editor?

No, and nobody wanted to help me make one, or even tell me how the levels worked. Another reason for giving in.

The pink rabbit looks like Jazz

He does indeed. That's the Easter Bunny.

lemm · Post by **lemm** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 19:46

The Map Header is Huffman Compressed

The Three Data Planes are first RLEWCompressed (flag $ABCD) and then Huffman compressed

In the Shareware version I have, the map header is distributed around the .map file. So the 26h bytes of maphead data are before each of the three planes, for each level chunk.

I wrote some stuff at keen:modding in your thread.

Post by **Levellass** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 22:05

That will be useful as it appears someone may be continuing my mod. I will have to write something for it.

szemi · Post by **szemi** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 14:11

That's great, lemm.
Now I keep on my mod too. ^^