Return to the Shadowlands
Return to the Shadowlands
Introducing: Commander Keen in "Return to the Shadowlands"
This will be a levelpack/mod in the style of Bubbatom's Eight Accumulators and 55Avenue's Short Circuit Oracle.
Featuring:
An all new story taking place after Goodbye Galaxy: The oracle council need Keen's help once again, but not for the the reason you might think...
All new levels: Journey to the western Shadowlands that reach out beyond the ruins of Sand Yego. Will you make it past Glacier Gate to the icy north, journey through the jungle and survive the Pyramid of Fear, or discover the isles of Bubblegum Lake?
Some new graphics: New story images, level entrances, new backgrounds, graphic recolors, demo tiles, and other misc additions.
Current Progress:
-9/18 Levels ready for beta testing.
To-Do:
-9 Levels
-Level Testing
-Story Images
-Text Files
-Loading Screen
Look for this project's release in April 2021!
Special thanks to:
Nisaba for graphics, ideas, and being a positive influence.
K1n9_Duk3 for patching guidance.
55Avenue for letting me use some graphics.
This will be a levelpack/mod in the style of Bubbatom's Eight Accumulators and 55Avenue's Short Circuit Oracle.
Featuring:
An all new story taking place after Goodbye Galaxy: The oracle council need Keen's help once again, but not for the the reason you might think...
All new levels: Journey to the western Shadowlands that reach out beyond the ruins of Sand Yego. Will you make it past Glacier Gate to the icy north, journey through the jungle and survive the Pyramid of Fear, or discover the isles of Bubblegum Lake?
Some new graphics: New story images, level entrances, new backgrounds, graphic recolors, demo tiles, and other misc additions.
Current Progress:
-9/18 Levels ready for beta testing.
To-Do:
-9 Levels
-Level Testing
-Story Images
-Text Files
-Loading Screen
Look for this project's release in April 2021!
Special thanks to:
Nisaba for graphics, ideas, and being a positive influence.
K1n9_Duk3 for patching guidance.
55Avenue for letting me use some graphics.
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Dang!
The rumors have come true. A Ceilick original! This is going to be exciting.
The rumors have come true. A Ceilick original! This is going to be exciting.
out now (link) :
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Sounds fantastic. Looking forward to this one. Good luck in development.
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Nice! I'm looking forward to its release
Commander Keen in... Robot Apocalypse!
Episode 13: The Ultra Omegamatic viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6802
Episode 14: Secret of the Sorcerer viewtopic.php?t=13031
Episode 13: The Ultra Omegamatic viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6802
Episode 14: Secret of the Sorcerer viewtopic.php?t=13031
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
That's exciting to hear about, Ceilick. I wonder if you were feeling what I was feeling when I made The Alphamatic? Wanting to just make some Keen levels without the stress of having it be a fully overhauled mod with new... everything.
Wow, 9 levels in 1-2 months? That's crazy levels of productivity I couldn't even dream of. Well, if you want help with anything, feel free to reach out.To-Do:
-9 Levels
Look for this project's release in April 2021!
Armageddon Begins Again. The Alphamatic has arrived.
Atroxian Realm: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3536
The Alphamatic: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4086
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Thanks guys!
This project started in the final week of February, so those first 9 levels were in 3 weeks
What started as just an impulse desire to create a new world map with Keen 4's tiles evolved into a plan for a full levelpack, which then transitioned to a minimod.
Of the 9 levels remaining, 3 are about 50% complete: the Whispering Woods, the Sunken Sinkhole, and Bounder Town.
My levels aren't particularly complex, as I generally aim for a feeling similar in style to the original games, and that may have something to do with my productivity haha. Also the fact I haven't done any level testing yet. There will definitely be a testing and tweaking period, and hopefully no significant redesigns.
Gridlock, your Alphamatic was among the projects that inspired this. I actually have plans laid out for a full minimod/levelpack trilogy, and should that come to fruition, I hope for your permission to utilize some Alphamatic assets for the keen 5 installment if/when the time comes.
This project started in the final week of February, so those first 9 levels were in 3 weeks
What started as just an impulse desire to create a new world map with Keen 4's tiles evolved into a plan for a full levelpack, which then transitioned to a minimod.
Of the 9 levels remaining, 3 are about 50% complete: the Whispering Woods, the Sunken Sinkhole, and Bounder Town.
My levels aren't particularly complex, as I generally aim for a feeling similar in style to the original games, and that may have something to do with my productivity haha. Also the fact I haven't done any level testing yet. There will definitely be a testing and tweaking period, and hopefully no significant redesigns.
Gridlock, your Alphamatic was among the projects that inspired this. I actually have plans laid out for a full minimod/levelpack trilogy, and should that come to fruition, I hope for your permission to utilize some Alphamatic assets for the keen 5 installment if/when the time comes.
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Haha, that definitely helps. For context, I think I likely put at least 100 hours of work individually into each of the The Alphamatic expansion levels (definitely at least Space Port Tehlah and Mars Machineworks). But those are among the most complex levels I've ever designed, since I was purposefully pushing myself to see how far I could take things. I'm sure it goes faster when it doesn't take around 45 minutes to finish playtesting your own level .My levels aren't particularly complex, as I generally aim for a feeling similar in style to the original games, and that may have something to do with my productivity haha
Absolutely, you're welcome to use anything. I imagine tiles like the diagonal platforms tracks could be especially useful, since those were a pain to draw and line up in the tileset. And if you want to use things like conveyor belts, steep slopes, toggle pistons (from the expansion), or anything else, I think that'd be neat. With version 2, my background and foreground tilesets are nearly crammed to capacity with various tiles.Gridlock, your Alphamatic was among the projects that inspired this. I actually have plans laid out for a full minimod/levelpack trilogy, and should that come to fruition, I hope for your permission to utilize some Alphamatic assets for the keen 5 installment if/when the time comes.
Armageddon Begins Again. The Alphamatic has arrived.
Atroxian Realm: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3536
The Alphamatic: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4086
- Tormentor667
- Vortininja
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Re: Return to the Shadowlands
The screenshots are very promising
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
This. Is. Neat.
I adore the idea of "back to basics" modding (e.g., minimal graphical additions). I hope this helps rekindle your passion for Keen modding and your interest in Sign of the Vool
I assume the fact that you posted this teaser on Mort day is just a coincidence and not a clue as to why Billy has returned to the Shadowlands...
I adore the idea of "back to basics" modding (e.g., minimal graphical additions). I hope this helps rekindle your passion for Keen modding and your interest in Sign of the Vool
I assume the fact that you posted this teaser on Mort day is just a coincidence and not a clue as to why Billy has returned to the Shadowlands...
"I just drew this stupid little fish." -- Tom Hall
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Dude I was already intimidated to try the updateGridlock wrote:I'm sure it goes faster when it doesn't take around 45 minutes to finish playtesting your own level
Ha, last minute rush to complete the title screen held me back!Mr. M wrote: I hope this helps rekindle your passion for Keen modding and your interest in Sign of the Vool
I assume the fact that you posted this teaser on Mort day is just a coincidence and not a clue as to why Billy has returned to the Shadowlands...
You wouldn't happen to have any interest in composing a tune or two for the shadowlands, would you?
That goes out to anyone else interested in composing music as well; I'd love to include some original songs in this project. Maybe a more upbeat "Too Hot", something silly along the lines of "Kick in the Pants, maybe a more downbeat "Oasis", another blub blub like "eat your veggies".
Re Sign of the Vool: I'm hoping these mini projects will help get me back in the swing of it. We'll see, certainly something playable will be released once I get back to it.
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
I'd like to compose something. Now I can't because I haven't got a good software, but on 30th March, my birthday, I'll buy one
Commander Keen in... Robot Apocalypse!
Episode 13: The Ultra Omegamatic viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6802
Episode 14: Secret of the Sorcerer viewtopic.php?t=13031
Episode 13: The Ultra Omegamatic viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6802
Episode 14: Secret of the Sorcerer viewtopic.php?t=13031
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Id be willing to compose a couple songs if you'd like!
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
Thanks guys! PM me any songs you'd like me to consider!
Re: Return to the Shadowlands
It's been a few weeks so I thought I'd throw out an update. Progress has been slower than I'd like, I hit a slump in level design inspiration, but things are still moving.
10 Levels at 100% testing ready
2 Levels at 50%
3 Levels at 15%
3 Levels at 2%
All texts and story images are complete except for the end sequence.
The loading screens are complete.
I've had one song submission from DarkAle. I hope to hear more in the coming weeks! If not, I plan to work with some midis from various bands.
10 Levels at 100% testing ready
2 Levels at 50%
3 Levels at 15%
3 Levels at 2%
All texts and story images are complete except for the end sequence.
The loading screens are complete.
I've had one song submission from DarkAle. I hope to hear more in the coming weeks! If not, I plan to work with some midis from various bands.