ARFC A 007 CatchUs (Ends 10/10/09 @ 15:00 GMT)

[straubitude]

Hey everyone,
I haven't played this in forever but I think I'll start again b/c I just have so much free time between my EE classes and my girlfriend. *<---SARCASM*

Anyway, I hate this level. So much small tweaking... this is the reason I stopped playing so long ago. argh.

[markmadras]

This level is not fun for everyone but at the moment we are giving the new AR2 beta a run for its money so all types of levels are needed to find any bugs in the program. This one showed up one fault which we would otherwise not have found, like the level ending too soon.

You should find that with the new AR2 the contests are becoming far more interesting and when the Beta2 is released several faults will have been fixed including a few irritating tweaky ones making gameplay much more fun. There should also be a new Tweaking program in the next version.

[V4nKw15h]

Okay, let's raise this up:

2200+

I'm already finished with this one anyway. I'm working today, out tonight, and busy in the morning. Not to mention that I couldn't face another two hour tweak session just to make a new solution work.

Let's see what you all have.

[markmadras]

2222+

[V4nKw15h]

2250+

Is this a two horse race? No Votart. No Rob?

I guess I will find out soon enough if I need to prepare a new level. I have nothing ready but it's about time you won one Mark and saved me the effort.

[markmadras]

I'm out at 2252 Maybe you should get a level ready Vankwish I'm not going to win this one unless you have only got 2251

[V4nKw15h]

Okay, good to know.

2260+

I'll will at least start preparing a level. Unless Votart has been deliberately silent until the last day of the competition I think there is only rob left competing on this one.

When I will find the time to do it though is another question. Unless I can find some time today while I'm working it's going to be a struggle. I'm out playing poker all evening tonight, and my girlfriend will keep me busy all morning tomorrow no doubt.

Come on rob, hit me up with a big score.

[Votart Silak]

At this time here I don't participate. I have not seen the good solution

[ioncorpse]

This level is not fun for everyone but at the moment we are giving the new AR2 beta a run for its money so all types of levels are needed to find any bugs in the program. This one showed up one fault which we would otherwise not have found, like the level ending too soon.

Thanks, markmadras. Thats was the idea. To test new features of AR2. I can devide almost all beta1 levels we played into two categories:
1. Interesting to play & tweak, but almost the same as AR1 levels.
2. Not so inetersting to play but very different from standard AR1 levels. Mostly bugs & new features of engine are found in them.

[markmadras]

I reported the problem with the "level failed" message coming up too soon to Peter. I think a few of you will be as surprised as I was to discover that the level will still complete after the "failed" message has appeared. I had to retweak my solution several times . Anyway, I thought I should post the reply so you can all see his comments.

Hi Mark,

Yes - this is something that I knew could/would happen. The 'level failed' message is triggered by an armadillo being underneath [half the level height] below the level bottom.

This causes a problem now because it's possible for that armadillo to pass the level. What happens in this situation is that although the 'level failed' message is shown, it's overridden by the the 'level complete' message when it happens.

I made it this way so because the 'level failed' message is useful sometimes. The alternative would be to remove it completely. What do you think should happen in these instances?

See attachment for a solution which initially fails before succeeding.

[rob]

Come on rob, hit me up with a big score.

Only 2052 so far but I have an almost working solution I can raise you with if I manage to get it to work.
I have some spare time tonight so I'll see if I get lucky...

EDIT: I didn´t get lucky. I know what to do to get around your score but it keeps failing. I´ll submit my 2052 and stop torturing myself

[V4nKw15h]

Yeah, tell me about it Rob.

Normally I will make a POC and then make 5-10 improved solutions before deciding I'm done.
On this one I made a POC and then nearly tore my hair out trying to get just a single improved solution to work.
However, I quite enjoyed the level up to that point.

I had a little time at work yesterday to get a new level concept down. I've played around with it for close to two hours today testing ideas, moving things around, and tweaking material prices, to make it interesting to solve in different ways.

If nobody comes up with a suprise late solution to beat me on this one, I should have it posted soon after we get the results for this.