r21freak Pad File Comp V!

[mute]

by the way since 90% of a good file is song choice, have you ever considered distributing sources of steppable music with the announcement of a new tournament?

That's a good idea, but not for a comp. #justsayin

[Wyde]

I'm ditching my first idea, since I decided made a completely new chart from scratch. I've finished drafting it, and I'll likely let it stew in my computer until I can think up ways to make it potential better all round. I ain't in no rush, thankfully.

[Xynn]

I just got an insanely awesome idea. But it will require a lot of work. I will get started!

[Psychotik]

I have high hopes for this comp., but because so many steppers got so much better, it's gonna be unpredictable.

I just got an insanely awesome idea. But it will require a lot of work. I will get started!

[Xynn]

I have high hopes for this comp., but because so many steppers got so much better, it's gonna be unpredictable.

I just got an insanely awesome idea. But it will require a lot of work. I will get started!

What?

[Jet]

I have high hopes for this comp., but because so many steppers got so much better, it's gonna be unpredictable.

I just got an insanely awesome idea. But it will require a lot of work. I will get started!

do you always have to start shit.


and yea im going to also submit a file.

p.s. psychotik you dont live in a egloo, ^_^(face) lived in one

[Dark Luke]

6. Song play length/stepping time must be between 1:30 and 2:15, to ensure that the judges will be able to test them at their arcade, and so that everyone can enjoy them after the competition is over. One second (or more) over or under is not allowed.

How's exactly maximum stepping time defined as? Is it defined at the beginning of the very last note in the stepchart, or the moment the audio completely fades to silence?

[sssmsm]

6. Song play length/stepping time must be between 1:30 and 2:15, to ensure that the judges will be able to test them at their arcade, and so that everyone can enjoy them after the competition is over. One second (or more) over or under is not allowed.

How's exactly maximum stepping time defined as? Is it defined at the beginning of the very last note in the stepchart, or the moment the audio completely fades to silence?

It's defined as the last step. However, I would advise against cutting it too close. Having the music cut out automatically for you on the machine is never a plus.

Also, I'd like to give just a few pointers for people entering the competition, especially newcomers and people who haven't had much experience in doing well in simfile tournaments here.

1. Look at the winners from Comp IV, especially the top 10 (and the top 5 even more especially). Find out what makes them so good, both through your own analysis and reading the judges' reviews. Though you shouldn't outright copy or imitate them, you can definitely see what makes files stand out by looking at them, and maybe incorporating some of the general ideas into your own work. Also, perhaps more importantly, look at what makes the bad files bad and the mediocre files mediocre and try not to make the same mistakes that they did.

2. Choose an interesting song. If the song repeats sections over and over, is not very exciting, or doesn't give you any ideas for step-rhetoric that will set it apart from other files, then it might be a good idea to pick a different song. There were several songs in the last competition that were stepped excellently, but the same excellently-stepped sections kept repeating over and over, or they just weren't that exciting to begin with, so it became boring quickly.

3. Pay attention to detail. Be sure to step subtle differences in music subtly, and intense differences in music intensely. Being sure that you don't leave anything potentially cool un-stepped is very important. The judges will be playing the files in Stepmania, slowed down and gone over with a comb, in addition to on the pad, so be sure you do the same. Of course don't get TOO detailed either, stepping things that would be completely inaudible at the arcade.

4. Make sure it's fun. This is the most important idea to keep in mind. If you're stepping something, and you're unsure whether it would be fun to do on the pad, no matter how well it might fit, it's probably a good idea to change it. Just one, small un-fun section can wreck a chart. Back-breaking hands, excessive mines, or super fast crossovers might work well with the music you're stepping, but it might be terrible when actually playing. Of course, it might not either, so be sure to playtest over and over again to find out.

And that's all for now. If you stick to those four points, you should not only end up with a great file, but one that stands a good chance of doing well too. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with this time around

[Kyzentun]

Back-breaking hands

Singles files can never have back-breaking hands. In part because they can always be cheated, but also because there are only 4 panels. Now, if this was a tournament for doubles simfiles, that would be a justified warning.

[mute]

Don't listen to Scott! Step an extremely repetitive song with boring streams!

[Reveal] Spoiler:

WOOOO!


The sad thing is that Super Lovely was genuinely better than a few of the other files in that comp. =/
If I see another file like "Differential (Rate Of Change)" I am gonna strangle somebody.

[joe#2]

Don't listen to Scott! Step an extremely repetitive song with boring streams!

[Reveal] Spoiler:

WOOOO!


The sad thing is that Super Lovely was genuinely better than a few of the other files in that comp. =/
If I see another file like "Differential (Rate Of Change)" I am gonna strangle somebody.

EARBREAKERRRR

[Xynn]

The sad thing is that Super Lovely was genuinely better than a few of the other files in that comp. =/

What do you mean a few? It was better than all the files in that comp.

[Gloves]

My best advice: Remember that the judges (and everyone who plays r21s really), is playing these WITH THEIR FEET. Playtest your file in with this in mind. It can make a world of difference. I know it sounds obvious, but really. Do it.

Also, if you can't make it good, make it funny!

[MdX MaxX]

Will all simfiles submitted be ranked? If I do decide to submit something for this, I'd like to see how I compare to the other step artists.

[Psychotik]

Of course it's ranked. It's a competition to see who makes the best file.