LAVALAND
Nine levels for SPISPOPD (Smashing Pumpkins Into Small Piles Of Putrid Debris)
By Jason McIntosh
(Release 1, December 7 1997)

Gratitude must first go to Mike Hommel for creating SPISPOPD and including such great customization tools!

* The Story So Far...

Pumpkins have invaded a lava world and stashed a bunch of candles there.  So obviously Bouapha must get them back and eradicate the Pumpkinian threat.

* How to Play

For those who don't already know (besides the fact that you should read the docs that came with the game), SMASH.EXE is the executable SPISPOPD program.  Run it with SMASH.EXE LAVALAND [generation rate 0-255] [gamespeed 0-255].

I set up a shortcut for each level set in Windows 95.  Then you simply click on the shortcut (renamed to the level set it runs) to play that level set.

The best gamespeed on my P75 is 195.  Faster computers will be much lower (lower = slower).

* About the Levels

This is my first set of levels (complete with ending screen and new sounds), but I tried to maintain some illusion of being in a lava-filled world, so most levels are sort of logical and not simply a big maze with chaotically placed items and enemies (well, until the very last level).  In my next set I plan to have an overall storyline for the set.

If you have trouble getting through, I'll be writing some notes and comments about level design using SPISPOPD as a general game design exercise with Lavaland as an example.  You can find "spoilers" and such among those notes.

* Soundpack #1 for SPISPOPD

If you want to increase enjoyment of the game, please get the Soundpack I created for it.  It replaces a lot of the original sounds with big beefy ones.  It really has a notable effect on the feel of the game, and is rather telling of the power that sound in game design has.  Some notes on the Soundpack will be found on my website too, as another part of the design exercise.

* Thanks

Thank you for being interested in playing my levels!  I'll post more when I get a new set.  And special thanks to my wife for having fun being tortured by play-testing.

Jason McIntosh

jmcintosh@iclub.org
wardsix@theoffice.net
http://www.geocities.com/Silicon Valley/1672/
http://www.theoffice.net/wardsix/