A Guided Tour Of JSWO #2

Posted by oddbob on June 5, 2007 · Lovingly Filed Under Articles 
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Ever onwards, this time its the Treehouse segment of the game.

Hit the jump for the guide.

Thats Ent-ertainment

Thats Entertainment

The Space area extension was the first thing I tackled when it came to adding new maps and with no offence to Mr Wetherill and Rowson, out of all the sections featured in JSWII I always found Space to be both drab and uninspired in room design and in tiles. Consequently, I found it more difficult to rise to the challenge of making something inspired myself with them. When you throw in the “first attempt at rebuilding maps for the game” syndrome, whilst perfectly fitting with the game, I’m not sure they stand up quite as well as some of the more unique area’s of the map.

Thats Ent-ertainment is the opening screen for the Treehouse segment of the game. The first part I got to tackle from my own perspective. The name, rather obviously, is a tribute to The Jam song mixed with a Tolkien theme. Drop down “Big Hole” and take a meander down the secret passage (now with added bunny) to reach the Treehouse.

For some odd reason, this was originally known as “STompys Hideout”, but as Mr Smila had already included STompys Woolshop into the game, rather than have two rooms bearing STomps name, I stripped it down to just the one.

The Tracks Of My Trees

Tracks Of My Trees

Good old Smokey Robinson provided the inspiration for this room. Keeping in with the musical/shrubbery theme of the tree house - we have a tree on a conveyor belt. A tree on tracks. Alright, I know, I know. It made me smile anyway.

I have no idea just how many revisions this room went through before it reached the version you see now in the game, it was, for want of a better term… a difficult room to balance. It would alternate between far too easy and far too difficult, and took a good few versions of the game before I finally nailed it.

Light ReLeaf

Light Releaf

Ah, now this is where things start getting a little bit more tricky in the Treehouse. Originally the pun came from how incredibly easy this screen was when it started out, again - much tweaking needed. Whilst nowhere near the most difficult in the game, the timing of the leap over the last enemy on the right can be a bit tricky.

Twiganometry

Twiganometry

Not quite the worst pun in the entire game, but pretty darn close. Again, Twiganometry went through rucks of changes before becoming the screen it is now. The layout has always been consistent, just the amount of nasties and platform positions shifted a bit between early builds of the game.

Bracken Forth

Bracken Forth

Aside from being officially the worst pun in the entire game, I’m sure TCK came up with the name for this which would explain a lot, its also one of the biggest bitches. The timing is tight on the top layer and the bottom segment just plain evil.

For those who haven’t noticed yet, you can walk through the wall on the right into the next room for a large haul of objects, but it may cost the less experienced player lives.

Ferndabidozey

Ferndabidozey

I can’t think of anything more cruel than reminding folks of the freaky husband and wife schoolkid dressing alleged comedy duo “The Krankies” and for this, I’m eternally sorry to everyone. They were shit and creepy. Probably still are.

Treehouse

Treehouse

The treehouse itself, nothing much to see here really. A rabbit dancing on a table, the atypical JSW standard, a gorgon and a butler… not the most exciting of rooms.

To the left takes you out of the treehouse and into one of the garden area’s of the game, to the right allows you to delve a bit deeper into what goes on in Willy’s secret hideaway.

The Box Rooms 

The Box Rooms

Again, nothing much to see here - just a link room with an oversize Willy watching the television away from all the troubles and hassle that Maria brings.

Post Home Front Visit

Post Home Front Visit

I have an immense detest of a lot of “Reality TV”, more so the glut of DIY shows that clog up the airwaves with their vapid shite. The idea behind this room was to compare and contrast against how nice and lovely the rest of the Treehouse looked with some seriously bodged together tiles, some scaffolding holding the roof up etc…

Shoddy Workmanship 

Shoddy Workmanship

Continuing the Home Front theme, its Shoddy Workmanship - a dig on both Home Front and the fact I’d managed to completely mung up the platforms on the right hand side repeatedly over various revisions of the map. Exiting to the left of here takes you into the Minter zone, but thats for another post - you don’t want to drop down here or you’ll end up in…

Nick Fucking Knowles

Nick Fucking Knowles

“Spoiling Good Friday my ex love sent to me… 12 drummers singing, 11 chairmen dancing, 10 mascots whinging, 9 stewards flapping, 8 christening invites, 7 cows a barking, 6 vicars strumming, NICK FUCKING KNOWLES…, 4 boring words, Carphone Warehouse and Matalan and a pulled up at Bangor-On-Dee”

From Half Man, Half Biscuits “Upon Westminster Bridge” (not the Wordsworth poem, obviously). Nick Knowles is the host of DIY SOS, a reality TV show based on some blokes coming into folks houses and fixing their fuck ups. Hence the overly large “SOS”.

Its a death room. But its still better than the TV show.

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One Response to “A Guided Tour Of JSWO #2”

  1. gnome on June 6th, 2007 1:25 pm

    When do we rest and smoke? Love the guided tours mind you, but really need to catch me breath….

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