KoolBear's Descent - Introduction

	So Luke, tell us a little something about your self.
V	I'm a third year college student at the University of California, Irvine. I plan on graduating next year (maybe at the end of 1997) then moving into (hopefully) designing 3D graphics, maybe even for some game company.

	What are your Other Hobbies?
V	I love writing MIDI music. I started writing seriously about 2 years ago (pre-Descent) and I still write anywhere from 3 to 8 songs a month. Other than that, I also enjoy computer graphics of all sorts, especially raytracing. Outside of my room, sports are still appealing, but I just don't have as much desire for them as I used to.

	What level designed by you, is your favorite?
V	Juggernaut is my favorite by far. It's so much fun playing against the great AI of the robots. If you don't go after them, they'll come looking for you. I also like PTMC Park as a multiplayer level, although I haven't played it as much as I would like.

	What level designed by someone else, is your favorite?
V	Wow now thats a hard question. I think I would have to say I'm obsessed with levels that are professional-quality, so I'm really annoyed with all the second-rate levels out there, but there are some gems. Ian Zepp's AP-Io Insertion is one of my favorite Descent 1 levels. As for D2, nobody is better than Dan Wentz of Parallax. I especially appreciate Panic Level 10 and Vertigo Level 2.

	How did you start playing Descent 1 or 2?
V	I was at Babbages trying to decide what game I wanted to buy a demo of. I enjoyed Tie Fighter and Doom at the time, so I was looking for something in between. Descent looked closer than Rise of the Triad, so I bought the 7 level demo, and I've been hooked ever since.

	What has playing Descent done for you?
V	Well, it's actually got me quite a bit of stuff. In addition to prizes simply for entering a few level contests, I've also won a couple Descent tournaments. Virtual Conventions holds network gaming conventions once every month or two, and I attended the first two and won all the Descent tournaments held there (3 total tourneys actually). I received Simuleyes, CH Pro Throttle, and other stuff as well. So playing Descent is useful once in a while<

	Who has influenced you in designing levels?
V	Arlo Aude (Spydir) is really the guy I owe everything to. I used to talk on IRC a bit back when I first started playing Descent, and he helped me learn everything there is to know about Devil. He's long since stopped making levels, but I'm still grateful. He was the first great level designer for Descent. In addition, Dan Wentz has had a bit of influence as I've used ideas from his levels (as shown by PTMC Park). Other people have helped me out too, like Matt Legowski, Brad Schneider (no relation), and plenty of others.

	Why do you spend countless hours designing levels?
V	Actually it doesn't take me that long to design levels. I'm so efficient I designed all 5 levels of the Total Insanity (D1 anarchy levels) in 2 days, with each level taking less than 3 hours. Speed only came with experience though. I really enjoy finishing a level and knowing that it's really good and lots of fun.

	What is your "Design Philosophy"?
V	Professional quality. I aim to make the best, and for the most part I think I accomplish it most of the time. For me, lighting is the biggest factor that most levels are lacking, and so that's one thing I really focus on. There are many subtle details that go into making a great level, and I try to pay attention to them all.

	What level Editor do you like and why?
V	Devil has always been my one and only. I've been using it since the days of Devil .99 and it's awesome. DMB2 has potential, but the extremely weak method of lighting really puts a damper on it.

	What can you tell us a bit about your new level project?
V	I'm working with Matt Legowski on it, although I'll be doing most of the actual level design. The tentative name is... sorry can't say that yet. But I can tell you the custom textures are awesome. Although some are just modified from the originals in D2, Matt has been making some very nice tileable main textures, and I've been rendering a ton of cool stuff using POV-Ray. I just finished a new exit door yesterday, and it is really cool. Textures will be completed soon (there are about 70 now), and then we'll work on the levels themselves. We already have all the level ideas basically done, not the structure but objectives and features. Estimated release is early March at this point, and it will have an awesome new MIDI soundtrack, cool briefings, and of course, blinking lights and custom robots (all the robots are custom in fact). And these won't be your standard Blue Key->Yellow Key->Red Key->Reactor levels either, so they'll be a hell of a lot of fun. Basically we're aiming for the coolest set of levels ever created, and I think we can do it.

	What do you want to say to the Descenter's that use your Levels?
V	Thanks for all the great feedback. But you haven't seen anything yet...

Vizor's Kool D1 Levels
Archive	Date	Size	#	Name	Review/Description
viper.zip	5/26/95	21	1	Viper Station	Luke's very first public level. Second place in last June's level contest. Looks like a gasp space station.
cobra.zip	2/28/96	38	1	Cobra Station	Definitely one of Luke's best levels. Includes a full soundtrack, briefing, exit sequence. This one has it all.
demonbrg.zip	11/6/95	27	1	Demon Bridge	A completely random level, but one of my most popular levels ever. It's just fun to play is all I can say.
dethpost.zip	10/25/95	13	1	Outpost Death	A small and very cool single player level that is good for multiplayer as well. A very original structure in the top room.
food.zip	7/31/96	4	1	Food Level	The level Luke made during the Devil Tutorial for reference/comparison. Very small and simple. The name is really Good Level, but I changed it so it didn't get in the way.
insanity.zip	9/2/96	32	5	Total Insanity	A great collection of 2/3-player anarchy levels. Designed all five in just two days. This is what one-on-one is all about.
interace.zip	9/2/96	24	1	InteRace	Only a couple people actually even know this level exists. Similar to Quad Racer, but you can shoot the other players in the straightaways. By far the worst looking level Luke has ever done.
pallas.zip	1/3/97	15	1	Pallas Athena	Based on the structure of Minerva, but wider, less complicated, and looks better.
quadrace.zip	1/7/95	143	1	Quad Racer	Race for your life...better yet, race for their death! Inspired by Team Death by Virgil Itilong. Race four laps against up to three other players. Comes with a custom MIDI.
razor.zip	1/3/97	12	1	Razor StarShip	A small anarchy level. A little on the slow side in the middle room (which looks pretty cool).
super_s.zip	10/25/95	46	1	Super Station	This is a huge long space station. The last robots have gathered...now destroy them once and for all.
trench.zip	10/28/95	13	1	The Trench	Look below for reinforcements. You'll need them. Another level similar in style to Outpost Death.
orion.zip	10/27/96	21	8	Orion Nebula Project	Defense Deployment Base - only to be found in ONP the best level N2 has made he thinks. This is the all new ONP made over for D2 by N2!! ONP contains seven, maybe eight (if you can find it) levels with exit sequences, custom briefings that relate the story as it unfolds, and finally and most stunning is the optional !NEW! MIDI music to listen to while you play.

Vizor's Kool D2 Levels
Archive	Date	Size	#	Name	Review/Description
complex.zip	8/13/96	23	1	THE COMPLEX	Switches galore make this one a challenge to figure out. Better turn auto-leveling off for this one.
crazy1.zip	4/21/96	25	1	Crazy Level 1 (Hydrophobia)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy10.zip	5/14/96	17	1	Crazy Level 10 (Meltdown)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy2.zip	4/25/96	25	1	Crazy Level 2 (Golden Swift)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy3.zip	4/27/96	21	1	Crazy Level 3 (Absolute Limit)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy4.zip	4/30/96	32	1	Crazy Level 4 (Motion Factory)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy5.zip	4/30/96	16	1	Crazy Level 5 (Terra Terror)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy6.zip	4/30/96	13	1	Crazy Level 6 (Crimson Crash)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy7.zip	5/3/96	13	1	Crazy Level 7 (Retro-Bution)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy8.zip	5/11/96	14	1	Crazy Level 8 (Grindstone)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazy9.zip	5/23/96	17	1	Crazy Level 9 (Shockwave)	This level is one of a set of missions
crazyx.zip	6/10/96	159	10	The Crazy Level Compilation	All 10 Crazy levels in 1 awesome Mission!
eon1.zip	9/9/96	11	1	Eon Level 1 (Mirage)	The Eon levels are designed to work best in flag p
eon2.zip	9/14/96	11	1	Eon Level 2 (Malevolence)	"There are only two afterburners. This level works
eon3.zip	9/14/96	11	1	Eon Level 3 (Wave Runner)	"There are only two afterburners. This level works
eon4.zip	9/14/96	12	1	Eon Level 4 (Behemoth Battle)	"There are only two afterburners. This level works
eon5.zip	9/20/96	12	1	Eon Level 5 (Rally Rage)	This level is designed for TEAM flag play.
eon6.zip	10/17/96	12	1	Eon Level 6 (Synchronization)	This level is designed for TEAM flag play.
eon7.zip	10/23/96	13	1	Eon 7	Designed to work best in flag play mode and especially
eon8.zip	10/30/96	14	1	Eon 8	Designed to work best in flag play mode and especially
eonx.zip	10/30/96	14	8	Eon X	"All 8 Eon Levels with Custom Soundtrack. Designed
havocx.zip	8/7/96	39	4	Havoc X	This is a mini-series of anarchy levels (four to be exact) that are all of the same quality as the Crazy levels. They are for the mostpart a bit big for two people but play really well with at least four players...
jugger.zip	8/22/96	34	1	JUGGERNAUT	Switches galore make this one a challenge to figure out. Better turn auto-leveling off for this one.
md2.zip	5/14/96	19	1	Mega Deluxe 2	This level is Luke Schneider's answer to Mega Death. It is completely restructured from scratch in the same manner as all of Luke Schneider's levels, just based on the idea of Mega Death's. You should see the similarity in its layout even though it's not quite the same. BTW, it's also more fun the Mega Death since there's a bit less room to dodge the Megas!
orion-d2.zip	5/27/96	584	1	Orion Nebula Project	Defense Deployment Base D2- only to be found in ONPD2 level 7, the best level N2 has made he thinks. ONP contains seven, maybe eight (if you can find it) levels with exit sequences, custom briefings that relate the story as it unfolds, and finally and most stunning is the optional !NEW! MIDI music to listen to while you play.
ptmcpark.zip	11/14/96	18	1	PTMC PARK	This level is Luke Schneider's "answer" to Parallax's Stadium levels. In case you haven't guessed from the name, the setting of this level is inside a baseball field. It's really meant for flag play but still works terrifically for plain old anarchy. Have fun with this one!
xracer.zip	4/4/96	63	5	Xtreme Racer	This series of five nearly identical levels is an interesting twist on a normal flag level. Its intent is for it to be a sort of "race" to your flag, score, and escape the mine before your opponent. Due to the nature of flag levels, this is strictly a two-player series of levels, whose only differences are the weapons that stock them and their texturing. Great fun and it still works well with lag inherent in Kali games because not too much actual fighting occurs in them!

Maybe you want to recommend a level designer to be included in this list!

Vizor's Kool D1 Levels

Vizor's Kool D2 Levels