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'''Zane Kuecks''', also known as '''IceyLava108''' and more recently '''Inzane''', is a chipster, optimizer, and level designer. He first played Chip's Challenge sometime in the mid 2000s, but was unaware of the larger community at the time. In late 2011, he re-acquired a copy of Microsoft's Chip's Challenge and an [[CCEdit|editor]] and begin making his own levels, soon finding out about [[CC Zone]] and the Chip's Challenge community at large after leaving a comment on a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LrtQzZ8tlE YouTube video]. Since then, Zane has released several custom level sets for both Chip's Challenge 1 and 2. | |||
In 2016 and 2017, | Zane has been known to overhaul his CC1 level sets in favor of better design quality. In 2016 and 2017, he updated his first three CC1 level sets with major changes to both gameplay and design. In January 2024, he began a major project to transform and condense his existing level stock into three major level sets which is currently underway. Once complete, Zane plans to retire from CC1 level design in favor of CC2. | ||
Though he prefers level design, Zane is a proficient optimizer in CC1 and CCLP1. | == CC1 level sets == | ||
Zane began work on his first level set, ''survival.dat'', in December 2011. Originally conceived of as a story-based level set, its full version was never realized. Its design style ranges from very basic to largely nonsensical, with many levels involving heavy numbers of monsters, excessively long sliding paths, and no discernible wall patterns, akin to many levels designed prior to [[CCLP2]]. A demo of this level set, the only version to be released online, contains 33 levels and is [https://forum.bitbusters.club/thread-923.html still available on CC Zone]. Some concepts included in ''survival.dat'' provided a foundation for levels seen in later level sets. As his experience was limited to MSCC during this time, this level set was not intended for Lynx play. | |||
=== ZK1 and ZK2 === | |||
Pivoting to Lynx-compatible design ahead of the release of [[CCLP1]], Zane released ''ZaneK1'' (later ZK1) in August 2012. It contains 149 levels and, unlike its predecessor, was designed loosely with Lynx play in mind, although in practice many issues began to arise in both rulesets due to lack of thorough playtesting. Compared to ''survival.dat'', Zane's design style was heavily refined; although notably messier than many of its contemporaries, it was a sizable improvement. Despite this, many levels included in ZaneK1 remain bland, uninspired, or rely too heavily on borrowed concepts and designs. Thirty-one of the levels designed during development of ZaneK1 were [https://forum.bitbusters.club/thread-895.html submitted for CCLP1]; one, [[Launch]], was included in the final set. | |||
Zane released a standalone Halloween level, titled ''Halloween Special'', on 31 October 2012 to promote his upcoming level set ''ZK2''. | |||
Zane released ''ZK2'' (originally titled ''ZaneK2'') in January 2013 with eighty levels, rebranding its predecessor as ''ZK1'' sometime during development. ZK2 sees more focused designs than ZK1, pursuing smaller, often thematic styles as opposed to predominantly chip-collecting or single-concept levels that were commonplace in ZK1. Zane considers the design style seen in the original version of ZK2 to be the primitive foundation for his modern level building preferences. | |||
=== ZK3 === | |||
In 2013, Zane began work on a two-part sequel to ZK2; informally referred to and later condensed into simply ''ZK3'', Zane released two level sets titled ''ZK3: Damnation'' and ''ZK3: Abandoned''. These subtitles, as well as some hints within levels, suggest a mini-storyline of some sort akin to what Zane had attempted previously with ''survival.dat''; similarly, though, this idea was very minimally implemented. Inspired by [[Tyler Sontag]]'s forty-level packs, each level set contains forty levels, considerably more difficult than either ZK1 or ZK2. Though still considered somewhat subpar by his own modern standards, ZK3 bore a significant design evolution from that of ZK2, with a focus on highly challenging but thoroughly engaging levels as opposed to the more simplistic but colorful puzzles seen before. | |||
Zane compiled a CCLP4 submissions set, titled ''ZaneSubmissions'', for CCLP4 consideration. It encapsulated what Zane felt was the best of his available levels at the time from ZK1 through ZK4 with over two hundred entries. Three of its levels, all from ZK3, made the cut: [[It Suits the Purpose]], [[Split Path]], and [[Lockdown]]. | |||
=== ZK4 and ZK5 === | |||
Work on ''ZK4'' began in 2014 and was completed the following year. It contains 75 levels, marking a departure from prioritizing difficult campaign levels in favor of exploring easier but thoughtful puzzles. Unlike his previous entries, ZK4 was and still is mostly ordered by design date, lacking a recognizable difficulty curve. Whereas ZK3 prioritized pure difficulty, ZK4 placed a novel preference for aesthetic and appearance over all other design qualities. | |||
Zane released his final CC1 level set, ''ZK5'', in August 2017, containing fifty levels. Initially slated for thirty levels, it was expanded to fifty before being uploaded to CC Zone. Every tenth level contains a significant remake of a single level from each one of his previous level packs. Aside from a modest difficulty curve that spikes near the end of the pack, most levels are relatively small in scope, centered around exploring one or several game mechanic(s) or tile(s). | |||
=== Modernization === | |||
In 2016 and 2017, Zane began to heavily modify his first three level sets, elevating their design quality to what he felt was his standard at the time. ZK1 was changed significantly; its total level count was reduced from 149 to 100 (plus 10 additional levels intended to be considered a separate "bonus" section) and many of its levels were either significantly modified or completely rebuilt from scratch. Many levels present in the original ZK1, since dubbed ''ZK1_old'', were not included in the remade level set. ZK2 and ZK3 also received significant changes, but many fewer levels were outright rebuilt. | |||
== CC2 level sets == | |||
Thus far, Zane has released three small level sets for Chip's Challenge 2. ''Bronze'' was quickly released in June 2015 following the release of CC2; because of the impracticality of the built-in editor, his first CC2 levels were relatively small in size and rather experimental with newly introduced game elements. This was followed up by ''Silver'' in May 2017 and ''Gold'' in March 2019, which focused on larger, more in-depth concepts thanks to the release of third-party editors. As of 2024, Zane has released sixty-six levels across his three main CC2 sets. Two of his CC2 levels appeared in [[CC2LP1]]: [[A Little Help]] and [[Primed]]. | |||
== Other level sets == | |||
In addition to his mainline CC1 releases, Zane has also constructed several other level packs for Chip's Challenge 1. He released ''ZKpgchip'' in October 2012, a short pack dedicated to concepts utilizing the [[ice block]] patch. In April 2014, he created ''ZK-Ideas'', a side project initially developed to serve as a rejects set but later expanded into a mostly experimental pack akin to [[TCCLPRejects]]. In 2020, Zane released a best-of level set titled ''ZK0'' which includes 100 hand-picked levels from ZK1 through ZK5. | |||
For CC2, Zane released an experimental set parallel to ZK-Ideas named ''Ruby'' in January 2019, though it only contains a single level. | |||
== Current and future projects == | |||
In January 2024, Zane began a second major overhaul of his existing level sets, seeking to re-release ZK1, ZK2, and ZK3, each with 100 levels, to fit his current design style. Some levels will receive little to no change while others will be completely replaced. Zane also plans to scrap current versions of ZK4 and ZK5, instead incorporating their level concepts into this new condensed format. Depending on future interest, he may redevelop ZK4 and ZK5 into similar level packs with 200 all-new levels. However, Zane's CC2 level design is likely to take priority. This project is currently underway and is expected to complete sometime during 2024. Both current and older versions of these level packs will be appropriately renamed upon the release of these renovated packs. | |||
Zane also plans to replace ZK0 with a traditional 149-level set once development of ZK1, ZK2, and ZK3 are complete, with select levels from each pack. | |||
For CC2, Zane plans to modernize select levels from Bronze, Silver, and Gold in favor of a similar 100-level pack titled ''Inzane1'', retiring the element-based names. Future CC2 level sets will follow a similar format. | |||
== Design style == | |||
Zane's level design style has changed slowly over time, visible in rough transitions throughout his level sets. He almost universally prioritized gameplay elements over appearance during the development of ZK1 and ZK2, only gradually latching on to personal design tropes thereafter. By the release of ZK4 and especially ZK5, Zane had reversed this position and instead cemented his interest in aesthetic beauty as his main priority when designing levels, even at the expense of functionality if necessary. His newest levels pronounce symmetry and attention to detail as much as possible without significantly compromising gameplay, though Zane prefers to redraw concepts should looks suffer too much as a result. | |||
Today, many of his tougher levels involve some amount of [[force floor]] precision required to dodge dangerous obstacles, frequent use of monster manipulation to progress, and regular use of advanced concepts such as [[partial posting]] and the use of blocks and monsters together to perform [[nail]]s. Zane's modern style also places a greater emphasis on what he believes to be underutilized game elements, such as normalized tighter [[time limit]]s and a larger focus on [[window shopping]] to solve puzzles stretching multiple rooms. Solutions to his puzzles often involve deciphering patterns hidden either within levels themselves or more abstractly within level names or [[hint]]s. He seldom uses hints to relay direct information to the player as is the norm with most designers; rather, his hints typically serve as additional layers to existing game puzzles or provide advantages only through cryptic riddles. | |||
Many of his levels revolve around a specific type of obstacle tile and how other game elements interact with it; for example, fire-themed levels involving both [[bug]]s and [[fireball]]s. | |||
Zane cites custom sets TS0 and TS2, JBLP1, ArchieP1, and Chip56 as some of his greatest influences in shaping his current design ethic, with [[Josh Lee]]'s versatility and use of color throughout his many level packs also having a significant impact. | |||
== Scores == | |||
Though he prefers level design, Zane is a proficient optimizer in MS, particularly in CC1 and CCLP1. As of March 2024, he is currently 17th place on the CC1 MS leaderboard with a score of 5,976,940, including 133 bolds. However, because he optimizes so infrequently, he has only scored a handful of new records, all of which are currently in CCLP1 MS. | |||
== Official Levels == | == Official Levels == | ||
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== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||
* Zane's favorite level set is CC1. | |||
* Zane's favorite | * Many of his level titles reference song titles, album titles, or fictional locations in video games or other media. | ||
* Many of his level titles reference song titles, album titles, or fictional locations in video games. | * Zane once uploaded his own solution for every CC1 and CCLP2 level to his former [https://www.youtube.com/user/IceyLava108 YouTube channel]; it has since been inadvertently shut down. | ||
* Zane | * One of Zane's favorite level design concepts is the use of force floor precision, as satirically referenced in [http://davidstolp.com/old/chips/map.php/ZK-Ideas_3.gif this level]. | ||
* One of Zane's favorite concepts is the use of force floor precision, as satirically referenced in [http://davidstolp.com/old/chips/map.php/ZK-Ideas_3.gif this level]. | |||
[[Category:People]] | [[Category:People]] | ||