Ever get that feeling you can date how a Mario fan game or ROM hack has aged by the level design features?  You know that feeling, where all of a sudden millions of custom sprites or blocks show up in a level unexpectedly and you can tell the designer just learnt Block Tool or Sprite Tool?  Yeah, it's almost become a drinking game here, because amateur game designers are just so unsubtle when it comes to their newest toy to mess around with in game design/programming.

Indeed, it's blatant to the point I can even tell how old a Mario World hack is (or in many cases, how far in the game a level is) by the boss battles.  If it's default Koopaling fights or Reznor, or Big Boo, it's probably near the start of the game, by someone with no game modding knowledge or was made in the 90s.  If it's edited, then it's a bit further in.  If the person just learnt how to add custom sprites it'll be an omnipresent selection of Mouser, Thwomp boss, Lakitu boss, Fishin' Boo boss, Big Boo, Classic Bowser from Super Mario Bros 1 and Ground Pound Koopa boss.  Then, in no particular order you'll see the Newbie's Custom Boss (aka, very, very boring looking boss battles with hammers thrown at semi random, some random sprite generators and no movement of the boss in the slightest).  Finally, you get the N00b's Custom Boss, which is pretty much Brutal Mario the boss editor.

Yes, go here if you want to try it out:

http://dsultimate.net/DrawingBoard/

It allows you to draw pictures online and have them uploaded straight away and commented on.

Also, can people please submit sites to the DS Ultimate Topsite?  There was a bit of a problem with submissions recently, and it seems few people have bothered to resubmit their sites.

http://dsultimate.net/Topsite