My 6th level is well under way and I now have 49 Stars with 5 levels for an average of almost ten per level, which is neatly on track. Which means I got nine while away yesterday but still one short of the second medal. In any case, let's review and analyse;
20-09, Thwomp Fortress Break-in: 194 playthroughs performed by 53 players, beaten by 24 for a ratio of 12.37% and Star-ed 11 times.
21-09, Clown-Car to Crystal Cave: 153 playthroughs performed by 34 players, beaten by 19 for a ratio of 12.41% and Star-ed 5 times.
24-09, The Chimneys of Mushroom Factory: 184 playthroughs performed by 48 players, beaten by 15 for a ratio of 8.15% and Star-ed 10 times.
28-09, Spiny Barrage [Automatic]: 92 playthroughs performed by 55 players, beaten by 49 for a ratio of 53.26% and Star-ed 13 times.
30-09, Chief Wiggler's Icey Cave: 155 playthroughs performed by 37 players, beaten by 15 for a ratio of 9.67% and Star-ed 10 times.
In two weeks time, my first level got to 11 Stars, a number beaten by my automatic level with 13 Stars already in half the time. It's about to be matched by two others as well, with the last only four days old. The automatic level does have the worst completion/Star-ratio, but due to the sheer amount of completions likely, it pulls ahead still. My last level has the best ratio, with two-thirds of the players who complete it giving it a Star.
It seems automatic levels accumulates an amount of players the fastest, yet players are less likely to Star them compared to a real level. Also, it seems some either skip automatic levels, or judging by the deaths, try to complete it by playing it, bringing the clear-ratio down. It was hovering around 64% actually up until today, when it appeared someone tried several times, likely without noticing it was supposed to be automatic. Seeming that the default percentage quickly leveled to the 64 number before, I'd say about three out of ten people actually skip automatic levels, with some others not noticing at first it's automatic.
I also can't help but suspect that levels that have been played more are more often featured in people's 100 Mario Challenges, because the gaps in the amount of players keeps widening. This gives another advantage to automated levels, because they'll have a faster start, they'll likely draw more players faster and faster, helping them generate more and more Stars easier, as they do going by absolute numbers.
Clown-Car seems to be a failure. It has been beaten by newer levels in every aspect that matters and never came close to the level released before. It has still the highest clear-ratio, but that's because it's the easiest level made easier because a design error which apparently (judging from the lack of deaths in the second part) makes people take the path to the secret exit before they would take the path intended. Being the easiest also means it relatively has the highest amount of completions versus players. I'm actually surprised the clear-ratio isn't in fact, a couple percent higher. Mushroom Factory has been proven by both clear-ratio and completions versus players to be the hardest level, yet it's design is still appreciated given the amount of Stars it got in a ratio similar to the Icey Cave level.
Ignoring miiverse responses by you guys, my last level, Icey Cave, also got the most reactions by random players. It seems to be the most well recieved which is supported by it having the highest completion/Star-ratio. It's also has the fastest performance besides the automatic level, which could mean that the ratio of Stars verses completion also plays a small part in the game's algoritm for levels appearing in the Mario Challenge, however, this could also just be, luck.
