2. What happens in industry?
The level design is completed by a team of
level designer who decide on the challenge
of the level and what elements go where
to create the game player.
A team of environment designs may also
be involved in creating the atmosphere
needed for emersion.
3. Games designers hand over the game
details to the level designer detailing
what they want for the level i.e. Mood,
key game play activities events.
The level designer will take the design
idea and then decide on:
– Events that can be triggers by player
action.
– Props (objects that are present in the
game).
– Non Player Characters (NPCS)
– A rough outline of the design showing
the location of the above elements.
4.
5. What needs to be considered?
Layout: Where can the controlled character go or
not go? Paths they can use to get there? Are
some parts just simply cosmetic? Player cannot
go there?
Pacing: How will the intensity vary through the
game i.e. Pacman speeds up as you go through
the level to make it harder. Where is key events
happening?
Termination conditions: how does the player
win or loose the level
6. Resource Placements: is there anywhere you
can renew ammo? Health? Get armor? How much
is there?
Player Start and end points: Same place or
different each game?
NPC positions and spawning points: do they
spawn or move randomly or are they in a set
place? Do they even move?
7. Landmarks: Distinguishing parts of the
landscape for example Lord of the Rings Online
has recognisable parts from the book. i.e.
Prancing Pony
Destruction: Can the level be destroyed?
Battlefield Bad Company 2 does this really well.
Storytelling: How does it develop through the
narrative? Does the Character need to get to this
place? Through the maze? Etc
