Where to begin with learning level design

[Grimbleton]

@GruntosUK;715417

Take a look at level design theory, you’ve learned some it already, like visual signposting with the different coloured items in Mirrors Edge. There’s a lot more to it obviously but it really helps to know why you build a level in a specific way. I made a presentation about it that I use to get my points across when working with a new team. You may find it useful.

GRANT - Level Design Theory - Google Slides

You can see some of my work here:

http://www.grantegglestone.com/

There should be inspiration for it - a setting and a theme. An urban city in my case.

Keep the basic idea in mind, yes. Making a city layout is different to making a medieval castle for example, but think game play first. Keep the grey box (in BSP or basic meshes) simple, the art pass can make a massive difference to how the level is perceived.

How do I come up with the idea for the level - how do I plan it out?

It seems to me your missing a key part of the process, the mechanics. What do you need your player to be doing in the level. Are there any new gameplay elements they need to learn? Any new items that they can use. The rule of three can help cover this from the presentation for example (showing the player a simple section of gameplay and slowly expanding on it over the level). Once you start teaching these mechanics and building them up you have a few to choose from to mix them together in later levels making creating the set pieces in a level easier.

Think of a level designer as someone who shows off the cool ideas that the game designer has had and that the programmer has made in fun, engaging ways.

When I’m sitting down with a pen and paper, how do I know where to put each building?

With the mechanics again, if you need the player to collect X weapon a little way into the level that is the place for a police station maybe? Or long ranged set piece on a the freeway? Your paper design will change.

Plan it, then build it, but improve it constantly with play testing. The initial stages should never be rigid.

How do I know how far away to space things?

Playtesting again, you don’t want the player too constricted and cramped, nor do you want them in a massive space where orientation to the next section will be a problem. Its a difficult question to answer because obviously a city square is a different thing to a corridor in a space station. Its just a case of what feels right when you play it and test it with others.

The choices I make - I want to have a solid reason behind them

The theory helps with this a lot

Usually for a platformer, I’ll open up the editor, throw some random platforms around. Some will be high up, some lower, gaps in between so you can jump across. Why not add an obstacle here and there. I have no more ideas by this point, so let’s just finish the level here! Now for level two. Let’s add random platforms here, an obstacle here, and the level ends here!

I’ve done a lot of platformers. Building mechanics, the rule of three and thinking of a level hook all help with this. Look at a Mario level, its one idea riffed on many, many times.

I’m more than happy to help with any questions you have if needed.

This was pretty fantastic advice and the slideshow was very informative. Thanks for that!

After taking all of this into consideration, I sketched out a map layout on my phone (it was two in the morning and I made it on my phone - my apologies for the low quality :D).

The first four buildings to the very right would be the Murderer’s possible spawnpoints - four of them so that the two cops aren’t able to just immediately rush to the Murderer’s spawn, automatically knowing where he is. There’s a bit of randomness to it. Then there’s two other sets of four buildings that are just there for environmental purposes. The green area is a park, with trees and stuff the player could hide behind. The blue areas are walkways, streets, alleys, etc. The boxes labeled with a B are banks - these are the three banks the player can rob. The closest one rewards the player with $100, the middle one rewards the player with $150, and the furthest (and closest to the cops, therefor the most risky) one rewards the player with $250. This would give him some incentive to go to one bank over another, and also provides some randomness so that the cops don’t automatically know where the murderer will be. The other buildings that aren’t labeled are just there for environmental purposes again, and I suppose they make the map a little more maze-like, providing more hiding places for the murderer. The building labeled with a C is the camera room, and the place where the cops will start. It’s closer to the banks to give the murderer a challenge - making his escape before the cops can come down and catch him. Additionally, it forces the murderer to explore before he reaches the bank, so that he’ll have a somewhat decent idea of the layout of the map and where he might be able to hide and run afterwards.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this and get any suggestions you could give. Thanks again!