So You Want to be a Level Designer - An Introduction to Level Design in Video Games - Extra Credits

Summary

This script delves into the art of level design in video games, exploring the creative and technical processes behind crafting immersive game spaces. It features insights from Max Pires, a senior level designer known for his work on 'The Division' and 'Cyberpunk 2077'. The discussion covers the importance of research, understanding game-specific metrics, effective communication, and player guidance. Max also shares key skills for aspiring level designers to excel in creating memorable game worlds.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Level designers are game designers who specialize in crafting the spaces in games where players explore, fight, and overcome challenges.
• 🏞️ Level design involves not just geometry but also game pacing, combat forms, puzzles, movement methods, and story beats within a visually compelling environment.
• 🤝 Level designers need to work closely with interdisciplinary teams, including narrative design, environmental art, lighting, effects, and audio, to balance the game's needs.
• 📚 Before designing levels, extensive communication and information collection through design docs, pacing flow diagrams, and mood boards are necessary.
• 📐 The initial step in level design is 'blocking out' the level, which serves as a rough draft that can be quickly made and edited.
• 🔄 Level designers iterate on their blockout, with constant reviews by themselves and their team to ensure it meets everyone's needs.
• 🎨 After approval of the blockout, level designers craft finer details, weaving together puzzles, narrative, combat scenes, and other finishing touches.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Level designers test the pacing, feel of encounters, and clarity of player goals as development progresses.
• 🔍 Research is a fundamental skill for level designers, who gather photo and video references and study architecture and geology to inform their designs.
• 🏛️ Architecture and geology in level design are used to communicate emotions to players and to create spaces that best suit gameplay.
• 📏 Understanding a game's specific metrics, such as environment dimensions, polygon budgets, and movement abilities, is crucial for tailored level design.
• 🗣️ Strong communication skills are vital for level designers to effectively collaborate with different departments and sell their vision.
• 🧭 Providing player guidance through environmental cues like landmarks, signposts, and lighting is essential for creating navigable and engaging levels.

Q & A

What is the primary role of a level designer in game development?

A level designer is a game designer who specializes in crafting the spaces within games where players explore, fight, and overcome challenges. They are responsible for creating visually compelling environments that facilitate gameplay mechanics such as pacing, combat, puzzles, and movement.

What are some examples of different forms that game levels can take?

Game levels can vary greatly, from the bombastic islands of Fortnite to the sneaky pigville towers in Angry Birds, to the massive open worlds of Breath of the Wild or the more linear levels seen in The Last of Us.

Why is it important for level designers to gather references before starting their work?

Gathering references helps level designers fuel their inspiration, align their ideas with the project's vision, and understand the types of environments they are creating. It also aids in building a repertoire of architectural and geological elements that can be used to evoke specific emotions in players.

What are some key elements that level designers should research when designing levels?

Level designers should research architecture, geology, and other environmental aspects that are relevant to the game's setting, whether it's a fictional realm like Middle Earth or a real-world location like New York City.

How does a level designer ensure that their levels are tailored to the game's specific requirements?

Level designers must consider the game's specific metrics such as environment dimensions, polygon and texture budgets, and NPC and player movement abilities. This allows them to plan spaces that are perfectly suited for the game's desired experience.

What is the purpose of a 'blockout' in level design?

A blockout serves as a rough draft in level design, allowing designers to quickly create and edit the basic layout of a level. It is an iterative process that is reviewed and refined by the team to ensure it meets everyone's needs before moving on to finer details.

Why is communication important for a level designer?

Communication is crucial as level designers work closely with interdisciplinary teams, including narrative design, game design, environmental art, lighting, effects, and audio departments. They need to convey their ideas, listen to the team's thoughts, and integrate feedback to produce a cohesive and engaging level.

What are some tools a level designer can use to guide players through their levels?

Level designers can use landmarks, signposts, shapes, color, lighting, visual language, and composition to subtly guide players and ensure they are engaged with the game's intended challenges without relying too heavily on maps for navigation.

What is the importance of providing players with clear guidance in level design?

Clear guidance helps prevent player frustration and ensures that players are not lost or confused while navigating levels. It allows players to focus on the game's challenges rather than getting distracted by poorly planned game spaces.

How does Max Piers suggest level designers can learn and improve their skills?

Max Piers recommends researching key elements of levels, understanding game-specific metrics, developing strong communication skills, and learning how to provide players with subtle guidance through environmental design.

What is the significance of 'One Day University' as mentioned in the script?

One Day University is a platform that brings top-rated professors from renowned universities to present lectures on various subjects, which can be watched live or on demand. It offers a resource for learning without the commitment of homework or tests, and it was mentioned as a sponsor of the video.