How To Fail At Level Design

Artindi

16 Dec 202303:53

Summary

TLDRThe video script humorously outlines the 'best' ways to fail at indie game development, focusing on poor level design. It sarcastically suggests keeping player objectives secret, overusing assets without variety, and ignoring the importance of game mechanics. The script pokes fun at common mistakes in game design, such as lack of player guidance, over-reliance on tutorials, and neglecting the storytelling potential of level design. The tongue-in-cheek advice is a playful critique of game development pitfalls.

Takeaways

😀 The script humorously suggests that the best way to fail at indie game development is to never try, but it then proceeds to provide 'advice' on how to fail if one does attempt development.
🎮 It implies that certain game genres like sandbox, open world, idle games, and roguelikes might not require as much focus on level design, but then humorously contradicts itself to emphasize the importance of level design.
🗺️ The script satirically outlines seven important aspects of failing at level design, including guiding the player, providing challenges, establishing environment and story, conveying progress, introducing game mechanics, and acknowledging there might be other aspects but not caring to list them.
🕵️‍♂️ It humorously advises to keep the player's objectives a secret to increase immersion, suggesting that players enjoy being confused about their goals.
💥 The 'advice' given for challenges is to not worry about them, and to justify any criticism by claiming the game is either casual or intentionally hard.
📖 It pokes fun at the idea of using level design to tell a story, suggesting that cutscenes and text walls could be used instead, and then self-deprecatingly acknowledges recycling this joke.
🔄 The script humorously recommends reusing assets throughout the game instead of creating a variety to give a sense of progression.
🛤️ It sarcastically suggests that a clear path laid out for the player eliminates the need for them to explore or figure things out, undermining the idea of discovery in games.
🤷‍♂️ The script ends by humorously stating that not caring about additional aspects of level design is part of failing well, as ignorance in certain areas can lead to poor design.
🔚 The conclusion humorously admits to running out of clever things to say, showing self-awareness about the satirical nature of the script.
🔄 The script repeatedly uses the number seven as a punchline, suggesting that it sounds better than six, but then ends abruptly, leaving the seventh point unsaid.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?
-The main theme of the video script is a humorous take on how to fail at indie game development, specifically focusing on poor level design.
What are the seven important aspects of level design mentioned in the script?
-The script humorously suggests seven aspects of level design to fail at: guiding the player, providing challenges, establishing environment and story, relaying a sense of progress, introducing game mechanics, and two unspecified aspects that the author doesn't care to elaborate on.
Why does the script suggest keeping the goal a secret when guiding a player towards objectives?
-The script sarcastically recommends keeping the goal a secret to make players enjoy wandering aimlessly, which is a counterintuitive approach to level design.
What is the script's stance on providing challenges for the player?
-The script humorously advises not to worry about providing challenges, suggesting that if accused of weak challenges, one can claim to be making a casual game, and if it's too hard, to tell players to 'get good'.
How does the script approach the topic of storytelling through level design?
-The script humorously dismisses the need for storytelling through level design, suggesting that cutscenes and text walls are sufficient.
What does the script say about using assets in level design?
-The script satirically suggests using a single collection of assets and reusing them throughout the game, disregarding the idea of creating distinct collections for variety and progression.
Why does the script recommend not introducing game mechanics through level design?
-The script humorously states that since game mechanics are already explained in tutorials and wikis, there's no need to introduce them through level design, promoting a lack of exploration and discovery.
What is the script's advice on the number of things to consider about level design?
-The script ends abruptly after mentioning seven things, suggesting that the creator can't think of anything clever to say and implying that not knowing more about a subject can lead to failure in that area.
What is the script's tone throughout the video?
-The script maintains a humorous and sarcastic tone, poking fun at common mistakes in level design and game development.
What is the script's final message to the audience?
-The final message is that if one follows the 'instructions' provided in the script, they are bound to succeed at failing, which is a playful way to conclude the satirical advice given.
Why does the script mention 'burnout' and 'taking shortcuts'?
-The script mentions 'burnout' and 'taking shortcuts' as a way to humorously suggest that not putting effort into the later stages of game development can lead to an anticlimactic end.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 The Art of Failing at Indie Game Level Design

This paragraph humorously discusses the pitfalls of indie game level design. It begins by suggesting that the best way to fail is by not trying at all, but then humorously contradicts itself by assuming the attempt is made. The speaker outlines seven key aspects of level design that, if done poorly, can lead to failure: guiding players, providing challenges, establishing environment and story, relaying progress, introducing game mechanics, and other unspecified elements. The tone is satirical, with advice such as keeping objectives secret to increase player confusion, or using a 'special kind of sense' that highlights everything, thus removing the need for exploration or discovery. The paragraph also touches on the importance of storytelling through level design, asset management, and the introduction of game mechanics, all delivered with a tongue-in-cheek approach to illustrate common mistakes in game development.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Indie Game Development

Indie Game Development refers to the creation of video games typically by individuals or small teams without the financial support of a large publisher. It is a key theme in the video as the script discusses the ironic ways one might fail in such an endeavor. The video humorously suggests that not trying at all could be the best way to avoid failure, yet it proceeds to outline common pitfalls in indie game development.

💡Level Design

Level Design is the process of creating the structure and layout of video game levels. It is a central concept in the script, where the video ironically discusses how to 'fail' at it by not guiding players towards objectives, not providing challenges, and not establishing a thematic environment. The video uses level design as a recurring example to highlight common mistakes in game development.

💡Player Guidance

Player Guidance is the technique of directing a player through a game environment towards their objectives. The script humorously suggests keeping the goal a secret to make players wonder what they're supposed to be doing, which is the opposite of good player guidance. It's used to illustrate a common pitfall in game design where clarity and direction are essential for player engagement.

💡Challenges

Challenges in game design refer to obstacles or tasks that players must overcome. The video script satirically advises not to worry about creating balanced challenges, suggesting that any criticism can be deflected by claiming the game is either casual or intentionally hard. This highlights the importance of challenge balance in player satisfaction and game design.

💡Thematic Environment

A Thematic Environment is the setting and mood of a game that supports its narrative and gameplay. The script mentions establishing a thematic environment as part of good level design but then humorously dismisses the idea, suggesting that storytelling could be done through cutscenes and text instead, underscoring the irony of neglecting the immersive quality of the game world.

💡Progression

Progression in games is the sense of advancement or development that players experience as they play. The video script sarcastically suggests that a sense of progression is not needed and that players should not have to figure anything out for themselves, which is counter to the typical goal of game design to create a satisfying progression for the player.

💡Game Mechanics

Game Mechanics are the rules and systems that govern how a game functions. The script humorously states that there is no need to introduce and build upon game mechanics through level design, as they can be explained in tutorial text and wikis, highlighting the importance of integrating mechanics seamlessly into gameplay rather than relying solely on exposition.

💡Assets

Assets in game design are the visual, audio, and textual elements used to create the game's world. The video script jokes about using a single collection of assets throughout the game instead of creating varied sets to give a sense of progression and variety, which is a common mistake that can lead to a monotonous gaming experience.

💡Burnout

Burnout refers to the state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion often caused by excessive and prolonged work. The script mentions taking shortcuts, especially towards the end of game development, to avoid burnout. This reflects the real-world concern of maintaining developer health and avoiding the negative impacts of overwork.

💡Anticlimactic

Anticlimactic describes an event or conclusion that is disappointing because it is less dramatic or impressive than expected. The video script suggests ending games anticlimactically as a way to fail at creating a satisfying player experience, which is a humorous take on the importance of crafting impactful and memorable game endings.

💡Tutorial Text

Tutorial Text is the instructional information provided to players within a game to help them understand its mechanics. The script humorously suggests that tutorial text is sufficient for explaining game mechanics, negating the need for them to be introduced through level design, which underscores the irony of overlooking the value of integrated learning experiences in gameplay.

Highlights

The best way to fail at indie game development is to never try, but trying is also a path to potential failure.

Level design is crucial for certain types of games, such as sandbox, open-world, idle, and roguelike games.

Contrarily, some game genres might not require as much focus on level design.

Level design can be broken down into seven important aspects to fail at.

Guiding the player towards objectives can be done poorly by keeping the goal a secret.

Providing challenges should be done without consideration for player experience.

Establishing a thematic environment and story through level design is important but can be overlooked.

Conveying a sense of progress is vital, but can be ignored for comedic effect.

Introducing and building upon game mechanics should be done without clear guidance for the player.

The seventh aspect of level design is left unsaid, implying that the presenter does not care to think of more.

Using a collection of assets repeatedly throughout the game can be a sign of poor level design.

Creating distinct collections of assets for variety and progression is suggested but not necessary.

The presenter mocks the idea of providing clear paths and guidance in level design.

The presenter suggests taking shortcuts, especially towards the end of game development.

The presenter ends the transcript abruptly, leaving the audience with an anticlimactic conclusion.

The transcript is self-aware of its own humor and lack of a clever ending.

The presenter acknowledges their own burnout and inability to think of a witty ending.