LDD (Preproduction

Blueprint)
Level design document
LDD (Preproduction Blueprint)
1. Level goals & summary

2. Constraints

3. Other key points

1. Level goal & summary
1.1 Intrinsic goals

1.2 Extrinsic goals

1.3 Level Summary

1.1 Intrinsic goals
● Learn new mechanics
● Learn new dynamics
● Advance Story
● Introduce new character
● Filler level
● ???
1.2 Extrinsic goals
● To teach (Mental / physical)
○ Rapid thinking
○ Decision taking
○ Communication strategies
● To aware
○ Social
○ Ecological
○ Artistic / spiritual
○ Political
● To pure entertain
○ Amusement
○ Relax
1.3 Level Summary
● Title & Credits: title, studio, autors, web,
twitter...

● Summary of the game in one paragraph

○ Literated summary
○ Outlined summary
○ Gameplay
○ Game Story

○ Short
○ Simple
○ Informative
2. Constraints
2.1 4T

2.2 External

2.3 Constraints examples

2.1 Constraints (4T)
● Theme
○ Genre
○ Dynamics
● Time
○ To play it
○ To develop it
● Team
○ Number of people involved
○ Different profiles
● Tools
○ Engine, level 0, props and final art?
2.2 External
● Business constraints
● Franchise constraints
● Audience constraints
● Legal constraints
● Engine constraints
EXTRA! Watch your game name!
2.3 Constraints examples
● Constraints Stimulate Creative Thinking
● Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
● Constraints can act as a catalyst for
innovation, experimentation and creativity

Examples

● Automated Development: All game assets

(art, sound, levels, and so on) are
procedurally generated
● Retro, Old school
● One Hit Wonder
● Freedom of budget don't mean good games
3. Other key points
3.1 Research & References

3.2 Structure

3.3 Flowcharts & Maps

3.1 Research & References
● Art goals
○ Moodboard
○ Art direction document
● Art repositories
○ Google images
○ Devianart
○ Pinterest
○ Behance
○ Arstation
● Games
○ https://www.ign.com/
○ https://www.metacritic.com/
○ https://www.mobygames.com/
 ● Google: An arrangement of
2.3 MoodBoard images, materials, pieces of text,
etc. intended to evoke or project
● Resources
a particular style or concept.
○ Google images
○ Pinterest ● Wikipedia: A mood board is a
● Tips type of collage consisting of
○ Do it yourself images, text, and samples of
objects in a composition. It can
○ Match quality references
be based upon a set topic or can
○ Do more than one be any material chosen at
○ Add some explanations random. A mood board can be
○ Make the theme obvious used to give a general idea of a
topic
? ?
Task 1: Moodboard

● Look for references and images

● Create a moodboard of one of your
games
● Iterate the moodboard 2 times with
people
3.2 Structure
● Acts
○ Presentation
○ Increasing conflict
○ Clímax
○ Resolution

● How the level fits on the overall game?

Randy ingermanson
3.3 Flowcharts
● Follow the level structure

● Color combat or conflict points

● Use different shapes

● Use arrows

● Mark branches clearly

3.3 Blueprints and maps
● Paper Blueprints
● Wireframing / Mockup
○ www.sketch.io
○ www.autodraw.com
○ kleki.com
○ sketchboard.me
● Creating maps
○ Map tools list
● Creating a digital blueprint
○ https://www.vectary.com
04 - GD2 - Maps & Worldbible ??
EXTRA: Other key points
● Cutscenes
● Dialogues
● Monetization
● Assets / Function lists
● Rewards
● Achievements
● Secret places
● SOUND

EXTRA: Checklist
● How Long Should This Level Be?
● Are We Trying to Show off Any New
Tech, Art, Audio, or Similar?
● How Much Time Do I Have to Design
It?
○ Note: I'd expect this process to
take about 5 weeks for a full-sized
level on a real game.
● If Someone is Paying For This Game,
What Are Their Requirements?
● What Platform is It On?
● Where Does This Level Fit Into the
Level Progression?
● Who is the Audience?
● What is required by the level's story,
theme, and plot?
● Determine the environmental conditions
such as day, night and weather
● Lay out of large map features, buildings, hills,
cities, rooms and tunnels for game entities to
●
move around in
Set up ground rules such as the scoring
system, allowable weapons, gameplay types,
time limits, or resources
● Specify certain map regions where specific
gameplay features occur, such as resource
creation or harvesting, structure building and
even interactive cutscenes
● Specify non static parts, such as doorways,
buttons and levers associated with
mechanisms, teleporters and hidden
passageways and areas
● Specify the locations of various entities such as
player, enemy and monster spawn points, as
well as ladders, coins, resource nodes and
weapons, and save points
● Introduce scripted events in specific locations
triggered by certain player actions
● Create the paths that nonplayer characters
follow, their responses to specific trigger
actions and any dialog they might have with
the player
Task 2.1 Pick a tool to create a map
● Wireframing / Mockup
○ www.sketch.io
○ www.autodraw.com
○ kleki.com
○ sketchboard.me
○ sketchup.com/es
● Creating maps
○ Map tools list
● Creating a digital blueprint
○ https://www.vectary.com
Task 2.2 Create your first level

● Get one OPD from the following list

● Create it with a level editor of your

choice (RPGMaker?)
● https://www.dungeoncontest.com/
● https://www.pinterest.es/dungeoncontest/one-page-dungeon-contest/
● http://www.trilemma.com/
● https://donjon.bin.sh/
● https://davesmapper.com/
● https://dysonlogos.blog/maps/geomorph-mapping-project/
● Any other source in fact is wellcome
Rayman legends
● Name 3 good things

● Name 3 bad things

● How are you going to improve good or bad

things?
LDD - Examples
● Diakatana
● Bloodborne
● Adam Rynolds
● Herbert’s lost diary

● Other wording
○ Beat DD
○ Brief DD
○ Prototype DD
Good or bad level design?
● Name key points

● How to improve this game?

● Look for similar games

Video recomendado
Errores de diseño (O no…)