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  • IMGD 1001 - The Game Development Process: Anatomy of Level Design

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    This document discusses level design in games. It begins by summarizing the layout and weapon placement decisions in the Quake II level "The Edge" which features open areas and dead ends requiring movement. It then discusses the level design process for the game 5 Card Dash, introducing new mechanics gradually through a sequence of puzzle-like levels to challenge but not frustrate players. General heuristics discussed include teaching intended skills, providing incentives, balancing flow, and designing within a game's technical capabilities.

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    This document discusses level design in games. It begins by summarizing the layout and weapon placement decisions in the Quake II level "The Edge" which features open areas and dead ends requiring movement. It then discusses the level design process for the game 5 Card Dash, introducing new mechanics gradually through a sequence of puzzle-like levels to challenge but not frustrate players. General heuristics discussed include teaching intended skills, providing incentives, balancing flow, and designing within a game's technical capabilities.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    34 views7 pages

    IMGD 1001 - The Game Development Process: Anatomy of Level Design

    Uploaded by

    SugarFree Eshta
    This document discusses level design in games. It begins by summarizing the layout and weapon placement decisions in the Quake II level "The Edge" which features open areas and dead ends requiring movement. It then discusses the level design process for the game 5 Card Dash, introducing new mechanics gradually through a sequence of puzzle-like levels to challenge but not frustrate players. General heuristics discussed include teaching intended skills, providing incentives, balancing flow, and designing within a game's technical capabilities.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 7

    IMGD 1001 - The Game

    Development Process:
    Anatomy of Level Design

    by
    Robert W. Lindeman (gogo@wpi.edu)
    Kent Quirk (kent_quirk@cognitoy.com)
    (with lots of input from Mark Claypool!)

    Outline
     Thud!
     A walkthrough of a Quake II level
     q2dm1 -- "The Edge"

     A walkthrough of some level design


    decisions for 5 Card Dash
     A few heuristics

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 2

    1
    But First...
     IMGD New Student Welcome Event!
     Tonight, 5-7pm
     Fuller Labs 320
     Contests and Prizes!
     Bring your DS-Lites!

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 3

    Thud!
     What did you come up with?

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 4

    2
    QuakeII-DM1
     Video (Q2DM1_Layout.avi)
     level layout and architecture

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 5

    Architecture
     Two major rooms
     Connected by three major hallways
     With three major dead-ends
     No place to hide
     Forces player to keep moving
     Camping is likely to be fatal

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 6

    3
    Placement
     Cheap weapons are easy to find
     Good weapons are buried in dead ends
     Powerups require either skill or exposure
    to acquire
     Sound cues provide clues to location
     Jumping for powerups
     Noise of acquiring armor

     Video (Q2DM1_Weapons.avi)

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 7

    Result
     A level that can be played by 2-8 players
     Never gets old
     Open to a variety of strategies

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 8

    4
    5 Card Dash
     Changing gears just a bit...
     A casual game
     Poker crossed with
    Tetris

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 9

    Levels are individual puzzles


     The designer's challenge
     Devise a sequence of levels that makes the
    player feel successful
     AND challenged
     WITHOUT losing them to boredom or
    frustration
     Remember Flow?

     Video (5CD_Intro.avi)

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 10

    5
    5 Card Dash Levels
     Level 1: introduce the concept
     Easy minimum hand
     Easy required hands
     Add some prompts along the way -- but not
    all at once
     Level 2:
     More prompts with new features
     Still easy

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 11

    5 Card Dash Levels (cont.)


     Level 3
     Add wildcards
     Prompt bonus cards
     Teach a straight
     Level 8
     Prepare for level 9
     Level 9
     Same as 8, but:
     facedown cards
     sequential goal
     Video (5CD_Level9.avi)

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 12

    6
    Heuristics for Level Design
     Figure out what you're trying to "teach"
     Make sure the level design expresses a need
    for that skill
     Provide incentives for the "right"
    behavior
     Powerups, weapons, etc.

     Keep Flow in mind


     Don’t introduce too much at one time
     Let people practice skills from time to time

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 13

    Heuristics (cont.)
     Design for the game's features and
    capabilities
     If you introduce, say, a new sniping weapon
     Give it a long-distance target to practice on
    immediately
     Create a level where it's the most important
    weapon
     Then it's available to the player as a standard
    tool
     If the engine bogs down in large outdoor
    areas...don't design one!

    Lindeman & Quirk (& Claypool) - WPI Dept. of Computer Science 14

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