DGD20203 – GAME LEVEL DESIGN

Game Level Desing

Level design is an important part of game creation since it involves determining the layout,
structure, and flow of game environments. It includes everything from obstacle and enemy
placement to puzzle design and level atmosphere. Here's an overview of level design, including
its description, types, challenges, and obstacles across numerous genres:

Definition:

Level design is the process of creating the physical architecture, gameplay mechanics, and visual
aesthetics for a specific level or area in a video game. It entails balancing player growth,
challenge, and immersion in order to produce compelling and lasting experiences.

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Varieties:

1. Open World: Open world level design is designing large, non-linear settings in which players
can explore and interact with the game world at their own pace. Examples are "The Elder Scrolls
V: Skyrim" and "Grand Theft Auto V."

2. Platformer level design is centered on generating tough and dynamic stages in which players
must manage obstacles, hop across platforms, and solve riddles. Examples are "Super Mario
Bros." and "Celeste."

3. RPG (Role-Playing Game): RPG level design frequently entails building different landscapes,
such as cities, dungeons, and wilderness areas, to encourage exploration, questing, and
character development. Examples are "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" and "Final Fantasy XV."

4. MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game): MMORPG level design entails
creating massive, persistent settings that can handle thousands of players concurrently. These
worlds contain a variety of zones, dungeons, and landmarks to explore and conquer. Examples
are "World of Warcraft" and "Guild Wars 2."

5. First-Person Shooter (FPS) level design focuses on building immersive and action-packed
worlds that allow for fast-paced combat and player movement. Examples are "Call of Duty" and
"Half-Life 2."

6. Third-person shooter (TPS): TPS level design is similar to FPS level design, but it often includes
aspects like cover-based shooting and a greater emphasis on character movement and visibility.
Examples are "Gears of War" and "Uncharted”.

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Challenges and Obstacles:

1. Balancing Difficulty: Creating levels that offer an acceptable amount of challenge without
being too annoying or too easy.

2. Flow and Pacing: Creating a natural and compelling gameplay progression with well-paced
moments of action, exploration, and downtime.

3. Environmental storytelling is incorporating narrative elements and world-building into level

4. Technical constraints include working within the limitations of gaming engines and hardware
to produce levels that are both visually appealing and performant.

5. Player Guidance: Getting players through the level without relying on heavy-handed tutorials
or unnecessary handholding.

6. Replay ability entails creating levels that encourage multiple playthroughs by providing
alternative paths, mysteries, and difficulties.

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Maps:

Maps in level design function as blueprints or visual representations of the game environment.
They can comprise layout sketches, 3D models, or digital diagrams that assist designers in
planning and iterating on level layouts, item placement, and gameplay mechanics.

Finally, level design is a multidimensional discipline that has a significant impact on the user
experience across multiple video game genres. It entails overcoming obstacles such as balancing
difficulty, maintaining flow, and adjusting technical limits in order to create immersive and
compelling game environments.

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The history of game level design:

The history of the level designer role is a fascinating journey that intertwines with the evolution of
the game industry itself, as well as broader technological and cultural shifts. Here's a summary
of the key points highlighted in the provided text:

screenshot of Battlezone (1980) with green wireframe landscape

Early Computing / Arcade Era (1973-1980):

- Because there were no designated positions in the early days of the game industry, game
programmers frequently undertook design tasks.

- The term "level" referred primarily to the difficulty level programmed into arcade games.

- There were no discrete tools or methods for level design, therefore programmers and designers
did it informally as part of game production..

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screenshot of ZZT's (1991) built-in editor, editing a "Castle/Well" board

Invention of the Game Engine (1983-1992):

- With the introduction of smaller and less expensive home computers in the early 1980s, more
people began producing games.

- Level editors, which allow players to construct their own levels, were introduced in games such
as Lode Runner (1983) and ZZT (1991).

- The debut of Doom (1993) popularized the concept of a game engine, which separated core
engine code from game content and enabled modding and custom levels.

- Despite the absence of official tools from producers such as id Software, modders and level
designers established their own editing tools and networks.

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screenshots of Cacowards 2019 winners "Hocus Pocus Doom" by Jason Allison and "Lost Civilization" by Jaska

The Golden Age (1993-2002):

- Level designers earned substantial prominence and notoriety at this time, with personalities like
as John Romero becoming well-known in the industry.

- Games like Doom and Quake generated active modding communities, making level creation a
highly respected expertise.

- The function of the level designer was regarded as critical, with enormous power and
responsibility for the game's ultimate shape.

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screenshot of "Minima" by Bengal, custom multiplayer map for Quake 3 Arena

Fall from Grace (2003-2010):

- As gaming budgets grew and technology evolved, level design became more specialized, with
separate responsibilities for environment artists, prop artists, and others.

- Level designers encountered issues as their roles became increasingly splintered and they were
no longer considered the major creative voice in game development. The transition to
specialization resulted in a decrease in the importance of level designers and a rethinking of their
position in development teams.

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screenshot of the popular Unity v3.0 (2010) editor interface, and its total lack of built-in 3D tools beyond a transform gizmo

Future(s) of Level Design (2011-Present):

- Modern gaming engines, such as Unity and Unreal, include integrated game editors that are
useful for more than just level design.

- The rise of genres such as battle royale and games as a service has changed the emphasis away
from traditional level design, resulting in new types of community-driven and procedural content
generation.

- Despite the hurdles, there is still a thriving community of level designers and modders,
particularly in retro gaming communities such as the Quake Renaissance.

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screenshot of Arcane Dimensions (2015-2018), a modern Quake mod emblematic of "retro renaissance"
http://www.simonoc.com/pages/design/sp/ad.htm

Is it the end of history?

Overall, the history of the level designer role reflects the dynamic evolution of the game industry,
from its early days of DIY development to the complex, specialized teams of today. While the role
may have changed over time, the passion and creativity of level designers continue to drive
innovation and shape gaming experiences.

To be sure, there are many new projects with amazing level design out there right now, and there
will be many more in the future. However, we wonder if future generations of innovative level
designers may arise without adequate access to tools and resources. How many talented
designers are we losing? What else could level design be?

This history traces the conditions that permitted a golden age of level design:

Available resources include a free developer-grade editor for expressive construction, a vast
creative community of players and designers, artistic control, and the ability to build and finish
projects individually.

The extinction of level editors, the advent of closed platforms and games as services, the trend
toward hyper specialization, and the popularity of post level design genres all pose threats to the
level designer's future.

We don't expect any of these industry trends to reverse. Level design will gradually fade into
obscurity, much as sign painters or telegraph operators. And maybe that's okay.

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Opinions About Game Level Design by the Team Members

1. Vetharuban A/L Murugyah

Level design has evolved significantly throughout the history of video game production,
moving from linear layouts in early games to large, player-driven worlds in modern titles. Early
level design was primarily concerned with leading players through predefined obstacles
under technical limits, emphasizing linear progression and limited exploration. However, as
technology and game design concepts have advanced, modern level design now favors
nonlinear, open-ended landscapes that provide players agency and freedom. Today's games
offer enormous open worlds, dynamic settings, and emergent gameplay, emphasizing the
trend toward player-driven experiences and the growing importance of immersion and
involvement in gaming.

2. Rushil Pillaii A/L G Saravanan

For games to be immersive and interesting, effective level design is essential. A well-designed
level should guide players through a thoughtfully constructed landscape that seems both
expansive and coherent, effortlessly fusing challenge, exploration, and narrative. It need to
promote player agency by providing a variety of routes and strategies for getting over
challenges without sacrificing a feeling of advancement and success. The secret to great
challenges is to strike a balance between difficulty and player engagement. Pacing should be
dynamic, with spikes in stress interspersed with breaks for players. The overall gameplay
experience is ultimately improved by excellent level design, which piques players' interest
and makes them want to explore every inch of the virtual world.

3. Nik Alisha binti Nik Azlan

The construction of immersive environments that skillfully lead players through gameplay,
offer simple tasks matched to their skill level, encourage exploration and mastery, and use
feedback, pacing, and aesthetics to keep players interested are the hallmarks of excellent
game level design. Clear objectives and well-designed levels draw players in and increase
their commitment to conquering each obstacle in the game. The level is where every aspect
of the game comes together to create a fun and unforgettable experience.

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4. Aishahira Binti Azman

In my opinion, game level design is overriding. It is of course a crucial facet of gaming that is
always been overlooked. It is the footing on where a game is built, and it could obtain or break
a player's involvement. A good designed level can give a sense of immersion and dare, while
a poorly designed level can annoy the player and can cause them to lose interest in the game
and not wanting to play more because it failed to satisfied the player. Level design is not only
about putting obstacles and enemies in the player's way. It is setting up a world that feels
having life and reactive to the player's actions. To add more, It is about creating a sense of
development and winnings that maintains the player engaged and to play even more which
concludes to a masterpiece game. So to sum it, adding surprises and unpredictable things
towards the level design can keep players attached, combat ennui, and magnify the overall
gaming experience.

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Team Members

1. Nik Alisha binti Nik Azlan

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