Intro to Game Modding - Lecture 7
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This document discusses level design for game modding. Level design involves creating the locales, stages, or missions within a video game using a level editor or built-in tools. It is both an artistic and technical process. The document outlines the basic steps of level design which include starting with ideas from the game world, sketching locations and positioning of level items, and using an editor to build the map and refine its contents. Components of level design are also listed such as dynamic/non-static parts, gameplay regions, and aesthetic details. Finally, the document describes an assignment for students to design a map for their own game concept that includes relevant features, environmental conditions, spawn points, and an aesthetic description.
Intro to Game Modding - Lecture 7
- 1. CISC 105: Intro to Game Modding Lecture 7: Level Design ©Charles Palmer – Fall 2013
- 3. Level Design Level design, environment design or game mapping is a discipline of game development involving creation of video game levels— locales, stages, or missions. This is commonly done using a level editor, a game development application designed for building levels; however some games feature builtin level editing tools. Level design is both an artistic and technical process. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_design
- 4. Level Design Idea Sketch Build Start with the basic ideas from the game world and specific elements needed within the current area of focus. Create a sketch identifying the location and relative position of various level items. Use a level editor to create the map and refine it’s contents.
- 5. Level Design Idea Sketch Build Start with the basic ideas from the game world and specific elements needed within the current area of focus. Create a sketch identifying the location and relative position of various level items. Use a level editor to create the map and refine it’s contents.
- 6. Components of Level Design non-static parts dynamic parts game play regions aesthetic details environmental condition map and world features script events Level Design pathfinding
- 8. Class Exercise Build a sketch for a mod: • Read and select a mod idea • Draw a rough world map o World boundaries o Player path w/ start and objective o Important locations • Draw detailed location o draw a more detailed map of one area (use the layout of a real-world location for this example) o include player start and exit positions o environmental details (barriers, features, …) o Traps, monsters, puzzles o Challenges Mod idea 1 We’re not sure why it began, but the dead now walk the earth. Hundreds of zombies, ghosts, and ghouls wander the streets of Harrisburg. Your player must make it to City Island where military officials have set up a base of operation for the refugees. Design a world map covering a path to the Walnut Street Bridge. Mod idea 2 In the early days of the First Era the Chimer warlord Ornarol made a pact with the Daedra before betraying them to his own ends. When his deceit was discovered the three Daedric Princes tore his soul asunder, each taking part of his soul as a trophy, leaving bridges between his remains and their realms of oblivion. Embark on a dangerous quest to steal back Ornarol's Soul and close these gateways to oblivion once and for all.
- 9. Assignment Now that you have had a chance to practice level design, you get to do it on your own. Create a map to accompany your Game Concept Document. The map should contain the following attributes: • • • • • Features: hills, plains, cities, rooms, tunnels, caves, relevant buildings Any special environmental conditions Non-static items: i.e., doors, keys and buttons with associated mechanisms, teleporters, hidden passageways, etc.; Spawn points, unique weapons and items, important NPC (non-player characters) or level Bosses. Description of the environments aesthetic details.
- 10. Assignment Your map can be hand drawn or created with a vector or pixel based computer program, but it must be submitted electronically. If created by hand please submit a scan or digital photograph of the file. If created electronically, please “Export” or “Save As…” in one of the following formats; JPG, PNG, TIFF, or PICT. When uploading your file remember to use the following naming convention - (first initial last name_course number_assignment number) example DWilliams_CISC105_7.xxx: (where xxx is an image based file format).
Editor's Notes
- #3: This is the act of building the environment where the characters live. A level is a subset of the world. So when we say level design we are talking about building localized sets and activities which provide the mood and setting of the game play experience.
- #6: This is process is very iterative. As ideas and functions get testing, you’ll find the need to go back and adjust your assumptions which WILL alter the design choices you’ve made in the past. Be prepared to revise your ideas and update your approach.
- #7: Level design generally starts with concept art, sketches, renderings, and even physical models, which are transformed into extensive design and production documents, modeled environments, and assets. These steps vary across the many different companies, designers, and even genres of games. But here is a general list of the approach to level design:Laying out the large-scale features of the map, such as hills, cities, rooms, tunnels, etc., for players and enemies to move around in;Determining environmental conditions and "ground rules" such as day/night, weather, scoring systems, allowable weapons or gameplay types, time limits, and starting resources.Specifying certain regions where certain gameplay activities or behaviors occur, such as resource harvesting, base building, water travelling, etc.;Specifying non-static parts of a level, such as doors, keys and buttons with associated mechanisms, teleporters, hidden passageways, etc.;Specifying locations of dynamic items/parts, such as player units, enemies, monster spawn points, ladders, coins, resource nodes, weapons, save points, etc.;Adding aesthetic details such as level-specific graphic textures, sounds, animation, lighting and music;Introducing scripted event locations, where certain actions by the player can trigger specified changes;Specifying the start and exit locations for one or more players;Placing pathfinding nodes that non-player characters take as they walk around, the actions they will take in response to specific triggers, and any dialog they might have with the player.
- #8: The map building process can begin at any time. But, as we’ve seen it starts with reviewing the components needed for your mod. The sketching process doesn’t have to be fancy, it can be as simple as drawing a few scribbles on a piece of paper.