This chapter discusses key aspects of level design in game development such as structure, time, and space. Structure refers to goals, flow, duration, availability, and relationships between levels. Time can be authentic, limited, variable, player-adjusted, or altered. Spatial considerations include perspective, scale, boundaries, terrain, effects, and achieving a sense of realism or style.

1. Game Development Essentials An Introduction (2 nd Edition)

2. Chapter 7 Levels creating the world

3. Key Chapter Questions ■ What is level design and how is it related to gameplay? ■ What is the importance of the structural features of game worlds—such as duration, availability, relationship, and progression? ■ What is the importance of the temporal features of game worlds—such as authentic, variable, player-adjusted, and altered? ■ What is the importance of the spatial features of game worlds—such as perspective, scale, and boundaries? ■ How are reality and style achieved in a game environment?

4. Structure Goal Tutorials in the form of briefings in games, such as Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, provide players with information on specific goals.

5. Structure Flow In many action games, such as God of War II, players must remain on a particular level until they complete a specific goal.

6. Structure Duration The duration of levels in puzzle games such as Wario: Smooth Moves is fairly short.

7. Structure Availability In Gran Turismo HD, players can choose from several open levels at a time.

8. Structure Relationship Mission levels can be related to each other through difficulty or sequence (Blue Dragon).

9. Structure Progression

10. Time Authentic Boktai uses a sensor to detect the presence of daylight.

11. Time Limited Baldur’s Gate allows players a limited amount of real-world time to accomplish tasks within the game.

12. Time Variable The Sims depicts both day and night – but time speeds up when the characters go to sleep.

13. Time Player-Adjusted Players can adjust the time interval in sports games such as Pro Evolution Soccer 2007.

14. Time Altered Players can stop time in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

15. Space Perspective & Camera Omnipresent Medieval: Total War

16. Space Perspective & Camera Aerial (Top-Down) Grand Theft Auto

17. Space Perspective & Camera Isometric Civilization IV

18. Space Perspective & Camera Side-Scrolling (Flat/Side View) Super Mario Mini

19. Space Terrain & Materials Interiors made of concrete, brick, metal, and wood textures in Half-Life 2 contrast with exteriors made of grass, dirt, and water textures in GravRally.

20. Space Terrain & Materials Interiors made of steel chrome, and inorganic textures in Gears of War contrast with exteriors made of grass, dirt, and organic textures in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.

21. Space Radiosity & Effects A scene before and after radiosity is applied—created by level design and environmental artist, Travis Castillo.

22. Space Scale Troops are at the same height as some buildings in Age of Empires III.

23. Space Boundaries Microsoft Flight Simulator X uses arbitrary environmental boundaries in the air.

24. Space Realism Call of Duty 3 uses environmental details to portray the game world realistically.

25. Space Style Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee is filled with surreal characters and environments. Viewtiful Joe uses cel-shading to bring a 2D look into a 3D world.

26. Summary Structure Goal Flow Duration Availability Relationship Progression Time Authentic Limited Variable Player-adjusted Altered Space Perspective & camera Terrain & materials Radiosity & effects Scale Boundaries Reality Style