Introduction

Status: ✔️ Done

This is a course that I’m taking during April 2024 titled “The Basics of Level Design”. This course should take around 3 months to be done, but I made on 3 days. The notes taken for this course can be sawn on the following list:

Week 1: Introduction to Level Design

⭐⭐⭐✔️ This first module presents the key concepts of level design. It was a good way to learn key words to search for more in depth knowledge on the future.

• 1. What is Level Design
• 2. Roles of a Level Designer
• 3. Bartle’s Taxonomy
• 4. Pacing-Flow-Gating
• 5. Composition
• 6. Sightlines
• 7. Affordances
• 8. Hazards
• 9. Prototype

Extra reading suggested: Matt Walker’s translation of CEDEC 2017 talks by Nintendo Level Design Patterns in 2D Games Ten Principles for a Good Level Design

Week 2: Story-based level design and dungeon design

⭐✔️ This second module presents how dungeons can be created and created only one note:

1. Dungeons and Encounters

Extra reading suggested: Skyrim’s Modular Approach to Level Design How to make a great dungeon for Dungeons&Dragons 5E Learning From The Masters: Level Design In The Legend of Zelda

Week 3: Beyond dungeons : Roguelikes, Adventure games and RPGs

⭐⭐⭐✔️ This third module presents some of foundation games like Rogue and Zork! helped to sediment the future of some mechanics on RPGs.

1. Level designer role on PCG levels

Extra reading suggested: The Story of Facade : The AI-Powered Interactive Drama Rogue Legacy Design Notes

Final Review:

⭐⭐ The course was somewhat good for someone who never studied anything about level design, but for me who already have some training on the area there was little to learn. I got some terms formalized on the first section but the second and the third module where not much useful for me.

Reference:

The Basics of Level Design

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Contact Info:

E-mail: pamabeltrani@gmail.com

Discord: pamnawi