Task 16: Elements of game design, part seven: level design

Level design is similar to environment design, the way an
environment artist would start planning what he would have in the scene a level
designer would also have to start planning its process. Level design can fall
in different categories when it comes to developing, it can be as missions,
levels or stages. Level design is not something that is done visually (which is
widely regarded by a lot people) it is more to do with intellectual side in
terms of planning and construction within a game formality.

Level design usually starts with concept art, sketches, renderings, and physical models. When the initial
process of planning is complete then these concepts will go in to documents,
and thus making a model of an environment.

I think planning the
level is vital as it not only allows the fundamentals to be laid but it also
allows the basic shapes to be in place. Planning is not something that will
allow an artist to finish all his work, but it does allow the work to be completed
at a faster and a much smoother rate. If you think about it when an artist
makes a concept for a level, rather than having to think of what to do next he
would have everything he needs in front him, this in turn would allow the level
to be created at a much smoother rate. The planning process in level design is
called Preproduction this is just a document stating what you are going to
create? And how it will look and play?

I think level design needs
to have a few elements which are required in terms of building a good
environment. Planning is first and foremost, because without planning there are
no real fundamentals. Secondly is
Visuals, taking in regards to color theory, lighting, architecture, landscape
and also what the player would see and not see. Thirdly is Gameplay, which
includes the players movements in the level, how fast he would move and what he
would encounter on the environment.

Most of these issues are usually
completed by the level designer who is responsible for creating environments
and scenarios using level editor. Some of the celebrated level designers are
from PC First Person shooters such as John Romero who made the levels for Doom.

Many believe that level
design is just to do with the artistic side of developing, this is not so as it
also requires a lot of technical process. This is due to the amount of conceptualizing
that needs to be done before any of the creating can be done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_design

http://www.worldofleveldesign.com/categories/level_design_tutorials/why-i-failed-for-years-at-level-design-and-game-environments.php