10 command ments

Principles:

1 good level design = fun to navigate

1. observational->strategical->navigational
2. Environmental sign posting
  1. Visual language
  2. Lighting
  3. Geometry
  4. Animations
  5. Colour
  6. clarity/flow(natural)
3. Confusing can be fun?

2 good level design doesn't rely on words to direct the story

1. Explicit
  1. Cut scenes
  2. NPC directions
  3. Physical signposts
2. Implicit
  1. The bit the players figure out
3. Emergent
  1. The story the player makes up in their head
4. Mise-en-scene (environmental narrative)

3 good level design tells you what to do not how to do it

1. Nebula missions
2. Parallel missions

4 constantly teaching

“The human mind enjoys processing patterns for storage and retrieval later”
1. Learn -> play -> challenge -> surprise

5 good level design is surprising

1. Rollercoasting pacing
  1. Predictable
  2. Inconsistency is fun
2. Paradigm disruptions

6 good level design empowers the player

1. “Go big or go home” - Joe
2. “Real life sucks” - Joe
3. Visible influence

7 good level design is easy, medium and hard

risk vs. reward

8 good level design is efficent

1. Modular
2. Bidirectional level design
3. Non-linear objectives (bad bad)

9 good level design evokes emotion

1. ART
2. Architectural theory
3. Spacial empathy
  1. Tight corridors
  2. Mazes
  3. Wide open spaces
  4. Scaling tall objects
  5. Seeing rewards in distance
  6. Space transition
4. Lies

10 good level design is driven by mechanics

1. Subject = mechanic
2. Composition = narrative
3. Medium = level
4. Showcase your mechanics

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