1.1 Spatial Communication in Level Design

Spatial Communication in Level Design

A breakdown of Level design by Peter Fields

Blockout = Maximum information for minimum effort

Communicates important gameplay information to your team
Gets to a playable state as quickly as possible.
Simple structure for quick iteration and to accommodating changes.

Present a clear objective

Removes blank canvas syndrome
Helps set up sight lines
Gives the player a clear objective

Motivate movement

Block the players sightlines
Make them move around to gather information

Tear down walls

Still prevents players escaping
More visually engaging
Opportunities to reinforce the players goal

Reveal information through new perspectives

Create small pockets of tensions
then release the tension in surprising ways.
Keep the player engaged and on their toes.

One-way valve

Gently nudges the player forwards
Helps prevent players from getting too lost.
Creates a more manageable play space.

Present a privileged perspective

Study environment and form plan from safety
Player pushes forwards when they are ready
Difficult to learn a layout under stress

The illusion of choice

Multiple routes that converge on a single point
Unlikely player will see all routes
Makes a space feel larger then it really is

Attract the players attention

Movement will catch the players eye
Light makes geometry easier to read
Sound will draw the players attention

Parallaxing environments

Provide depth cues as the player moves
makes it easier to judge distance
creates a dynamic image

Affordances communicate function

Doors and archways afford moving into a new space
Steps afford climbing
Recognizable forms like these are strong attractors to players.

Creating mystery

Door slightly ajar tells the player it can be opened.
Door blocks view so player cant see what is behind it.
Things the player assumes exists, but can’t see creates curiosity and mystery

Seed ideas but don’t give information to players

Create shortcuts

Allows access to earlier areas even when using one way valves
Players to circumnavigate previous challenges
Makes space feel more accessible and believable

Pinch Points

Control the players movement and therefore their camera
Show the player something important
Doesn’t take control away from player

Build a vocabulary

If you don’t have that vocabulary to play with, the player cant make assumptions that we cant subvert or give payoff.

Building on ideas that have taught the player
Use these ideas to seed plans in the players mind
Satisfaction in both seeing these plans be subverted or play out as expected.

Safety nets

Restarts break immersion and flow
Keep the player in the game as much as possible
Doesn’t compromise or undermine the challenge

Adding temporary Furniture

A space always feels larger when empty
Art will inevitably be added to space
Make sure your space is large enough to accommodate both gameplay and art

Problem, solution ordering

Try to ensure player recognizes the problem before they find solutions
Confusing for players if they discover information out of order
Can make puzzles feel redundant.

Let the player get lost

Getting lost creates tension in the players journey
Finding where you are again is satisfying
Constantly knowing where you are kills tension

Build on uneven terrain

Force interesting architectural compromises
Looks more natural and visually interesting
Encourages designers to build off the grid