Gam705: Level Update 6
Though the majority of this week was dedicated to getting the level ready for the final package and submission I started the week by addressing the final peace of feedback from the last playsession, adding in an additional side path to the beginning of the level. From the playsession feedback a lot of players were intrigued by the destroyed ruins on the otherside of the river and wanted to be able to explore them so I added a platforming and climbing path to this side of the river with a collectable as a reward for doing so. I left this…
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Gam705: Level Update 5
I began this week was spent acting on the feedback I received from last weeks playtesting session. I started by revisiting the 2D and reworking the beginning area, some players were confused as to whose campsite it was with some thinking it was the players rather than an old abandoned one. To make it clearer that this was an old abandoned one from previous explorers I moved the start position for the player to before the small temple. This also had the added benefit of taking the player into the temple first, giving them a cool reveal moment after they’ve…
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Gam705: Level Update 4
I started the week by adding in the new additions to the map (fig 1), mainly the new start area and the small island in the middle of the river. The new start area consisted of a small abandoned campsite from previous explorers with an small temple to the left across the river, providing an optional area for players to explore. I knew I would be holding a second round of playtesting towards the end of this week and I wanted to see if players did take the time to explore the temple or if they bypassed it all together.…
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Gam705: Level Update 3
I decided that the beginning part of this week would be spent iterating on the areas I had already created and applying the feedback I had received from the earlier playtests. I started by playtesting the entire level from start to finish and really analysing the starting sections as the views had really changed with the addition of the later areas. When I originally blocked out the early sections of the map I had to imagine, based on the 2D map what the sightlines and views would potentially be. From doing this I realised that I need to make some…
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Gam705: Level Update 2
The heatwave meant I wasn’t able to spend as much time working on the physical blockout as it was way to hot to have my laptop running, it was getting to 39o C most days! I decided instead to spend the time expanding on the overall map layout and re-evaluate my stretch goals. My original stretch goal was to create an additional second level but I’ve decided instead to just expand on my current map to create a more ambitious level that more thoroughly tests cognitive mapping as a tool for guiding players. My initial ideas for the expanded map…
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Gam705: Level Update 1
This week I worked on blocking out the next area of the map, the logging site which serves as the first combat zone of the level, as well as making small changes to the temple area and starting blocking out area that follows after the logging site, the platforming traversal section (fig 1-2). I started this week that making changes to the temple area based off the feedback I received during my personal tutorial where it was suggested that having an object that the player could interact with, and leaves a physical change to the environment. I like this idea…
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Gam705: Initial Blockout
This week I spent the time blocking out the first few sections of the map, the start area, the spiral path and cave and the first small temple area. These first couple of sections have been relatively straightforward to blockout as they are mostly comprised of a single path and a single district. I started by blocking out the start section first as I wanted to get the first vista point, where the player sees the goal of the temple for the first time nailed earlier on as the temple is the guiding, global landmark of the level and needs…
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Gam705: Level Set Up
This week was spent working on designing the 2D map of the level and completing the level design document, experimenting with and learning to use the Advanced Locomotion System v4 adapted by Jakub W (2021) and setting up the unreal project. I started the week by working on gathering references as well as creating the 2D level map and the documentation to go with it, which can be seen in the previous post. With a clear vision of where I wanted to take the level, I moved on to setting up the unreal project. As my focus for this project…
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Gam705: Level Design Doc
To make sure that I had a clear vision for the level I created a level design document for the level. Though my focus for this project is on Cognitive Mapping I took the time to develop the overarching narrative for the wider game as well as the level I will be creating. In industry, action/adventure games like the ones that inspired my level are all very narratively driven so I felt that taking the time to think about the narrative behind the level would be beneficial for the design process. Along with creating the level design document I also…
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Gam705: Project Pitch
This is my Major Project Proposal for GAM705.For this final module, I will be creating a fully playable level block out while also researching ways to intuitively guide players through spaces. Overview Over the course of this presentation, I will show my plan for the development and creation of this project, starting with looking at what my project is. Project Outline The question I will be answering is “How can level design utilise cognitive mapping to intuitively guide players in a non-intrusive way?” Cognitive mapping is the way in which we interpret and navigate the world around us with the…
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Fern Griffiths 