https://youtu.be/AKeUZVikPV8

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