The level design is the process in creation of Video game which deals with the realization of the levels (or charts ) of play ( level or map in English). It is an important phase which has its influence on the final Gameplay of the play. Rather than to conceive rules like the Range designer, the level designer conceives the environments and decorations which populate the play, trying to draw a plausible, coherent and varied whole.

Presentation

The level design is much more than of the creation of playable charts; it is the taking into account of many parameters like the general gameplay of the play, the evolution and the level of the player, the credibility of the chart with an only aim of getting ludic pleasure.

Far from the years 1990 where certain plays were still realized by only one and even nobody, the Video game became an industry and quite naturally underwent transformations as well on the level of specializations of the trades, as software architectures used. The gasoline of a Video game, the engine of play appeared (Scumm, Quake, Unreal…) separating the aspect programming from the informational contents of the play (decoration, character, interactions, music, sound effects). Tools appropriate to this new artistic creation developed (editor of level) thus giving to the level design the influential place which returns to him in the realization of Video games.

In industry, the level design is carried out by the collaboration of different trade association (computer graphics expert, sound designer …) under the responsibility of the level designer . It must answer the objectives laid down by the Game design er while satisfying criteria of jouability.

Tools

A editor of level is depend on the Moteur of play for which one conceives, which does not facilitate the work of the level designers . There is a great number, and one can quote Bungie' S, Forge & Anvil, Fear&Loathing, Valve' S Hammer Editor, Epic' S UnrealEd, Aurora Toolset of BioWare and GtkRadiant (known in the past under the name of Q3Radiant). Some are integrated in the distribution of the play.

The tendency of the Video games current pushes to increase realism 3D, and the editors of level adapted by integrating tools 3D tested professionals such 3D Studio max, AutoCAD, Lightwave, Maya, XSI; who moreover allow to facilitate the integration of the computer graphics experts to the projects of Video game while reducing the cost (and/or the time) of production of the tools.

Sometimes the levels can be generated automatically by a Générateur of levels

See too

Internal bonds

• Level design, creation of a level in 3D

External bonds

• Gamasutra (English)

• Unreal-Design: French site devoted to the Modding on the Unreal Engine
• Site of the zero: French site comprising of the courses on Half-Life 1 and Counter-Strike
• Mapping-Area: French site dedicated to the mapping on Half-Life (1 & 2)
• M-A-P: Site of the Community of Mappeurs French-speaking people (in the past CMF). Comprise a large collection of charts for the plays Counter-Strike, Day off Defeat, etc
• Easymapping: Site dedicated to the mapping on Wolfenstein Enemy Territory, and the future Quake Wars.