TL;DR / Intro (10 mins)
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What is a Level Design Role?
- A Level designer is part artist, part game designer, part storyteller, and part engineer. They bring the game's vision to life by assembling the world in which the game exists.
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Common Tasks:
- Workshops and hands-on training
- Recap of previous sessions
- Collaboration with artists on planning
- Working on project progression
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Misconceptions:
- Often associated with 3D modeling, whereas focus is on planning and collaboration.
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Industry Names:
- Level designer
Required Resources and Tools (5 mins)
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Software Packages:
- Game engines like Unity
- 3D modeling software like Blender
- Pen and paper for prototyping
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Enforcement of Software:
- Individual choice based on project needs and personal preference.
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Licensing or Cost Requirements:
- Many essential tools are free such as Unity and Blender.
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Hardware Requirements:
- Depends on project complexity; high-end machine for demanding 3D games.
Deliverables and Time Estimation (15 mins)
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Organizational Tools:
- Spreadsheets, Microsoft Office, Google Docs
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Timeframes:
- Varies based on task complexity and experience level.
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Pivoting Difficulty:
- Relatively easy to make fundamental changes, especially early in the project.
Giving Instructions and Feedback (15 mins)
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Instructions Needed:
- Project description and goals to start crafting.
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Feedback Level:
- Screenshots with comments for detailed feedback. Slack communication for smaller tasks.
Traits of High-Quality Work
- Organizational skills
- Engagement in the project journey
- Effective feature prioritization
Traits of Sloppy, Rushed Work
- Poor organization and summarization
- Lack of attention to detail
Best Practices for Collaboration (15 mins)
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Problem-Solving:
- Collaborate with developers for issue resolution.
- Utilize GitHub for version control and merging.
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Vocabulary for PMs:
- Detailed level descriptions, immersive details, target hardware specifications.