SM3120 Game Level Design Lesson 02 – Level Design: Terrain Ryan Lam.

SM3120 SM3120 Game Level DesignGame Level Design

Lesson 02 – Level Design: TerrainLesson 02 – Level Design: Terrain

Ryan LamRyan Lam

What is level design?What is level design?

Level designLevel design or or game mappinggame mapping is is the creation of levels: scenes, stages, the creation of levels: scenes, stages, or missions for a video game (such or missions for a video game (such as a console game or computer as a console game or computer game). game).

This is done by using level design This is done by using level design tools.tools.

Level DesignersLevel Designers

Take elements designed by others to Take elements designed by others to make them playablemake them playable• Artwork Artwork • Game playGame play• Game engineGame engine

AdditionallyAdditionally• Carve out environmentsCarve out environments• Monitor game performanceMonitor game performance• Resolve technical issuesResolve technical issues

Level DesignLevel Design

Build the difficulty curve of the gameBuild the difficulty curve of the game • Level designers faces a double challenge: Level designers faces a double challenge:

let the player against a progressive difficulty curlet the player against a progressive difficulty curve, and carry that difficulty seamlessly between lve, and carry that difficulty seamlessly between levelsevels

Level DesignLevel Design Making Terrain Fun: Making Terrain Fun: Entertaining the player is the priEntertaining the player is the pri

mary duty of the game makermary duty of the game maker::

• Establish moodEstablish mood• Terrain can build tensionTerrain can build tension• Terrain can relieve tensionTerrain can relieve tension• Terrain can tell storyTerrain can tell story• Terrain can be fun to run or driveTerrain can be fun to run or drive• Terrain can be beautifulTerrain can be beautiful• Terrain can be tactically challengingTerrain can be tactically challenging

SimpleSimple DraftDraft

General stepsGeneral steps

1.1. Laying out the larger design of the map Laying out the larger design of the map ((hills, hills, rooms, tunnels, etc…rooms, tunnels, etc…))

2.2. Specifying certain regions where specific Specifying certain regions where specific activities or behaviors occur (resource activities or behaviors occur (resource harvesting, base building, water regions, etc) harvesting, base building, water regions, etc)

3.3. Specifying other entities in the map (such as Specifying other entities in the map (such as enemies, soldiers, resource ammo and health, enemies, soldiers, resource ammo and health, weapons, save points, etc) weapons, save points, etc)

4.4. Specifying which part of levels move, locations Specifying which part of levels move, locations of doors, teleporters, and hidden pathof doors, teleporters, and hidden path

Example: Warcraft 3Example: Warcraft 3

General stepsGeneral steps

4.4. Specifying the start/exit locations for one or more Specifying the start/exit locations for one or more players players

5.5. Adding realism by filling in with details such as Adding realism by filling in with details such as level-specific graphic textures, sounds, level-specific graphic textures, sounds, animation, lighting and music animation, lighting and music

6.6. Scripting, where certain actions by the player Scripting, where certain actions by the player trigger specified eventstrigger specified events

7.7. The path that NPC take as they walk around, the The path that NPC take as they walk around, the actions they will take in response to specific actions they will take in response to specific triggers, and any dialog they might have with the triggers, and any dialog they might have with the playerplayer

Player Start Point Texture

Terrain

Natural Environment

NPC

Neutral Building Props

River, Ocean…etcRiver, Ocean…etc

ArchitectureArchitecture

Lighting

Weather

AI PathAI Path

ScriptScript

IssuesIssues How large is the level?How large is the level? How long will it last?How long will it last?

• Speed of travelSpeed of travel Building to scaleBuilding to scale

• Consider how the player will move aroundConsider how the player will move around Where does the player appear?Where does the player appear?

• How did they get there? How did they get there? Introductory cinematic should explain thisIntroductory cinematic should explain this

• Where do they re-spawn to when they die?Where do they re-spawn to when they die?

Example: Start/Re-spawn in WarCraft 3Example: Start/Re-spawn in WarCraft 3

CinematicCinematic

IssuesIssues Consistency in the level design brings life to the worldConsistency in the level design brings life to the world

• What will the visuals be like? What will the visuals be like? Colours of landscape and sky? Colours of landscape and sky?

• What textures and architecture belong in this level? What textures and architecture belong in this level? • What is the culture or history with the level? What is the culture or history with the level? • Does it fit for the game genre? Does it fit for the game genre? • Is it set in the past? Is it set in the past? • What are the sounds like in the levelWhat are the sounds like in the level

Present different tactical challenges inside the map (Present different tactical challenges inside the map (VVery important!!)ery important!!)

Game Balance to each player? (Game Balance to each player? (Very important!!)Very important!!)

Entire MapEntire Map

TerrainTerrain

Adds atmosphereAdds atmosphere Nature is chaotic Nature is chaotic

• Balance between reality and smooth Balance between reality and smooth running of gamesrunning of games

Natural barrierNatural barrier• Constrain where the player can goConstrain where the player can go• Need to give player room to moveNeed to give player room to move

TerrainTerrain

There are different way to create There are different way to create terrain:terrain:

1.1. HeightmapHeightmap

2.2. HandmadeHandmade

3.3. MixedMixed

4.4. Auto-generatedAuto-generated

HeightmapHeightmap

Heightmap is used to generate 3d terrainsHeightmap is used to generate 3d terrains

• Heightmap uses the 256 shades of gray in a Heightmap uses the 256 shades of gray in a black-and-white digital pictureblack-and-white digital picture

• Black is ground level, white is peakBlack is ground level, white is peak• Each shade of grey represents a Each shade of grey represents a

different heightdifferent height

Handmade/MixedHandmade/Mixed

Handmade terrainsHandmade terrains• Use packages such as 3DS or Maya to Use packages such as 3DS or Maya to

sculpt new worlds from a 2D planesculpt new worlds from a 2D plane• Add texturesAdd textures• Very time consuming but can produce Very time consuming but can produce

realistic resultsrealistic results MixedMixed

• Use a combination of height maps and Use a combination of height maps and then modify as required using available then modify as required using available toolsettoolset

Auto-generatedAuto-generated

Auto-generatedAuto-generated• Procedural approach where software Procedural approach where software

generates landscapes based on initial generates landscapes based on initial settings of designersettings of designer

• Useful where player does not interact Useful where player does not interact with the terrainwith the terrain

• E.g. Terragen, MojoWorld E.g. Terragen, MojoWorld

Tiled TerrainTiled Terrain

Tiles pre-generated and placed next Tiles pre-generated and placed next to each otherto each other• Time consuming for large levelsTime consuming for large levels• Loaded at runtime as requiredLoaded at runtime as required• Constrained by the tile setConstrained by the tile set

Neverwinters NightNeverwinters Night• Each tile set contains around 200-300 Each tile set contains around 200-300

tilestiles• Three months development timeThree months development time

Example tilesExample tiles

Adding propsAdding props Landscape the terrain with trees, bushes, rocks, Landscape the terrain with trees, bushes, rocks,

buildings, walls etcbuildings, walls etc• Only use objects that make sense for the settingOnly use objects that make sense for the setting

Palm trees in an artic waste land?Palm trees in an artic waste land?• Need to test level with game engine frequently to Need to test level with game engine frequently to

ensure performance acceptable ensure performance acceptable reduce number of props if necessaryreduce number of props if necessary

Also:Also:• Location of NPCs within the gameLocation of NPCs within the game• Power upsPower ups• Spawn pointsSpawn points

Consider the gamplayConsider the gamplay• Players need room to move around and engage the Players need room to move around and engage the

enemy, so do not over populate the ‘hot zone’ around enemy, so do not over populate the ‘hot zone’ around the player the player

Props in WarCraft 3Props in WarCraft 3

Architecture (3D model)Architecture (3D model) Toolsets often provided by the games engineToolsets often provided by the games engine

• Pre-built objects that slot together (Lego) Pre-built objects that slot together (Lego) • Brushes (3D stencil)Brushes (3D stencil)• Actors (imported assets)Actors (imported assets)

Use other software to create architecture Use other software to create architecture and import into the game engineand import into the game engine• Which format? Depends!Which format? Depends!

.x (DirectX).x (DirectX) .mdx.mdx DXF (wide support but slow & relatively large file size)DXF (wide support but slow & relatively large file size) Conversion softwareConversion software

Architecture Architecture in WarCraft 3in WarCraft 3

EncountersEncounters

InformationalInformational• Interaction between player and NPCInteraction between player and NPC

PuzzlesPuzzles• Locks placed at bottlenecks in the gameLocks placed at bottlenecks in the game

Movement puzzlesMovement puzzles• Player runs & jumps to avoid obstaclesPlayer runs & jumps to avoid obstacles

CombatCombat• Should have a purposeShould have a purpose

Encounters in WarCraft 3Encounters in WarCraft 3

Software toolsSoftware tools

Game engines Game engines • Unreal Edit (free for educational use)Unreal Edit (free for educational use)

Commercial gamesCommercial games• Bespoke level editors E.g. Far Cry, WarcraftBespoke level editors E.g. Far Cry, Warcraft

Game Space Light (free)Game Space Light (free)• Supports DirectXSupports DirectX

3DS Max3DS Max• Needs exporters for game enginesNeeds exporters for game engines

PhotoShopPhotoShop Bryce – good for creating terrains Bryce – good for creating terrains

interactivelyinteractively

Unreal EditorUnreal Editor

Free game engineFree game engine

Far Cry Engine Far Cry Engine ((URLURL))

Sandbox level editor available with Sandbox level editor available with gamegame• Good for creating islandsGood for creating islands• Buggy Buggy

Bryce Bryce ((URLURL))

Landscape generatorLandscape generator• presets, model, grey scale mapspresets, model, grey scale maps

ObjectsObjects• primitives, Metaballs, Boolean objects, importprimitives, Metaballs, Boolean objects, import

Material MappingMaterial Mapping• presets, import own images, advanced editingpresets, import own images, advanced editing

AnimationAnimation• objects, materials, lights, environment, cameraobjects, materials, lights, environment, camera

RenderingRendering• BitmapsBitmaps• AVIAVI• QuickTime VRQuickTime VR

view control

camera control

render control

animation control

working window

tool palettes

nano preview

advanced displaypalette

Bryce InterfaceBryce Interface

Version 5Version 5

ToolsTools Selection paletteSelection palette

Name objects via Attributes dialogueName objects via Attributes dialogue

Colour code objectsColour code objects

Most drag operations are left and rightMost drag operations are left and right• rather than up and downrather than up and down

Toggle

Bryce LabsBryce Labs

Terrain EditorTerrain Editor Tree LabTree Lab Sky LabSky Lab Light LabLight Lab Material LabMaterial Lab

CompositionComposition

Think about the composition of the Think about the composition of the scenescene

QuestionQuestion 1. How does a heightmap work?

2. What’s frustrating to a player?• a) Invisible walls• b) A lack of landmarks• c) Not being able to see his opponent• d) All of the above

3. Name three ways that terrain can be fun.

4. What are some of the things you have to consider when texturing your terrain?

5. What are some of the things you have to consider when placing props on your terrain?

AnswerAnswer 1: A heightmap uses the 256 shades of gray in a black-and-white digital p

icture to remember surface features. Each shade of gray represents a certain elevation. Black is the lowest possible elevation, and white is the highest.

2: d) All of the above.

3: It can be fun to move around on, it can tell a story, and it can build/relieve tension.

4: Whether the textures are appropriate to the scenario you’re working on, and whether they look good (no seams, not stretched because of sudden elevation changes, no obviously repeated squares).

5: Whether the props are appropriate to the scenario, whether they look like clones of each other, and whether they interfere with the gameplay of the level.