Humble Beginnings - Level Design on Constraints

For this example, we'll have to hop a bit back in time. (I even adjusted the post date so it appears earlier on.)

The following video shows a small mockup level I made for a class.

The Challenge:

I was given a small area and set of props with which to create a small, innovative level space.

How I went above and beyond:

Limitations can also prove to be a creative stimulant. While some things, like the obviously-tiled grass and dirt, were not to my high standards, I managed to find other ways to make this level design stand out.

In each piece of set, there is a story. The overturned pillars that fit perfectly into power slots were once sources of power for an alien station now buried and molded over.

Some bird or dinosaur has laid eggs in a rainwater stream. In the wake of the crater you're in, new life has formed. And, if you watch to the end, it is life that gives birth to a resurgence of power.

All the thought I put into underlying story elements--even in just a small space--showcase a bit of my design process, and that's why I share this with you today.

Also worth noting is my addition of a dialogue system, an extra feature beyond the assignment's requirements.

This was my first, back in 2020. After just a few weeks in Unreal Engine, I had already crafted this branching dialogue for an NPC (who I also made wander a certain area of the map via NavMesh).

And, there's even a short example of using the sequencer, animations, and AI. The two turrets spring to life and fire at the player.

Thanks for reading and watching!

Check out some other posts to see of my more recent development.

-Dihlon