Objectives

After reading this chapter and completing the exercises, you will be able to do the following:

• Understand how level design can enhance or undermine a game’s story and gameplay.
• Know the difference between universal and genre-specific level design principles.
• List the possible level layouts and understand when to use each and how to combine them.
• Understand the importance of atmosphere, pacing, and progression.
• Describe the key aspects of the level design process.
• Recognize some of the pitfalls of level design, such as inappropriate scope and conceptual non sequiturs.