[xXxPZxXx]

Just a few questions regarding Level Design for video games.

- do you believe that level design is digital art? (not texturing just the level itself)

- how many of you have experience in level design?

- and do any of you do it for a living? how did you get into it? college?

I am just curious because I enjoy making my own levels and was looking at it for a career and I really believe there is an art to it. Thanks for any replies =D

-PZ-

[balistic]

I think whether or not level design is art depends on the focus of the game . . . a Quake 3 level should be focused on gameflow and ergonomics, before aesthetics are considered . . . whereas in a game like Shenmue, the level's atmosphere and character are of utmost importance.

I would probably class level design with architecture . . . its not "pure" art, because it needs to be functional as well as expressive.

[Shiro_tengu]

I am a C.G. Artist for a game deleloper. I do level design as well as 3D modeling, texturing, animating, concept art. Not all game developers have the luxury of employing a level designer that does nothing else. They are out there though.

I have a degree in Multimedia design but I don't believe you need one to be employed in the industry. What you do need is proof of skill more than anything such as a good portfolio and samples level design. Spend some time on Gamasutra.com. Its a great site for info you require. web page

[JoeKool]

I have done some Level Design in a program called Wild Tangent (not the best thats out there thats for sure), and I have to agree with balistic that its more architecture, than digital art..but hey..classify it however ya like..

[nova]

Designing something that's functional is an art in itself, kind of like concept art where part is making a character that looks nice and a bigger part is designing it to work with the game/movie technically and artistically. I've always admired level designers and have recently gotten into it myself.. a huge part of it is making a level that works and flows, the other part of it is the architecture and the ambience and stuff.

So yea, I think it's definitely an art.

[Dan3d]

I certainly believe that level design is an art and is much more than architecture. I "good" level designer has to understand textures (often he will create his own textures for his own levels), when to use textures instead of geometry, when to use geometry and not a texture to simulate geometry, etc. These are design issues and not architectural issues. Also, the environment needs to be interesting and needs to flow AND this all needs to be done within the extreme limitations of a real time 3D engine, which will not allow for unlimited detail ... quite the opposite.

Besides building the geometry of the level, level designers are responsible for lighting the level. Bad lighting will absolutely ruin a level. Lighting in a level is much like the art of lighting in a painting or any form of digital art. Sometimes the real time 3D engine's lights will not give you the effect you need. In these cases, the lighting needs to be simulated via textures, sprites or other means. The level designer (at least a good one) will understand lighting and will know the tricks to simulate it properly (and all this while keeping the frame rate up!).

There's a lot to proper level design and I would definately call it an art!