Anthony Gatturna
Level Designer
Sludge City
Level Design Process
Goals of the level
To craft an immersive sewer environment using modular assets, integrating parkour and combat gameplay. The challenge lay in blending narrative elements seamlessly while keeping players engaged throughout their journey.
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Challenges
Blending different ideas seamlessly to create a cohesive experience across visuals, mechanics, and narrative throughout the level. How I overcame them: Setting clear personal benchmarks for consistency in visuals, mechanics, and narrative. Through self-assessment, iterative refinement, and leveraging feedback from peers, I ensured a cohesive experience for players.
Concept Stage
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Designing Claustrophobic Sewer Pathways
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Narrow Passages: Construct narrow, winding pathways with low ceilings to create a sense of confinement and tightness. Use dim lighting and shadowy corners to heighten the feeling of being enclosed.
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​Environmental Hazards: Introduce environmental hazards such as leaking pipes, steam vents, or toxic waste to increase tension and make navigation through the sewers more challenging.
2. Transition to the Puzzle Area:
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Visual Contrast: As players emerge from the claustrophobic sewers, design a stark contrast in the environment. Transition from dark, cramped spaces to a brightly lit, expansive area with open sky or natural light streaming in.
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Spatial Awareness: Design the puzzle area with wide open spaces and panoramic views to provide players with a sense of freedom and relief after navigating the cramped sewers.
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By strategically crafting the level design to evoke feelings of claustrophobia in the sewer pathways and then transitioning to an open, exhilarating puzzle area, you can create a memorable and immersive gaming experience that engages players both emotionally and intellectually. This dynamic shift in atmosphere and gameplay enhances player immersion and adds depth to the overall level design.
Testing and Iteration
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Lighting and Atmosphere Tuning
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Test various lighting setups to find the perfect balance between dimness and visibility. Experiment with shadowy corners and flickering lights to enhance the eerie ambiance.
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Ensure that the lighting effectively contributes to the sense of enclosure without hindering gameplay.
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Identify and fix any technical issues that arise during testing, such as collision problems, lighting glitches, or audio bugs. Polish the environment to eliminate any distractions that could detract from the immersive experience.
2. Navigation and Flow Testing​
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Ensure that players can navigate through the winding pathways without getting stuck or overly frustrated. Test different routes and tweak the layout to balance the claustrophobic feel with smooth gameplay.
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Adjust the placement of obstacles and corners to maintain a challenging but manageable flow.
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By focusing on the wireframe, I can easily identify and address issues with geometry, scale, and connectivity.
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This visualization technique is crucial for refining the player's journey, ensuring a cohesive and immersive transition from tight, anxiety-inducing passages to expansive, engaging puzzle areas.
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The wireframe view helps me fine-tune the balance between confinement and openness, enhancing the level’s overall design and player experience.
Gallery
