Level-design practices
In the previous sections, we have explained what level design is and how the process of creating new content can be approached. Now, it’s time for some practical tips and tricks that should help you with the design process!
Functional level design and realism
Game worlds range from highly realistic to completely made-up, and most fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Worlds do not become more believable because of visual clutter, high-resolution textures, and detailed geometry. They become believable if we can imagine the life that keeps on going when we look away.
Even the simplest AI systems can yield surprising results. Humans are naturally prone to connecting strings of random behaviors into larger, more meaningful stories, a phenomenon known as apophenia.
A simple way to create more coherent designs is to imagine the inhabitants of the world interacting with their surroundings. Don’t settle for a set of walls with haphazardly...
