A level designer creates the actual digital environment with which a player will interact while playing a computer game and places the game’s characters and items within that environment in computer game development. The role of a level designer is defined differently by different game development companies. They are responsible for all aspects of assembling a specific level of a game in some cases, while in others, they are only responsible for a small portion of the level, such as lighting or character pathing. A designer usually needs to know how to program and be able to use three-dimensional (3D) modeling software. Because it incorporates all of the elements created by the rest of the game development team, the job is critical to the final product.
A level designer creates the geometry for a level in some companies, including polygons for terrain, walls, ceilings, and other structures. Creating a map can be a lengthy process that entails presenting a challenge to a player while remaining uncomplicated. In some projects, the level designer may use a 3D modeling program to create objects, while in others, all of the objects used to create a level are premade by separate artists and illustrators and placed as set props.
The term “level designer” can mean a variety of things depending on the type and scope of a project. A level designer’s role is more limited when it comes to handling the objects on a level. A separate team member known as an environment designer will have already created the level’s geometry. In this case, level design entails placing objects such as game characters or weapons in strategic locations to present the player with a challenge. To further complicate game play, it may also entail changing some aspects of the environment, such as locking doors or setting triggers to move objects around the level.
A game development company might also ask a level designer to write scripts to control the level’s events or the enemies’ and characters’ behavior. To quickly and effectively script actions, some basic programming knowledge may be required. The designer is frequently chosen to write a level’s scripts because he or she is intimately familiar with the map and can better integrate object movements to make them feel more natural.
A level designer may also be responsible for other duties. These can include things like balancing the enemies on a level statistically, creating two-dimensional (2D) textures for new objects in the environment, and adjusting lighting and particles for rendering. Larger game development companies usually develop their own level design tools, which can help to streamline the process, while plug-ins for standard 3D modeling software can also be used to facilitate the process.