Designing for success in level design requires an understanding of the fundamental principles that govern the creation of engaging and immersive gaming experiences. One such set of principles is the 7 laws of design, which have been proven to guide designers towards creating successful levels. These laws are not only applicable to video game design but also to various other fields such as architecture, graphic design, and product design. By mastering these laws, designers can create levels that are not only visually appealing but also challenging, intuitive, and fun to play. In this article, we will explore these laws in detail and understand how they can be applied to level design to create winning experiences for players.
What are the 7 laws of design?
Law 1: Balance
The Importance of Symmetry and Asymmetry in Level Design
Balance is a crucial aspect of level design that plays a significant role in creating a visually appealing and harmonious environment. In level design, balance can be achieved through the use of symmetry and asymmetry. Symmetry refers to the arrangement of elements in a way that they are mirrored around a central point, while asymmetry involves the use of elements that are not mirrored.
Creating a Visually Appealing and Harmonious Environment
A well-balanced level design can create a sense of harmony and visual appeal that draws players into the game world. When elements are arranged symmetrically, it can create a sense of order and stability, which can help players navigate the environment and feel more comfortable. Asymmetry, on the other hand, can create a sense of movement and dynamism, which can help to engage players and create a more exciting atmosphere.
Balance is also important in terms of gameplay. A balanced level design can help to create a sense of fairness and challenge, which can keep players engaged and motivated. When levels are too easy or too difficult, players may become bored or frustrated, respectively. A balanced level design can help to create a sense of flow and progression that keeps players engaged and challenged throughout the game.
Overall, balance is a key aspect of level design that can help to create a visually appealing and harmonious environment, as well as a challenging and engaging gameplay experience. By carefully considering the use of symmetry and asymmetry, designers can create levels that are both aesthetically pleasing and fun to play.
Law 2: Proportion
Understanding the Relationship Between Size and Space
Proportion in level design refers to the relationship between the size of objects or areas within a game environment and the space they occupy. It involves creating a sense of scale and hierarchy in the environment that accurately reflects the real-world concepts of size and space. This can be achieved by considering several factors, such as the size of the player character, the scale of enemies and obstacles, and the overall layout of the environment.
For example, a player character should be large enough to be easily distinguishable from other objects in the environment, but not so large that they appear out of place or disproportionate. Similarly, enemies and obstacles should be designed to be appropriately sized relative to the player character and the environment, creating a sense of challenge and achievement as the player progresses through the level.
Creating a Sense of Scale and Hierarchy in the Environment
In addition to ensuring that objects and areas are appropriately sized within the environment, proportion also involves creating a sense of scale and hierarchy. This means that different areas or objects within the environment should be designed to convey a sense of importance or significance, with some areas being larger or more prominent than others.
For example, a boss battle arena should be larger and more impressive than a simple hallway or corridor. Similarly, a key objective or collectible item should be located in a prominent area, such as a raised platform or a well-lit area, to encourage the player to explore and discover important elements of the game world.
Overall, proportion is a critical aspect of level design that helps to create a sense of scale and hierarchy within the game environment. By carefully considering the size and placement of objects and areas, designers can create a more immersive and engaging gameplay experience that encourages players to explore and discover the game world.
Law 3: Unity
When designing a level, it is important to establish a cohesive theme and color scheme that reinforces the player’s understanding of the environment. This is where the third law of level design comes into play: unity.
Establishing a Cohesive Theme and Color Scheme
Unity refers to the idea of creating a level that feels like a cohesive whole. This means using consistent design elements throughout the level to create a sense of continuity and harmony. One of the key ways to achieve unity is by establishing a cohesive theme and color scheme.
For example, if the level is set in a medieval castle, the theme should be reflected in the design of the environment. This could include using stone walls, archways, and turrets to create a sense of place. Similarly, the color scheme should be consistent with the theme, using earthy tones like brown, gray, and green to create a sense of mood and atmosphere.
Using Consistency to Reinforce the Player’s Understanding of the Environment
In addition to establishing a cohesive theme and color scheme, unity also involves using consistency to reinforce the player’s understanding of the environment. This means using consistent design elements throughout the level to create a sense of continuity and harmony.
For example, if the level includes a courtyard, the courtyard should have a consistent design that reflects the overall theme of the level. This could include using similar materials, textures, and colors to create a sense of cohesion. Additionally, the courtyard should be designed in a way that reinforces the player’s understanding of the environment, such as by providing clear visual cues that help the player navigate the space.
Overall, unity is an important aspect of level design that helps to create a sense of continuity and harmony in the environment. By establishing a cohesive theme and color scheme and using consistency to reinforce the player’s understanding of the environment, designers can create levels that feel like a cohesive whole and provide a more immersive gaming experience.
Law 4: Contrast
Importance of Contrast
Contrast is a fundamental principle in level design that helps create a dynamic and engaging environment. It is the visual difference between elements in a scene, such as light and dark, warm and cool colors, and texture. By utilizing contrast effectively, designers can direct the player’s attention, create a sense of depth, and emphasize important elements in the environment.
Creating Contrast with Light and Dark
Light and dark are essential elements in creating contrast in level design. Designers can use light to highlight important areas, such as a path or a specific object, and dark to create a sense of mystery or concealment. The contrast between light and dark can also be used to create a sense of depth, as shadows help define the shape and form of objects in the environment.
Using Color Contrast
Color contrast is another important aspect of creating contrast in level design. Warm and cool colors can be used to create a visual contrast, with warm colors creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere and cool colors creating a sense of calm and serenity. Additionally, designers can use complementary colors, such as blue and orange, to create a vibrant and energetic environment.
Texture Contrast
Texture contrast is the visual difference between smooth and rough surfaces. By using different textures, designers can create a sense of variety and interest in the environment. For example, smooth surfaces can be used to create a sense of elegance and sophistication, while rough surfaces can be used to create a sense of ruggedness and adventure.
In conclusion, contrast is a crucial aspect of level design that helps create a dynamic and engaging environment. By utilizing light and dark, color, and texture, designers can direct the player’s attention, create a sense of depth, and emphasize important elements in the environment. Understanding and effectively utilizing the principle of contrast is essential for creating successful and immersive game environments.
Law 5: Repetition
In the realm of level design, repetition serves as a powerful tool to reinforce the player’s understanding of the environment. By employing patterns, textures, and shapes consistently, designers can create a sense of unity and coherence within the game world. This law emphasizes the importance of maintaining visual and experiential consistency, which ultimately contributes to a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
Here are some key aspects of Law 5: Repetition:
- Creating familiarity: Repetition helps players become familiar with the game world, allowing them to quickly recognize important elements and landmarks. This familiarity improves navigation and helps players know where they are in the game.
- Establishing a visual language: By repeating patterns and textures, designers can create a visual language that is unique to the game world. This language can convey information about the environment, such as the era or culture it represents, and can also provide feedback to players about the level’s layout and layout.
- Building player expectations: Repetition can be used to build player expectations, both in terms of gameplay and narrative. For example, if a particular texture or shape is associated with a dangerous area, players will come to expect that repeated patterns of that texture or shape will indicate a potential hazard.
- Enhancing memorability: Repetition can make certain elements of the game world more memorable, which can help players recall important information or locations. This is particularly useful in larger games with complex environments, where players may need to recall specific details to progress through the game.
To effectively implement Law 5: Repetition, designers should:
- Choose a consistent style: Select a visual style and adhere to it throughout the game world. This could include a specific color palette, a particular set of textures, or a recurring motif.
- Repeat elements deliberately: Repetition should be used intentionally to reinforce important elements of the game world. For example, repeating a specific texture to indicate a hidden passage or a particular shape to denote a hazard.
- Balance repetition with variety: While repetition is important for creating a sense of unity, too much repetition can become monotonous. Designers should balance repetition with variety to maintain player engagement and prevent the game world from feeling stale.
By following Law 5: Repetition, designers can create a cohesive and memorable game world that reinforces the player’s understanding of the environment, ultimately contributing to a more enjoyable and immersive gaming experience.
Law 6: Emphasis
When designing a level, it is crucial to understand the concept of emphasis. This law states that the designer must focus the player’s attention on key elements in the game environment. By doing so, the player’s movement and actions will be guided towards specific areas, which will lead to a more immersive and enjoyable experience.
Using size, color, and placement to create emphasis
To create emphasis, designers can use various techniques. One of the most common methods is by using size, color, and placement to draw the player’s attention to key elements. For example, a designer may use a larger size to emphasize a particular object or use a bright color to highlight an important area. Additionally, the placement of these elements can also be used to create emphasis. For instance, placing an object in the center of the screen can draw the player’s attention to it, making it the focal point of the environment.
Balancing emphasis
While emphasis is essential to level design, it is also important to balance it correctly. Overemphasis can lead to confusion and frustration for the player, while underemphasis can make key elements easy to miss. Designers must carefully consider the impact of their emphasis techniques and ensure that they are not distracting from the overall game experience.
In conclusion, emphasis is a critical aspect of level design that can significantly impact the player’s experience. By focusing the player’s attention on key elements, designers can guide their movement and actions, leading to a more immersive and enjoyable game.
Law 7: Movement
- Creating a sense of flow and direction in the environment
- Using design elements to guide the player’s movement and progression through the level
When designing a level, it is important to consider the player’s movement and create a sense of flow and direction in the environment. This is the seventh law of level design, known as the “Law of Movement.” By implementing this law effectively, designers can guide the player’s progression through the level and create a more engaging and immersive experience.
One way to create a sense of flow in a level is to use design elements such as corridors, pathways, and obstacles to direct the player’s movement. For example, a narrow corridor can funnel the player towards a specific area or goal, while a wide open space can give the player a sense of freedom and exploration.
Another important aspect of the Law of Movement is the use of visual cues to guide the player’s movement. This can include things like arrows, signs, and other environmental elements that indicate the player’s intended path. By using these cues, designers can help the player understand the level’s layout and navigate through the environment more easily.
Additionally, the Law of Movement also involves creating varied and interesting environments that encourage the player to move through the level. This can include things like changing the terrain, adding obstacles or hazards, and incorporating different gameplay mechanics. By varying the environment, designers can keep the player engaged and motivated to continue moving forward.
Overall, the Law of Movement is an important aspect of level design that can greatly impact the player’s experience. By creating a sense of flow and direction in the environment, designers can guide the player’s movement and progression through the level, resulting in a more engaging and immersive gameplay experience.
Applying the 7 laws of design in level design
Assessing the environment
Analyzing the game’s story and setting to inform the design
Before designing a level, it is crucial to understand the game’s story and setting. This includes analyzing the game’s lore, characters, and themes to create a cohesive and immersive experience for the player. For example, if the game is set in a medieval fantasy world, the level design should reflect this by incorporating elements such as castles, forests, and fantasy creatures. Additionally, understanding the game’s story can help designers create challenges that align with the game’s narrative, such as defending a castle from an invading army or escaping from a haunted dungeon.
Identifying the player’s goals and objectives
Another important aspect of assessing the environment is identifying the player’s goals and objectives. This includes determining what the player needs to accomplish in order to progress through the game and creating challenges that align with these goals. For example, if the player needs to collect a certain number of items to progress, the level design should include areas where these items can be found. Additionally, designers should consider the player’s skills and abilities when designing challenges, ensuring that they are challenging but achievable for the player.
Overall, assessing the environment involves a deep understanding of both the game’s story and the player’s goals and objectives. By taking these factors into account, designers can create levels that are both immersive and engaging for the player.
Planning and executing the design
When it comes to creating a successful level design, planning and execution are crucial. This involves creating a conceptual design and storyboard, implementing the design using level editing tools, and playtesting and iterating on the design.
Creating a conceptual design and storyboard
Before any work begins, it’s important to have a clear idea of what the level should look like and what the player’s objectives should be. This can be achieved by creating a conceptual design and storyboard. The conceptual design should include details such as the level’s theme, the player’s goals, and any obstacles that the player will need to overcome. The storyboard should then take this conceptual design and turn it into a visual representation, breaking down the level into smaller sections and identifying key events and moments.
Implementing the design using level editing tools
Once the conceptual design and storyboard have been created, it’s time to start implementing the design using level editing tools. These tools allow designers to create and manipulate the game world, placing objects, enemies, and other elements in the level. It’s important to keep the design intent in mind when using these tools, as making changes to the level can have unintended consequences.
Playtesting and iterating on the design
After the level has been implemented, it’s time to playtest it and iterate on the design. Playtesting involves getting feedback from players and observing how they interact with the level. This feedback can then be used to make changes and improvements to the level, whether that’s adjusting the placement of enemies or adding new elements to the level. Iterating on the design is an ongoing process, and it’s important to be open to making changes and improvements even after the level has been released.
In summary, planning and executing a level design involves creating a conceptual design and storyboard, implementing the design using level editing tools, and playtesting and iterating on the design. By following these steps, designers can create levels that are engaging, challenging, and enjoyable for players.
Tips and best practices
When it comes to level design, there are certain tips and best practices that can help ensure the success of a game. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Balancing creativity and functionality
One of the biggest challenges in level design is balancing creativity and functionality. It’s important to create a level that is both fun and engaging for players, but also serves a specific purpose within the game. To achieve this balance, designers should focus on creating levels that are visually appealing and engaging, while also serving a specific purpose within the game.
Understanding the game’s mechanics and playstyle
Another important aspect of level design is understanding the game’s mechanics and playstyle. This includes understanding the game’s controls, player movement, and other important aspects of the game. By understanding these mechanics, designers can create levels that are tailored to the game’s playstyle and provide a more enjoyable experience for players.
Collaborating with other designers and developers
Collaboration is key when it comes to level design. Designers should work closely with other designers and developers to ensure that the level is both functional and enjoyable. This includes sharing ideas, providing feedback, and working together to create a level that meets the needs of the game.
By following these tips and best practices, designers can create levels that are both functional and enjoyable for players.
FAQs
1. What are the 7 laws of design?
The 7 laws of design are a set of principles that guide the creation of effective and engaging levels in video games. These laws include:
1. The Law of Player Continuity: Players should be able to easily transition from one area of the level to another without becoming lost or disoriented.
2. The Law of Gameflow: The flow of the level should be smooth and logical, leading players through the experience in a way that is intuitive and enjoyable.
3. The Law of Progression: Players should be able to progress through the level at a steady pace, with challenges that increase in difficulty as they advance.
4. The Law of Scale: The size of the level should be appropriate for the content and objectives within, with no areas that are too large or too small.
5. The Law of Connection: The level should be connected in a way that makes sense and allows for smooth transitions between areas.
6. The Law of Challenge: The level should provide a challenge that is appropriate for the player’s skill level, with opportunities for growth and improvement.
7. The Law of Contradiction: The level should have a clear objective and provide a sense of accomplishment when completed.
2. What is the Law of Player Continuity?
The Law of Player Continuity states that players should be able to easily transition from one area of the level to another without becoming lost or disoriented. This means that the level should be designed in a way that allows players to easily navigate from one area to another, with clear visual cues and logical pathways. This helps to prevent player frustration and promotes a sense of flow and engagement in the level.
3. What is the Law of Gameflow?
The Law of Gameflow states that the flow of the level should be smooth and logical, leading players through the experience in a way that is intuitive and enjoyable. This means that the level should be designed in a way that guides players through the experience, with clear objectives and logical progression. This helps to promote a sense of immersion and engagement in the level, and can help to prevent player confusion or frustration.
4. What is the Law of Progression?
The Law of Progression states that players should be able to progress through the level at a steady pace, with challenges that increase in difficulty as they advance. This means that the level should be designed in a way that provides a clear sense of progression, with challenges that become increasingly difficult as players advance through the level. This helps to promote a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in the level, and can help to prevent player frustration or boredom.
5. What is the Law of Scale?
The Law of Scale states that the size of the level should be appropriate for the content and objectives within, with no areas that are too large or too small. This means that the level should be designed in a way that allows players to easily navigate and engage with the content, without becoming overwhelmed or bored. This helps to promote a sense of balance and engagement in the level, and can help to prevent player frustration or confusion.
6. What is the Law of Connection?
The Law of Connection states that the level should be connected in a way that makes sense and allows for smooth transitions between areas. This means that the level should be designed in a way that allows players to easily move from one area to another, with clear visual cues and logical pathways. This helps to promote a sense of flow and engagement in the level, and can help to prevent player confusion or frustration.
7. What is the Law of Challenge?
The Law of Challenge states that the level should provide a challenge that is appropriate for the player’s skill level, with opportunities for growth and improvement. This means that the level should be designed in a way that provides a clear sense of progression, with challenges that become increasingly difficult as players advance through the level. This helps to promote a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in the level, and can help to prevent player frustration or boredom.