Level Design

Farm.(Multi player Team Death match map.)

Idea

My idea is to create a structured map that could be used in a cowboy themed multi player map. This level will include two focal points; a barn and a house. The idea is that one team will start in the barn and the other in the house the middle of the level will include barriers to hide behind and two or four smaller shacks. This will help to divide the player into fighting areas on the map. I'll add non interactive assets such as shovels and rakes. I may add one tall mill that you can climb to the top of and this can be the strongest focal point because this will be a "Sniping point" and will gain a greater advantage.

Environment setting.

• Grass
• Mud
• Trees
• Bright Daylight
• Boulders/rocks

Key locations

• Barn
• House
• Mill

Theme

• Farm
• Abandoned

Software

The software ill be using is the UDK game engine, but creating the model themselves in Maya/3Ds max.

Project purpose.

Something to present as a portfolio piece.

I want to create a fun re-playable map that can be also a good level to look at and experience.

I want to learn how to make certain spawn points for teams and for guns, and how to add a scoring system and how to make the terrain ascend and descend..

I want the players to enjoy the map and want to work together to win by maybe taking a key location and holding it out or flushing out the enemy etc. 

Features

• Re-playable
• Wide space in middle
• Many cover objects
• Fun key locations
• King of the hill like feature (The Mill)
• Scoring system

Photo reference

Mix of prop/architectural/lighting/environment.inspiration.
Farm reference.

Roof texture.

Lighting 

Red dead redemption barn

Some concept i found showing mills and environment setting. By Steven Lie http://stevenlie.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/farm.html

Story

Even though im doing a multi player map there will be a back story to it. The farm will be abandoned and the two teams are fighting over who will own the territory. The two teams need to take this to expand their own territory but get into a fight. This farm will look quite calm a and peaceful but once the teams start fighting the place will look more damaged.

Gameplay

The player objectives would be simple as killing the other team but players may have there own objective for example taking over the other focal point.

Obstacles that stand in the players way maybe things like jump pads that throw you to a well that is hard to get out of. And of course the enemy team.

The set pieces within my game would be short cinematic before the game and end of rounds. such as certain houses blowing up and trees falling in certain places that changes the way the map works.

The choice of routes will be 3 and maybe some secret routes but these routes will be able to be intercepted from other routes.

Sounds

Ambient Sounds

• Various insects
• Wind blowing through trees
• Slight movement of water
• Clothing flapping in wind
• Bridge wood creaking
• Various animals
• Shooting in the distance

Feedback sounds

• Out of breath
• Gradual slowing of footsteps
• Bullets whiz past
• Narrative
• Change of ground

Uniqueness and originality 

The game will be unique because of it more calm brighter look than other shooters and the way the character can explore the level. I feel like im stepping away from the more dark and gruesome games used the usual first/thrid person shooter, as they usually have fire and burning building for the look of war but I've gone for a quiet peaceful scene and the player bring in the violence and terror. The environment is nice to look at and has some cool features such as the pond and i think the player will remember mostly the tower as it would become a strong place to fight over in the level.

Style/refrence.

I think my style is slightly along the line of fable with the amount of grassy areas and wood like buildings.

The way the land slopes down

Fence and grass

Rocks and tress.

Color palette

My color palette would include mostly greens and browns with touches of dark grey,and orange. 

Something like this.

Top down Layout

This is the top down layout of my level showing the paths and the main features i will but into the level

Props and assets

• Barrel
• Bucket
• Lantern
• Cart
• Stall
• Shovel
• Rake
• Clothing
• Rocks
• Trees
• Grass
• Leafs
• Water
• Pond
• Lily pads
• Ladder
• Birds
• Insects
• Walls

Environment texture list

• Grass
• Mud
• Dirt
• Water
• Rock
• Wall
• Bridge wood

Evaluation

My level turned out the way i wanted it, realistic and to have good visuals the feedback i got was mostly good but there was an obvious problem of people falling of the map and walking through rocks. Even though the map for me personally is a visual portfolio piece i went back in and added to the height map some hill on the edges of the level so people cant climb up it and fall off. The sounds I used were used well and added a good atmosphere to the level. I'm glad I kept to my top town layout and made three focal points to go to. Many volumes have been used in this level such as water,post process, and ladder volumes which really made the level that much better. Overall I'm pleased with my level and I'm looking forward to learning more about UDK in university along with other engines.


Feedback
Many peers said that my game was too big and walked through rocks and fell out of the map, I have sorted two out of three problems because the rocks have no collision mesh with it in the content browser. But apart from that all is fixed.

Here is my final screenshots of my level.