Lesson 18,19 - Circulation, Linearit¿ª et ouverture

8/6/2019 Lesson 18,19 - Circulation, Linearit et ouverture

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Ubisoft France Level Design Training

Navigation, Blocks & Emergence:

Basic Notions

Authors & contact:

Eric Couzian & Cdric Barthez

Navigation, Blocks & Emergence


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Plan

1. What is Navigation in LD?

2. What are Micro and Macro Navigation?

3. Blocks and Micro Objectives

4. Objective Structure

5. Broad Level Structures

6. Flow in Micro Navigation: Good Practice

7. Notions of Emergence


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LDmacro navigation defines the players navigation between game

situations. Micro navigation relates to the movement within a situation.

Macro navigation defines the structure of the game levels, as well as the

system of objectives and blocks, which will define the way the player

moves in the game.

LD Macro

Structure

Objective and Block

System

Macro

Navigation+

The main author of macro navigation: Lead LD and/orLead GD.

Macro Navigation


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Macro Navigation: Details


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World 1 in NewSuper

Mario Bros

The planets in

Metroid Prime 3

The map in Zelda Ocarina of Time


Macro Navigation: Examples


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Topology

Micro navigation comes under the domain of the map. It defines the

different paths that the player will be able to take to carry out the mission;

finish the map.

The main author of micro navigation: the Level Designer.

Micro

structure LD

System of

micro blocks

Micro

navigation


Micro Navigation

System of objectives


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Team Fortress 2: map Badlands

God ofWar: Pandora Map

SSX: Track 1


Micro Navigation


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To make a level interesting, the player

needs to be given objectives.

A block is made up of:an objective,

a challenge,

a reward.

None of these three elements must be

underestimated in creating a good

block.

Why blocks? (reminder)

Objective Reward

Challenge

The gameplay loop


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"I move to the indicated position."

This is the most basic of blocks and the least exciting.The challenge rests in the players route.


"Go over there!" Block

GTA

Ghost Recon 2 AW

Crazy Taxi

A

B

C


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"I move to NPCs who then open up the way for me."

This is a passive and arbitrary block. The reward is oftendisappointing, because the player doesnt get the

impression of having successfully completely an

objective thanks to their own dexterity.


Scripted Events Block

Call of Duty

Red Steel

A

B

C


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"I must get rid of all the enemies to open up my path."

This is a typical block in the beat-em-all games, but is,unfortunately, often way too out there.


BloodLocking Block

God of War

Devil May Cry

Street of Rage

A

B

C This is a typical block in the beat-em-all games, butis, unfortunately, often way too out there.


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"Ive got to find the blue key to open the blue

door."

Another typical block. Interesting if they seem

logical in the game setting.

This block can also be used with several keys to

open a door. In this case, the keys are often only

used once.


Key-Door Block

Metal Gear Solid

Red Steel

Zelda (Boss Temple)

A

Key B

B


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"I need a new capacity that will, amongst other

things, open up the passage."

This is a more interesting form of Key-door

blocking, because the capacity in question is more

than a simple key. It can also help the player

during combat, can combine with other capacities,

may be used in puzzles, etc

The reward stands alone!


Capacity Block (ability)

Zelda

Metroid

Mario & Luigi RPG

A

Capa B

B


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"I search for X elements through the entire level to

open a passage."

In this type of block, the objective necessitates X

elements and the zone contains X+n. This

enables us not to have to make the player carry

out excessive exploration.

The player who visits is rewarded thanks to the

surplus elements that he can spend in order to

facilitate the game. (Weapons, capacity, etc.)


Harvesting Blocking

World ofWarcraft

Red Steel 2

A

B

B

BB

BB

B

B


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"I must conquer the entire territory so that it

belongs to me."

In this type of block, the reward is strong, because

obtaining a territory often enables the player to

choose his next target from the adjacent territories

and often brings the help of the acquired

territoriesNPCs (more NPCs on your team, new

competencies, )


Territorial Domination Block

Command & Conquer

Crackdown

GTA San Andreas

Age of Conan

Z

Territory

A

Territory

B

Territory

C

Territory

D


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System of territorial domination


Exercise:

Imagine what these games could become with the following

blocking systems.

System of capacity blocking


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RE4: System of territorial domination


One possible solution:

We keep 3rd person view Several territories

Each territory is populated with Zombies and a Boss

whom they obey.

For each defeated Boss, the player obtains the

territory and the zombies that populate it. The player

may then form a team and set up attack strategies. For each acquired territory, the player gets new

capacities, weapons and types of zombies (the

kamikaze zombie, the chainsaw zombie, etc).


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COD4: System of capacity blocking


One possible solution:

We keep the FPS view. The playing field is an open battle field broken up into

zones which are unattainable at the start of the

game.

The player must progress toward a final objective

located opposite the starting point.

Little by little throughout the game, the player obtainscapacities enabling him to access all the combat

zones (bazooka to get rid of the tank barricades, boat

to cross a river, etc.)


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Linear Objectives

"I advance to the indicated position."

This is the most basic objective used in many games.

A

B

C


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Objectives with a revisit

"I advance to the indicated position."

A and

C

B

D


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Parallel Objectives

"I have the choice of the order of resolution of

objectives B and C."

Often used in an open levels structure. Adds to the

sensation of openness and freedom.

B

D

A

C


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5. Broad Map Structure


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5. LD Broad Structures

This structure favors exploration. The game offers a vast playing field in

which the player can move at will.

The Exploratory Structure

World ofWarcraft Crackdown

Burnout Paradise

Zelda NES

Far Cry 2

Hitman (micro)

S E

Start Exit


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This structure creates bottlenecks, needed for the storys narrative

progression. It in no way prevents the possibility of offering a minimal

amount of exploration (multipath).

This is the famous Rubber Band theory copyrighted by David Cage

The Narrative Structure

Farcry

GTA

Ghost Recon AW

Splinter Cell PT

S

E


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Less exploration, more linear. This structure is more action-oriented,

because it offers fewer choices to the player, who thus concentrates more

on the actions to be carried out.

The Action Structure

Zelda

Metroid

God ofWar

S E


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This structure often represents the objectives selection menu in the form of

a level that the player travels through. It often offers the choice between

several missions at the same time.

The Hub Structure

Mario 64, Galaxy

Metroid Prime 3

Jak & Daxter

Ratchet & ClankS

E


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The simplest structure, it allows for outrageous scriptwriting, and a fast-

paced game rhythm.

The Linear Structure

Call ofDuty 4

Half-Life 1 & 2

Gears ofWar

Prince of Persia Sands Of Time

S E


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Exercise:Associate the LD structures with these games on the macro and

micro level.

Structures:

Exploratory

Narrative

ActionHub

Multiple endings

Linear

Games:

Metroid Prime 3

RE4

Tomb Raider

GTA4

Call ofDuty 4

Far Cry

Ghost Recon 2

Warcraft 3


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"Moveable LD furniture"


Delinearization Exercise:

The game has turned out to be too linear. Change the map below in

order to offer a level containing more exploration.

S E

Zone 2Zone 1 Zone 3


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S E

One possible answer:

Door switch

Locked Door

Window


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6. Flow in Micro Navigation: Good Practice


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6. Navigation Flow

The micro construction of the levels is designed based on the importance

of the challenge linked to the players movements. (Note: It also depends

on the controls defined by Game Design.)

A racing game is almost entirely based on this challenge, the navigationmust ,therefore, propose a difficult and varied challenge.

In the FPS, the challenge is mainly based on the shots, not on the

movements. They must, therefore, be accessible and offer the fewest

challenges possible.

Here, we will look at the rules ofLD construction in the case of FPS (low

level of challenge based on navigation).

A Question of Challenge


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6. Navigation Flow

Avoid successive turns and U-turns. Soften the bends, for example, by

opening up the radius.

Example 1: Turns make you dizzy!

No Monaco Double-Bends in FPS! No double 90 turns either!


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Not good! Good!

The player must be able to move easily from the first minutes of the game.

The training period on the controls must be as short as possible.

6. Navigation Flow

Example 1: Turns make you dizzy!


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If the navigation sizes are too small, the player could catch the walls and

other scenery elements.

6. Navigation Flow

Example 2: Is my T-shirt sticking out?

Careful of the chairs in the way!


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Not good! Good!

For the sake of optimization, the set elements or collision meshes are often

square. In certain cases, its important to correct them in order to improve

the navigation.

6. Navigation Flow

Example 2: Is my T-shirt sticking out?


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This is when the player cant carry out an action that the character would

be able to do. The consequences are important, since the immersion is

broken and the player is frustrated.

6. Navigation Flow

Example 3: The grandfather bug

Assassins Creed: dont include water if the

hero cant swim.

Black: no 50 cm barrier if the player cant

jump.


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The classic cases:

The hero knows how tojump, but cant get up the small 40 cm wall.

=> Define clearsizes to avoidmakingthe playerwant to jump what hes

unable to jump.

Objects on the ground can be bumped into and force the player to go

around them or jump over them.

=> Delete them ormake them non-collidable.

An invisible collision side keeps you from jumping onto a platform 2meters below.

=> Replace the platform with adeep andmortal crackand/oradda

guardrailwhich justifies theinvisible collision.

6. Navigation Flow

Example 3: The grandfather bug


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The gameplay axis is the natural axis of a situation resulting from:

The position of the entrance and the objective of the situation

The topology

The LD must know the gameplay axis in a situation before setting it up. Heknows what the player will see and the information that the player will get

(arrival of enemies, ingame cinematic, )

6. Navigation Flow

Example 4: The neglected gameplay axis


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6. Navigation Flow


If the LD had done his job correctly, the player would have seen this

ladder. Instead, he walked around for hours looking for the level exit.


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The notion of the Gameplay axis is not only linked to the idea of navigation

flow, but also to the reading of the objective and the information needed to

understand the staging.

To keep things simple, its recommended to only have one gameplay axis.

6. Navigation Flow

In God ofWar, the gameplay axis is

controlled by the camera.



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Half-Life 2 walkthrough

Video Part 1

Video Part 2

Video Part 3

Half-Life 2 Ep 2 walkthrough

Freeman Pontifex 1/4




6. Navigation Flow

Video Examples


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Game Level DesignEd Byrne

Delmar Thomson Learning

Were done

Game DesignAndrew Rollings, Ernest Adams

New Riders Publishing

Rules of PlayKatie Salen, Eric Zimmerman

Mit Press

A little reading

Thank you for your attention

Lesson 18,19 - Circulation, Linearit¿ª et ouverture

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Transcript of Lesson 18,19 - Circulation, Linearit¿ª et ouverture