Speed Level Design Series

ooParanoia

Hey everyone,
today I started my "Speed Level Design Series" on youtube, where I will be uploading weekly to learn and improve my skillset in that direction. I will update this Topic here weekly as well with the upcoming episodes

Here is a screenshot of today's result and the video:

Please leave me any feedback here or on the youtube comment section
I know the reflection on the lake is jerky, but I kinda simply forgot to fix it.

Episode01: Lakeside Village



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7AAW9Oy7Jk

ooParanoia

Episode02 - Cliff Castle is out.

Here are some shots and the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JjapI1zE80

ooParanoia

Hey guys, since it's friday here is my next speed level design. Hope you enjoy watching and as always any feedback is heavily appreciated. Screenshot & video below.

Screenshot:



Video:

https://youtu.be/c7PywQrssbE

ooParanoia

Hey guys,  Episode04 of my speed level design series is online! Any feedback is welcome. Screenshot & Video below.

Screenshot:



Video:

https://youtu.be/v4IB6jOd8-U

ooParanoia

So here Episode05. Two days too late, but I couldnt get it done on friday this time.



https://youtu.be/U4Jc5Xuuqws

ooParanoia

Episode06 - The Cave.

I am not very happy with it this time. My conditions were only to use the assets given from the infinity blade asset package. I am not certain what exactly it is I don't like about it, but there is something..



https://youtu.be/noMjk3xcPow

Steppenwolf

Hey, your scene composition is good. What i wonder is have you tried making any complete levels yet?
After all level design is a marathon not a sprint
I would recommend you register on mapcore if you want more feedback. Your thread here seems to get ignored for some reason.

ooParanoia

Steppenwolf said:

Hey, your scene composition is good. What i wonder is have you tried making any complete levels yet?
After all level design is a marathon not a sprint
I would recommend you register on mapcore if you want more feedback. Your thread here seems to get ignored for some reason.

Hey, yes I know it's a marathon and I do run it, but for this video series I decided to take some time off every week and do just a small scene

The project and level I am currently working on is here:
http://polycount.com/discussion/171335/ripper-vr-unreal-4-vr-experience#latest

And thanks for the website, I will look into it right away

ooParanoia

Episode07 - RainForest

Anyone got some good critique on the lighting?



https://youtu.be/pl-mdg_hql0

kohg

@ooParanoia Did you model all the plants/trees? Or did you got them in the marketplace? Could really use some of those bamboo sticks

ooParanoia

kohg said:

@ooParanoia Did you model all the plants/trees? Or did you got them in the marketplace? Could really use some of those bamboo sticks

It is package from the marketplace ( https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/low-poly-rainforest-pack )

ooParanoia

Episode 08 - Core

I am really satisfied with the outcome for this one as it pretty much evolved as I imagined it when I started the scene. tipps and critique always appreciated.

https://youtu.be/tLf-9lejkdU

Zieg_Reborn

I don't really know how to critique a speed design on anything beyond composition, which artistically (for your shots anyway) seem fine. The focus of level design is not to smash things together super fast and post pics about it. If you want actual level design feedback it will come in the form of a cohesive playable space, which would need breakdowns of level layout, pacing, projected player paths, etc.

If you haven't actually made any of the art and are just placing most of this stuff, it's really hard for anyone to give you any feedback to be honest.

ooParanoia

Zieg_Reborn said:

I don't really know how to critique a speed design on anything beyond composition, which artistically (for your shots anyway) seem fine. The focus of level design is not to smash things together super fast and post pics about it. If you want actual level design feedback it will come in the form of a cohesive playable space, which would need breakdowns of level layout, pacing, projected player paths, etc.

If you haven't actually made any of the art and are just placing most of this stuff, it's really hard for anyone to give you any feedback to be honest.

I am totally aware of the definition of "level design", but these Speed Level Design videos are a whole categorie for itself. Of course there is no gameplay elements in there. Of course I am not asking for feedback on gameplay elements, but exactly what you say. Composition, Feeling, Lighting. That is what I ask for. I even asked specifically for tips on lighting on one of the videos.

Same goes for you @Tidal Blast
I am aware that I am not making a new UT map from scratch. I am photobashing in unreal. It's like concept art. it's a speed level design and not a level design in the traditional fashion. 

And as I mentioned in one of the videos. This whole videoseries is just a little project I do once a week alongside my main game project, where I do focus on "real" level design. I figured it's a nice thing to do in my spare time that wouldn't do any harm and would love to have some feedback rather than lectures what "level design" is. Thank you.

heyeye

All of them are great, and I especially like the ones you take into photoshop and adjust accordingly.

I would love to see these start shifting towards having more photoshop in the workflows. I kitbash all the time to get some interesting compositions and silhouettes I can take into photoshop and experiment on top of, or use later for mood/style reference based on what kind of scene I'm working on.

I would say my only critique is the lighting feels consistent within all the scenes. The sci-fi are all very dark and blue, whereas the majority outdoor scenes have a sunset/dusk setup(aside from the castle). It would be interesting to see some of these scenes have multiple different lighting setups to convey different moods.

ooParanoia

@heyeye I am not a 2D person, but for this latest one I want to try an overpaint to inject a little bit more of story telling to it. I will update this threat when I get to it In the meantime:

New Video here:
https://youtu.be/WwfkMY_XRDU

ooParanoia

viewer request and a little easter egg at the end of the results
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtjK0zyGFdQ