Research and ideas for a game environment (2/11/2012)

After being given information on how to design a map/environment for a game, I decided to do some further research on this subject.
I looked online for information on what makes playing a certain map enjoyable. I also considered the levels in games I have played that I personally enjoy as well. This seems to be a good way to prepare for when I have to design an environment later in this course. 

What makes a good game environment? 

From my own experience when playing video games I feel that I have a strong understanding of what other players enjoy in levels for games. The game environments that are most enjoyed by players seem to be the ones that not only contain some sort of atmosphere, but are also visually pleasing and/or tell a story.

For example, whenever I have asked fellow class members from this course and my previous one which game environments they loved or remembered the most, one of the most common answers has been the underwater city of Rapture from the game 'Bioshock'. This comes as no surprise as not only is Rapture a very original environment for a video game, but the whole game is also incredibly atmospheric due to its lighting and use of confined spaces which playing in an underwater city provides. Bioshock is also a prime example of how to make small self-contained levels within the game seem much bigger as they are tight and confined enough to make sure the player doesn't get lost, whilst also convincing the player that the game environment is much bigger than it actually is. This is thanks to the use of perspective e.g. the player can see other locations and characters through windows that they can perhaps reach later in the game. Large and bright advertising and windows are also seen on the outside of the underwater buildings and not only does this help light up the city that would be plunged into darkness due to its depth, but it also helps to convince the player that this is a world that it is both populated and lived in. 

 

Which particular game environments do I like and why? 

Not only do I love the environment above for the same reasons as other players, but I also really enjoy the following: 

• The tracks in Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing are all based on existing Sega franchises and therefore include numerous elements from those games such as characters and locations. Thus racing through these tracks are a lot of fun as it provides fans of the franchises a nostalgia experience taking them back to when they first played the game that the track is based on. These tracks are also very varied and colourful and therefore the player never feels as if they are repeating the same race twice, especially as each track plays slightly differently and players have to make quick decisions in order to figure out the best route, hidden shortcuts and the locations of the power ups and speed boosts.    

• The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker's endless ocean of water is perhaps one of my favourite video game environments ever! As the player sails across its sea they are treated to not only a bright, colourful and relaxing visual style, but also to a beautiful musical score. Perhaps, even more importantly there are no load times! Just a continuous journey from one island to another without anything breaking up the action, thus making the player feel fully immersed in the game's world .  

• Persona 4 is a fantastic example of dungeon design in gaming as each dungeon in question isn't just another cave or bricked corridor as seen in other dungeon crawlers. Not only is each dungeon designed to be as original as possible (including a sauna, strip club, 8-bit video game world and even Heaven itself), but the dungeons are also based on the inner feelings and psyche of the person trapped in them. This gives the player a further connection to the person they are saving due to the player's previous knowledge they may have of that character and the visual manifestation of that character's troubles represented by the dungeon that they are in. This, coupled with the TV filter that the game includes helps the player believe that they are really inside the TV world in which the game takes place.

• The arenas you can fight in Mortal Kombat are also well designed as not only are they visually pleasing, but they also combine fantasy and technology perfectly together. This is especially true with the latest instalment which includes numerous modern city environments which are attacked by magical creatures whilst the two player characters on the screen fight it out, therefore making the fight seem epic.   

My game environment ideas: 

Before thinking of an environment concept I decided to think of the type of game play that the environment is for as that can drastically affect the overall game. Therefore I am torn between genres, namely an RPG or a fighting game with RPG elements, or a racing game similar to Mario Kart and Sonic and All Stars Racing.

• The RPG or fighting game with RPG elements I imagined to be set in a steam punk city built on top of a floating island in the sky. The game itself would be similar to an RPG as the player would have to travel through the city in order to reach the locations they need to go to. On their way they could also talk to NPCs, purchase goods and take part in side quests as seen in most RPGs. The fighting game idea would come into play when the player reaches certain areas within the city and comes across other characters who they have to beat in order to advance the story. I personally really like this last idea as in most fighting games the player has to watch a cut scene which loads up an environment for them, but the environments never really feel connected to one another. That's why I want to create an open city as by doing so when a player fights an opponent they may see the other buildings and environments they have already visited and/or fought in in the background.  

You can see a rough design for the city below:

• Although I have put a lot of thought into the above idea I am also keen on creating a racetrack for a racing game due to the fact that I am eagerly awaiting the release of Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed. However, even though I would love to create a racing game similar to the examples mentioned previously I am currently lacking ideas for a genre or franchise to base it on, though I suppose I should be creating my own franchise in order to show personal creativity. 

Perhaps a steam punk racing game as I am a big fan of that trend?
Referencing: 

• Berry, J (2012) Sonic and All-Stars Racing screenshot [Online image]. Available at: http://www.sonicstadium.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/sonic-and-sega-all-stars-racing-screenshot.jpg (Accessed: 2/11/2012).
• Mendoza, R (2010) Wind Waker screenshot [Online image]. Available at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPtuUh4VODAeWVd9fNW6JECWlAszdgyrEEGPe_ZAwLpeDuKVJ43o7UgkRKc-pH4Dk7beK0F_YBEW2yLiblDEAdkXvigPZS1d5I21nZ-2P2Muzh9jz6MGsUpRkRWMZdY-UY81K8nmfiSVq/s1600/zeldaww2.jpg (Accessed: 2/11/2012).
• Unknown (2011) Bioshock screenshot [Online image]. Available at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf_RRsXjKSkFIVyEGJBbQYyBOr5mbOZVE3yOKe0avD27EJUzP0DCYqqwZ2cxIkDBzo4ClLUGOXGryoeA7HN3q3PAuTzCwTp_Cpvx8q2UyzPguN4Zzkoyuh9rMG9qb8Iu9W-N2RP3jZ8U/s1600/Bioshock+2+-+Rapture.png (Accessed: 2/11/2012).
• Unknown (2011) Persona 4 screenshot [Online image]. Available at: http://images.wikia.com/megamitensei/images/2/20/Persona_4_void_quest_3.png (Accessed: 2/11/2012).
• Unknown (2011) Mortal Kombat screenshot [Online image]. Available at: http://images.wikia.com/mk/images/d/d5/Bridge_mk9.jpg (Accessed: 2/11/2012).