FPS Level Design

[Triforceformer]

Heh. The image might be a little biased, but I can understand what they are getting at. Would you prefer to have slightly less linear fps experiences, in favor of take (a route) or (b route), but both end up in the same place anyways?

I think I probably would, but I think there are still better options.

it's not biased at all, fps today suck and are linear, unless the developers actualy base on free roam for the entire game, anything with a story(levels) is just boring, you barely have places to explore, and every time its just for hiden things, not an alternate way around the level


I wish you could proove me wrong with a game, but you can't

Duke Nukem Forever, from what has been shown, has particular emphasis upon branching pathways in levels. The cut down Level 15 has a pretty decent driving section, then a rather large Canyon area. The Canyon is littered with various guns, differing pathways, and plenty of Pig Cops to shoot with the various guns on the branching paths. It isn't "These buildings, rocks, etc fell in a very specific way and stop me from going that way". There are at least 2 different ways through the level, both eventually leading towards the same turret section.

One is a "Fight through the hordes" enemy gore-fest path, the one taken in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZMBU48kGxM . The other one, while I can't find footage of it, is more about creative killing based on the accounts of those who played. You can find things like the new Beer power up, a buffed HoloDuke, etc, to kill the Pig Cops inhabiting scattered shacks and such. But it still leads to the turret section. But if you DON'T feel like going to the turret section, you still have the freedom to check out the other path you ignored.

The DNF demo has much to explore and interact with. From the Holoduke in the cactus, to the interactive turd in the toilet back in the start of the demo. Topped off with Duke Nukem himself. Now if only those bastards at Gearbox will release "dat demo" to the public.

Thanks, I was without hope until now.

Anytime. I'm always around whenever people need to know things about DNF that most people seem to be unaware of.

 

[The Lunatic]

I think it's more people are looking at the wrong games.

Look at games like ARMA or Operation Flashpoint in terms of "Exploration".

You're quite honestly given a small country to roam around in.

Just Cause 2 and Mercenaries also allow a lot of open world action, however, these are 3rd person, but, the point is still kinda the same.

The case is rather than developers saying "Let's make big levels" they're saying "Well, we may as well make it open world then."

 

[Triforceformer]

I think it's more people are looking at the wrong games.

Look at games like ARMA or Operation Flashpoint in terms of "Exploration".

You're quite honestly given a small country to roam around in.

Just Cause 2 and Mercenaries also allow a lot of open world action, however, these are 3rd person, but, the point is still kinda the same.

The case is rather than developers saying "Let's make big levels" they're saying "Well, we may as well make it open world then."

I think it's less "Big, bad to the bone, exploration" and more "Give me some damn breathing room" exploration that people are wanting to get from FPSs.