Level Design ─ Processes and Experiences

This book is a series of essays by game development professionals on their tools and processes for level design. Each provides a specific point of view representing the method that they employ in their own work and/or research. This book covers several points of view on games, including industry, academic, and “hardcore” player perspectives on level design, offering readers a window into the thought processes of multiple developers. Unlike a “nuts and bolts” book that shows how to create content in specific software, this book asks for information from designers that can be more “evergreen” and not fade away when popular technology changes.

Chris Totten is Game Artist in Residence at American University. He has contributed to several independent game productions as an artist, animator, level designer, game designer, and project manager. Totten is also an active writer in the game industry, with articles featured on VideoGameWriters.com, GameCareerGuide, and Gamasutra. He has also published a book entitled Game Character Creation with Blender and Unity. Totten's writings on interdisciplinary approaches to game design have earned him guest speaking appearances at GDC China, Dakota State University's Workshop on Integrated Design in Games, and East Coast Game Conference.