Aspects of Level Design
There are many things to take into account when designing how a level will look. Here are some of the things that I am leaning about and taking into account for this unit:
Lighting
Lighting really affects the players experience of the game and can emphasise certain things within the level. Good lighting makes a huge difference in how well made a level will look to the player and how they interact with it.
Landmarks
Landmarks are very important in games for the players to be able to see what is important in a level - not only what places are important but the type of place it is. They also help players build a mental map in their head of the different levels. Every level should have main landmarks unless the aim of the level is to stay the same and repetitive as the player moves through it.
Visual Theme
Choosing a visual theme before starting to create a level is very important as everything in the level will be based around that theme. In Portal, the specific theme for the levels would be known as something like 'futuristic test facility'. There are more general theme ideas like ' desert' or 'forest'.