Any student I meet who wants to become a level designer - I'm just going to send them this video, so many good takes condensed into an 18 minute video from so many experts Man Steve Lee you are THE go to channel for level design and offer such a huge benefit to the whole industry
The answers to question 6 took a load off my shoulders. I am considering a career change from electronics engineering to video game level design, but I didn't want to go back to school so when I communicated my career change to some people, the conversation often veered into "so you have you tried Unity or Unreal?" and that sometimes bummed me out because I was limited by what I could do with them that I didn't want to use them, and that it felt like the whole industry was using them so I have to use them too if I want to stand a chance as someone who didn't go to school for game design. I also considered writing a blog post or video on a Black Mesa mappack I made, from an amateur's perspective, detailing a lot of the design decisions which I thought were unique for Black Mesa but didn't think it would be worth the effort. Now I have a great reason to do so haha
Great content, super valuable advices. I'm already working as a Level Designer and I'm still really glad to have access to all these feedbacks. Thanks.
My biggest problem right now is that even if my portfolio was really good, I can't seem to find any entry level level design jobs to apply for. Searching for entry level design jobs on various sites make all the posting disappear the moment I filter for entry level or even junior level. How in the world are we supposed to get a job in this industry if there is no place for us to start from?
Agreed. I've been wondering if it's worth it to try entering the industry through another discipline, but I know even QA, which used to be a common entry point, is a lot more technical and competitive now.
Yeah, fresh out of college, using skillshare to learn more, built an online portfolio of my early works, and it's hard to get a second glance. So many places want people with years in the business or AAA titles to their name, can't have that resume unless I'm given a chance to grow somewhere.
This is super useful advice on level design generally, because, while you were enumerating all the points I was also imagining various moments in games I played that followed that advice and how it made the level more memorable. Thank you for sharing this insight!
Good advise about being a generalist at the start of your career. I can confirm I feel useless as a generalist at the start of what I hope to be a career in game design...
I would have a follow up questions how do you sell your portfolio as a Lead Level Designer? Most of these answers are for beginners, but I actually do struggle with a Lead portfolio 😩
kinda wondering where actual environment artists fit in the pipeline? cause I'm getting the feeling that you only see Level Designers doing all the block outs and then the rest is filled in by prop artists
Depends on the size of studio, but you can have level designers who block out the space, then environment artists who build all the assets, and then level artists who place all the assets in the space.
I'm a student and I'll go to university soon,i've found that i really love game and want to be a level design like u,but my chosen major can't help me in any way.I'm quite sad that there is no major in gaming in my area. so I can only study by myself,but I really don't know how and am I on the right way,I feel quite helpless.If u could tell me how can I learn and get the capability i need in my current situation?Just like a possible learning path,including the tools and knowledge I need to learn and the core competencies behind them. I'm really looking forward to your answer.
Hi Steve, firstly, thanks a lot for doing these kind of videos, i'm about to gradute from university and i'm trying to make some personal projects when i have free time from Uni, ofc i want to become a level designer. I have a big question referring for the gaming industry: In some specialities is ULTRA important to talk with super professional and formal vocabulary. Is this also applied for the game industry? should i prepare myself, as a non english speaker on how to talk formally just for an interview? or can i relax and just talk with respect but not formally
It's Tactical Breach Wizards :) An awesome, funny tactics game I helped Tom Francis make a lot of the levels for - here's a trailer: ua-cam.com/video/Vgz6xzsle0o/v-deo.html
The 4th question there was a spot about don't show early work. Is that talking about the projects that are old or talking about screenshots in early development?
I think it’s about unfinished works. You work on a level for a couple of weeks and think it looks great, but for the industry, it’s not good enough. So it’s better to spend more time trying to make a couple more iterations to make your level even better, then playtest with different people and do a couple more iterations, and then it’s done. 😅
I agree with JimmyFraggs - I think Jason was talking about old work, but I also don't recommend showing unfinished projects. Whenever I see them, I usually think, "why haven't you finished it?", and "it's a shame that unfinished work is some of the best you have to show..."
Awesome advice! Not only does this provide a to-do list for making a great portfolio but also a list of skills to help you improve and be a better level designer.
I learn Game Design and Level Design. I am from Ukraine. Now WAR in my country. Russia destroying a humanity world every day. Ukraine need help. Please, help, if you can.
![Shader Basics, Blending & Textures • Shaders for Game Devs [Part 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kfM-yu0iQBk/mqdefault.jpg)
Any student I meet who wants to become a level designer - I'm just going to send them this video, so many good takes condensed into an 18 minute video from so many experts
Man Steve Lee you are THE go to channel for level design and offer such a huge benefit to the whole industry
Cheers Nick, great to hear :)
The answers to question 6 took a load off my shoulders. I am considering a career change from electronics engineering to video game level design, but I didn't want to go back to school so when I communicated my career change to some people, the conversation often veered into "so you have you tried Unity or Unreal?" and that sometimes bummed me out because I was limited by what I could do with them that I didn't want to use them, and that it felt like the whole industry was using them so I have to use them too if I want to stand a chance as someone who didn't go to school for game design.
I also considered writing a blog post or video on a Black Mesa mappack I made, from an amateur's perspective, detailing a lot of the design decisions which I thought were unique for Black Mesa but didn't think it would be worth the effort. Now I have a great reason to do so haha
great video :D about to update my portfolio, and I guess it's time to start deciding which projects really deserve their spot in it ^^
Great content, super valuable advices. I'm already working as a Level Designer and I'm still really glad to have access to all these feedbacks. Thanks.
Great video ! Thanks to you and to all of the level designers who contribute to the video.
My biggest problem right now is that even if my portfolio was really good, I can't seem to find any entry level level design jobs to apply for. Searching for entry level design jobs on various sites make all the posting disappear the moment I filter for entry level or even junior level. How in the world are we supposed to get a job in this industry if there is no place for us to start from?
Agreed. I've been wondering if it's worth it to try entering the industry through another discipline, but I know even QA, which used to be a common entry point, is a lot more technical and competitive now.
Yeah, fresh out of college, using skillshare to learn more, built an online portfolio of my early works, and it's hard to get a second glance. So many places want people with years in the business or AAA titles to their name, can't have that resume unless I'm given a chance to grow somewhere.
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for right now.
This is super useful advice on level design generally, because, while you were enumerating all the points I was also imagining various moments in games I played that followed that advice and how it made the level more memorable. Thank you for sharing this insight!
Good advise about being a generalist at the start of your career. I can confirm I feel useless as a generalist at the start of what I hope to be a career in game design...
Eye opening advice wish if come across this video a little sooner. Thank you for taking the time to curate these questions and have them answered.
Cheers, glad you found it useful 👍
Thank you for this amazing video, Steve!
Some fantastic advice about the interview stage itself, there!
This was excellent, thank you Steve
Can you talk to us about your journey into applying for game design jobs and what avenues you took to find opportunities?
Thank you for vary valuable video!
I was LITERALLY about to message you on linkedin, thanks for this!
Good and useful advice! Now only one deeper question remains: is it really a good industry to invest time in?
Priceless advice.
I would have a follow up questions how do you sell your portfolio as a Lead Level Designer? Most of these answers are for beginners, but I actually do struggle with a Lead portfolio 😩
kinda wondering where actual environment artists fit in the pipeline? cause I'm getting the feeling that you only see Level Designers doing all the block outs and then the rest is filled in by prop artists
Depends on the size of studio, but you can have level designers who block out the space, then environment artists who build all the assets, and then level artists who place all the assets in the space.
I'm a student and I'll go to university soon,i've found that i really love game and want to be a level design like u,but my chosen major can't help me in any way.I'm quite sad that there is no major in gaming in my area.
so I can only study by myself,but I really don't know how and am I on the right way,I feel quite helpless.If u could tell me how can I learn and get the capability i need in my current situation?Just like a possible learning path,including the tools and knowledge I need to learn and the core competencies behind them.
I'm really looking forward to your answer.
Hi Steve, firstly, thanks a lot for doing these kind of videos, i'm about to gradute from university and i'm trying to make some personal projects when i have free time from Uni, ofc i want to become a level designer. I have a big question referring for the gaming industry: In some specialities is ULTRA important to talk with super professional and formal vocabulary. Is this also applied for the game industry? should i prepare myself, as a non english speaker on how to talk formally just for an interview? or can i relax and just talk with respect but not formally
Hi! Nobody talks about world boundaries/terrain beyond the scene/etc. Stuff on and/or beyond the edges of the level.
Any thoughts about that?
10:17 which game is being showed in the background?
It's Tactical Breach Wizards :) An awesome, funny tactics game I helped Tom Francis make a lot of the levels for - here's a trailer: ua-cam.com/video/Vgz6xzsle0o/v-deo.html
The 4th question there was a spot about don't show early work. Is that talking about the projects that are old or talking about screenshots in early development?
I took it as old work but I also wouldn’t add anything to my portfolio that wasn’t finished. But that’s just my opinion.
I think it’s about unfinished works. You work on a level for a couple of weeks and think it looks great, but for the industry, it’s not good enough. So it’s better to spend more time trying to make a couple more iterations to make your level even better, then playtest with different people and do a couple more iterations, and then it’s done. 😅
@@JimmyFraggs thanks for helping out
@@NikitaShershakov yeah that dose make alot of sense
I agree with JimmyFraggs - I think Jason was talking about old work, but I also don't recommend showing unfinished projects. Whenever I see them, I usually think, "why haven't you finished it?", and "it's a shame that unfinished work is some of the best you have to show..."
Awesome advice! Not only does this provide a to-do list for making a great portfolio but also a list of skills to help you improve and be a better level designer.
I learn Game Design and Level Design. I am from Ukraine. Now WAR in my country. Russia destroying a humanity world every day. Ukraine need help. Please, help, if you can.