Create Layouts
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Layouts, also referred to as floor plans, assist designers in visualizing how the game world will appear once it is completed. However, layouts cannot be relied upon to verify whether gameplay mechanics will function as intended. To achieve this, it is necessary to create a blockout and conduct playtesting. Layouts therefore serve only as initial guidance at the beginning of the blockout phase. Since your blockout will likely require multiple iterations based on feedback from playtesters, as well as gameplay and narrative requirements, you should avoid creating a highly detailed layout. Instead, a simple layout is more appropriate at this stage.
Layouts are two-dimensional, top-down representations of game levels. These may include:
Exteriors.
Examples:
Settlements.
Landscapes.
Underwater environments.
- Interiors.
Examples:
Buildings.
Space stations.
Tunnel networks.
Since layouts represent a top-down perspective of the game world, they should only be created when players will perceive the horizontal plane of the environment. This typically applies to:
Top-down 2D games, where players can move both horizontally and vertically (the vertical direction being perpendicular to the screen plane).
3D games.
Games employing an isometric camera perspective.
An example of a very simple layout for a multiplayer level in a first-person shooter.
Ensure Layouts Align with the Intended Level of Realism
Before you begin designing your level, it is essential to confirm that it aligns with the intended level of realism.
If your game is set in an environment that could plausibly exist in the real world, such as a bedroom, the level must be believable. Players will rely on their real-world knowledge for orientation and navigation. As a result, they will expect to encounter familiar elements that reflect the real-world equivalent. However, this can limit creative freedom during the level design process.
Conversely, if the game takes place in a fictional world, achieving believability may be easier, as there is greater creative flexibility compared to a realistic setting.
In general, layouts do not need to meet real-world standards applicable to architectural blueprints or urban planning, except in simulation games or titles that prioritize realism. Your primary objective should be to prioritize emotionally engaging experiences over strict adherence to real-world accuracy.
Choosing the Appropriate Visualization Method
When working independently, it is inconsequential whether you create a layout using software or by hand on paper. However, when collaborating with others, it is advisable to produce a layout in a format that is easy to share and modify. Utilizing software tools to draw floor plans is often effective for the following reasons:
Visual elements can be easily added or removed.
The layout can be shared effortlessly with team members.
References such as illustrations or screenshots can be incorporated to clarify your creative intent.
Nevertheless, you may choose to draft the layout on paper initially, then scan and recreate it digitally. The decision depends on the preferences and workflow requirements of your team members.
You may also use CAD software to design layouts, which can be exported into a graphic editor of your choice, where layers may be added as needed.
Example of three layers exported from CAD software or another source:
Top layer: Second floor plan of a building.
Middle layer: Ground floor plan.
Bottom layer: Basement floor plan.
A single file can contain all necessary layers, enabling each team member to activate the layers relevant to their specific tasks.
What to Include in a Layout
To create an effective layout, begin by gathering all relevant information about the level, including level flow and visual or conceptual references.
Start by outlining the main structure.
Gradually add details, without focusing too heavily on any specific area, as these elements are likely to change during the blockout phase.
The completed layout should include the following features, with examples:
Note: Only a subset of these features will typically be applicable to your particular game.
Player accessibility:
Areas accessible to players and those that are restricted.
Major artificial features:
Structures such as buildings, tunnels, and shafts.
Elements such as walls and furniture.
Routes including pathways, roads, and railways.
Points of entry such as doors, windows, staircases, trampolines, teleports, or any other significant traversable elements.
Major natural features (applicable to exteriors):
Mountains.
Bodies of water.
Natural sites such as caves, forests, and parks.
Gameplay-related features:
Spawn points for players and AI.
Safe zones.
Objectives.
Level exits.
Critical paths.
Designated locations and landmarks:
Natural locations such as lagoons, caves, fields, or waterfalls.
Artificial structures such as houses, garages, city parks, or landmarks.
City districts.
Individual rooms.
You may include additional detail in your layout. However, incorporating too much information into a single layout may result in a cluttered map—similar to attempting to create a single map that serves the needs of a pilot, a taxi driver, a cyclist, and a pedestrian simultaneously. Such a map would be overloaded with both relevant and irrelevant data, depending on the reader’s needs.
If you wish to develop such a comprehensive layout, it is advisable to use a graphic editor that supports the use of layers. Different types of information can be grouped into distinct layers, creating different “views” for various development purposes. For example:
NPC movement paths.
Locations of rewards.
Placement of set pieces.
Cutscene trigger points.
Population distributions within settlements.
Include a legend, as is customary on real-world maps, to ensure that viewers understand the symbols and visual conventions used in your layout.