Even more research....

I've been thinking alot about what to do with the central areas of my levels. i.e rest hubs, puzzle rooms and combat areas. I've wanted to keep the idea that my level becomes a twisted reality so i've looked into some of the strange/different civilizations of the past. Some of the Inca and Mayan architecture brings back memories of Tomb Raider. The designs of the buildings seem perfect for maze layouts and traps. I personally believe that these civilizations led a basic life governed by spiritual belief and physical survival. I think this could lead to some scary character designs in loin cloth.
      I'm also researching a little on buried bodies. I've stopped short of taking a shovel with me. I'm not interested in the gross stuff but in the way people have been entombed. I found some fascinating imagery on pompei in which a volcano erupted and covered the city in ash.

More Research

I have looked into more imagery for my level design inspiration. I have yet to think about the actual design of the level but I like the idea of using dark claustrophobic tunnels to connect the various sections of my level together. Now if only I could decide what to do with the main explorable areas. hmm...

Release schedule

What has happened at this time of year. All the best games are coming out two months before xmas. I can't wait that long and can't justify spending all my money on them before then. Help! Thank god its my birthday soon or I'd realy be in trouble.

On a side note Deux Ex Human Revolution is £14.99 at play.com today. Thats more like it.

Level Ideas

I'm happy with my text helping me to design a level. As my original text is from a childrens story I would like to flip it on its head and make it into a 3rd person survival horror. I think it would work out well within the context of the book I have been influenced from. I maybe getting a little ahead of myself, but here is some imagery that suits the kind of theme I would like my level to have and ideas for enemy designs. Little one's look away now!

Batman Returns

Just completed Arkham City. GOTY............. Possibly.


I'm Batman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRWj36_VQo4

level ideas. James, Ryan, Adam, Martin

I've been thinking about the boss battle at the and of our level. Having watched I,robot recently I like the idea of the boss being an AI instead of a larger robot. It would try to defend itself from the player by sending in waves of robots. Once these have been defeated the player would be able to use the lasso to access the AI's control pannel. By keeping the lasso attached to the control panel for a set period of time (say 5 seconds) the lasso will be seen charging up and then releasing a high voltage attack into the control pannel of the AI. This could be repeated maybe 3 times or so with each defensive waves of robots triggered becoming more intense. Once the AI has been defeated the player has completed the level. The defeated AI could possibly be inherited by the character and upgrade there abilities.

Level layout

Just realised I can blog on the train home. How cool. Anyways. I think we should have some side scrolling elements to our rooms that we have designed otherwise some of the exploration will be lost if the player can see the whole route on a single screen. For some reason I didn't think of this sooner, D'oh!