Core Gameplay & Mechanics:

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• Core gameplay focused on exploration, shooting, and resource management in a post-apocalyptic setting, with players navigating hostile environments while managing ammo and health.

• Introduced a Lock & Lever system that required players to find key items to progress, encouraging exploration and reinforcing the survivalist theme.

• Varied combat encounters with Zombie AI enemies, designed to maintain tension through strategic enemy placement and a balance between direct confrontation and surprise elements.

• Carefully placed health and ammo pickups to ensure limited resources, encouraging thoughtful decision-making and risk-reward gameplay.

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The core gameplay of the level centered around exploration, shooting and resource management within a post-apocalyptic setting. Players engaged in combat using a weapon system(which was already completed), requiring them to manage their ammo and health carefully while navigating hostile territory. To add a sense of challenge and progression, I incorporated a Lock & Lever system which required players to locate specific items in order to continue forward. This mechanic not only encouraged exploration but also reinforced the survivalist nature of the level. Making players consider their surroundings more carefully.

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The inclusion of Zombie AI enemies introduced combat encounters that I tried to vary in intensity based on player decisions. Enemy placement was designed to maintain tension, with certain areas requiring direct confrontation and others having a slight element of surprise. To support this, health and ammo pickups were strategically placed to ensure players had just enough resources to survive. However, not so much that they could engage every enemy without consequence. The balance of risk, reward and limited supplies encouraged thoughtful decision-making.

Level Design:

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• Level divided into three parts: Introduction to the lock mechanic, action block with enemy zombies, and a refuge/completion area to provide a clear sense of progression.

• Balanced open spaces and tighter corridors to create dynamic combat encounters and build tension, avoiding repetitive gameplay.

• Enemy and item placement strategically planned to support pacing and engagement, with zombies positioned near key objectives to encourage strategic decisions.

• Lighting cues such as point lights and spotlights were used to guide players naturally toward important locations and objectives.

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The level was structured to create a natural flow between interior and exterior spaces, giving players a sense of progression while maintaining an immersive world. I essentially broke the level into three parts(which is outlined in the Initial Concept section) with the first being an introduction into the level and it's lock mechanic, the second including an action block with enemy zombies, and the third being the level's end with a sense of refuge and completion. The environment was designed with a balance of open spaces for combat and also tighter corridors for tension-building. With the idea of encounters feeling dynamic rather than repetitive.

To further support pacing, enemy and item placement was carefully planned. Zombies were positioned near key objectives and in areas that forced the player to engage strategically. The level’s layout guided the player toward items and objectives using lighting cues. For example, important locations such as doors or areas with items were highlighted with point lights or spot lights to ensure that the player naturally gravitated toward them.

Predetermined Elements:

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Since this project followed the Scraps project guidelines, certain gameplay systems and assets were pre-established. The first-person shooter framework, including gunplay, shooting mechanics, ammo, and health pickups, were already implemented. This allowed me to focus on level structure, enemy placement and player progression. Functional combat zones and data tables were also provided at our disposal to alter, add to, choose to use or not.

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While something like patrol points were available for AI behavior, I had full control over how enemies were used within my level. Rather than utilizing patrol routes, I opted to place zombies in specific locations to ensure they remained static threats which would attack you on sight. This was to help reinforce tension and strategic decision-making for the player. It allowed for controlled engagement scenarios where players had to carefully navigate encounters rather than reacting to unpredictable enemy movement.

Challenges & Solutions

1. Balancing Combat Difficulty​

• Challenge: Making sure there was an appropriate level of challenge without overwhelming the player was crucial. Since enemies were strategically placed rather than patrolling, some areas could've been too easy or too difficult.

• ​Solution: I adjusted enemy placement based on player movement patterns and available resources like ammo and health pickups. By fine-tuning engagement distances and limiting enemy clusters, I created manageable yet tense combat encounters. For example, after entering the second room there is an ammo pickup on the right near a light. I know the player will most likely head over there to at least see what it is since they haven't encountered that type of pickup yet. However, inspecting this pickup item puts them in clear view of an enemy zombie who they couldn't see and will begin chasing them.

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2. Guiding the Player

• Challenge: Since the level was designed for a bit of exploration and progression-based gameplay, it was important to subtly lead players to key objectives without hand-holding.

• Solution: I used environmental storytelling with lighting cues, bread crumbs and a natural path to direct the player's attention. Rect Lights and Spotlights highlighted interactive elements, while level geometry funneled players toward progression points.

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3. Lock and Key Mechanic

• Challenge: Implementing the lock-and-key system required careful consideration of item placement to maintain engagement. I didn't want any frustrating backtracking as it's not something I personally like either.

• Solution: I placed key items in locations that encouraged exploration. For example, I created a few rooms on each side of the building and placed some items that weren't the collectible they needed. So they knew it was in one of the rooms, but they could also possibly be met with an enemy zombie. This design ensured players were rewarded for searching without feeling lost or stuck.

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4. Differentiating Environments

• Challenge: Since the level was primarily a blockout, creating a sense of contrast between different sections(interior, combat areas and the outdoors) was somewhat challenging without relying on detailed assets, textures, or materials.

• Solution: I used geometry, lighting variations and environmental spacing to create the transitions. The third section, representing a state of refuge for the player, was designed with an outdoor layout featuring trees, grassy terrain, and an NPC character. This contrasted with the tense, confined interior sections filled with zombies. This change in design naturally conveyed a shift in tone, and offered players a sense of relief when they reached the final area.