Hi, I’m a hobbyist game developer with no released projects (after like 7 years :`( )and no actual schooling in game design concepts but I love to read research on game design. I’ve had a particular focus on level design lately because I have no idea what I’m doing and every time I get started I don’t know how to approach it. I’ll make a thing and it looks too big or too small, or it’ll be boring and I don’t know how to even begin to fix it.
Then just by chance I found an excellent article “The Door Problem of Combat Design” that really got gears turning in my head. That led to a multi-day research project that has resulted in all these great links.
I have a feeling that much of this is old hat to professionals but I’ve found it all very helpful as a total amateur.
The Door Problem of Combat Design by Andrew Yoder - https://andrewyoderdesign.blog/2019/08/04/the-door-problem-of-combat-design/
Level Design - Views and Vistas by Mike Stout - https://gamedevelopment.tutsplus.com/articles/level-design-views-and-vistas--cms-25036
Enemy Attacks and Telegraphing by Mike Stout - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/enemy-attacks-and-telegraphing/
The Rule of Seven by Rufio Bangarang - https://www.chaoticstupid.com/the-rule-of-seven/
Dark Past (Part 4) by Robert Yang - https://www.blog.radiator.debacle.us/2011/07/dark-past-part-4-useful-post-or-randy.html
Level Design Workshop: Designing Radically Non-Linear Single Player Levels (Slide Deck only), particularly slides 55 to 68 by Audrey Serr - https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1026398/Level-Design-Workshop-Designing-Radically
Composition in Level Design by Mateusz Piaskiewicz - http://level-design.org/?page_id=2274
More About Level Design and Constraints by Andrew Yoder - https://andrewyoderdesign.blog/2020/03/28/more-about-level-design-and-constraints/
Level Design for Combat by Max Pears - https://www.nextleveldesign.org/index.php?/content/nld-originals/level-design-for-combat-max-pears-r127/
Engaging Level Design for Combat Part 2 by Max Pears - https://www.nextleveldesign.org/index.php?/content/nld-originals/level-design-for-combat-part-2-max-pears-r163/
Engaging Level Design for Combat Part 3 by Max Pears - https://www.nextleveldesign.org/index.php?/content/nld-originals/level-design-for-combat-part-3-max-pears-r229/
Trinity Game Design Methodology by Mike Stout
1 - Trinity Game Design Methodology - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-a-game-design-methodology-part-1/
2 - Choice Fields - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-part-2-choice-fields/
3 - Game Mechanics - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-part-3-game-mechanics/
4 - Spectra - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-4-spectra/
5 - Setups - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-5-setups/
6 - Intensity Ramps - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-6-intensity-ramps/
7 - Ramps Part 2 - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-7-ramps-part-2/
8 - Paths - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-7-ramps-part-2/
9 - Why I Call It Trinity - http://www.chaoticstupid.com/trinity-9-why-i-call-it-trinity/