Level designer - Definition

A level designer is a person who creates levels for computer and/or video games using a specific set of programs. These programs may be commonly available commercial 3D or 2D design programs, or specially designed and tailored level editors made for a specific game. A level designer may also be called a mapper; this term is however chiefly used in reference to amateurs such as people working on free mods.

In developing a game, level designers are responsible for producing scenarios that the player will enjoy. A level designer will usually work on a level from design to completion, though rarely is one designer the sole editor of a level. For each level in a modern game, this task involves documenting its design, modeling or laying out its environment, and placing game entities in it. To perform these duties, many level designers have skills as both a visual artist and as a game designer.

One of the first games that had an individual whose job was simply to design the levels was 1983's Lode Runner, which was also one of the first titles to ship with a level editor to allow users to create their own levels.

A number of individuals have made significant contributions to the field of level design, including: John Romero, responsible for a great deal of the level design for Doom, and Richard "Levelord" Gray, creator of a number of levels for Duke Nukem 3D and SiN.

See also

• Level design
• Level editor
• Game designer
• Game programmer