Showreels

A well shot Action-Shot on a multiplayer level or single player mission will always work well, because it shows that your level is being played and can be played plus it will show some (basic) skills in video-montage and editing.

Can't remember that i have seen a level design showreel yet but it sure doesn't hurt to have one if it's well done.

Quote from Pericolos0

nobody ever bothers watching them.

Screenshots and some information how you like to work is all you need

Your workflow description will set you aside from the thousands of portfolios with just pictures.

I don't agree that it is only for animators. I think levels are actually prime candidates for reels, as a level can be difficult to capture in just some screenshots. There is sound, events, stuff moves, and so on...

I do agree that no one ever watches them though

Also it just is too much work...which is probably why not many do it. It really can't hurt having it though, so if you feel like making one...

I suppose whether or not it's single-player would be a big factor here. If you've put together a wonderfully atmospheric level that has scripted events and shit, you'll definitely want to show that off in a reel or something. Perhaps not the same kind of sequential reel that an animator would put together, though.

Maybe an interesting compromise would be to take movies of each scene as well as a screenshot, so if users click on the screenshot they can see it in motion with the sound, particle effects, etc. Might be more likely they'll see them, too.

I think a level designer can definitely make a showreel. It's good to pack the best stuff you made into one video and present it.

I made one right after I got hired, so no you don't need a showreel to get a job, but it makes things easier I'm sure, people can just

look at something without having to click through dozens of screenshots and I think it captures your work better when it's in motion.

Mazy had a showreel =)

Yeah i was just about to say that. mazy's showreel was fucking awesome! I guess a good way to think about it is: showreel for leveldesigner is not necessary, but if you go the extra mile and present it well it might score you some bonus points.

Quote from kleinluka

Yeah i was just about to say that. mazy's showreel was fucking awesome! I guess a good way to think about it is: showreel for leveldesigner is not necessary, but if you go the extra mile and present it well it might score you some bonus points.

+1. Can't hurt, and I find it a bit sad that "no one ever looks at it". I don't know much of anything about the games industry, but I'm starting to get to the job-application phase of my career(junior in college, mech. eng.), so I'm looking at job requirements and resume requirements, portfolios, etc... And everything I see and hear is all about showing what makes your work better than the next guys, and I feel that if a company is serious about making the best product, they're going to take as much time as they can to overview the candidate's work/abilities, and that includes scrutinizing everything in their resume/portfolio. And if they aren't serious about making the best product, then I don't want to work for them.

I can understand if they have 1000 applications, they'll probably go through and weed out all the "definately nots" real quick, and not watch your showreel... but I'd be amazed if you made it through to the serious consideration stage, interviews etc, if someone hadn't looked over every single thing in your resume.

Making a pretty looking scene isn't the only part of level creation.. The atmosphere is just as much created by the sounds, lighting, and motion of the surroundings. I personally think a showreel would be a great idea.

I think that very few employers actually did look at every little thing I ever made, then again I am an exception

I totally agree with you that if they are serious about it, they should look really deep into it. I would. A lot of people don't however. And yes if they have many applicants, it is about catching their attention faster than the other guy, not necessarily being better than the other guy. Dependent on how far you live away from their office, they may also just invite you over for an interview before looking seriously deep into your application. For some that is an easier/faster way.