Portfolio Question

    I know it's totally OK for someone to use say... Hammer or UDK to create an environment and put it into their portfolio, but what would you all say about someone using these to make levels;

    Starcraft II

    LittleBigPlanet

    Modnation Racers

    Super Meat Boy Editor

    Things like this.

    Post your thoughts on this please.

    Thanks!

    I would say yet to SC2 as its quite a complex editor and you can do loads with it. Depends what kind of job you are going for I suppose. Don't know much of the bottom two, but I would say LittleBigPlanet only if you where looking to work for them.

    Well, I mean, it should still be all about the placement of the things in the environment and the flow.

    You'd (largely) be using the base models and art that came with a Left 4 Dead or Starcraft II anyway.

    Yea, I agree.

    I was just wondering what initial impressions might be.

    I don't really have any things like that ready. I was just was curious about the prospect.

    I would imagine you'd want to make levels for any types of games you would want to be paid professionally to work on. HL2/UDK out of the box are great if you want to make shooters. If you want to make open-ended RPGs, you'd probably want to use Bethesda's Elder Scrolls Construction Kit or the GECK (also if you want to develop a nasty drinking habit). If you want to make RTS games, then SC2 is a no-brainer. If you want to make Bioware RPGs, use the Aurora editor or the Dragon Age editor.

    Quote from insta

    If I ever make a SC2 map it's going straight to the top of my portfolio, no question about it.

    lol

    Quote from Vilham

    wot? really insta? Maybe a really complex custom but I do mean like top 50 on the popular list.

    LOL

    Ouren, whatever you use to express your creativity is valid. I've seen LBP levels made out of pure design genius, and I've also seen levels made in hammer or other complex editor that are shit.

    A shoddy workman doesn't blame his tools, whatever gets the job done.

    Quote

    ":3fgn7jde]A shoddy workman doesn't blame his tools, whatever gets the job done.

    Wouldn't a shoddy workman blame whatever he could to take away focus from himself???

    I think Starcraft 2 would be great for proving scripting or even mechanical design prowess. Assuming you use the really advanced features of the scripting language to create something truly unique and not just a vanilla Starcraft 2 map, of course. LBP would be a hard sell though, and ModNation and SMB are not useful.

    However, if you’re applying for level design or environment artist positions then don’t do this. You need to demo your ability to create your own assets, and place them in a general purpose editor.

    Even making vanilla SC2 maps is valid I think, its an incredibly complex and deep game and to make a truly good map takes a lot of understanding.

    Indeed. You can certainly create a great skirmish map but unless its being played competitively/a lot there's no way of actually proving its designed solidly and most importantly uniquely designed. Copying a known good layout and just retexturing it wouldn't be a good thing.

    Well, I said for scripting and mechanical design. You can't prove that in a map with no scripting or unique mechanics.

    I’m not saying vanilla maps aren’t hard to do right, but it's going to be a very hard sell that a map in your portfolio consisting of standard gameplay and standard assets is relevant because, in your opinion, it plays well.

    The main concern is ensuring your potential employers recognise the value of what you've created. While it's possible to make fantastic original assets in LBP2 and presumably SC2, and come up with insanely high-quality gameplay, if the guys you're pitching to don't appreciate what you've done it'll count for nothing.

    Producing levels for 'safe' platforms like Unreal Engine and whatnot is probably best because most developers know what goes into producing such levels, and can reasonably accurately gauge how much effort and skill you put into it. Unless a developer happens to have spent a lot of time with the game your prowess in LittleBigPlanet will most likely be met with glazed-over eyes.

    Even something like a CryEngine work could be risky if not balanced with some stuff on other engines (unless you want a job with Crytek) because a lot of developers probably aren't intimately familiar with what is and isn't provided out of the box, and what exactly you've done yourself.

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