Level Design/Environment Artist Demo Reel Examples?

[ultranew_b]

Hey guys,

I'm ramping up to create a demo reel to go alongside my portfolio. I was looking for any advice you guys could give me to create a standout demo reel.

Examples of successful demo reels would be appreciated.

cheers!

[Furyo]

Oh wow, the return of the prodigal man. Good to see you're still around and kicking some levels.

I'd simply use a few of our top portfolios (insta's, philipk's, skdr's, etc) and follow that as a baseline. Your screenshots just simply speak volumes already.

[mjens]

http://level-design.org/?page_id=56

[ultranew_b]

Furyo - Thanks for the kind words!

seir - Thanks for the link, very handy reference indeed.

I was looking for examples of demo reels though, not necessarily portfolios.

Any quality demo reel links?

I want to make one, but am not really sure the format to use etc.

[Furyo]

In my experience, the only people in games using demo reels are VFX artists and Animators (that need to show their stuff moving). For Level Design, I wouldn't sweat it.

[ultranew_b]

Ok, cool ! Thanks for the advice man !

Appreciate it !

[Vilham]

If you aren't using a demo reel you would want to use a layouts though? Coz from the modding scene Ive got one view that you can just use images, literally everyone in the industry I know thinks that is no where near enough as it shows no actual design skill.

[Bunglo]

Perhaps images with a download link to a map or two would be good?

[ultranew_b]

I planned to give a link to download the levels displayed in the portfolios.

Looking at many portfolios recently, I rarely saw layout plans posted. Is this essential if a download link is posted?

[Vilham]

A download link is far from ideal though, it requires a reader/employer to have the game mentioned and requires a lot of effort to actually appraise your design work. :/ That's why im pretty stumped on this issue. I can see the advantages to both. Just images keeps your portfolio simple and looks nice, but it doesn't really display any understanding of design.

I also don't seem to see many portfolios with layout stuff at all, atleast not on any of the modding sites.

[Psy]

I think Filip did a good job using videos to explain the thought process behind his work. Of course, this isn't something that can be achieved by everyone but I think that dedicating a page to each of your levels explaining why you did certain things would be good to do.

[ultranew_b]

Thanks Psy !

I was looking at your portfolio. You didn't explain your thought process either.

BTW, I really like the look of your level plr_nightfall! Nice lighting !

[Psy]

Thanks. I already made a start on writing my thought process for each item on my portfolio but unfortunately I'm making slow progress due to other commitments.

[Furyo]

The reason I don't explain everything is to keep things to say for the phone interviews or onsite interviews. I think your text should inform the reader than you know enough, give him material to ask interesting questions, and then wow him by answering them with all your knowledge

[ultranew_b]

Thanks Furyo !