AAA Design Test (Game / Level )

[JZAcH]

 - Status: Offered Job 

Hey guys, 
 

So here I want to share with you a design test that landed me a AAA mid-senior designer job. 

Because of various reasons I cannot disclose the company for which I gave this test to. Even still, I believe this could help someone in the community land a place where they dream to be today or in the future. 

I feel like I want to share this because, a couple of years ago, I came across a random blog where a level designer (who is now a senior designer at machine games) shared his design tests, helped me prepare and land this AAA offer. He did not have to, but it helped me. Irrespective of if I'm in AAA or indie at the moment, I believe that something that brought me success, if shared, will help someone else, because of which I'm willing to share this test. 

If anyone would like to ask further questions, you can ask me personally in my email or discord (I'm Suicidal Carrot on Mapcore discord) 

 

So here is the question that was presented to me - https://www.dropbox.com/s/f0njmjm6iakta6g/Level design test- Question Paper.pdf?dl=0

 

And here is my response to that - https://www.dropbox.com/s/7kkp76kmadr4hcw/Design Test (Game-Level) - Jeffy Zachariah.pdf?dl=0

 

They specifically said that blockouts aren't necessary but I still went ahead and made them. After rough sketching, I go directly into blocking out to make sure if the proportions and scale are correct and then readjust my layout accordingly. If anyone is interested in the layout, here you can find them - https://www.dropbox.com/s/kabw2zdfxl6a4fg/TreasonInTerra.rar?dl=0 - you need UE 4.16 to run this. ^_^ 

 

NOTE : The test time period was 10 Days

 

Hope some of you may find this useful. 

 

Cheers 

JZ 

 

P.S - I've got other tests that I'm willing to share (not offered job but got till the interview and then fucked it up when talking with the design leads) if anyone is interested. Peace. 

Edited October 11, 2017 by JZAcH

[blackdog]

Sharing is caring, thank you!

what you mean “fucking up in the interview”? curious if is questions of game theory or other stuff. (Also you know what went wrong from feedback or deduction)

Edited October 11, 2017 by blackdog

[JZAcH]

10 minutes ago, blackdog said:

Sharing is caring, thank you!

what you mean “fucking up in the interview”? curious if is questions of game theory or other stuff. (Also you know what went wrong from feedback or deduction)

@blackdog - I'll use a couple of example to what I meant by fucking up in the interview

In one of my earlier interviews, the led asked me a general question related to one of the projects that I did. And rather than answering the truth about my design ideas, I tried to impress them on the spot by trying to make up answers that they wanted to hear, because I was scared if they would dismiss my ideas and my thinking.  And eventually, it leads me to being clueless about the shit that I was doing. 

Later on, as I "grew wise", fuck ups happened when I was unwilling to accept what the studio's design idea when it came to valuating fun gameplay design was. These were minute things such as "we make shit procedural so we have 1 zillion replayability" and stuff like that so forth. So in short, arguing with a studio;s set design idea - will lead you to lose your job offer. 

So I guess those two examples should tell you enough. Be what you are and talk about what you know and know really well. Don't try to be something you are not, in short xD 

[Beck]

Edit - Broke this post a bit - Do spoilers work at the moment?

Nice of you to share. Since we're on the topic of design tests I thought I'd share the one I did for Codemasters almost 6 years ago. They had me make a race track in Trackmania.

Here was the brief:

 

Using the tools, we would like you to build a fun, interesting, varied and above all accessible track that takes between 1m15s to 1m45s to complete a lap. This track should be set up to support a 3-lap race with checkpoints, and will be assessed in a multiplayer race setting.

We would also like you to deliver a short explanatory document detailing:

· How you believe the elements of the track satisfy the brief above

· What you would do to enhance the track if you had access to more comprehensive tools

Things to bear in mind:

· The track should be designed to suit a competitive race, as opposed to a ‘Trials HD’ style challenge

· The track must be accessible (not for just hardcore driving fans)

· What are the track landmarks and signposting?

· What will make your track stand out?

I'd never used the Trackmania before so spent a day or two learning the tools and then I created a track. I then went beyond the test and did a multiplayer test, got some feedback, made changes and then did further tests for some final feedback.

I also made a video diary of my progress each day which can be found here:

If you check the description in each of the videos I have posted my thoughts and what I plan on doing next etc.

 

They were impressed I went the extra mile with the testing, iteration and video blog and it landed me my first job in the industry. Been loving it ever since  

Edited October 12, 2017 by Beck

[Radu]

Pretty good stuff here! It's really helpful and entertaining going through this. Would be cool if others shared as well.

[JZAcH]

@Beck Thanks for sharing mate  . Hope soon others will follow