Serious Sam Level Layout
by Font on Feb.23, 2009, under Art, Concept Design, Design
to learn how to use a new engine or tool I usually put together a quick layout for a small singleplayer adventure. Usually these layouts would include features of an engine I needed to learn, like creating a moveable brush (like a door), spawning explosions, placing ai and nav paths, setting up a basic trigger sequence (flip switch to open door). These levels usually served as a great primer on the tech/engine itself. Sometimes you are able to finish it, and sometimes you have to just jump right in to full production and learn on the spot. This was one of the later cases. While I started working on this singleplayer map I interviewed and was offered a job at Sunstorm where I learned on the spot how to use the engine. Thankfully the first couple days I had been tinkering with the tool was enough to learn the basics and I was ahead of the game by the time I got out to Indianapolis to start work.
