Types of Games in Level Design from edX

This program is based on the Game Design & VFX School at our LaSalle College’s Vancouver campus, crowned the #1 undergraduate school in Canada for video game design by the Princeton Review 10 years in a row.

There are many categories of video games, often classified by their characteristics or goals—not by the type of gameplay they contain. Are you curious to learn about the growing variety of genres and subgenres? Want to discover which game genres appeal to you? No matter what your interest, this course takes you through what you need to know about genres in the game world.

In this course, you will learn about the types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. You will explore platforming, racing and strategy games, and identify the factors and requirements that level designers must consider when designing these video games.

Game genres can also have subgenres, and many games fit into multiple genres! We will explore the subgenres of games that branched off from other genres, taking advantage of their mechanics to create entirely new genres, each with their own level design considerations.

What you'll learn

Understand how platforming games are designed, and the considerations around level design for this type of game.
Identify the main elements of a racing game and ithe factors level designers must consider when designing a racing game level.
Recognize the unique characteristics of strategy games and the specific elements to take into consideration when designing them.
Classify the different level design considerations that go into various game subgenres.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops understanding of game genres and subgenres, which are core skills for working in game design

Taught by Tahirah Mirza and John Appleby, who are recognized experts in game design

Examines level design considerations for platforming, racing, and strategy games, which are highly relevant to game design

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Types of Games in Level Design with these activities:

Review Strategy Game Concepts and Principles

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Brush up on the fundamental concepts of strategy games to prepare for course content.

Browse courses on Strategy Games

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Read articles or watch videos on strategy game genres and mechanics
Analyze different strategy games to identify common patterns and elements

Explore Unity's Platformer Tutorial

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Strengthen understanding of platforming concepts by following a guided environment.

Browse courses on Unity

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Set up a new Unity project and import the Platformer Template
Create a character and platform level design
Add physics and movement scripts to the character

Participate in a Racing Game Design Discussion

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Engage with peers to share knowledge and insights on racing game design.

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Join an online forum or group dedicated to racing game design
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share ideas
Provide feedback and support to other members

Five other activities

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Follow a Racing Game Development Tutorial

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Gain practical experience by building a racing game.

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Choose a racing game development tutorial
Follow the tutorial steps to create a basic racing game
Modify the game with your own ideas and designs

Attend a Strategy Game Design Workshop

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Engage in hands-on activities to enhance understanding of strategy game design.

Browse courses on Strategy Games

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Research and identify a relevant strategy game design workshop
Attend the workshop and actively participate in exercises and discussions
Apply the knowledge and techniques learned to personal projects or discussions

Write an Article on Racing Game Design

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Solidify knowledge by explaining racing game design concepts.

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Research different types of racing games and their design principles
Identify key elements of racing game level design: Tracks, vehicles, and AI
Write and publish the article

Design and Build a Small Platforming Level

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Apply platforming design principles by creating a simple level.

Browse courses on Level Design

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Sketch out a level design with obstacles, platforms, and power-ups
Create the level in Unity or a game engine of your choice
Test the level and get feedback from peers

Develop a Prototype of a Racing Game Level

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Integrate skills by creating a prototype of a racing game level.

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Plan the level layout, including track design, obstacles, and power-ups
Create a prototype using a game engine or other tools
Test the prototype and gather feedback for improvements

Career center

Learners who complete Types of Games in Level Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Level Designer

A Level Designer is responsible for creating the environments and levels in video games. This course may be useful for a Level Designer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Level Designers create more engaging and immersive experiences for players.

See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer

Game Designer

A Game Designer is responsible for designing the overall gameplay and mechanics of video games. This course may be useful for a Game Designer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Designers create more innovative and engaging games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Technical Game Designer

A Technical Game Designer is responsible for designing the technical aspects of video games, such as the physics, AI, and networking. This course may be useful for a Technical Game Designer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Technical Game Designers create more technically sound and polished games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Game Designer

Environment Artist

An Environment Artist is responsible for creating the visual assets for the environments in video games. This course may be useful for an Environment Artist because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Environment Artists create more visually appealing and immersive environments for players.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environment Artist

Character Artist

A Character Artist is responsible for creating the visual assets for the characters in video games. This course may be useful for a Character Artist because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Character Artists create more visually appealing and engaging characters for players.

See salaries and explore the career path for Character Artist

Animator

An Animator is responsible for creating the animations for the characters and objects in video games. This course may be useful for an Animator because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Animators create more fluid and realistic animations for players.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Sound Designer

A Sound Designer is responsible for creating the sound effects and music for video games. This course may be useful for a Sound Designer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Sound Designers create more immersive and engaging audio experiences for players.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Game Producer

A Game Producer is responsible for managing the development of video games. This course may be useful for a Game Producer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Producers make better informed decisions about the development and marketing of video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

Game Tester

A Game Tester is responsible for testing video games to find bugs and other issues. This course may be useful for a Game Tester because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Testers better understand the games they are testing and identify potential problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester

Game Journalist

A Game Journalist is responsible for writing about video games for magazines, websites, and other publications. This course may be useful for a Game Journalist because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Journalists write more informed and engaging articles about video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Journalist

Game Marketer

A Game Marketer is responsible for marketing and promoting video games. This course may be useful for a Game Marketer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Marketers develop more effective marketing campaigns for video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Marketer

Game Developer

A Game Developer is responsible for developing video games. This course may be useful for a Game Developer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Developers create more innovative and engaging games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Game Programmer

A Game Programmer is responsible for programming video games. This course may be useful for a Game Programmer because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Programmers write more efficient and robust code for video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Game Artist

A Game Artist is responsible for creating the visual assets for video games. This course may be useful for a Game Artist because it provides an overview of the different types of games that exist in the industry and their unique characteristics. This knowledge can help Game Artists create more visually appealing and immersive games for players.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Types of Games in Level Design

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