How To: Create The Best Competitive Level
The more the merrier, right? Creating an impressive competitive level in Surgeon Simulator 2 requires a certain je nais se quois. Fortunately for you, we got Gavin Stewart, Level Designer on Surgeon Simulator 2, to share five tips and tricks to make the best competitive level.
Don’t just dive in, do some planning!
You may be itching to get started, but doing some preliminary planning really does pay-off in the long-run. Try and have a clear idea of what you want your level to be themed around, and what the level’s core purpose is. Pre-planning your level before entering the Creation Mode will save some possible headaches later on.
Even bullet-pointing plans for your level can be beneficial, as it gives you something to refer back to throughout the level building process.
Start blocking out space in your level
Now you’ve decided your level theme and purpose, it’s time to delve into Creation Mode. Before your start chucking props everywhere, spend some time blocking out areas of your playspace. Consider where you’d like to build walls and put larger props. As you go along, make sure to test out the metrics of your level, making sure there’s ample room to comfortably move.
As you begin to add gameplay elements, and start to comfortably understand the 3D level space, some things you planned may not translate well. Don’t be disheartened, though! Sometimes the best parts of levels are improvised.
Ensure a fair, competitive gamespace
When building your level, it’s important that you give thought to your spatial layout. For example, if you’re creating a free-for-all arena environment, you need to consider how far away each area or item of importance is from each player, to make sure it’s fair and achievable.
Create balance in the gameplay
In competitive games, there are often feedback loops. These are either positive or negative. Positive feedback loops can be found in games like Call of Duty, where consecutive kills are rewarded, giving the player an advantage over other players.
Negative feedback loops can be seen in titles like Mario Kart. The pick-up items are not totally randomised, and are instead weighted by your position in the race. In last place, you’re more likely to get a blue shell. In first place, you’re more likely to obtain a green or red shell. This can be thought of as rubber-banding; allowing players to catch-up when they’re running behind.
Think about the feedback loop you’d like to implement, and this will impact the difficulty of your levels and experience for players.
Play with others, obviously!
If you’ve been flying solo in your level creation, it’s now time to team up with others and test your level! You’ll need to make sure your level is validated correctly in order to ensure it’s published. It’s worth remembering that you can update your level at any time, even after it’s published.
Playing with others adds a whole new dynamic to your level. Other players have the ability to steal objects, push you around, sabotage your objectives and wreak havoc for their own personal gain…
If competitive surgery is your thing, check out The Surgical Showdowns update. Grab some inspiration from competitive levels made by the best minds at Bossa!