Introduction to Environment Design in Games

Learning Outcomes

Articulate the Role of Environment Design in Games

Identify and Analyse Different Types of Game Environments

Create a Basic Sketch of a Game Environment Layout

Importance of Environment Design in Games

Immersion: Creates a believable world that enhances player engagement.
Narrative Support: Reinforces storytelling by providing context and atmosphere.
Gameplay Mechanics: Influences player interactions and challenges.
Aesthetic Appeal: Contributes to the visual identity and appeal of the game.

Examples of Environment Design in Games

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Expansive open-world environments that encourage exploration.

The Last of Us

Post-apocalyptic settings that enhance the emotional narrative.

Hollow Knight

Atmospheric underground world that influences gameplay and mood.

Types of Game Environments

Natural Environments

Forests, mountains, deserts.
Example: Red Dead Redemption 2 – Diverse natural landscapes.

Urban Environments

Cities, towns, ruins.
Example: Assassin's Creed II – Historical urban settings.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi Environments

Imaginary worlds with unique rules.
Example: Mass Effect – Futuristic space environments.

Impact of Environment on Gameplay

Navigation: Guides player movement and exploration.
Challenge: Provides obstacles and opportunities for problem-solving.
Mood Setting: Establishes the emotional tone of the game.
Storytelling: Conveys narrative elements through environmental cues.

Introduction to Environment Sketching

Purpose: Visualise ideas and plan layouts.

Benefits:

Quickly iterate on concepts.
Communicate ideas effectively.
Identify potential design issues early.

Basic Sketching Techniques

Start with Simple Shapes: Use circles, squares, and triangles to outline major elements.
Establish Perspective: Apply one-point or two-point perspective to create depth.
Add Details Gradually: Build complexity by refining shapes and adding textures.
Use Light and Shadow: Indicate light sources to enhance dimensionality.

Task

Step 1: Draw the Horizon Line

Select the Height: Decide on the viewer's eye level within the scene (e.g., a low horizon for a ground-level view or a high horizon for a bird’s-eye view). This will help set the overall mood and perspective.
Draw a Straight Line: Using a ruler or a steady hand, draw a straight line horizontally across your paper or canvas. This line represents the viewer's eye level and is where all objects seem to come together in the distance.
- Tip: Place the horizon line lower if you want more sky in the scene, which works well for open landscapes, or higher if you want more ground or foreground detail.

Step 2: Establish the Vanishing Point

Choose a Point on the Horizon Line: Pick a single point along the horizon line. This point is where all parallel lines (in one-point perspective) will appear to converge as they recede into the distance.

- One-Point Perspective: For simpler compositions where all lines converge toward one point (e.g., a straight road, hallway, or river).
- Two-Point Perspective (Advanced): If the scene has objects angled away from the viewer (e.g., a corner of a building), add a second vanishing point along the horizon line, usually placed off to the side.

Mark the Vanishing Point Clearly: Draw a small dot at your chosen location and label it as the vanishing point. Ensure this is visible, as you’ll be referencing it throughout the sketch.

Step 3: Draw Guideline Lines

Guidelines from the Vanishing Point: Using a ruler, draw faint lines from the vanishing point outwards, radiating across the page. These lines guide where objects (like buildings, trees, or pathways) should taper as they get closer to the horizon.

Object Placement Along Guidelines:

- Begin adding simple shapes (e.g., boxes or cylinders) along these guidelines to start populating your environment.
- As objects get closer to the vanishing point, make them progressively smaller to mimic the effect of distance.

Step 4: Sketch Scene Elements within the Perspective

Foreground Elements: Add larger, more detailed elements in the foreground, such as rocks, trees, or structures, to provide a sense of scale.
Middle Ground Elements: Place mid-sized elements further along the guidelines, adding detail to show the transition into the distance.
Background Elements: Add minimal detail for elements closest to the horizon line to maintain focus on the perspective.

Example Application

One-Point Perspective: Imagine drawing a road or a river extending into the distance. Place the vanishing point directly on the horizon line, and draw the road’s edges along the guidelines from this point.
Two-Point Perspective: For an urban scene with buildings on both sides, use two vanishing points along the horizon line. Draw guidelines from each vanishing point to shape the buildings’ tops and sides as they taper off in either direction.

Additional Tips

Shadows and Light Source: Position shadows in alignment with the perspective. This enhances depth and adds realism.
Experiment: Try placing vanishing points at different locations for unique perspectives (e.g., an off-centre vanishing point for an angled scene).

Hands-On Activity Instructions

Objective: Sketch a basic game environment layout.

Guidelines:

Choose a theme (e.g., forest clearing, desert oasis).
Apply basic shapes to outline major elements.
Use perspective to create depth.
Add details to enhance the environment.

Common Challenges in Environment Sketching

Maintaining Proportions: Ensure elements are correctly sized relative to each other.
Creating Depth: Use overlapping shapes and perspective lines effectively.
Adding Realistic Details: Observe real-world environments for reference.

Tips for Effective Sketching

Practice Regularly: Consistent practice improves skill.
Study Real Environments: Observe and sketch from life.
Seek Feedback: Share work with peers for constructive criticism.
Experiment with Styles: Try different artistic styles to find your preference.

Recap and Key Takeaways

Environment design is crucial for immersive gameplay.
Different types of environments serve various narrative and gameplay functions.
Basic sketching skills are essential for visualising and planning game environments.

Next Steps and Further Learning

Practice Assignment: Create three different environment sketches exploring various themes.

References

Bethesda Game Studios (2011) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. [Video Game]. Bethesda Softworks.
Naughty Dog (2013) The Last of Us. [Video Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment.
Team Cherry (2017) Hollow Knight. [Video Game]. Team Cherry.
Rockstar Games (2018) Red Dead Redemption 2. [Video Game]. Rockstar Games.
Ubisoft Montreal (2009) Assassin's Creed II. [Video Game]. Ubisoft.
BioWare (2007-2012) Mass Effect Series. [Video Game]. Electronic Arts

Introduction to Environment Design in Games

Learning Outcomes

Articulate the Role of Environment Design in Games

Identify and Analyse Different Types of Game Environments

Create a Basic Sketch of a Game Environment Layout

Importance of Environment Design in Games

Immersion: Creates a believable world that enhances player engagement.

Narrative Support: Reinforces storytelling by providing context and atmosphere.

Gameplay Mechanics: Influences player interactions and challenges.

Aesthetic Appeal: Contributes to the visual identity and appeal of the game.

Examples of Environment Design in Games

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Expansive open-world environments that encourage exploration.

The Last of Us

Post-apocalyptic settings that enhance the emotional narrative.

Hollow Knight

Atmospheric underground world that influences gameplay and mood.

Types of Game Environments

Natural Environments

Forests, mountains, deserts.

Example: Red Dead Redemption 2 – Diverse natural landscapes.

Urban Environments

Cities, towns, ruins.

Example: Assassin's Creed II – Historical urban settings.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi Environments

Imaginary worlds with unique rules.

Example: Mass Effect – Futuristic space environments.

Impact of Environment on Gameplay

Navigation: Guides player movement and exploration.

Challenge: Provides obstacles and opportunities for problem-solving.

Mood Setting: Establishes the emotional tone of the game.

Storytelling: Conveys narrative elements through environmental cues.

Introduction to Environment Sketching

Purpose: Visualise ideas and plan layouts.

Benefits:

Quickly iterate on concepts.

Communicate ideas effectively.

Identify potential design issues early.

Basic Sketching Techniques

Start with Simple Shapes: Use circles, squares, and triangles to outline major elements.

Establish Perspective: Apply one-point or two-point perspective to create depth.

Add Details Gradually: Build complexity by refining shapes and adding textures.

Use Light and Shadow: Indicate light sources to enhance dimensionality.

Task

Step 1: Draw the Horizon Line

Select the Height: Decide on the viewer's eye level within the scene (e.g., a low horizon for a ground-level view or a high horizon for a bird’s-eye view). This will help set the overall mood and perspective.

Draw a Straight Line: Using a ruler or a steady hand, draw a straight line horizontally across your paper or canvas. This line represents the viewer's eye level and is where all objects seem to come together in the distance.

Tip: Place the horizon line lower if you want more sky in the scene, which works well for open landscapes, or higher if you want more ground or foreground detail.

Step 2: Establish the Vanishing Point

Choose a Point on the Horizon Line: Pick a single point along the horizon line. This point is where all parallel lines (in one-point perspective) will appear to converge as they recede into the distance.

One-Point Perspective: For simpler compositions where all lines converge toward one point (e.g., a straight road, hallway, or river).

Two-Point Perspective (Advanced): If the scene has objects angled away from the viewer (e.g., a corner of a building), add a second vanishing point along the horizon line, usually placed off to the side.

Mark the Vanishing Point Clearly: Draw a small dot at your chosen location and label it as the vanishing point. Ensure this is visible, as you’ll be referencing it throughout the sketch.

Step 3: Draw Guideline Lines

Guidelines from the Vanishing Point: Using a ruler, draw faint lines from the vanishing point outwards, radiating across the page. These lines guide where objects (like buildings, trees, or pathways) should taper as they get closer to the horizon.

Object Placement Along Guidelines:

Begin adding simple shapes (e.g., boxes or cylinders) along these guidelines to start populating your environment.

As objects get closer to the vanishing point, make them progressively smaller to mimic the effect of distance.

Step 4: Sketch Scene Elements within the Perspective

Foreground Elements: Add larger, more detailed elements in the foreground, such as rocks, trees, or structures, to provide a sense of scale.

Middle Ground Elements: Place mid-sized elements further along the guidelines, adding detail to show the transition into the distance.

Background Elements: Add minimal detail for elements closest to the horizon line to maintain focus on the perspective.

Example Application

One-Point Perspective: Imagine drawing a road or a river extending into the distance. Place the vanishing point directly on the horizon line, and draw the road’s edges along the guidelines from this point.

Two-Point Perspective: For an urban scene with buildings on both sides, use two vanishing points along the horizon line. Draw guidelines from each vanishing point to shape the buildings’ tops and sides as they taper off in either direction.

Additional Tips

Shadows and Light Source: Position shadows in alignment with the perspective. This enhances depth and adds realism.

Experiment: Try placing vanishing points at different locations for unique perspectives (e.g., an off-centre vanishing point for an angled scene).

Hands-On Activity Instructions

Objective: Sketch a basic game environment layout.

Guidelines:

Choose a theme (e.g., forest clearing, desert oasis).

Apply basic shapes to outline major elements.

Use perspective to create depth.

Add details to enhance the environment.

Common Challenges in Environment Sketching

Maintaining Proportions: Ensure elements are correctly sized relative to each other.

Creating Depth: Use overlapping shapes and perspective lines effectively.

Adding Realistic Details: Observe real-world environments for reference.

Tips for Effective Sketching