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"make the first level last" took me by surprise! Such a good idea.

"Emotional attachment so you don't wanna change it" is how I end up creating new levels instead of fixing the old ones.

Its so funny how many different things get trunkated to being "level design". To a lot of people, the "level design" is basically every visual and spatial element of a game, and it's extremely daunting when that's the viewpoint. I really like this breakdown.

Here's what I found helpful when I made my first game (parkour)
1. start with the essentials (greybox design with two walls, some ledge grabs, handhelds to climb up, and a balance beam)
2. build several gameplay loops with your essentials (build a wall with multiple ways to traverse it in all directions. Up > down > up > left > right etc.)
3. establish rules and limits with your essentials (all handhelds climbs terminate at a ledge, running off a ledge point leaps towards another ledge)
4. build a playground with your gameplay loops (put 4 walls together and call them buildings, and place them next to each other)
5. give yourself an objective within this environment (try to get from A to B with different rules each time)

now evaluate whether it's fun. Have someone play test it and get feedback on whether it's fun and intuitive, or frustrating. Make adjustments until the system feels natural

The idea is that designing your level and picking an art direction is something you do last. You need to first establish what your game needs and that will tell you a lot about what direction your art should go

For example, my prototype was the most fun when walls had a lot of handhelds and ledges. I decided to make my buildings with brick, lots of windows, air conditioning units, and balconies, so I themed it around suburban life and I liked it so I stuck with it. I went in with the idea of building a post-apocalyptic story adventure (similar to I am alive) and instead building a parkour delivery time trial game

first video i could find that wasnt misunderstanding the term Level design. thank you

That was actually good advice.
I really dislike when people try to spoon feed you what to do. And make it seems that "best practices" is the only way of doing things.

"one day you'll make something good.  maybe"
just the encouragement I needed to hear today!

"developers that don't have a producer or manager breathing down their neck"

My producer, Scott, is the GOAT. He pushes me to accomplish way more than I ever thought I could do as a solo developer.

im not actually an indie dev, just someone who sweats mario maker, but this kind of advice seems really good so far. i def gotta check out this steve lee guy and the rest of the sphere because level design is already looking super fun

Fantastic deep dive into level design strategies specifically tailored for solo developers. It helps so much when trying to balance scope and quality on your own.

Love how you packed in so much valuable info and included others’ resources. Really helps the understanding of the topic!

20:09 "And remember.... One day, you'll make something good. Maybe."

Truly words to live by :D
Thanks for the video! I really like your realistic and nuanced takes on things.

While you're learning, You DON'T do everything yourself.

Find FREE Assets, and focus on learning the fun parts 80% of the time.
If it's fun, you will LEARN Faster (:

Thank you for linking so much in your description. So many channels say they will but won't. You said nothing but did anyway, so helpful.

My successful game dev friend usually speed maps a level 1 - 2 hours so he doesn't end up with some giant beasts of a level. He speed maps once he's done with fresh mechanics for the level and that's why the level exists, for the fresh stuff. He has ideas written out that he comes up with, and only gets half-way through the list. If they need to be longer, he just makes a new level and adds it to the end. Then as visual assets are made over the weeks or months, he details. By then, those speed maps have been polished through playing over-and-over the weeks and monthsr. With all his success, no one can tell that his several hour game had 24-48 hours speed mapping.

I think this is the first video I've heard someone talk about workign on something that isn't necessarily needed for the game, but motivates you and is enjoyable to do. It's super important to work on those once in a while to keep you going. Graphics especially always motivates me (Not making them. But seeing them when finished)

Excellent vid!
Game design for solo dev is such a fresh (and indispensable) perspective.

3:40 THIS  RIGHT HERE, is the most important differentiation I needed to hear!!! For over five YEARS, I've been confused by looking up tutorials and only getting info on how to adjust vague settings or generate some random geometry, when what I WANTED was how to both physically build the assets and how to put assets together the proper way..!

That, and the beginning where instead of just taking info directly, you INTERPRET what you learn in said tutorials!.. I hate the filter people exclude about common sense because that shit isn't absolute across all humans. Some of us just do not have that at all, and it's so painful to try and find a video that gives us that missing gap of filtered out knowledge.

Funny enough, while for indie devs, this the best "behnid the scenes" video about "what it means to be a game designer" that I've seen; respect!