Elevations & Player Visibility

𝟎𝟓 – 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

In previous posts about navigable levels, I’ve often been asked whether elevation changes and ramps significantly affect player’s perception. The short answer is yes; ramps are also a design tool!

By using ramps, we can guide the player’s attention, control their visibility, and carefully pace their movement through the environment. This helps us tell a story through the space itself.

In the sketch I’m sharing today, I illustrate two scenarios (extreme case examples) where elevation is used to craft different gameplay dynamics.

In simple terms, the key elements of a route that we see in these examples are:

– Where the player is (𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧),
– Where they need to go (𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞),
– The surrounding navigable areas near the objective (𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧),
– And the path to reach the objective (𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡).

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨, the objective is positioned beyond an upward slope. Here’s how each key element is perceived:

– 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧: By default, the player and their immediate surroundings are clearly visible.
– 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡: The path itself is very prominent, as the upward angle provides an advantageous view of the trail ahead.
– 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: In this scenario, the objective is partially obscured. You can design it to be fully hidden or fully visible. I’ve illustrated a middle option.
– 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The navigable area surrounding the objective is completely hidden by the slope, and won’t be revealed to the player until they are almost there.

This upward slope lets us create an inviting beginning, even a clear objective if we want while keeping the final navigable area hidden. This ideal for a scripted event, a boss fight or a big reveal.

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨, the objective lies at the end of a downward slope:

– 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧: Visible. I’m including this just as a reference.
– 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡: Due to the steep angle, much of the path is hidden from view, limiting the player’s ability to see what’s coming immediately next.
– 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: The objective itself is fully visible from the start, providing clarity about the ultimate goal.
– 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The surroundings of the objective are also clearly visible, even though the path leading there is obscured.

This downward slope gives us a different storytelling tool. We can clearly show the player where they need to go while keeping the details of the journey obscured. This creates a sense of anticipation, players know their destination but are unsure of what they may encounter along the way. Also, the pacing is more frenetic/uncertain since the player can anticipate less.

I’d love to hear how you use elevation changes in your own designs. What techniques do you find most effective for guiding or surprising the player?