Level Up.pdf

The Name Game 207
While designing Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, we applied the Mexican pizza
technique. Instead of just a graveyard, our graveyard was cracked apart by
volcanic eruptions that blasted out gouts of fire. A fire graveyard, if you will.
We also made a pirate level that was enshrouded in ice — you get the idea.
We took hoary level themes and breathed new life into them simply by
combining them with each other.
The Name Game
Now that you have your level ’ s theme, give it a name. However, a level
always has two names: one for the programming team and one for the
player. The level name is a file name, created to be referenced with the
game ’ s code. Here are a few things to remember when creating file
names:
• Keep it to eight characters max as (a) it ’ s easy for team members to
remember and (b) takes up less space in the code.
• File names aren ’ t the name that the player sees, so you don ’ t have to
be witty. For example, “ factory 01 ” succinctly lets your team members
know the most important info: location and order.
• For more complex titles, use abbreviated text: for example, fac01s01
would stand for “ factory 1, section 01. ”
• Make sure your naming conventions don ’ t overlap. If “ sec ” stands for
section in one area, don ’ t use it for “ secret ” in another.
• Organize your levels. Keep files in folders where it is easy for other
team members to find them. Use file - sharing software to make sure
changes aren ’ t made without the other team members knowing about
them.
In the context of the game, the level ’ s name is a different matter. Just like
with naming characters it ’ s important to give your level the right name: one
that fits its feel. There are a few schools of thought to naming levels:
• Functional. A straight- up number system is a hallmark of retro
gaming. It cuts to the chase and gives the player an idea of progress.
However, as most players aren ’ t exposed to the highest number
in advance there ’ s no way for them to accurately track overall
progress. Another disadvantage to functional naming is that it lacks
personality.
• Location. Police station. Sewer. Science lab. What ’ s good about using
the location names is that you immediately get an idea of what the