Level Design Lobby

Start of the month and here are the recommended resources which I think are very much worth checking out to learn from!  ----------------------------------
Resources
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Great Game Designer Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Role-Great-Game-Designer-Handbook/dp/1777993202

Return to Monkey Island - https://youtu.be/SdWzlDwxBmQ?feature=shared

Graveyard of Features - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-graveyard-of-features-in-games-when-stuff-that-seemed-promising-just-doesn-t-work

Suda 51 Career - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/suda51-on-25-years-of-making-strange-masterpieces-at-grasshopper-manufacture

IGN Unionise - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/ign-workers-are-unionizing-under-newsguild-cwa

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Contact Me
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Twitter: maxpears​  
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
#gamedev #leveldesign #podcast

I was not feeling good the week I recorded this as I am sure many of you have seen it had been nonstop layoffs for nearly the whole of January. This affected some good friends of mine as well as my own mental health.

For this, I want to talk about the possibility of how Unionising as gamedevs could possibly help us in the future. That is by joining a union, here are some of the pages in a few different countries:

UK GameDev Union: https://www.gameworkers.co.uk/
Poland: https://gamedevunion.pl/en/main-en/
France: https://www.stjv.fr/en/news-en/

Union Articles: https://www.polygon.com/gaming/23538801/video-game-studio-union-microsoft-activision-blizzard

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/20/video-game-developers-union-membership-in-uk-soars-after-thousands-laid-off
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Contact Me
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
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In our career, we use a lot of different tools to construct and build our worlds. I wanted to talk about some that have helped in my experience. Each game is different & requires different equipment to improve our work. 
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Let's Design Books
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Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
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Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
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#gamedev #leveldesign #podcast #leveldesignlobby

It is no secret that we have seen the biggest job losses in the industry. With over 9000 lost in 2023 and currently 6000 in 2024. I sadly was one of these, so I wish to share my experience with you all alongside that which helped me to land jobs as well. 
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
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Happy 2024, we are back with the podcast and no better place to start than that of the resources we should read and enjoy! 
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Resources
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GDC Boss Mode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO23gOGZkcA&ab_channel=GDC
Anime Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZsboyfs-L4&ab_channel=NewFramePlus
How to steal like an artist: https://rb.gy/dytul4
Gamedev Bussiness Book: https://rb.gy/nmuuo9
The Raid -Breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNkeEZ1EHbo&ab_channel=Storytellers
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Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter:   / maxpears​  
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com

This year I have been fortunate enough to attend multiple conferences giving talks. So I felt that I had to share some tips I have found over the years which I have given talks and from me attending multiple talks out there.
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
#leveldesign #gamedev #podcast

Sorry guys, things have been a bit hectic and this video was supposed to be released a couple of weeks ago. I hope you enjoy it regardless and learn from these incredible resources.

Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
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Resources
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Death of Unity - https://youtu.be/1zuZaJE3n-4?feature=shared

Satoshi Kon Editing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz49vQwSoTE&ab_channel=EveryFrameaPainting

Must play Baulders 3 quest - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/blogs/this-baldur-s-gate-3-quest-is-a-must-play-for-designers
Spatial Composition - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIsLDFD8E7s&ab_channel=LevelDesignLobby

Lettering in Comics- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9tbi4GaPNL8
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Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​ Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com

Welcome to my 2023 talk on the level design process I went through, who I worked with, and the challenges we faced while developing the quest 'Chippin'In'. I breakdown, my personal design process I went through while making the level of Ebunike. ----------------------------------
Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com

Sharing my talk which I gave out in Norway back in Konsoll 2021. The topic I focus on is on how we can help guide players through our levels using spatial communication. As it allows players to build up their own mental map of our levels.
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com

It is a new month for the podcast, which means a whole bunch of new incredible resources for us to check out and enjoy. I hope you enjoy it. 
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Resources
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Spider-Man Building NYC: https://youtu.be/Bix1nLgneR4?si=bRPPYI7mcmlwyZ6f

Immortality Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ov00DFQ5gg&ab_channel=Noclip-VideoGameDocumentaries

Where birds go to sleep 
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/designing-for-the-draw-of-evil-in-where-birds-go-to-sleep-

Deltarune Analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtP7PnyuSw4&ab_channel=DarylTalksGames
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Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com 

Great to hear people really enjoyed the first episode and wanted to hear more, so I come here to share more tips to help learn/grow and skills to develop to progress your career. 
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
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I gave a talk at Konsoll back in 2020, during could breaking down how to best set up your levels for the use of Combat. Going through elements you need to consider and how to best set up your geometry.
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
----------------------------------
Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
-----------------------------------

We will be talking about one of the less discussed or shared roles online which is that of a Narrative Designer. I am joined by my friend Keano Raubun, who has worked on some big titles and shares his experience with us. 
Support the show:
http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
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Contact Keano 
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/xArcky
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minisbykeano/
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Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
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I thought I would share an old talk I gave back in 2018, where I talk about Mental Maps, how we can encourage players to better understand and learn the layout of your map. Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
-----------------------------------

For those who want to grow their careers in Level Design, it is not always about being the best LD, there is a lot that you need to learn and develop as you progress. Not many of these are discussed so I thought it would be best to bring them up for everyone's attention. 
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
----------------------------------
Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
-----------------------------------

Hitting July hard with great new resources. Talking about what I have read, watched, and listened to, which I think we can all learn from. 
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
----------------------------------
Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Resources
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Starwars:Outlaws - https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/star-wars-outlaws-finally-makes-good-on-a-scum-villainy-fantasy

GDC Vault God of War Ragnorok -  https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1029343/The-Final-Battle-of-God

Silent Hill 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1i06kVIVQ&ab_channel=TotallyPointlessTV

LD Test - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTIiIZ-Agco&ab_channel=LevelDesignLearningwithPatrickHaslow
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
#LevelDesign #Podcast #GameDev

Hey all, I hope you are well it has been a busy and crazy one for me with all the contracts and I wanted to discuss what is next for the podcast, what is the plans for the show moving forward and what has slowed me down. 
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
----------------------------------
Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-----------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
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I have the utmost pleasure of sitting down with the lovely Robin-Yann Storm, who is a Tools UX Designer, and discussing the tools that we use as designers and how he helps make them better for us. It is a complicated process but one that I believe is extremely eye-opening. 
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
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 Contact Robin-Yann
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/RYStorm 
Website: https://rystorm.com/
Talk: youtu.be/brByJ5EVBn4
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Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
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Throughout every year there are incredible conferences for us all to attend as either gamers or as devs. It is a brilliant opportunity for us to network and make new friends. In this episode, I will talk to you about how to best present yourselves and what I have learned over my time attending and presenting at these.  
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
----------------------------------
Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
-------------------------------------
Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
#LevelDesign #Podcast #GameDev

As some of you will know, I have been working on a personal level for a while which is based on the God of War Universe. It has taken some time to work on it, gone through many iterations, and with more to come. But with this still, in development, I really wanted to talk about personal work its importance for us as LDs at all levels and how best to approach one.
Support the show: http://bit.ly/33xpKbG
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Let's Design Books
-----------------------------------
Ebook - https://bit.ly/39BakJD
Physical Books - https://bit.ly/3mfOsbS
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Live Steams 
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Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/live/bOJeRJmjzy8?feature=share
Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/live/9yk4T2NBTgQ?feature=share
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Contact Me
----------------------------------
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaxPears​
Website: https://www.maxpears.com/​
Email: leveldesignlobby@gmail.com
#LevelDesign #Podcast #GameDev