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Gabe Eubanks
Level Design
Best Practices for Pattern Recognition in Stealth Level Design
Stealth level design requires a certain benchmark of asynchronous communication between both the designer and player . The player must be receptive to the tools , paths , and affordances that the designer has intently placed for them in order to complete a high-stakes task of most stealth game modes . I wanted to showcase and test for best practices of pattern recognition in stealth level design to better understand how effective stealth design achieves this teaching , reinforcing , and mastery of elements in a level .
Over the course of 10 months , I refined my thesis topic , researched both pattern recognition theories and stealth level design , built a full level showcasing best practices , and organized user testing to prove my theories through data .
The level comes in the form of a “ bounty hunt ” mission for Far Cry 5 , titled “ Valley of Prey .” In the level , the player is tasked with sneaking through a downward sloping mountain valley to take out a prime target deep within .
I learned invaluable lessons in level design methodology through this project , as I studied other theses and levels from popular stealth games . The findings from this research can help any designers who are looking for design patterns to implement in their levels based on ease of implementation , player recognition , and effectiveness in stealth .
40 LEVEL DESIGN