Dissertation Project Idea: Unreal Editor 3 Level

(Originally posted on the 30th May 2012. Moved onto the Dissertation blog on the 8th October 2012).

Hello 2012. It's been a while since I've updated the blog, but I will be updating regularly from now on, throughout the summer, and continuing into next year. I will primarily use this blog to show weekly progress on my Dissertation project. Speaking of my Dissertation project, I have been considering some ideas and would like feedback on if they are feasible ideas for my Dissertation.

Initial Dissertation Ideas

Below are my initial ideas for a Dissertation project. I really enjoy "level design", that is planning out levels on paper, and then creating them via game editors such as the; Unreal Editor, Unreal Development Kit, Hammer Editor etc. It seems logical to base my Dissertation on something I am interested in, and want to learn more about.

To this end I will create a highly polished multiplayer map using the Unreal Editor 3 tool. Unreal Editor 3 is similar to the Unreal Development Kit I learned to use this year, except it is geared towards making maps for the game Unreal Tournament 3, rather than entirely new game projects which is what UDK is designed to do.

Over the summer I plan to come up with three varied map themes from which I will choose the final theme for my Dissertation multiplayer map.

Regardless of the map theme I select I will create entirely new custom static meshes (game objects), and textures to accompany them. All the assets in this map will be 100% my own. I will not use any of the existing Unreal Engine assets.

Skills it will Teach me

- Greater knowledge of Texture creation.

- Greater knowledge of UVW unwrapping.

- Greater knowledge of 3ds Max 2012. In particular creating modular game objects which can combined and manipulated in the Unreal Editor.

- Greater knowledge of Adobe Photoshop CS5. In particular creating textures to be applied to UV maps.

- Greater knowledge of creating detailed Map floorplans. I am undecided on which program to use while making Floorplans. This year Myself and my group experimented with Using Microsoft Visio for our UDK project, but in the end it proved easier to use Photoshop.

- Greater knowledge of Unreal Editor systems, such as the Kismet animation system and the Unreal Editor 3 filming system.

Career Opportunities

This Dissertation Project will help me apply for a job at... a game studio. Plenty of games use the Unreal Engine to run their game. Throughout the summer I will research and find possibly game development studios who are seeking level designers with the Unreal Engine skillset.

Epic Games the creators of the Unreal Engine are one such developer, but I am sure they have extremely high standards, and require potential candidates to have several years experience working in the games industry before hiring. Still something to consider.

Academic Sources

I will support my Dissertation with academic research, specifically relating to Twitch skill, and level design. Sjoerd De Jong (Hourences) a well known map designer who created several of Unreal Tournaments most popular maps, wrote a book: The How's and Why's of Level Design - SE. This book contains useful information covering floorplans, gameplay for both singleplayer and multiplayer maps, sound effects, and more. It will be extremely useful to me when I plan out and create my multiplayer level. I will finish reading the entire book over the summer. I am presently about half way through the book.

I will also use Twitch skill related books and articles while making the map. I will decide on which books and articles during the summer break.

Bibliography

Sjoerd “Hourences” De Jong (29 August 2011). The Hows and Whys of Level Design – SE. N/A: Sjoerd De Jong. N/A.

Conclusion

I am looking forward to starting this project over the Summer. If I can work on my Dissertation ideas weekly I will have a solid, well researched base to iterate on for when term starts in September.

Thank you for reading my blog. I plan to post additional blog updates throughout the summer, highlighting each of my chosen map themes, and all the design challenges I will need to overcome to execute my designs.

P.S.

I simply can't reliably log in to the My UCS system. Every time I get my account unlocked, it works for one day, and then tells me the password is wrong the next. This makes no sense and is extremely frustrating. Thankfully I will be able to use this blog to show my Dissertation progress next term, rather than relying solely on the temperamental My UCS system.