Level Design - HL2 Hammer - Freeman Files - Part1

I made this HL2 map during the second year of Games Design BSc at The University of Bolton. It was designed, developed and tested in a team of two. The Freeman Files map was developed based on an analysis of HL2's coastal maps (found roughly midpoint in the game). The research included, a deep analyse of the Coast Map 07/08 of HL2, and as a result a design document was written consisting of the following sections:-

Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Summary of Coast Map 07 (Original HL2 map)
4. Walkthrough of Existing Coast Map 07
4.1 Level Transition & Player Transport
4.2 Space Buildings & Enemy NPCs
4.3 Level Puzzles & Player Challenge
4.4 Alternative Routes & Exploration
4.5 Inaccessible Areas and Level Exit
5. Interactive Elements of Existing Coast Map 07
6. Spatial Awareness of Coast Map 07
7. Linear Routes & Player Progression
8. Brief Overview of Coast Map 08 (Original HL2 map)
9. Triggers & Game Rules
9.1 Stopwatch Timed Events
9.2 Timed Level Completion
9.3 Identified Game Rules
9.4 Coastal Map 07 Statistics
10. Summary of Freeman Files Map (Our Map)
11. Walkthrough of Freeman Files Map (Our Map)
11.1 Opening Sea Front
11.2 Water Processing Facility (Lower Section)
11.3 Water Processing Facility (Upper Section)
11.4 Upper Bridge
12. Final Level Production
12.1 Initial Level Concept
12.2 Map Preparation
12.3 Map Creation Process
13. Optimization & Testing
13.1 QA Procedure
13.2 Map Optimization
14. Level Comparison, Game Rules & Statistics
14.1 Level Comparison
14.2 Game Rules Breakdown
14.3 Statistics: Freeman Files Map
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix

Please visit my website to download accompanying documentation to each video.

http://nickworkdemo.webs.com/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Games
• Design
• Half
• Life
• HL2
• Level
• Valve
• Hammer
• Editor
• nickworkdemo

[VoilaCo]

Very nice, one question how did you make the text at the beginning where it says: Designed & Created by...?

[faszika]

mapping is so time consuming :( but fun =D

[RabdonFilms]

@VoilaCo info_text or one of those.

[iliekchocolatemilk]

You would go to the entities box, scroll down and go to item_suitcharger and item_healthcharger.

[gsp1995]

I agree

[supergamer22]

Also how did you make the crates with ammo?

[supergamer22]

This SHOULD BE a mod

[AmunRa1]

Have you ever used hammer before? It's pretty easy. Should be under entities.

[Rohan2300]

it occurs to me that that last moment where you shot the door to unlock it was a bit of a risk.

most gamers used to opening doors by "Using" them wouldn't even consider shooting at them when they don't open.

apart from that, fantastic level of detail.

I was actually going to take that exact same course in games design at bolton, but switched to Newport instead.

[DaManWitDaPower]

how do u make the health and suit dispensers?

[Burletonboy]

nice level hope i can use hammer when i go to collage as ur good at hammer and the source engine in general i recommend the unreal engine because hammers dynamic lighting is shit but its a very simple app