So I made a Doom level

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Replaces E1M1 in Doom/Ultimate Doom. I made it in the Boom format and tested it with PrBoomPlus, GZDoom and Zandorum. It has co-op but no deathmatch support.

I got GZDoom Builder and started using it wednesday last week. And apart from a simple marble room I created just to get my bearings, this is in fact my very first map and I have just been learning everything as I went along, and only checked a video tutorial for the most rudimentary basics of the editor.

Started around last friday with just the vague idea of making something E1-ish, so it took a little less than a week to create. Halfway through I started rewatching the Devs Play videos with Romero commentating through Episode 1, so I could try and apply some of the same design principles to my level. Actually ended up stripping down some of the finer details in order to preserve more of a vanilla feel. Many of the rooms used to be more distinct in their texture sets as well, which I also ended up largely homogenizing to give it more of a thematic consistency, after examining the texture distribution across the original E1 levels. I wanted to avoid the "everything and the kitchen sink" feel.

The level design throughout the map is mostly just me trying to copy some of the memorable beats from the original levels, as a means to familiarize myself with the editor and workflow. The map ended up way bigger than any of the original E1 levels, but it's still pretty linear and a seasoned player can probably beat it within 4-5 minutes. I kept myself strictly to human and imp enemies as is the case with the first few original maps. I thought about finally adding in pinky, but that was very late into the level design and I would probably have needed to heavily redesign some areas to better accomodate them. Chaingun and rocket launcher are available as secrets.

That looks pretty cool at first glance! I'll try playing it later tonight.

I also came across this series of articles lately that goes pretty deep into the process of creating a Doom level: http://eev.ee/blog/2015/12/19/you-sh...-level-part-1/
Especially part two that dives into the design of a good map is very interesting. It also refers to the "rules" set by John Romero when working on the original Doom maps. It's remarkable how well they already understood the science of good map design back then, even though they had to figure out most of it themselves. It shows how far ahead of their time ID Software was in those days.

Some of the design mantras I took to heart:

-Avoid complete symmetry in rooms/hallways. Symmetry is often boring from both visual and gameplay perspectives and can also make your layout confusing to navigate.

-Contrasts in every element of the level. This includes size, height, light and dark, textures used, lots of monsters and little to no monsters, etc. Contrasts not just between each section but also within individual spaces.

-Always communicate secrets through environmental hints.

-If there is backtracking involved, then change up the gameplay somehow in a room that the player has already been in. Like opening up a wall and make new monsters come out.

-Make it so that the player can sometimes see sections they can't yet reach to help impose long term goals. In this case I made a big outdoor courtyard where you can see into windows to other rooms on the opposite sides. You can also even peek into the final section when you take a right from the starting room.

-Make the level interconnected with lots of loops so that it "flows" nicely. This is also good for accomodating multiplayer deathmatch. I made a couple of loops even though I didn't enable deathmatch.

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Originally Posted by GeckoYamori

-Make the level interconnected with lots of loops so that it "flows" nicely. This is also good for accomodating multiplayer deathmatch. I made a couple of loops even though I didn't enable deathmatch.

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The stupid thing is that most games nowadays don't do this anymore. I love this in level design! That moment where you go "hey, this place looks familiar... oh wait, I've been here before!" really helps to get a feel for the space you're in. It gives you the idea that you are some place real, and that you're getting to know your surroundings. Most modern games are so ridiculously linear, that even though the maps may look gorgeous and hyper-realistic, you never actually know where you are and are basically just following a straight corridor.

I played it on Zandronum with no issues. Missed one secret. Really good map.

Pretty cool!

I remember when I was in high school I was making a map out of our school when Columbine happened and my computer club teacher mentioned that maybe I should work on something different given the current climate.