The Systemic Combat level design jam (LD Jam 1)

[@cheesenibbla8339]

Hey steve, just wanted to say that i really enjoy and appreciate your videos, as I have been doing on and off level design for just over 11 years. Although these past few months I lacked any vision or drive, I found your videos to be not only insightful but also inspiring so that I can get back to doing what I love. I plan on joining the patreon and discord sometime now that I'm overcoming my burnout.

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Hey - great to hear that you've found the videos inspiring, and that you're recovering from your burnout (it happens to the best of us - hope you're taking it easy). Would love to see you on the Discord if you go for it, but either way, keep doing what you enjoy 👍

[@stevelee_gamedev]

You can download and play all the levels submitted to this jam here, on my itch page: doublefunction.itch.io/level-design-jam-1-submissions More info on our next LD jam, which starts on Monday 17th October: - It will be a month long (again) - This time we're letting people use whatever editor or engine they like - Two of the (optional) themes will be "Non-Violence" and "Verticality" Hope to see some of you there (it's all run on the Discord) 👍

[@BlackBlur888]

is it going to be the hammer editor again?

[@stevelee_gamedev]

@@BlackBlur888 Nope - as I said, people can use whatever editor or engine they like in the next one :)

[@robertf7610]

I Just found out about this; and I just downloaded Design Jam 1, and the three maps in Design Jam 2 than run on Half-Life 2 and Half-Life2 EP2. I'll download the Portal maps eventually, and will try the non-source ones too. Thanks for creating this.... now I'm going to play 'em!

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Good stuff - enjoy :)

[@yadav-r]

I am a beginner game developer, also very interested in game-level design. Recently I applied for a level designer at a gaming studio, and though I was not selected, I learned a lot doing it. I watched your videos on the youtube, and I realised, watching is one thing and actually coherently applying all the concepts a lot of hardwork & thinking process is there. It is a pleasure to learn from the veterans. Good day Mr Steve.

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Yeah totally agree - nothing replaces putting in the work, and actually making and testing things. Glad you like the videos though - hope they help 👍

[@nicktwigger7076]

This is such a great way to go! I could not agree more and this look really fun, I'll be in the next one for sure! Steve you sir are a credit to our industry, truly one of the unknowns titans!

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Aww, cheers Nick - look forward to seeing you in the next jam 👍

[@GamePodcastPL]

Great idea, Steve! Huge shoutout for not making this weekend's jam

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Yeah I'm really conscious about how A) lots of people can't dedicate whole weekends to working on something, and B) normalising a frantic, crunchy, "MUST GAME DEV EVERY SECOND" mode of working isn't great. Glad you like the decision / the jam, cheers!

[@dcampbellsnaps]

Hi Steve, have you ever thought about doing a tutorial for Hammer? It’s something I think beginners (including myself) could benefit from and allow us to jump straight in creating levels.

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Hey, yep absolutely - I actually created a couple of starter maps for newcomers to use in this jam, for exactly this reason :) They're available to download for supporters of the Patreon. Here's a sneak peek at a video I made about it, to share with people taking part in the jam: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apmaeZmBerZ0irc (For the next jam, I'm hoping to take part myself this time, and make a little Portal 2 level, along with a video showing how I did it using Portal 2's nice little in-game level editor!)

[@dcampbellsnaps]

@@stevelee_gamedev thanks for the info Steve! Keep up the excellent videos 👍

[@BonzerKitten]

Hey, Steve! Thank you very much for making these jams, they're very encouraging. By the way, aside from Half-Life 2, what other games do you think are a good option to practice leve design?

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Hey, glad you like the jams! Ahh, the eternal question. There's this google spreadsheet someone made, that is a big list of games with level editors - it seems to have recently been updated to be much more streamlined and curated, which is nice. Hope it helps! docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kuFj_kA2vRQBCkGWMZHJJ9c3JVZ2UHyq06r_duzIa_s/edit#gid=1459444520

[@saltedlightning4122]

Will there be a third LD jam sometime?

[@stevelee_gamedev]

Yup. Is the next one happening too soon for you?

[@saltedlightning4122]

@@stevelee_gamedev No I wasn't a part of the first jam. Now I'm away from home and won't be available this time. So I was hoping I could take part in the next jam.

[@stevelee_gamedev]

@@saltedlightning4122 Cool - we'll still be here 👍