Undergraduate Dissertation | Level Design + Set-Dressing
Environmental Navigation: Composition of hidden arrows and framing of the key landmark to set the destination goal.
Cognitive navigation: pointed verses circular environment traits, to subtly guide players to the right through perceived danger and survival instincts.
Environmental Navigation: Introduction to / familiarisation with the 'portal' architecture.
Environmental Navigation: Pathway to lead the player to the framed hidden maze entrance.
Environmental Navigation: Landmark acting as a guidepost/navigation through the maze.
Cognitive Navigation: Use lighting to guide players in a dark setting, utilising a natural fear of the dark and/or comfort in light.
Cognitive Navigation: Colour differentiation to provoke curiosity and indirectly guide the player.
Cognitive Navigation: Using behaviour-prediction and perceived danger theories to reroute the player.
Environmental Navigation: Blocked path.
Environmental Navigation: Blocked path.
Cognitive Navigation: Dark and pointed features to ward players away.
Environment Navigation: Guidepost signalling towards the end goal.
*Created using assets from the Unity store*
How do visual cues influence and control player navigation in a game environment? | Graded: A
Using assets from the Unity store, my dissertation built a game environment that aimed to guide the player around the level using visual cues, incorporating environmental and cognitive navigation techniques and art fundamentals.
Environmental navigation techniques included using landmarks as guideposts; asset composition to guide the eye and, thus, the player; contrasting colour and lighting to highlight the critical path through the level.
Cognitive navigation techniques worked to manipulate the player's emotion, perception and thought-process as a means for indirect guidance. This was achieved through sizing, lighting and behaviour-prediction theories, as well as utilising art fundamentals to create desired emotions in the player to enhance the attractiveness of the critical path.