Oliver William Walker

Studio Director, Senior Level Designer and Educator

Projects

ZA/UM Studio - C4

Project in Development

Duration of contribution : 1 years 6 months
Spring 2023 - Autumn 2024

At ZA/UM, I was the driving force behind the level and world design of the studio's latest project C4. This meant reporting directly to the directorial team to realize the vision of the game within the context of its layout, and world. There's a huge amount of narrative and environment art complexity which I managed alongside the design specific goals and project pillars to deliver the best playable spaces that meet the goals of all teams.Design Goals
• Deliver blockout designs that expand on the success of Disco Elysium.
• Push layout and world design that empowers an industry leading narrative game.
• Create detailed flawless and focused spaces, that play well with our game's camera.Learning Outcomes
• An excellent eye for detail and granular features in layouts.
• A grounded high level understanding of world design and how to add creative level design flair.
• Understanding how to lead the craft of level design when each department has distinctly different goals.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Shipped : 7 December 2023

Duration of contribution : 2 years 2 months
Spring 2021 to Spring 2023

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a co-op open world action game featuring a main quest, side content and open world activities.I was a key player at Ubisoft Reflections from Spring 2021 to spring 2023. I worked as a level and quest designer on the project where I took content from inception to Beta and saved content that could have hit the cutting room floor. During this time I led an exotic quest that was used as part of the benchmark for the project and contributed to 3 main quests in total.Design Goals
• Balance the responsibilities of quest and level design to deliver benchmark content.
• Improve collaboration skills on a global project and be fantastic AAA collaborator.
• Bring outstanding energy, creativity and passion to the team dynamic.Learning Outcomes
• Practical experience with co-op / multiplayer and open world level and quest design.
• Championing exotic content within a project - always pushing for the best and most fresh experience for players.
• Leadership skills in driving a cross discipline cabal as the main stakeholder.

Benchmark Quest - A Queen's Vision - Gameplay

Shared Ownership Quest - Rising Pressure - Gameplay

Sniper Elite VR

Shipped : 8 July, 2021

Duration of contribution : 2 years 1 months
Summer 2018 to Summer 2020

Sniper Elite VR is a World War II stealth action shooter set in the Sniper Elite universe. I worked on this project for Just Add Water Developments Ltd who closely collaborated with Rebellion to bring the game to players.Design Goals
• Design high-quality missions for FPS VR that also stay true to the Sniper Elite franchise.
• Implement missions and levels utilizing strong collaboration with other departments.Learning Outcomes
• Practical knowledge of mission design concepts and practical implementation; including gameplay scripting using proprietary tools.
• Hands-on whiteboxing and implementation skills; taking levels from initial design to final playable environments.

Sabotage

In Sabotage players must guide a friendly NPC through a deadly fuel depot, concluding with an epic gameplay set piece putting an end to the base. Players can take this mission with stealth or full-blown carnage.Design Goals
• Create the experience of a "guardian angel" putting an NPC in danger rather than the player.
• Provide a gameplay experience that is 100% about being a sniper in VR.Learning Outcomes
• How to design and implement NPC escort design and avoid frustration.
• Creating an exotic piece of content that is unlike any other mission in the game.

Sabotage
Level Design Breakdown

No One is Safe

In None is Safe, players must kill a high ranking general without raising the alarm. The mission features multiple routes, amazing long shots and a classic Sniper Elite feeling.Design Goals
• Create a level that feels like a classic Sniper Elite level in VR.
• Create the experience that players are a cold, calculated and stealthy sniper.Learning Outcomes
• Creating a linear level that provides player choice in the layout.
• Designing a memorable moment using gameplay unique to Sniper Elite VR.

No One is safe
Level Design Breakdown

Lighthouse

Lighthouse is the jaw-dropping conclusion to Sniper Elite VR. Players must storm a fortress against all odds pushing their skills to the limit. Assaulting the beaches to the lighthouse will finish the partisan's story with one last epic shot.Design Goals
• Conclude the game with a suitable climatic finale.
• Provide a significant challenge while not pushing players away from seeing the ending.Learning Outcomes
• Tightly balancing combat and difficulty.
• Creating a well-paced mission with down beats, gameplay variation and set pieces.

The Lighthouse
Level Design Breakdown

Minecraft Dungeons: the Hidden Depths

Shipped : May 26, 2021

Duration of contribution : 8 Months
Summer 2020 - Spring 2021

Minecraft: Dungeons is an approachable ARPG with procedural levels and loot. I worked at Radical Forge who have partnered with Double 11 to realize the Hidden Depths DLC.Design Goals
• Design levels that are engaging and compelling for both kids and adults.
• Make missions "surprise and delight" not once but many times.Learning Outcomes
• Core understanding around designing for replay and randomness in content.
• Understanding how to build and improve on others designs.

Lava Monument

Lava Monument is a secret awe-inspiring quest into the heart of a volcano in search of precious loot. The level features a bespoke gameplay ingredient - the lava platform that rises and falls which is used in a number of creative and exciting ways.Design Goals
• Effectively use a unique mechanic in a variety of creative ways throughout the level
• Create a level that truly surprises and delights the player start to finishLearning Outcomes
• How to provide an elegant tutorial and effectively use a unique mechanic start to finish.
• Creating "wow" moments using visuals, mechanics, loot and atmosphere.

Lava Monument
Level Design breakdown

Twilight Cavern

Twilight Cavern is a massive twisting and turning cave network. Players will feel isolated and like they're unlocking the mystery of Radiant Ravine, a main dungeon unlocked in this level.Design Goals
• Build an entire level around the anticipation of the Radiant Ravine unlock.
• Create a feeling of isolation, mystery and wonder.Learning Outcomes
• Creating a unique tone and style even when similar to other content in the game.
• Creating a hyper-random dungeon.

Twilight Cavern
Level Design breakdown

Dry Dry Dungeon

Dry Dry Dungeon is an exciting pace-breaker sub dungeon. Players are faced with questions about the long gone civilization that once lived in the structure.Design Goals
• Tell a compelling and exciting narrative without words and leave the answers up to players.
• Break up the routine of the main dungeon by reusing other gameplay elements from Minecraft Dungeons.Learning Outcomes
• Championing the original design intention while also making the best creative choices for players.
• Making players feel like they're uncovering a huge secret and rewarding them outside of loot.

Dry Dry Dungeon
Level Design breakdown

About Oliver

Hello hello! I'm Oliver, a level designer with creative flair and undying passion. Crafting unique experiences with elegant design is my life's work. I am energized by hands on development, in-depth feedback sessions and solving complex problems collaboratively.Currently I am working as a director at OMG LTD and as the course leader for game design and development at Met Studios. I was previously a senior level designer at ZA/UM, a level and quest designer at Ubisoft Reflections, and a LD at Radical Forge and Just Add Water Developments Ltd. I was also a design director and co-founder at Negative Karma.When not designing games I can often be found reading up on Empire LARP, watching documentaries, playing games or having conversations with people I care about. I've been making video games for 12 years (6 of those professionally) and don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

Academia

Sharing the joy of making games is something that I am lucky enough to also do professionally alongside my day to day work in the industry. My teaching includes level design, supervising masters dissertations, delivering onsite workshops and reviewing course content.To be a small part of student's game development journeys is something I take great pride in.

Student Work

Having taught a number of classes over the years, I have created a short section to highlight truly outstanding work.

Talks and More

Over the years I've given a number of talks and other activities with the intent to inspire and inform students and peers.

2024
Into Games - Master the Recipe For Level Design with Oliver William Walker
2023
WASD Convention: Level Design Portfolios Talk
Develop Brighton Conference: TikTok Game Dev - The Eldritch Horror - How to Create Powerful Content
Teesside University - Journeyman Project 2023 Judge
Leeds Beckett University - Main Quest: My Journey - Lecture
Organizer of Ubisoft Reflections and Teesside University Global Game Jam Event 2023
2022
Ulster University - Day in the life AAA Development
Organizer of Ubisoft Reflections and Teesside University Global Game Jam Event 2022
2021
Ulster University - Level Design Live BlockOut and Q&A
Leeds Beckett Game Jam 2021/2022 - Judge and Mentor
Ulster University - Level Design "ShotGun" Lecture
National Film & TV School Game Development Masters Project - Review and Guidance

Content Creation

TikTok

Content creation has always brought me great joy. I've been posting on TikTok since 2020 - I really doubled down in 2022 and posted every day for the first 7 months of the year.We talk all things game dev, from the design of open world games to creating a playable level in 30 minutes or just a cheeky game creation joke.I got my start watching Extra Credits as a teenager. If I can inspire creators in a similar way that would be pretty neat.

Podcast

The Game Dev Garden was my podcast project that ran for the first half of 2021. The show was all about deep conversation, game development curiosity and mental health. It was also a core goal of mine to maintain a diverse group of guests from across industry.The project is currently on hold but I do plan on recording at least one more episode to wrap the project.

Pet Projects

There are some projects that I have worked on that I love too much to leave off my website. Here is a little bonus collection of games I worked on that are close to my heart.

Contact Oliver

(Videogame ideas will not be read for legal reasons)

You made it to the end! Truly raising the bar!

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