Level Design Part 1 - Prototype Beat Chart

I've looked into how to plan out an effective way to create a map of what needs to be accomplished in each level and work out the gameplay progression. I found something called a Beat Chart, these charts are planned out in a way that explains the entire goal of a level. I'm going to test this method for the 3 week prototype so I can get the baseline for the goals of the level. 

Scott rogers book 'Level up' has a nice example to show how to structure the Beat Chart, so i'm going to emulate this to a degree for this 1st level. Another more indepth chart is the one used on gamasutra's website, this one has a nice way of structuring a level that has several goals. The gamasutra one might be ideal later on but for now I only plan on having a single goal for the level.

Level: 1-1

Name: Concord City Outskirts

Story: Lily MacKenzie and crew (Main character placeholder name) arrive at the boarder of concord city. They need to get inside the city to obtain a piece prototype equipment (This enables player customisation later on). When they arrive they learn that the city is surrounded by a huge wall and then need to get closer to investigate the path inside. Atlas are on alert and send out forces to stop the player in their tracks. 

Progression: 

• Player taught basic movement and combat through use of in-world UI
• Player is introduced to the idea of scrap as currency (for use later on)

Est.Play time: 6 mins runtime + 2-4 min boss battle (Depends on player skill)

Colour map: Browns (Desert and rocks) Reds and washed out other colours (Billboards) Blue (Distant Objects)

Enemies: 

• Basic Fighter 1 (3 Bombs in a series) 
• Basic Fighter 2 (3 Bombs fired at players location (No Homing) 
• Basic Bomber (2 series of 5 bombs in quick succession) 
• Bunker turrets (Rapid fire and basic)
• Wall Boss

Mechanics: 

• Teaching that bombs can be shot down but red bullets cannot and must be avoided.
• Use of jumping to avoid obstacles
• Use everything taught over the level in the bosses mechanics
• Introduce temporary power ups (Lasts a single level)

Hazards:

• Avoidable lines of fire 

Powerups:

• Increased fire speed
• Increased shot amount
• Special shot - Homing Rockets

Abilities: No abilities yet (will be unlocked with customisation)

Bonus material: Concept Art unlocked?

Music Track: Remain - Acoustic Unleashed

Alternate versions:

• Night time (less visibility for players and player has vision cone of light) 

I've added the extra set at the bottom because I think having ways to change a level to change the difficulty is an easy way to increase the amount of content that player has to play with. I decided to leave out adding abilities at this stage because I don't want to overload the player with tonnes of buttons and mechanics this early on. Once the player has the ability to modify their starting equipment I will be adding abilities.

References

"Beat-Chart � Game Designer's Best Friend". Gamasutra.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.

"Beat-Chart – The Best Friend Of The Game Designer — IT Daily Blog, News, Magazine, Technologies". Developers-club.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.

Rogers, Scott. Level Up!. Hoboken: Wiley, 2014. Print.