Overview:

This talk will focus on the subtle aspects of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive level design which have proven critical to creating a successful, popular, and well-designed experience for professional players and those aspiring to become professional players. Designing levels for Counter-Strike: GO is illustrative of broader challenges in multiplayer game design. For instance, Counter-Strike levels should always reward players and teams for skillful play, while at the same time providing ample opportunities for individual and team creativity. Collaborating with professional players and other experts is an excellent way to deepen your understanding of the specific game mechanics unique to Counter-Strike. Modern level designers must also understand the relationship of art design to a competitive experience: the form of a CS level should match the function of that level, such that there is no point at which level art exists only for art's sake, or is detrimental to gameplay.