Quantum Solutions Design Overview 

The inspiration for Quantum Solutions came from games such as Dishonored II and Hitman (2016), stealth-action games with open-ended level design. Both games facilitate a myriad of player choices from how they navigate the environment to what tools they'll utilize to accomplish their goal. It was important to create a space that allowed navigational autonomy and gave players opportunities to make calculated and improvised gameplay decisions. 

In the vein of a stealth-action game, the goal of the player would be to sneak into area that is off limits to kill a target or collect a special item. The navigational autonomy of the level's design is immediately evident from the start, where the player has several ways of entering the facility: through the front door, the storage entrance on the side or through the parking garage. The entrances are meant to compliment different play styles whether it be a stealthy (storage or garage) or direct approach (front entrance).

The star is the initial player spawn. The red circles indicate the avenues the player can use to enter the facility. The white lines are the paths the players can use to get inside.

Being able to accommodate different play styles was the driving force in how rooms were laid out. For a stealth action game, the skill ceiling usually involves perfect runs: completing the objective without being seen or spotted and the skill floor is being able to employ. With the exception of a few key areas, all the rooms in Quantum Solutions have 2+ entrances. The reasons for this are for allowing the player to:

  • Navigate the level however they choose.

  • Slip past enemies/ and obstacles

  • Escape or kite enemies alerted to their presence.

Rooms were designed intentionally to have multiple entry-ways to allow the player to slip past enemies or evade if caught.

The red arrow indicates the path the enemy guard will walk. The white arrow indicates a path the player can use to evade the passing guard.

On a more micro level, certain rooms are designed for strategies the player can utilize during gameplay. In the screen below, if a enemy guard was patrolling along the catwalk, the player can evade them by sneaking into the adjacent room and out the other entrance. And within that room is a table for the player to crouch behind if a guard enters.