Level design is the creation of locales, stages, or missions playable by a gamer in any type of computer or video game, using level design tools, such as Valve Hammer Editor or UnrealEd. Sometimes, professional 3D editing software, such as 3D Studio MAX, AutoCAD, Lightwave, or Maya is used. Regardless, this software is usually referred to by the generic term level editor.
Traditionally, the term level design is applied to the creation of game space for the real-time strategy and first-person shooter genres. However, level design is something that is necessary in all but the simplest games, and as such can be found in some form in almost any computer game. Only in the last 10 years or so has the actual separation of labor occurred that has allowed the job of level designer to come into being.
