Mise-en-scène Applied to Level Design: Adapting a Holistic Approach to Level Design

Abstract

As game developers strive to introduce a stronger sense of emotion into their games, new opportunities are presented to the level designer to imbue their virtual spaces with deeper symbols and meaning. Since the very beginning of film, the exploration of the concept of mise- en-scéne (literally “put in the scene”) has allowed filmmakers to convey sub-text to the viewer by the careful consideration of how each frame looks. A definition of mise-en-scéne is given; its connections to level design are explained and then illustrated by an analysis of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining and Konami’s Silent Hill 4: The Room.