Abstract
This thesis topic discusses the relationship between architectural accuracy and gameplay flow and the impact it has on the player’s immersion. The researcher created two levels, a control and a test level, to compare a level that is focused primarily on architectural accuracy and another level that breaks down or “warps” the architectural accuracy in favor of improving gameplay flow. The researcher aimed to explore the important aspects of level building, specifically the aesthetics, architectural accuracy, and gameplay in each space and how those qualities affect the player’s immersion.
Degree Date
Spring 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.I.T.
Department
Level Design
Advisor
Katie Wood Clark
Acknowledgements
The researcher would like to thank their advisor Professor Katie Wood Clark as they gave their guidance throughout this thesis topic. The researcher would like to thank their consultants, Professor Mike Porter and Dr. Karl Steiner, for their advice and guidance. As well as the faculty at SMU Guildhall for teaching, curating and crafting a well-established experience in Level Design. And a special thanks to any and all playtesters of this thesis topic – without the data, this thesis topic would not have the results needed to prove the mastery!
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Leon, Daniel, "Exploring the Relationship Between Architectural Accuracy and Gameplay Flow and Its Impact on Player Immersion" (2025). Level Design Theses and Dissertations. 22.
https://scholar.smu.edu/guildhall_leveldesign_etds/22
