Finding the Groove with Beat Maps

So what’s a Beat Map?

That was my second thought upon hearing it after thinking “Isn’t that what those maps were for rhythm games?”. Beat maps are used to pace out a level, whether it be for the story or the combat. In it you can map out when players are introduced to new mechanisms, can test these new skills and be given moments in game to be challenged. Beat maps are also useful for mapping out moments of intensity with a game level. Having a level that has varying intensities keeps the player from getting bored with the same format time after time. Adding in high moments of battle/narrative points that keep the player on their toes.

Being a visual document, the layout for a beat map becomes an important, and in my opinion – a crucial part of creating a solid beat map. Most of the document will be images and/or graph lines to indicate the intensity moments. Having a clear and concise beat map that others are able to read from a glance makes it much easier to hand it off to others. Besides I just appreciate a nice visually appealing and well documented diagram.

Overall, beat maps are helpful tools. They are definitely something I feel like I need to look into more since they are more useful for a game that has a linear level with a 3 act part. Non-linear beat maps probably exist just not as common.