Jos van Laar - World Builder - Online Portfolio

As a Senior Level Designer on FAR CRY 6, I worked on three Special Operations levels:
"Puerta del Edén”, “Los Tres Santos” and “Maceo”

In each Special Operation, the player(s) need to infiltrate a location to find and extract a weaponized poison called “PG240-X”.
As the poison heats up from heat sources - including the sun - the player is challenged with juggling combat, navigation and
keeping the poison cool.

My work on the Special Operations included:

Researching the area, theme and storytelling- and gameplay opportunities
Blocking out the (rough) locations and gameplay beats
Blocking out and iterating on shadow- and cooling opportunities
Initial art pass & tweaks
AI placement & tweaks
Cover and navigation setups & improvements
Creating and maintaining level documentation
Supporting other teams wherever possible

Credits

Ubisoft Entertainment SA, Ubisoft Berlin

"Puerta del EdÉn"

I was brought onto this level later in production, mainly to help bring the gameplay to the same standard as the other Special Operations, by:

Adding and iterating on player- and AI cover and navigation
Creating and iterating on player traversal (climbing) sections
Initial prop setdressing to sell the intention of each POI
Tweaking 'shadow- and cooling spots' for the poison

Level Description

"Puerta del Edén" takes place in what was once a gorgeous valley on the fictional island of Yara. Now, the valley has been deforested and destroyed, and turned into a Kingdom by Colonel Sanz and her cult followers. They're threatening to poison Yara's water supply with the weaponized poison called PG240-X.

The player(s) need to seek out the poison, keep it from heating up in the sun, and return it to the entrance of the park, where taxi driver Lola picks them up.

"Los Tres Santos"

I started as the level owner of this level. We were challenged with creating a believable - yet well integrated - arms exposition, demo areas and auction. It was fun to create a nice mixture of nature, pre-established infrastructure, and the new security/military/ expo layer on top. My work included:

Adding and iterating on player- and AI cover and navigation
Creating the target location (fortress)'s layout
Redesigned the start location (monument)
Creating and iterating on player traversal (climbing) sections
Initial prop setdressing to sell the intention of each POI
Tweaking 'shadow- and cooling spots' for the poison

Level Description

"Los Tres Santos" takes place on the rural coast of Yara. The military is hosting an arms expo and auction in the area, selling to the highest bidder. The main ticket item is the weaponized poison called PG240-X, located in the old Spanish fortress, now turned into the main auction area.

The player(s) need to seek out the poison, keep it from heating up in the sun, and return it to the Monument, where taxi driver Lola picks them up.

"Maceo"

I became the level owner on "Maceo" a bit later in production.
It was an exciting, yet technically challenging level to work on.
The theme of a mudslide and destruction was interesting for us to explore (the limits of) what we could achieve visually and technically. My work included:

Adding and iterating on player- and AI cover and navigation
Creating a first draft of the target location (military base)
Creating and iterating on player traversal (climbing) sections
Initial prop setdressing to sell the intention of each POI
Tweaking 'shadow- and cooling spots' for the poison

Level Description

"Maceo" is a small town on the fictional island of Yara, and was struck by a devastating mudslide overnight. It also derailed a train holding the poisonous chemicals and the weaponized poison called PG240-X.

The player(s) need to seek out the poison, keep it from heating up in the sun, and return it to the Evacuation Site, where taxi driver Lola picks them up.


professional work personal projects about me
Far Cry 6 (2021) Playstation, xbox, pc Ubisoft \| Senior Level Designer As a Senior Level Designer on FAR CRY 6, I worked on three Special Operations levels: "Puerta del Edén”, “Los Tres Santos” and “Maceo” In each Special Operation, the player(s) need to infiltrate a location to find and extract a weaponized poison called “PG240-X”. As the poison heats up from heat sources - including the sun - the player is challenged with juggling combat, navigation and keeping the poison cool. My work on the Special Operations included: Researching the area, theme and storytelling- and gameplay opportunities Blocking out the (rough) locations and gameplay beats Blocking out and iterating on shadow- and cooling opportunities Initial art pass & tweaks AI placement & tweaks Cover and navigation setups & improvements Creating and maintaining level documentation Supporting other teams wherever possible Credits Ubisoft Entertainment SA, Ubisoft Berlin


"Puerta del EdÉn" I was brought onto this level later in production, mainly to help bring the gameplay to the same standard as the other Special Operations, by: Adding and iterating on player- and AI cover and navigation Creating and iterating on player traversal (climbing) sections Initial prop setdressing to sell the intention of each POI Tweaking 'shadow- and cooling spots' for the poison Level Description "Puerta del Edén" takes place in what was once a gorgeous valley on the fictional island of Yara. Now, the valley has been deforested and destroyed, and turned into a Kingdom by Colonel Sanz and her cult followers. They're threatening to poison Yara's water supply with the weaponized poison called PG240-X. The player(s) need to seek out the poison, keep it from heating up in the sun, and return it to the entrance of the park, where taxi driver Lola picks them up.

"Los Tres Santos" I started as the level owner of this level. We were challenged with creating a believable - yet well integrated - arms exposition, demo areas and auction. It was fun to create a nice mixture of nature, pre-established infrastructure, and the new security/military/ expo layer on top. My work included: Adding and iterating on player- and AI cover and navigation Creating the target location (fortress)'s layout Redesigned the start location (monument) Creating and iterating on player traversal (climbing) sections Initial prop setdressing to sell the intention of each POI Tweaking 'shadow- and cooling spots' for the poison Level Description "Los Tres Santos" takes place on the rural coast of Yara. The military is hosting an arms expo and auction in the area, selling to the highest bidder. The main ticket item is the weaponized poison called PG240-X, located in the old Spanish fortress, now turned into the main auction area. The player(s) need to seek out the poison, keep it from heating up in the sun, and return it to the Monument, where taxi driver Lola picks them up.

"Maceo" I became the level owner on "Maceo" a bit later in production. It was an exciting, yet technically challenging level to work on. The theme of a mudslide and destruction was interesting for us to explore (the limits of) what we could achieve visually and technically. My work included: Adding and iterating on player- and AI cover and navigation Creating a first draft of the target location (military base) Creating and iterating on player traversal (climbing) sections Initial prop setdressing to sell the intention of each POI Tweaking 'shadow- and cooling spots' for the poison Level Description "Maceo" is a small town on the fictional island of Yara, and was struck by a devastating mudslide overnight. It also derailed a train holding the poisonous chemicals and the weaponized poison called PG240-X. The player(s) need to seek out the poison, keep it from heating up in the sun, and return it to the Evacuation Site, where taxi driver Lola picks them up.