Crash Team Rumble: Whiteboxing Process
Crash Team Rumble is owned by Activision and developed by Toys For Bob.
The images shared here are not captured from Activision-owned development content or hardware. This is a level similar to what I developed and made in UE5 to demonstrate my work and thinking process.
The level shown here is similar to what I whiteboxed at Toys For Bob. I went through countless iterations to achieve my targetted features.
Features Goals:
Faster-paced map from spawn to points of interest & clear routes
Platforming loop
Extremely tall centerpiece with high-value rewards
The level was created from scratch, without art direction being decided beforehand. I took the liberty of adding water to the scene. The deepwater is deadly, but the shallow water is perfectly safe to stand in. The design is still flexible enough to remove the water if required.
Game mechanics Key is below.
The black pad and white arrows represent an air vent that launches the player onto the top of the center tower.
Deposit Wumpa at the Bank to score points
Spend relics at Buy Stations
Buy Stations provide gameplay power-ups
Gems provide Wumpa Banking % bonus
1. Fast-Paced Map & Clear Routes
All the major gameplay features are visible
Your own team Bank
The Epic Buy Station (Centerpiece)
All the Gems
Unique level feature (Air Vent)
The more challenging routes let you reach points of interest faster than taking a longer, safer route
5 Routes from spawn
Left Route to Pillar Platforms
The stairs breach from the ground and extrude outwards at a soft angle to suggest the change in direction
The Wumpas guide the player left, up the stair ramp, and onto the pillar platforms
From there, they can route to the centerpiece tower, the enemy Bank, or the left Gems
POV: Player Spawn
2. Middle Route to Center Region
The Wumpa Crates create a subtle path down the middle of the sunken path, then open to many options in the center of the map. Forking to go around the centerpiece or to other points of interest like the Bank, Gems, or other areas with Wumpa Crates
This path does not have any platforming, and therefore, does not provide a fast route to any specific point of interest. However, it does provide a simple path for players to collect Wumpa Crates and engage in combat
3. Middle Route to Centerpiece Tower
The Wumpa and a small platform guide the players to an air vent, which send a player flying through the air onto the centerpiece tower
This is the least challenging way to reach the top of the tower, but it is a very predictable path that enemies can prepare against
4. Right Route to Gems
The series of platforms with Wumpa and Relics curve out of view and back in to guide the player towards the right Gems and Buy Station
This is the fastest and riskiest route to the right Gems, with players potentially falling into the deep water if they misstep
This is the main entrance to the platform loop, which wraps the whole level for players who want to keep moving to different points of interest
5. Right Water Path to Pit of Crates
A lesser path which is very dangerous and brings players to the side pit full of Wumpa Crates
The raised left stairs, the sunken middle path, and the Wumpa Crates floating in the water create a subtle sense of direction flowing from left to right, which draws the player to jump on the floating Wumpa Crates towards the right pit
This is a very dangerous route as the player can easily fall into the deep water, but it is a fun optional path for players who want to try and prove their platforming skills by breaking a few extra Wumpa Crates and collecting an additional relic
2. Plaforming Loop
The platforming loop starts at the team spawns and wraps around the edge of the level and back through the main body
This lets players experience fun platforming in areas with high environmental danger (deep water) and areas with enemy contention
The loop provides an engaging route to all the major points of interest in the level
Additional platforms allow access to the loop and to the centerpiece
Sections of the loop allow for a faster route between points of interest
Team 1 Spawn to Team 2 Bank (and vice-versa)
Team Spawns to both side Gems
Multiple factors were balanced in making this feature
The hovering and tall platforms do not get in the way of the camera
The platforms did not break up too much ground surface area that it becomes confusing or annoying to be on the ground floor
The loop had accessible platforms that were useful for traversing between points of interest
The loop is visible and clearly guides the player to where they will end up
Always allowing the player to stay on the loop if they choose to
3. High-Value Tall Centerpiece
The centerpiece has high-value features
4 Gems, enormous Wumpa Banking % bonus
The Epic Buy Station is the strongest powerup on the whole level
Dominating the centerpiece is the primary goal of the level, since its rewards would decisively boost a team to winning the game.
With how valuable the centerpiece is, it should be time-costly to be knocked off of it to prevent constant conflict and stagnating the game. This is why the centerpiece is extremely tall and requires alternative routes to reach the top
3 Routes
Wumpa Crate Stack
A player can double jump onto the Wumpa Crate stack and then bounce off of it to reach the centerpiece
Bouncing on a Wumpa Crate temporarily destroys it until it respawns
Low visibility makes it difficult to defend
The stack is just tall enough that only the 4th Wumpa Crate provides enough bounce height to reach the top
2. Pillar Platforms
Part of the platforming loop
A player can jump onto either of the closest gems
3. Air Vent
Stepping on the Air Vent launches the player to the top of the tower
The simplest route to reach the top, but makes it is very visible and easy to defend against
Additional Screenshots
Side Path from Team 1 Spawn to Team 2 Bank
POV: Bank
Side Path to Gems