With the release of Team Arena nearby, there is yet another interview with ID's Robert Duffy at VE.
here's a peek:
[BLOCK]Voodoo Extreme: Could you give us retards a quick course in designing a level for Quake 3? For instance : Sketch it out, color it, etc.

Robert Duffy: Well I just watch this process over one of the designer’s shoulders. Even though I've written the Radiant version of the Quake editor I have almost no idea how to use it. Each of the designers go about it differently, some sketch out things, some concept build areas, then piece them together.

A lot of people wonder why we just don't throw in 30 levels into the pack, and I have an opinion on that. The overall attention to detail paid to a level at id is just incredible. The designers go through the design and construction phase, after which it is play tested until we are all sick of it. Then the artists tend to take over and design custom textures, art, shaders, effects etc for the level. Then the designers go back through, doing final tweaking and cementing out the item placement. It is a long process.[/BLOCK]

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