level editing ('mapping')
1. involves creating (editing) game levels and perhaps some modelling, sound and texture creation.
2. artist only, generally without programming required.
3. practice initiated by Quake based engines, now a norm in many others.
4. with Quake, the user became a developer. first entry point for user driven, community distributed content creation.
5. Pragmatic to release tools to do this - extends the shelf-life of the game
6. 'Maps' are distributed in archive format and are run by the engine.
7. Creator is copyright holder of the map only. map creator cannot distribute the game with their work.
Suggested engines / editors:
Artistic Level Editing examples