Game Design
Game Design business and news from across the web.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Hands-on Preview – Into the LightRebel Wolves, a studio founded by former CD Projekt Red members, is developing The Blood of Dawnwalker, an action RPG set in 14th-century Vale Sangora. Players control Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker who must fight against a vampire lord within a 30-day in-game time limit. The preview highlights unique mechanics like the time limit, which forces prioritization, and a day/night cycle affecting Coen's abilities, alongside directional combat.
'We want an experience that is close to a pen-and-paper RPG' — The Blood of Dawnwalker director says the game's big choices will offer more player freedom and 'boost immersion'Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, director of The Blood of Dawnwalker, aims to create an experience akin to a pen-and-paper RPG, emphasizing player freedom and impactful choices to boost immersion. He hopes the game, launching September 3 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, will be remembered for years to come.
What Keeps Players Engaged Beyond Their Favorite Games and Why? | Invision Game CommunityThis article explores the psychological hooks and retention mechanics that keep players engaged with video games beyond their initial enjoyment. It discusses the substitution effect, the importance of social connections and virtual communities, and how dopamine loops and unpredictable rewards contribute to long-term player investment. The analysis also touches on how different genres utilize specific mechanics to maintain player interest and how games can serve as a form of escapism and therapeutic routine.- Ico: A Helping Hand that Goes Both WaysThis article discusses the controversial escort mission trope in video games, using Ico as a prime example of how such mechanics can be implemented effectively. The author expresses initial apprehension towards the concept of a game centered around escorting a character but finds Ico's execution to be a positive exception.
New Ghost in the Shell tabletop RPG promises "fast-paced, narrative-driven mechanics with the philosophical depth…Mantic Games is developing a new Ghost in the Shell tabletop roleplaying game based on the original manga, set to launch on BackerKit in July. Designed by Alessio Cavatore and Zak Barouh, it promises narrative-driven mechanics and philosophical depth, featuring custom dice systems and character development through 'Synthesis Conflict'.
Evening Reading - July 6, 2026The video game industry is facing significant challenges, with Microsoft confirming mass layoffs that will lead to Double Fine Productions and Compulsion Games becoming independent. Xbox has appointed Helen Chiang, head of Mojang Studios, as its first Chief Operating Officer. Additionally, Nintendo plans to discontinue original Switch consoles in Europe in 2027, while Microsoft is being sued in Wisconsin over data center practices.- Control IssuesThis article argues that the control schemes in Dark Souls have negatively impacted the design of other action games, even those outside the Soulslike genre. The unique input methods and responsiveness of Dark Souls are presented as a benchmark that has led to less innovative control designs in subsequent titles.
Cronos: Lazarus Showcases New Gameplay and Story Details In Its Latest TrailerThe latest trailer for Cronos: Lazarus offers new details on the Pathfinder's story and gameplay mechanics, including teleportation and decoy abilities. The expansion aims to be a worthy addition to the base game and potentially set foundations for future content.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced vs Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Which Vision of AC Actually Works?This article compares Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced with Assassin's Creed Shadows, examining whether a return to the franchise's roots is beneficial. It contrasts the RPG elements and open-world structure of Shadows with the more focused, classic Assassin's Creed experience potentially offered by Resynced, highlighting differences in combat, stealth, and traversal.
If Persona 3 Gave Me The Ick, What Does That Mean For Persona 6?The author expresses a feeling of "ick" towards Persona 3 Reload, finding the series' formulaic writing and focus on teenage protagonists to be tiresome. This sentiment raises concerns about the potential direction of Persona 6, as the author believes the franchise may be suffering from a lack of vision and has become too rigid in its design over the years.- Wisdom of Nym: So what will Final Fantasy XIV’s cosmetic ability overlays be like?This article speculates on the upcoming cosmetic ability overlays for Final Fantasy XIV's 'Evercold' expansion. While the initial advertisement showed a Dragoon's old animation, the author argues this is unlikely to be the primary implementation. Instead, they propose a system similar to Summoner's job mechanics, where a few core abilities or 'suites' are customized, offering a more viable and exciting approach to cosmetic rewards.
Building Round Shapes in Minecraft: Perfect Circles Guide - Walkthrough, Tips, ReviewThis guide explains how to build perfect round shapes in Minecraft, transforming builds from functional to architectural. It details the use of a perfect circle generator, which employs the Bresenham algorithm to create the best possible block approximations of circles. The article also covers applying these techniques to various build elements like crop circles, fountains, and window frames, and discusses integrating round shapes with rectangular structures.
Cheaters have infested Meccha Chameleon as dishonest players scan images and auto paint their modelsPlayers in the casual game Meccha Chameleon are reportedly using a cheating program to scan images and auto-paint them onto their characters, a tactic described as dishonest and lacking self-esteem. This "auto-paint" cheat allows players to hide from seekers by blending into the environment. While some players have been caught and even pointed out by others, the practice is seen as detracting from the game's focus on creativity and skill.- EverQuest Legends’ reduced inventories in pre-order beta raise fears of over-monetizationPlayers are expressing concerns about perceived over-monetization in EverQuest Legends' pre-order beta, citing reduced inventory slots and convenience features. Developers Daybreak Game Company and Game Jawn have acknowledged that some of these features will be tied to the cash shop or achievements, with executive producer David Youssefi stating this monetization model was decided upon long ago.
Review: The Necromancer’s Tale (Switch 2)The Necromancer's Tale is an isometric RPG for the Nintendo Switch 2 that features a deep, choice-driven narrative and extensive character customization. Despite its engaging story and lore, the game is significantly hampered by clunky controls and underdeveloped turn-based combat, making it a frustrating experience on the platform.
Why Modern Players Expect Casino Games to Borrow Features From Video GameModern casino games are increasingly incorporating features from video games, such as progression systems, skill-based elements, and immersive visuals, to appeal to a new generation of players. This trend, known as gamification, aims to enhance player engagement by making casino experiences more interactive and rewarding, blurring the lines between traditional gambling and video entertainment.- The Daily Grind: What’s the dumbest way you’ve ever died in an MMORPG?This article discusses humorous and often frustrating ways players have died in MMORPGs, citing examples like falling to death due to poor jump timing in Guild Wars 2, accidental deaths while AFK, and forgetting to breathe underwater in Ultima Online. The piece invites readers to share their own 'dumbest' in-game deaths.
This week in PC games: Stardew Valley plus vampires, a lavish gamebook RPG, and Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, finallyThis week's PC game releases include the remake Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced, the gamebook RPG Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle, and various indie titles like Cosmodrill and Mothkeep. News includes potential job cuts at Microsoft and studio closures, while previews of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced and interviews are also mentioned.- Bournemouth University’s Games Courses Achieve TIGA AccreditationBournemouth University's BSc (Hons) Games Design and BSc (Hons) Games Software Engineering courses have received accreditation from TIGA, the trade association for the UK video games industry. The accreditation highlights the university's best practices, including industry connections, portfolio development, and student-led workshops.
Dark Souls isn't "an especially difficult game," former Tekken boss says – it's in its world where FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki's "true creativity shines through"Former Tekken lead Katsuhiro Harada believes Dark Souls' true strength lies not in its difficulty, but in Hidetaka Miyazaki's creative world-building. Harada describes Miyazaki as a unique and serious developer whose obsessive approach to creativity shines through in the intricate worlds of FromSoftware's games, including Dark Souls and Elden Ring.