Dwarf Fortress
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dwarf Fortress across the outlets.
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Dwarf Fortress creator Tarn Adams is as tired of genAI in the industry as anyone else, and is pretty set on never using it
Dwarf Fortress creator Tarn Adams expressed strong reservations about the use of generative AI in the game industry, citing concerns about job displacement and the potential for poorly optimized, inefficient code. He stated that he has no plans to use AI in his own development and worries about potential future industry mandates, such as Microsoft's Copilot, forcing its adoption.
The happiest man in gaming hates generative AI
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams expresses immense enthusiasm for game development, particularly the procedural generation of magic systems in the upcoming Myth and Magic update. However, he voices strong concerns about generative AI, fearing its potential to devalue human work and its bloated code. Adams also discusses the success of Dwarf Fortress on Steam, the community's incredible modding achievements, and the financial realities of running Bay 12 Games.
Discord is not my friend
Lincoln, a writer with 12 years of experience, has joined PC Gamer as a full-time News Writer in 2024. His background includes writing for Waypoint, Polygon, and Fanbyte, with expertise in games like Dwarf Fortress, World of Warcraft, Caves of Qud, Crusader Kings, and Monster Hunter.
Join me in meditating on clubbing a WoW scorpion
Lincoln, a writer for PC Gamer, brings over 12 years of experience in games journalism, with a background in titles like World of Warcraft, Dwarf Fortress, and Monster Hunter. His expertise spans various genres and includes a focus on procedural storytelling and game design.
Every game is about Goku eventually
This article humorously argues that all games eventually become about Goku, citing a Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered mod as an example. It also touches on the author's background in games journalism and experience with various titles.
We're thinking about X-Men videogames wrong
This article argues that the current approach to X-Men video games is misguided, suggesting a need for a fresh perspective on how to adapt the franchise. It touches upon the author's extensive experience writing about games and their expertise in various titles.
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams was amazed other devs had heard of his game the first time he went to a convention: 'I didn't know that anyone knew what we were doing'
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams expressed surprise at the game's reach, recalling his first convention experience around 2013-2014 where many other developers knew of his work. He reflected on his past social reticence and how he might have encouraged more evangelism for the game earlier in its development.
Dwarf Fortress co-creator says his life as a millionaire is 'basically like reattaining what my parents could do…
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams discussed his life as a millionaire, stating that his current financial security is akin to regaining what his parents could achieve with regular jobs. Despite the game's success, selling over a million copies and enabling this lifestyle, Adams confirmed that development on the game, including the upcoming Myth and Magic update, continues unchanged.
Afterworld will be strategy royalty Paradox's "most approachable" game, and after raising cannibal fish-mutants to conquer America I'm hooked
Paradox Interactive's upcoming grand strategy game, Afterworld, is designed to be their most approachable title yet, featuring a post-nuclear apocalypse setting in America. Players guide their tribe through survival challenges, making impactful choices that shape their society and lead to unique outcomes, such as the emergence of cannibal fish-mutants. The game aims to blend accessible mechanics with deep simulation, drawing inspiration from post-apocalyptic literature and offering dynamic, replayable experiences.
Dwarf Fortress creator says we can learn something from simply walling up dwarf nobles to maintain an equal society—but notes you have to abolish the dwarf cops, too: 'Another lesson to be had there'
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams suggests that the game's complex simulation of nobility offers lessons for real-world societies, particularly regarding the management of an elite class. He notes that while players can wall off nobles, their influence persists if an armed guard enforces their demands, highlighting the need to abolish such enforcement for true egalitarianism.
Dwarf Fortress creator says we have a natural lean towards human-made stories, but 'but we're all going to be very sorely tested in the coming years' by AI
Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams discusses how the game's procedural generation has always created infinite stories without AI, contrasting it with the potential of generative AI. He suggests that human-made stories resonate due to shared experience, and that while AI may improve, it will be a significant challenge to replicate the 'human spark' that makes art engaging.
Dwarf Fortress' creator says the industry's in shambles over AI and layoff-happy CEOs: 'Everyone I know, their bosses are slowly getting psychosis'
Dwarf Fortress creator Tarn Adams expresses deep concern over the current state of the game industry, citing widespread layoffs and the problematic integration of generative AI. He believes these trends are unsustainable and are leading to a 'psychosis' among industry leaders, drawing parallels to past economic downturns.
Dwarf Fortress is getting the mother of all magic updates, extending to "the fundamental cosmological makeup of the universe"
Dwarf Fortress is receiving a major 'Myth and Magic' update that will introduce complex procedural magic systems affecting the game's cosmology. Developed by Bay 12 Games, the update aims to create unique magical research and situations beyond simple spell effects, with Tarn Adams describing it as going 'straight to the fundamental cosmological makeup of the universe'. The update, which has been in development for years, is expected to launch later this year and will integrate magic into world generation, including new materials, enchantments, and rituals.
Holy crap, it's happening: Dwarf Fortress gets its first Myth and Magic update later this year, bringing each…
Dwarf Fortress is set to receive its first major 'Myth and Magic' update later this year, introducing procedural magic systems deeply integrated with each world's unique cosmology. This decade-in-the-making update, developed by Bay 12 Games with assistance from Kitfox Games, aims to create emergent magical situations and allow for deep magical research within the simulation. The update will feature new magic effects, materials, rituals, and ancient ruins, all tied to the fundamental workings of each generated universe.
In cosmic roguelike The Carcass, you build a colony inside the corpse of a god that's slowly becoming aware of you
The Carcass is a new text-based roguelike from Turkish developer PiqFocus Interactive, where players build a colony inside the decaying corpse of a space god. The game features ASCII graphics with CRT glow, resource harvesting, research into various arts, and multiple endings. It is described as being similar to games like Caves of Qud and Dwarf Fortress and is available on PC with a demo currently playable.
The challenges of developing the colony sim, from Dungeon Keeper to Dwarf Fortress and beyond
This article analyzes the development challenges inherent in the colony simulation genre, tracing its evolution from Dungeon Keeper to modern titles like Dwarf Fortress, RimWorld, and Maia. It highlights how simulating autonomous AI characters and managing complex interlocking systems, while ensuring effective player communication, are key difficulties developers face. The piece also touches on the genre's unique ability to generate emergent narratives through AI interactions.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
"We have to have free human expression in some capacity": Patreon CEO shares frustrations about getting adult content past payment processors
Patreon CEO Jack Conte expressed frustration with payment processors like Stripe and Mastercard, who dictate policies on 'adult content' and threaten to withhold services. This pressure has led platforms like Steam and Itch.io to change their policies, impacting creators. Conte highlighted Patreon's efforts to build leverage through a 'hot-swappable payments architecture' to better support artists on the platform, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges in navigating these complex financial and content regulations.
Dwarf Fortress digs up a dinosaur update this month
Bay 12 Games is releasing a dinosaur update for Dwarf Fortress on June 25th, adding 100 new prehistoric creatures to the simulation game. The update is optional and will be available on PC via Steam. The developer is also highlighting an interview with the game's artist, Guido, and publisher Kitfox Games regarding the new content.
Roadmaps and Plans
Dwarf Fortress is adding dinosaurs on June 25th, as announced in a recent developer update. This update introduces a new prehistoric theme to the complex simulation game.