Nick Herman
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Where Player Skill Ends and Randomness Begins
This article explores the balance between player skill and randomness in video games and casino environments. It examines how decisions, probabilities, and random outcomes influence the player's experience and perception of fairness, using examples from games like XCOM and Blackjack, and discussing concepts like Return to Player (RTP) and volatility.
Dispatch Is Coming To Mobile In December, With Its First Four Episodes Free
AdHoc Studio announced that the superhero workplace-dramedy Dispatch is coming to Android and iOS on December 9, with its first four episodes available for free. The deluxe edition is also receiving new behind-the-scenes modes, including cast commentary and storyboard animatics. The studio is also hosting a live concert in Los Angeles and releasing new merchandise and soundtracks.
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show announces exhibitor lineup for 2026
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show has revealed its exhibitor lineup for 2026, featuring major companies like Capcom, Bandai Namco, and The Pokémon Company, alongside Nintendo and PlayStation represented by partners. The event will also host over 70 speakers, including John Romero, who will receive a lifetime achievement award. Separately, a Valve bug has led to the accidental leak of achievement data for numerous unreleased and unannounced Steam games, including Fable, Persona 6, and Kingdom Hearts 4.
Dispatch devs share storytelling and co-dev secrets
Adhoc Studios' narrative game 'Dispatch' has become a surprise hit, praised for its superhero story and development process. Co-directors Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart share insights into their interactive storytelling techniques and the challenges overcome during development, including a last-minute investor dropout that was resolved with help from Critical Role.
Why so many game developers don't want to use generative AI
Many game developers express strong reservations about using generative AI, citing ethical concerns, environmental impact, copyright issues, and job security risks. Despite some executives championing AI as a tool for efficiency, a significant portion of the industry views it as unproven, potentially harmful to creativity, and undesirable by players.
Dispatch developer AdHoc says don't confuse your plot for narrative
AdHoc creative directors Nick Herman and Dennis Lenard argued that 'narrative' in video games should be defined by strong writing and dialogue, not just plot. They emphasized the importance of memorable characters and moment-to-moment exchanges, advocating for rigorous script playtesting to ensure player resonance.
Dispatch doesn't let you derail conversations with blank, vacant stares because 'less than 1%' of players ever chose to stay silent in Telltale games
AdHoc Studio decided against including a silent dialogue option in their game Dispatch, as less than 1% of players utilized this feature in previous Telltale Games titles. Developers Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart explained that implementing and supporting this feature for every dialogue choice would have been too resource-intensive for a new studio, despite its potential appeal for roleplaying.
'We are definitely not doing QTEs', said Dispatch's creative director before doing QTEs: 'We just…
AdHoc Studio's Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart discuss the development of their game Dispatch, particularly its approach to Quick Time Events (QTEs). Despite initial reservations, the team found ways to make QTEs engaging by setting a low bar for quality and making them optional, drawing inspiration from games like This is the Police.
Just like XCOM, superhero comedy Dispatch cheats random percentages of success in the player's favor: 'anything that had over a 76% success chance would automatically succeed'
The game Dispatch, developed by AdHoc Studios, employs a mechanic similar to XCOM where random success percentages are subtly manipulated in the player's favor. This approach aims to mitigate the frustration of perceived unfairness from true randomness, though the developers noted that in the finale, these 'invisible helpers' are disabled to increase difficulty.
This is how RNG works as an 'equalizer' in Dispatch
AdHoc Studio's game Dispatch uses Random Number Generation (RNG) as an 'equalizer' to provide players with a chance of success even with suboptimal choices. Creative directors Nick Herman and Dennis Lenart explained at GDC Festival of Gaming how they implemented invisible boosts and adjusted percentages to ensure a fair and engaging experience, particularly in its story-driven format.
