Game Design
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Pragmata interview: combat, hacking, resource management, and more
PlayStation 5 lead system architect Mark Cerny confirmed that ML-based frame generation is coming to PlayStation platforms through a collaboration with AMD. He also discussed combat, hacking, and resource management in the upcoming game Pragmata.
Review - Mirage 7 (PC) | WayTooManyGames
Mirage 7 attempts to blend puzzle, action, and story-driven adventure elements but suffers from a shallow focus due to its limited budget and poor controls. While the developers' ambition is commendable, the game ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive or polished experience.
Dead by Daylight Hands Over the Keys: Players Vote on Killers, Moris, and Death Itself
Behavior Interactive is allowing Dead by Daylight players to vote on significant in-game content, including Killer and Survivor perks, Killer 'Moris' (execution animations), and the Chapter Logo. This unprecedented level of community control over game balance and aesthetics marks a bold experiment in player trust and engagement. The results of these votes will influence upcoming content and could set a new precedent for developer-community interaction in the horror genre.
How to Find Any Minecraft Biome Easily
Replaying games offers a unique experience compared to other media due to player agency, allowing for different choices and deeper engagement with familiar worlds. Increased accessibility through digital storefronts and modern hardware makes revisiting older titles easier than ever. Games that earn replays do so through strong fundamentals, depth, and resonant worlds that reveal new layers with time and player experience.
What I want from Resident Evil 10 after playing Requiem - Reader’s Feature
A reader offers suggestions for the future of the Resident Evil series following the success of Resident Evil Requiem. They propose ideas for new characters, co-op gameplay mechanics, and improvements to boss battles and storytelling, while also emphasizing the need for new ideas over excessive nostalgia.
'Yasuke became the obvious choice for us to put in the game' — Assassin's Creed Shadows art director on the series' 'first historical protagonist' one year post launch
Assassin's Creed Shadows art director Thierry Dansereau discussed the choice to feature the historical figure Yasuke as one of the game's protagonists. Dansereau explained that Yasuke's status as a foreigner and his connection to Oda Nobunaga made him an obvious and compelling choice, allowing players to experience Japan through an outsider's perspective. The inclusion of Yasuke and the ninja Naoe also fulfilled two distinct fantasies of the Sengoku period: the samurai and the shinobi.
World of Warcraft: Midnight's class balancing is steering the MMO headfirst into a mistake that's been…
This article analyzes the class balancing in World of Warcraft's upcoming Midnight expansion, suggesting that the current approach of focusing on two-minute burst windows is a mistake. The author contrasts this with Final Fantasy 14's meta, highlighting how this design choice negatively impacts gameplay outside of coordinated boss fights, particularly for solo content and alt characters. Blizzard's reactive nature is noted as a potential factor in addressing these issues.
Monster Hunter Wilds Drops Final Challenge Quest – Arch-Tempered Arkveld Demands 22-Minute Kill
Monster Hunter Wilds has released its final free challenge quest, "The Proud Child of the Wilds," featuring the 10-star Arch-Tempered Arkveld. Hunters have a strict 22-minute time limit to defeat the monster, with rewards tiered based on completion time. This quest is designed to test the skills of veteran players and serves as a benchmark for future challenges.
DNA building blocks on asteroid Ryugu, bacteria that eat plastic waste, and more science news
Recent scientific findings include the discovery of DNA building blocks on asteroid Ryugu, suggesting these molecules were widespread in the early solar system and potentially transported to Earth. Additionally, a consortium of bacteria has been identified that can collectively digest plastic additives, offering a potential solution for plastic pollution. The Hubble Space Telescope also captured a rare, early view of a comet breaking apart.
WRUP: Plersky edition | Massively Overpowered
The Massively OP community and staff share their weekend gaming plans, with mentions of Palia, Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars 2, Project Gorgon, Monster Hunter Wilds, Skate, Final Fantasy XIV, and World of Warcraft. The article also includes a bonus question about favorite re-read books.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Takes Dynasty Warriors to New Battlefields
This opinion piece discusses how the Dynasty Warriors franchise, despite its repetitive core gameplay, found new life through collaborations, particularly with Nintendo's Hyrule Warriors and its sequel, Age of Calamity. These titles successfully blended the hack-and-slash formula with deeper RPG elements and compelling narratives, revitalizing the genre and expanding beloved IPs like The Legend of Zelda.
The Lost Glitches Season 17 Update: New Features and Expansion
Season 17 of the digital card game The Lost Glitches has launched, introducing 20 new cards, exclusive cosmetic rewards, and a revamped ranking system. The update enhances Web3 integration and synchronizes with a new competitive tournament, aiming to refresh strategic possibilities and player engagement. The season also features a leaderboard, daily challenges, and a Draft Mode to foster a competitive spirit and support diverse play styles.
Crimson Desert Details Revealed – Platforms, Story, and Full Feature Breakdown | Invision Game Community
Crimson Desert is an ambitious open-world RPG launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and ASUS ROG Ally. The game features a story of war and loyalty, fast-paced combat with diverse weapon options, meaningful player progression, and free traversal mechanics. Developed by Pearl Abyss using their BlackSpace Engine, it boasts realistic visuals and global accessibility with multiple language options.
What we've been playing - "It's like Supermarket Sweep if you can get up quick enough"
Several individuals share their recent gaming experiences, with one player finding Slay the Spire 2 challenging and frustrating due to RNG. Another discusses their extensive playtime in the live service game Marathon on PlayStation 5, focusing on creating personal goals and engaging in unique player interactions. A third player revisits Spyro Adventure on Game Boy Advance, appreciating its continued difficulty, while another expresses admiration for Marathon's atmosphere and design but acknowledges a lack of time to fully commit to it.
The 5 retro video games that have aged the best - Reader's Feature
A reader discusses five retro video games that have aged well, focusing on graphics and gameplay. Titles like Street Fighter 2, Tetris, Lemmings, Daytona USA, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past are highlighted for their enduring quality and impact on the industry.
Saros Dev Explains How the PS5 Game Is More Approachable, Customisable Than Returnal
Housemarque's upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, Saros, will feature more approachable progression and customization options compared to Returnal. Associate design director Matti Hälki explained that while Saros will still be challenging, players can unlock permanent buffs and abilities through an upgrade tree and customize difficulty using the Carcosan Modifiers system. Unlike Returnal, players can also instantly return to previously visited biomes.
Destiny 2 Drops Magic The Gathering Collab + Guardian Games Returns
Bungie has announced a collaboration between Destiny 2 and Magic The Gathering, with further details to be revealed soon. The studio also detailed the return of the Guardian Games event and upcoming sandbox changes for Warlocks. This partnership signifies Destiny 2's expansion into a multimedia franchise.
Death Stranding 2 devs thought 'Brutal' mode was hard enough, but pushed the game to 'the upper limit' with its new difficulty option on PC
Kojima Productions has introduced a new 'To the Wilder' difficulty mode for Death Stranding 2 on PC, specifically addressing player feedback that the game was too easy. This mode intensifies the effects of Timefall, requiring more strategic planning and resource management for deliveries. Developers found this new difficulty pushed the game to its limits, with some items needing to be unlocked through sheer perseverance.
Marathon's Cryo Archive is locked to weekends partly because you're going to "lose a lot of gear" and you need time to grind during the week, director says
Marathon's endgame activity, the Cryo Archive, is currently locked to weekends, a decision defended by game director Joe Ziegler. He explains that the time-gating is intended to allow players to grind for gear during the week, as significant gear loss is expected in the challenging mode. Bungie is considering adjustments to the schedule and other conditions for the activity.
Arc Raiders devs tortured each other during playtests, at one point juicing Arc into unstoppable Elden Ring bosses: "All of a sudden you're playing a Souls game"
Embark Studios production director Caio Braga revealed that internal playtesting for Arc Raiders involved developers intentionally making the game overly difficult, sometimes resembling a Souls-like experience. This practice stemmed from a desire for team autonomy and to challenge opposing design philosophies, leading to extreme balance shifts between weapon and AI teams.
