Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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How Super Mario Sunshine still delights (and frustrates) to this day
Super Mario Sunshine continues to delight with its unique summer vibes and challenging platforming, despite some frustrating elements like the Blue Coin collectibles and occasional camera issues. Its inclusion in Super Mario 3D All-Stars and now Nintendo Switch Online makes it more accessible, allowing players to appreciate its vibrant graphics and innovative F.L.U.D.D. mechanics.
The tone of Diablo 5 is 'really doubling down on darkness' say the devs — 'I think that's…
Developers for Diablo 5 are emphasizing a return to a darker, more desolate tone, building upon the atmosphere of Diablo 4. While the game will explore themes of defeat and a fallen Sanctuary, developers aim to balance this darkness with a compelling reason for players to defend the world.
BlizzCon 2026: World of Warcraft shows off what’s next for Midnight
Blizzard Entertainment provided updates on World of Warcraft: Midnight at BlizzCon, detailing upcoming content including patch 12.1.5 which introduces a mini-raid and the new roguelite mode 'Talebound'. Patch 12.2, 'Eclipse', will feature a new zone, dungeon, and the Worldcore raid with Xal'atath as the final boss. Future content for The War Within and a Wrath of the Lich King remix event were also teased.
BlizzCon 2026: World of Warcraft Forever deep dive promises ‘adventures worth telling in the original world of Azeroth’
Blizzard Entertainment provided a deep dive into World of Warcraft Forever at BlizzCon 2026, detailing new features like camping, Legacy System, and transmog. The new version of the classic MMO aims to be approachable and nurture social experiences, with new regions, raids, a new playable race called the Skyborne, and updated class mechanics.
World of Warcraft Forever is the MMORPG's "Classic Plus," and its beta is imminent
Blizzard Entertainment announced World of Warcraft Forever, a new permanent "Classic Plus" version of the MMORPG, at Blizzcon 2026. This iteration aims to blend the original World of Warcraft Classic experience with modern advancements, featuring a level cap of 60 indefinitely, new quests, dungeons, raids, and visual overhauls. The beta begins September 17, with the full launch on November 4.
GTA: London 1961 is full of cockney innuendo and harder than a bobby’s helmet
Grand Theft Auto: London 1961, a free expansion pack released in 1999 for the original Grand Theft Auto on PC, is highlighted for its extreme difficulty and punishing mission timers. While the game itself is described as a frantic dash through London, players often resorted to community-made tweaks to make it beatable. The article notes the scarcity of scripted missions and the eventual need to use a tank to achieve the target score.
Guild Wars 3 discusses its more approachable setting and being ‘meaningfully multiplayer’
ArenaNet developers discussed Guild Wars 3's approachable setting and its 'meaningfully multiplayer' design. The game will launch on Steam and consoles with a focus on a shared open world for 20 players, balancing the smaller party size of Guild Wars 1 with the larger scale of Guild Wars 2.
WRUP: Stat blocks for the weird dudes at your local McDonald’s edition
The Massively OP staff and community share their gaming plans for the weekend, with discussions centering on MMORPGs like City of Heroes, Final Fantasy XIV, and World of Warcraft. Several staff members also reflect on the most impactful video games from their past, with Ultima Online, City of Heroes, and Dragon Quest being frequently cited.
The Daily Grind: Would you like your MMO vanity pets to be more functional?
This article discusses the potential for adding more functionality to vanity pets in Massively Multiplayer Online games. It poses questions about whether players desire pets to have combat roles, provide buffs, or assist with selling items, and considers the implications of making pets more utilitarian.
Wardogs sold over 1 million copies in its first 24 hours, making its launch a bright spot in an otherwise tough year for…
Wardogs has achieved a strong launch, selling 1.25 million copies within its first 24 hours. Despite initial server issues that led to negative reviews, the multiplayer FPS developed by Bulkhead is highlighted as a success in a year that has seen other competitive shooters struggle. The game's flexible approach to gameplay and its unique in-game economy are cited as key factors in its strong performance.
What we've been playing - "I don't think this is this game's biggest problem"
Several individuals share their recent gaming experiences, including Kelsey enjoying Hitman World of Assassination, Connor revisiting MapleStory in anticipation of its classic version, Chris offering further thoughts on Marvel's Wolverine, Bertie finding unexpected joy in the cooperative game Big Walk, and Marie replaying Spyro: Reignited Trilogy.
'Part of the motive was making the player feel immersed in the experience and exposed' — Rebellion says '90s cassette futurism' inspired Alien Deathstorm with an engineer protagonist who 'felt like a natural fit'
Rebellion Developments discussed the inspirations behind their upcoming survival horror game, Alien Deathstorm, highlighting '90s cassette futurism and their own comic series for a grounded sci-fi atmosphere. The studio chose an engineer protagonist to enhance player immersion and vulnerability, aiming to create a more exposed and fearful experience compared to a traditional soldier character.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Celebrates Successful Launch With Accolades Trailer
The Blood of Dawnwalker has received a highly favorable critical reception following its launch, with an accolades trailer celebrating its success. The game is praised for its unpredictable adventure, engaging combat, innovative mechanics, and compelling story, particularly its unique human and vampire dichotomy.
The Witcher 3 – Songs of the Past’s Chain Was Considered for Base Game, But “Impossible” Back Then
The chain weapon, featured in The Witcher 3's upcoming Songs of the Past expansion, was originally considered for the base game but was deemed technologically impossible at the time. Developers at CD Projekt RED and Fool's Theory have now implemented it, fulfilling a long-held fantasy for fans of the novels and adding a versatile combat option.
Why Are Fortnite’s Player Numbers Falling So Hard This Season?
Fortnite's player numbers have seen a significant decline of 37% in September compared to August, following the launch of Chapter 7 Season 4. The article explores potential reasons, including the return to school, the retention of last season's sprite mechanics, an overabundance of in-game gimmicks, and reliance on engagement-farming tactics like 'Power Hours'.
Fool's Theory says the biggest 'challenge' developing Songs of the Past was making sure Dandelion's story didn't 'steal the show' since The Witcher 3 is about Geralt — 'There was a very big effort put into this fine balancing of the narrative'
Fool's Theory and CD Projekt Red discussed the narrative challenges in developing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Songs of the Past, focusing on balancing Dandelion's story without overshadowing Geralt. They aimed to complete Geralt's narrative arc while giving Dandelion the spotlight he deserves, a task that required significant effort in narrative balancing.
Danganronpa 2×2 reveals Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch frame rate, resolution
Danganronpa 2×2 will run at 1080p docked and handheld on the Nintendo Switch 2, matching the original Nintendo Switch's docked resolution. The original Switch will run at 1080p docked and 720p handheld. Frame rates are variable between 30-60 FPS across platforms. PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X will support 4K resolution, while Xbox Series S will run at 1080p.
8 Big Changes That Prove The Ocarina Of Time Remake Is More Than A Link To The Past
Nintendo has revealed a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, introducing significant changes beyond a faithful recreation. Key updates include a dedicated jump button for improved control, free camera movement for enhanced exploration, and a new 'Threads of Time' feature to guide players. The remake also expands Castle Town with more interactive NPCs and minigames, adds full voice acting for most characters, and introduces a dash option for faster traversal, though this may make the open world feel smaller. Loading screens are still present but have been streamlined in certain areas.
Spretiga men hyfsat bra betyg för Marvel's Wolverine
Reviews for Marvel's Wolverine are starting to arrive ahead of its PlayStation 5 release next week, with FZ awarding it a 4/5 for its combat system and graphics. The game has an average score of 79/100 on Opencritic, showing a wide range of opinions, with some praising its focused design while others find it claustrophobic compared to Insomniac's Spider-Man titles.
Exodus is a great modernization of Mass Effect, with only awkward dialogue letting it down
Exodus, a new RPG, shows promise as a modernization of the Mass Effect formula with engaging third-person combat and a compelling world. While the core gameplay mechanics and character abilities are strong, the dialogue is noted as awkward and cheesy, potentially hindering the narrative's impact.
