Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
Casually Classic: Will the WoW Classic Plus announcement anger the community no matter what?
The upcoming announcement of a 'WoW Classic Plus' project at BlizzCon is likely to divide the community, with conflicting player expectations and past grievances making universal satisfaction improbable. The author expresses a desire for the project but cautions against letting emotions dictate reception, while also criticizing content creators who deliberately incite outrage. Ultimately, the success of the new version will depend on its own merits, independent of forum noise.
Memoirium Review - Restless Dreams
Memoirium is a Souls-like game that draws heavily from earlier titles in the genre, focusing on methodical combat and a dreamlike world. While it doesn't reach the heights of its inspirations, it offers a unique experience with its defensive playstyle, extensive weapon and magic options, and beautiful low-poly art. Despite some issues with progression, enemy variety, and occasional combat frustrations, Memoirium provides a compelling and memorable challenge for fans of the genre.
Why Modern Casino Games Feel More Like Video Games | Invision Game Community
Modern casino games are increasingly adopting design principles from video games, particularly mobile and live-service titles. Features like progress bars, missions, unlockable content, and animated rewards are becoming common, aiming to enhance player engagement beyond traditional gameplay loops. This evolution is driven by a desire to create more intuitive and compelling experiences that align with contemporary gaming expectations, making casino platforms feel more like familiar gaming dashboards.
Xbox boss brags about having played The Elder Scrolls 6 and teases game's name
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has played The Elder Scrolls 6 and described its scale and grandeur as 'incredible,' while teasing the game's subtitle with eight asterisks. This comes amidst concerns about development timelines and recent layoffs at Bethesda Game Studios and ZeniMax Media. The article also notes a protest by the Bethesda union outside the studio regarding these layoffs.
UKIE-backed Digital Schoolhouse partners with Roblox to provide suite of tools for students to develop Roblox games in-class
Digital Schoolhouse, an educational non-profit, has partnered with Roblox to offer free tools and resources for students to learn game development within the Roblox platform. The initiative includes curriculum-aligned workshops and lesson plans focusing on game design fundamentals, scripting with Roblox's Luau engine, and AI prompting. A closed, teacher-supervised environment will be used for in-classroom education, with offline options available for schools with limited internet access.
The Future of Virtual Competition: Is Xbox Game Pass Primed to Launch the Next Big Esport?
This article analyzes the potential for Xbox Game Pass to foster the next major esport, highlighting how its subscription model lowers the barrier to entry for new multiplayer games. While services like Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, and Call of Duty already benefit from Game Pass integrations, the platform's true strength lies in providing a large player base for unproven titles. However, the article emphasizes that core game design, depth, and community building are still crucial for a game to achieve esport status, with Game Pass acting as a facilitator rather than a guarantee.
Recension – Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls offers a visually impressive 4v4 fighting experience with a unique team-based health system and accessible mechanics for newcomers. However, the game is significantly hampered by unstable online performance and long matchmaking times, particularly on PC, impacting the overall enjoyment despite its solid core gameplay and fan service.
Marvel’s Wolverine Is Doing the Smart Thing by Avoiding Open World
This article argues that Insomniac Games' decision to make Marvel's Wolverine a linear experience rather than an open world is a smart choice that plays to the character's strengths. The author believes a more focused design will allow for more intimate storytelling, better combat encounters, and more authentic traversal, avoiding the pitfalls of repetitive open-world design.
Control Resonant Removed Weapon Switching and Parrying for “Immediate and Visceral” Combat
Remedy Entertainment has revealed that Control Resonant's combat system was designed to be immediate and visceral, leading to the removal of weapon switching and parrying mechanics. Lead gameplay designer Sergey Mohov explained that while these features were prototyped, they slowed down the action and did not align with the game's offensive-focused philosophy. Control Resonant is set to launch on September 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Phantom Blade Zero State of Play Announced for August 17th
S-Game founder Qiwei Liang announced a dedicated State of Play for Phantom Blade Zero on August 17th, promising deeper insights into the game's story, characters, and player builds. The action RPG, featuring Donnie Yen in a trailer, launches October 29th for PC and PlayStation 5 with a 12-month console exclusivity, priced at $59.99.
Think The Blood of Dawnwalker Is Just The Witcher 3? Here Are 15 Major Differences
The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed by former The Witcher 3 creators at Rebel Wolves, aims to establish its own identity rather than merely imitating its predecessor. Key differences include a protagonist with a human/vampire duality affecting gameplay, dynamic day/night cycles that significantly impact combat and mechanics, and a directional swordplay system distinct from The Witcher 3's traditional approach. The game also features a narrative urgency with a 30-day time limit and a unique approach to progression and questing.
After Brand New Day, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Still Feels Like Peak Spider-Man
This article analyzes how Insomniac Games' Marvel's Spider-Man 2 effectively captures the duality of Peter Parker and Miles Morales, balancing their heroic duties with personal struggles. The game's traversal mechanics, detailed New York City, and narrative choices, particularly Peter's use of the symbiote, are highlighted as key elements that immerse players in the Spider-Man fantasy more deeply than cinematic adaptations.
Star Wars Zero Company Is Good But Seems To Play Things Too Safe – Preview
This preview of Star Wars Zero Company suggests the game is good but plays it too safe, indicating a lack of innovation or risk-taking in its design. Further details on specific gameplay mechanics or narrative elements are not provided in this excerpt.
Star Wars: Zero Company Hands-on Preview - XClones
Star Wars: Zero Company, developed by Bit Reactor, a studio featuring many Firaxis veterans, offers a compelling turn-based tactical combat experience. The preview highlights changes to the action economy, a variety of customization options, and the advantage system, which combine to create engaging moment-to-moment gameplay reminiscent of XCOM and Marvel's Midnight Suns. While performance and some progression systems raise minor concerns, the game shows strong potential for fans of the genre.
10 years later, Sean Murray still plays the launch version of No Man's Sky, and he still likes it: "It does feel quite barebones in places, but I kind of enjoy that"
Hello Games boss Sean Murray reflects on the 10th anniversary of No Man's Sky, stating he still enjoys playing the original launch version despite its barebones nature. He finds a unique charm and esoteric feel in the initial release, which he believes still forms the core of the game's identity amidst its extensive evolution.
GTA 6 leverages the PS5's ultra-high-speed SSD for 'near-instant load times', but fans reckon Rockstar has been quietly revealing the game's loading screens for months
Fans of Grand Theft Auto 6 speculate that Rockstar Games has been subtly revealing the game's loading screens through promotional character artwork. While the PlayStation 5's ultra-high-speed SSD is expected to enable near-instant load times, fans believe these artworks will be used during the brief loading periods. The game is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
Choose My Adventure: EverQuest Legends is off to a clunky, slow, and intriguing start
The author shares their initial, clunky, and intriguing experiences with EverQuest Legends, a re-release of the original MMORPG. Despite not being a long-time fan, they find the game's slow pace and tactical combat surprisingly engaging, though progression feels arduous. The article discusses the player's choice to play a Kerran Bard/Warrior and seeks community input on whether to continue with the character.
Persona Producer Kazahisa Wada feels P1 & P2 remakes are something 'we have to do'
Persona producer Kazuhisa Wada expressed that remakes of Persona 1 and Persona 2 are something Atlus "has to do" in the long run, though he could not confirm if they will happen. He noted that while the first two games are different from later entries and challenging, there is fan interest in seeing them remade. Atlus is currently focused on Persona 6 and Persona 4 Revival.
Wardogs is a brilliant exercise in greed as teamwork
Wardogs is a realistic first-person shooter that blends elements of Battlefield and ARMA, focusing on large-scale team-based combat. Players compete in teams of around 30 to capture and hold a central zone, with a unique economic system where players earn in-game currency for successful actions, incentivizing teamwork and strategic play. The game is set to enter early access in 2026.
Insomniac's take on Wolverine is ferocious, destructive and cinematic - but a little predictable
Insomniac Games' Marvel's Wolverine aims for a ferocious, destructive, and cinematic experience, focusing on Wolverine's aggressive combat style and regenerative abilities. While the game promises fluid transitions between traversal and intense battles, and features a rage mechanic to express Logan's anger, some early combat encounters and narrative elements may feel predictable. The preview highlights the game's potential for a satisfying, albeit linear, action-adventure experience.
