Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
Inaugural Asymptotes event puts spotlight on abandoned games
The inaugural Asymptotes event in Melbourne celebrated abandoned and unfinished game projects, focusing on imperfection and non-commercial game development. Organized by Swinburne University students, the event showcased six games and featured panels discussing game design as an artistic practice, contrasting with the industry's commercial focus.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Movement and Traversal Explained in New Developer Diary
Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog released a developer diary detailing the movement and traversal systems in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. Developers discussed the focus on capturing the essence of the original game's mechanics, including Lara Croft's signature climbing and acrobatic moves. The game is set for release on February 12th, 2027, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Miyamoto says Nintendo receives global support because it thinks of fun and its fans first instead of what’s trending, not interested in terms like ‘recouping costs’
Shigeru Miyamoto states that Nintendo's enduring global support stems from prioritizing fun and fans over trends or short-term financial goals like recouping costs. He emphasizes creating unique, appealing products by focusing on the core fun of gameplay, citing examples like Splatoon and Pokémon. Miyamoto also touched upon the development pipeline influenced by the Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Nintendo's approach to creating new characters.
Shigeru Miyamoto admits Nintendo's been pumping out "a lot of remakes" as Ocarina of Time approaches, but says most people stopped playing the original games within 5 years anyway
Shigeru Miyamoto acknowledges Nintendo's frequent use of remakes, suggesting it's a valid approach given players' tendency to stop playing older titles within five years. He also notes that remakes provide younger generations with access to classic games they might otherwise miss, though the article questions this by pointing to the discontinuation of servers for older hardware.
Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto Defends Remakes Ahead Of Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 Remake
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto defended the practice of remaking older games, stating that it allows younger generations to experience titles they might have missed. He also noted that successful remakes can provide resources for developing entirely new projects. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is slated for a remake on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game Review – In Your Element
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game offers a fast-paced 1v1 fighting experience with accessible auto-combos that build into complex, timing-based mechanics. Despite a somewhat lacking tutorial, the game features a diverse roster, unique character abilities augmented by Support Characters and Flow mechanics, and robust online play with rollback netcode and cross-platform support. The game rewards player expression and improvement through its intricate combat system and satisfying audiovisual presentation.
With 58 consoles and a dream, Pokemon Sapphire player chases "1 in 9 million" odds in an attempt to find a very specific shiny duck that he could immediately lose
A dedicated Pokemon player, Professor Rex, is using an elaborate setup of 58 consoles (33 GameCubes and 25 Wiis) to simultaneously hunt for a specific shiny Golduck in Pokemon Sapphire. This particular Golduck has an estimated one in nine million chance of appearing at level 25, and there's a risk it could flee the battle, making the hunt exceptionally challenging.
Former Ultima Online lead says MMOs are "finally free of the fever dream of imitating World of Warcraft" thanks to Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and more
Raph Koster, lead designer of Ultima Online, believes the MMO genre has moved beyond the World of Warcraft-imitating phase, citing the success of sandbox titles like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and Minecraft. He argues that the demand for social experiences and persistent worlds, even with smaller player counts, makes it an opportune time for new MMOs like his upcoming game, Stars Reach.
Miyamoto talks about his future, dreams of having Miis on personal IDs
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto discussed his future in game development, expressing openness to directing again if a project sparks his interest, similar to his involvement with Pikmin Bloom. He also mused about the potential for Mii characters to be integrated into personal identification globally, highlighting their memory efficiency.
Disgaea Mayhem Review – Piece of Cake
Disgaea Mayhem transitions the franchise to action-RPG combat, featuring eccentric characters and an absurd story centered around Tichelle's obsession with flan. While the game offers addictive combat and a fun power trip, its repetitive level design and easily exploitable mechanics can lead to becoming overpowered quickly. The review notes stable performance on the PlayStation 5 but suggests the game might be best enjoyed in short bursts or by veterans waiting for a sale.
Splatoon Raiders started off as a tower defense game
Splatoon Raiders, a new Nintendo Switch looter-shooter, initially began as a tower defense game. Developers found this concept didn't capture the core "Splatoon" feel of dynamic action and decided to shift focus. The game's director, Yoshihiko Ito, and producer, Seita Inoue, discussed the evolution of the gameplay mechanics in a Nintendo interview.
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game review: Fulfill your destiny
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game offers a competent and strategically deep fighting experience for fans of The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. The game features tight controls, helpful tutorials, and authentic character designs, though its roster and stages could be more expansive. It launches July 23, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Dear Frosthaven boardgame players complaining the PC tactics RPG adaptation is bugged: the devs say it's likely you've "played it wrong"
Snapshot Games, the developer behind the digital adaptation of Frosthaven, states that many player complaints about bugs are actually due to misunderstandings of the complex board game rules. Game director Hristo Petkov and founder Julian Gollop explained that players may have developed 'house variants' for the physical game, leading to perceived issues in the faithful digital implementation. The studio is introducing features like an undo function and optional 'house rules' to better accommodate player expectations.
Blizzard's calling time on Overwatch's hero customising Stadium mode, and I may well be the only person that's sad about that
Blizzard Entertainment is discontinuing active development on Overwatch's Stadium mode due to low player engagement, with only three percent of the player base actively playing it. Game director Aaron Keller announced that while the mode will remain accessible, it will not receive new heroes or maps. The company is exploring alternative game formats, including experiments with 6v6 role queues and a 1-3-2 flex role queue, to address issues with the tank role in standard 5v5 matches.
Fallout 3's gunplay is "not good," admits former Bethesda designer, and we'll probably see "a lot of that work" that went into Fallout 4 when it comes to the remaster
Former Bethesda designer Bruce Nesmith admits that Fallout 3's gunplay was not good, even for its time, and expects that work done for Fallout 4's improved combat will be incorporated into a potential Fallout 3 remaster. He also mentioned that Fallout 5 is in pre-production and that Obsidian Entertainment is returning to the series for a new entry.
The Duskbloods Closed Network Test is Now Open for Applications
Applications are now open for the closed network test of FromSoftware's upcoming game, The Duskbloods, which requires a Nintendo Switch and a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. The test, running from August 21st to 23rd, aims to evaluate online performance and identify bugs in the PvEvP title. While the game has an official 2026 release window, rumors suggest a potential release later this year, possibly in October.
Games Inbox: Which is better out of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3?
Readers debate whether Cyberpunk 2077 or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the superior game, with many favoring The Witcher 3 for its story and characters. Discussions also touch upon the longevity of digital versus physical game sales, the unique economy of Counter-Strike skins, and concerns about Nintendo's recent game releases and pricing strategies.
Lara Croft’s Acrobatics Were So Important to Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis That Actress Alix Wilton Regan Started Rock-Climbing to Get Into Character
Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog discussed the importance of Lara Croft's acrobatics in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. Actress Alix Wilton Regan even took up rock-climbing to prepare for the role, highlighting the focus on the character's iconic movement.
Pentiment director emphasizes the importance of RPG players not controlling everything
Pentiment director Josh Sawyer believes role-playing games are at their best when players have significant agency but cannot control every aspect of the world. He argues that limitations on player control can lead to more meaningful choices and a deeper connection to the game's narrative, citing examples from Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and Pentiment itself.
Gods Death & Reapers maps out new arenas, a party system, and its upcoming early access features
Wolcen Studio has outlined new features for Gods, Death & Reapers, including a party system, new arenas, and maps for upcoming playtests. The early access version will introduce PvE endgame content, female characters, controller support, and more. A specific release timeline has not yet been announced.
