Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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World of Warcraft was meant to have viable levelling gear from professions way back in 2004, but the designers on raids…
This article discusses how World of Warcraft's original design intended for professions to provide viable leveling gear from the start, a goal that was undermined by some designers secretly boosting their own crafted items' power. The author notes that this issue has been addressed in the modern game, with crafting now offering competitive items for players during their leveling journey.
World of Warcraft: Forever's devs are preserving "meaningful friction" and going "beyond consoles", giving us 7 reasons to be excited for launch: "We don't know what's going to happen"
World of Warcraft: Forever is launching next week as a new pillar for the franchise, aiming to recapture the spirit of early WoW with new graphics, UI, content, and systems. Executive producer Holly Longdale and associate production director Clay Stone expressed excitement over the beta's success, noting the community's positive response to the game's focus on "meaningful friction" and exploration. The game will feature controller support, with Blizzard aiming for players to be able to play "wherever they want and, at some point, on whatever they want."
Perfect Ten: Real inventory struggles that every MMO player knows all too well
This article explores ten common and often frustrating inventory management struggles faced by MMORPG players. It delves into issues such as the feeling of virtual hoarding, the chore-like nature of organizing items, the perpetual lack of space, and the difficulty of finding specific items when needed. The piece also touches on how these in-game limitations can uncomfortably mirror real-life organizational challenges.
Lost and Found Co. announced for Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch
Egg Bit announced that Lost and Found Co. will be released on November 10, 2026, for both the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. This point-and-click hidden-object adventure game features hand-drawn visuals and allows players to help residents of Plumville recover lost items while uncovering secrets.
New Hunger Games Movie Comes Out The Day After GTA 6, But Is The Director Scared?
The new Hunger Games movie, Sunrise on the Reaping, is set to release on November 20, the day after Grand Theft Auto 6's highly anticipated launch. Director Francis Lawrence expressed hope that audiences will find time for both, while industry analyst Mat Piscatella noted that many publishers are intentionally avoiding releasing games near GTA 6 due to fear of its impact.
Dawn of War 4 may be the most generous RTS I've played
Dawn of War 4 is shaping up to be an incredibly generous Real-Time Strategy game, offering players numerous options to tailor their experience, including a skip mission button and extensive skirmish mode customization. Developer King Art Games, led by director Jan Theysen, emphasizes player fun over a rigid vision, incorporating elements from previous titles and promising extensive post-launch support. The game aims to be accessible to new RTS players while still offering depth for veterans, with a strong commitment to its Warhammer 40,000 setting.
Resident Evil's current story will end in 'the next 10 years' says Capcom
Capcom executive producer Jun Takeuchi stated that the current narrative of the Resident Evil series is planned to conclude within the next 10 years. While the overarching story was not initially planned, a 10-year concept was developed during the creation of the Resident Evil 2 remake, with Resident Evil Requiem marking the end of the first decade. Takeuchi indicated that multiple titles will be released before this conclusion.
"We need to understand what the need is here" - Arc Raiders studio still undecided about the future of PvE despite a seemingly successful test
Embark Studios is still undecided about the future of Arc Raiders' PvE mode despite a successful test and player requests. Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal stated the team is analyzing data to determine the mode's purpose, whether it be a chill side mode, a challenge mode, or a full PvE experience, considering the game's pivot from its original PvE focus.
FF14's new Evolved jobs won't deal a 'huge amount' more damage than their Reborn counterparts, says…
Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming "Evolved" job redesigns are intended to combat game homogenization and simplify complex hotbars for new players. While these new modes will deal negligibly more damage than their "Reborn" counterparts, they represent the future direction for all new jobs in the game.
Project Titan's end 'immediately instilled a culture of humility' in the Overwatch team which has helped…
The cancellation of Blizzard's MMO Project Titan instilled a culture of humility and resilience within the Overwatch development team, which has helped them navigate challenges over the past decade. Despite a difficult start and the pressure to create a revenue-generating game, the team has managed to bring Overwatch back on track and is proud of its current state.
Best Live Dealer Games Integration Platforms in 2026
This guide explores the design principles that make casual games approachable and engaging. It emphasizes the importance of intuitive onboarding, clear objectives, immediate feedback, and user-friendly interfaces. The article also touches on session length, progression, social features, and cross-platform access as key factors for player retention, using bingo as a specific example of accessible mechanics.
Odyssey Halloween Update news
Odyssey is receiving a Halloween-themed update on October 31st, featuring a new side quest titled "Till Death do us Reunite" set in the Land of the Dead. The update also includes quality of life improvements such as player-owned house tutorials, enhanced character animations, engine optimizations, and the addition of a superboss, The Sapphire Raptor.
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time – the timeline explained and why it doesn’t matter
This article explains the complex timeline of The Legend of Zelda series, focusing on how Ocarina of Time fits in and whether playing other games is necessary before its remake. It clarifies that while the timeline is intricate, individual games are largely self-contained, and new players can jump in without prior knowledge.
GTA 6 Will Receive New Details and Screenshots on October 29th
Rockstar Games will reveal new details and screenshots for Grand Theft Auto 6 in the upcoming issue of Edge Magazine, set to release on October 29th. The feature will include interviews and showcase the game's protagonists, Jason and Lucia. The article highlights Rockstar's focus on creating a living open world through dedicated teams for NPC chatter and detailed environmental storytelling, aiming for increased player agency.
Anvil Empires is adding a system that encourages players to take up medieval truckin’
Anvil Empires is introducing a new 'military and supply indentures' feature to encourage players to engage in logistical tasks, such as hauling equipment and troops to the front lines. This update, detailed by developer Siege Camp, also includes new defensive structures, improved material stockpiling, and personal vehicle locking.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a triumphant return to form for the series, with Infinity Ward delivering an exceptional experience across multiplayer, campaign, and its new extraction mode, DMZ. The game boasts superb gunplay, a compelling campaign that focuses on relatable characters, and a well-realized extraction mode that respects player time. While previous entries have faltered, Modern Warfare 4 sets a new benchmark for what Call of Duty should aspire to.
Recension – Star Wars Galactic Racer
Star Wars Galactic Racer offers a fresh take on the racing genre with its roguelike campaign, where players compete to become the galaxy's top racer after the fall of the Empire. The game features engaging mechanics, memorable characters like Biddy Blas, and strong Star Wars fan service, though the protagonist's personality is somewhat flat and some difficulty spikes can be frustrating.
After Onimusha's focused swordplay, Phantom Blade Zero delivers a sprawling, maximalist action epic
Phantom Blade Zero offers a sprawling, maximalist action epic with a vast array of weapons and combat mechanics, contrasting with the more focused swordplay of Capcom's Onimusha. While Phantom Blade Zero's ambition is exciting, its complex narrative and infodumps can be overwhelming compared to Onimusha's straightforward storytelling. Both games highlight distinct approaches to action combat and narrative presentation.
"Women love video games," Dressmaker dev says, there just aren't enough games for them: "We were definitely targeting women from the get-go"
The dressmaking simulation game Dressmaker has achieved significant success, with its developer Cozy Lives, led by Sabrina Becker and Jonathan Hau-Yoon, attributing this to its appeal to women, an underserved market in gaming. Becker emphasizes that while men have also shown interest, the game was intentionally designed to cater to female players' preferences, drawing inspiration from games like Roblox. The positive reception and player feedback highlight the demand for such experiences, with plans for future updates and potential mobile and Nintendo Switch ports.
Fight or Kite: ArcheAge Chronicles is not merely an update to the ArcheAge you know, it’s a full on reimagining.
ArcheAge Chronicles represents a significant reimagining of the original MMORPG, moving away from flexible class pairings to a more rigid archetype system. While the demo showcases improved graphics and tighter combat, it also introduces gender-locked classes and a quest system that feels derivative of New World. Despite some clunky mechanics like glider and underwater stamina management, the dynamic quest generation is a highlight.
