Game Design
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'Dylan is an involuntary hero, although he chooses to become one, he just doesn’t know it in the beginning' — Control Resonant composer explains the design process for Dylan's theme song, revealing his track 'is essentially Jesse's theme backwards'
Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko discussed the creation of Dylan's theme song, explaining it is Jesse's theme played backwards but with a focus on growth and seeking permission for existence. Alanko detailed how Dylan's music represents his journey from an involuntary hero to a chosen one, contrasting with Jesse's more grounded power theme. The interview also touched upon the 'Sibling Theme' and the end credits track 'The One I Once Knew' featuring Amelia Jones.
Peter Molyneux explains the origin story of Black & White's famous creatures: 'It was originally a…
Peter Molyneux, the creator of the god game genre, discussed the origins of the iconic creatures from his game Black & White. He revealed that the creatures were initially conceived as monsters that players would nurture and teach, evolving from a single sheet of paper idea into the beloved companions seen in the final game. Molyneux also touched upon the development of his latest game, Masters of Albion, and the potential inclusion of similar colossal structures.
Timeloop metroidvania Echo Weaver is the brave game that locks almost nothing off and challenges you to break it
Echo Weaver is a 2D timeloop metroidvania that allows players significant freedom to break its mechanics from the outset. Developed by Moonlight Kids, the game challenges players to learn and exploit its systems, particularly the versatile glaive, rather than relying on traditional skill unlocks. While the core gameplay is enjoyable and the world visually striking, the narrative writing is considered less effective than the environmental storytelling.
The Evolution of Chance-Based Minigames in Modern Xbox Titles: From RDR2 to GTA V
This article analyzes the evolution of chance-based minigames in modern Xbox titles, contrasting the in-game gambling mechanics of Red Dead Redemption 2 with those in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online. It explores how these minigames serve as tools for atmosphere, satire, player retention, and potential controversy, highlighting the shift from narrative integration to systems designed to encourage repeated engagement and spending.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Says Decisions About Minigames Are “Mine to Bear”
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the decision to include a rich variety of minigames in the Final Fantasy 7 remakes is his responsibility as director. While player feedback is considered for aspects like difficulty and engagement, the overall quantity of minigames is a creative choice. Adjustments have been made for Revelation to ensure smoother interactions, including difficulty settings and the option to skip minigames.
Phantom Blade Zero is a game we'll be talking about for years to come
Phantom Blade Zero, developed by S-Game, is shaping up to be a major action game hit with its stylish 'kung-fu punk' aesthetic and deep combat. The preview highlights the fluid, cinematic action, intricate design, and challenging boss fights that draw comparisons to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Director Soulframe emphasizes the blend of traditional Wuxia culture with modern pop culture, aiming to create a playable kung-fu movie experience.
The Best Detail Of Phantom Blade 0 Was Never Explained
The article highlights the impressive motion-captured martial arts combat in Phantom Blade 0, calling it the crown jewel of S-Game's production. Director Soulframe Liang confirmed the unique elements experienced during a hands-on preview, suggesting a deeper design accomplishment.
Order of the Sinking Star launch trailer – new puzzle adventure Nintendo Switch 2 game from the creator of Braid
Arc Games and Thekla have released the launch trailer for Order of the Sinking Star, a new puzzle adventure game from Jonathan Blow, creator of Braid and The Witness. Available now on Nintendo Switch, the game features over a thousand handcrafted challenges, a fully voiced cast, and an interconnected world designed for player freedom.
Massively Overthinking: What’s your preferred form of MMORPG character build system?
This article discusses various MMORPG character build systems, with staff members sharing their preferences for granularity, freedom, or defined rotations. Some prefer deep, customizable systems like City of Heroes, while others favor simpler, meta-driven approaches for ease of play. The core theme revolves around balancing player choice with game design and accessibility.
Fractured Conquest shows off the design of its factional minions while promising more playtest information this month
Fractured: Conquest, the redesigned top-down version of Fractured Online, is preparing for another playtest with information to be revealed in October. The latest update showcases melee units for its three factions, highlighting their distinct designs and ethos, and also previews the new War Wagon.
Subnautica 2 fans can finally hunt and kill those pesky Nibbler Mangos—in Dave the Diver's crossover DLC
Dave the Diver will receive a crossover DLC pack with Subnautica 2 in early 2027, allowing players to hunt Subnautica's creatures within Dave the Diver's gameplay. Mintrocket stated that while this is the final major DLC for Dave the Diver, smaller updates and collaborations may still occur.
Arc Raiders Frozen Trail patch notes are full of sentences that players have dreamed of for years: "You can now…
The latest Arc Raiders Frozen Trail update introduces significant changes and additions, including increased stash size, rebalanced loot distribution for bosses, and adjustments to weapon rarity. The patch also adds new animations for player interactions, improved audio occlusion, and new movement mechanics like scrambling up slopes.
25 years after Burnout, Star Wars: Galactic Racer studio lead says "we are asking way more out of players" than "we've ever done" because modern players are built different
Matt Webster, studio lead at Fuse Games, discusses the intricate design of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a new roguelite racer developed by former Criterion Games members. He believes modern players can handle a greater cognitive load, allowing the game to feature complex mechanics like multiple boosts and simultaneous ability usage while maintaining high speeds.
Blizzard explains its philosophy for 'Classic Plus' — The WoW: Forever team on the design pillars it uses to 'stay true to the core design, pacing, and tone of the original game'
Blizzard Entertainment has outlined its four core design pillars for World of Warcraft: Forever's 'Classic Plus' experience, emphasizing a commitment to preserving the original game's design, pacing, and tone while incorporating modern visuals and engine updates. The studio aims to balance nostalgia with sustainability, ensuring the game feels familiar yet visually appealing for a 2026 release.
I enjoy how Hellraiser: Revival's 'real-life' bondage club makes the rest of Hellraiser: Revival feel kind of embarrassing
The article discusses how the 'real-life' BDSM club in Hellraiser: Revival inadvertently highlights the ridiculousness of the game's horror elements and other violent video games with sexual themes. The author finds the contrast between the game's attempts at dark fantasy and its actual gameplay mechanics, such as crafting and combat, to be embarrassing and childish, with the sex club serving as a point of ironic humor.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis skippar en del "modern ledsagning"
Crystal Dynamics is opting for a more old-school approach in the upcoming remake, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, by reducing explicit guidance. The developers aim to encourage players to explore and get lost, fostering a sense of adventure. The game will feature crafting on the go and is set to release on February 12, 2027, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
"What's the point of this if you're not feeling something?" Star Wars: Galactic Racer devs on how they bottled Burnout's magic 'game feel'
Developers from Fuse Games, including CEO Matt Webster and Creative Director Kieran Crimmins, discuss how they captured the 'game feel' of Burnout for Star Wars: Galactic Racer. They emphasize the importance of tactile interactions and emotional resonance in game design, drawing parallels to the Star Wars universe and even board game prototyping.
How WoW Guilds Recruit and Retain Players in Midnight
This analysis explores how guilds in World of Warcraft recruit and retain players, particularly in the context of the Midnight Season 2 and its challenging content structure. It highlights how recruitment requirements have become more demanding due to the season's design, leading players to seek boosts and emphasizing the importance of fixed schedules and non-seasonal projects like player housing for retention. The article also discusses how alternate characters are now a valuable tool for keeping players engaged and maintaining roster stability.
Marathon October 2026 Refresh: Promising, But Still Lacking — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon has undergone a second economy reset, aiming to correct issues from its previous season. While the current state is an improvement over the Season 2 launch, the game still suffers from poor onboarding and a punishing experience for new and returning players. Despite some enjoyable gunplay and a roadmap promising PvE and PvP features, the article suggests Marathon is not yet a recommended title and questions its potential as a primary revenue source for Bungie.
Review: 1000xRESIST – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Nintendo Switch 2)
1000xRESIST, a unique blend of visual novel and sci-fi adventure, receives a positive review for its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The enhanced version offers improved visuals and gameplay, with the upgrade pack being free for original owners. The game explores themes of humanity, love, and loss through its narrative about clones in a distant future, though some segments are noted as slow and navigation can be frustrating without a map.
