Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Baldur's Gate 3 writer says its Dragon-Agey rep system is there to stop you totally breaking the NPCs, but it 'becomes a dice roll' at points to keep romance natural
Baldur's Gate 3 writer Kevin VanOrd discussed the game's NPC approval system, explaining it was implemented to streamline writing and prevent players from completely breaking character relationships. He noted that while the system relies on accumulating approval, critical moments involve dice rolls to maintain a sense of natural romance and unpredictability.
Overwatch Defies Gaming Physics With 100K+ Player Retention After Surge
Overwatch is demonstrating remarkable player retention, maintaining over 100,000 players a month after a significant surge, a feat unusual for a decade-old game. This sustained engagement is attributed to consistent updates, new content, strong community bonds, and the game's polished, stable experience compared to newer, less complete titles.
Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan says Breath of the Wild is "the greatest game ever made" – "How can Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time exist and somebody make an even better Zelda game?"
Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan has declared The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as the greatest game ever made, surpassing even The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Kaplan praised Nintendo's consistent quality and highlighted Breath of the Wild's exceptional game design.
I cheesed my way through one of Crimson Desert's biggest bandit camps and it made me love the game
Despite its nonsensical world and mechanics, Crimson Desert has become an enjoyable experience through its chaotic gameplay and the player's ability to 'cheese' challenges. The author found a peculiar charm in the game's disjointed nature, particularly in how death and respawning mechanics allow for a piecemeal approach to overcoming large obstacles like bandit camps.
One of Call of Duty’s most polarizing games is seeing a massive Steam resurgence, and there’s a couple reasons for it
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is experiencing a significant player resurgence on Steam, reaching an all-time peak concurrent player count. This surge is largely attributed to a 90% discount on Steam as part of Activision's Spring Sale, making it the cheapest entry point into the Modern Warfare series.
Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Remake Interview: Inside the Return of a Survival Horror Classic
Producer Makoto Shibata discusses the remake of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, highlighting modern controls, expanded mechanics, and updated presentation for its March 12, 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Shibata explains the challenges and excitement of revisiting the classic survival horror title, emphasizing improvements to guidance, story reminders, and the Camera Obscura system to reward player mastery while retaining the original's atmosphere and challenge.
As Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss rushes to fix pressing issues, players are asking for updates to the time-gated dragon mount
Players of Crimson Desert are expressing disappointment with the 15-minute time limit and 50-minute cooldown on the dragon mount, feeling it contradicts the game's marketing of 'complete and total freedom'. While Pearl Abyss is addressing other issues like controls and inventory, this restriction on mounts, including dire wolves and raptors, is a recurring complaint, with players arguing fun should outweigh cooldown timers in a single-player experience.
Assassin's Creed is "so great" because it's "based on historical knowledge," Shadows art director says: "It's a way to revisit places that no longer exist"
Ubisoft art director Thierry Dansereau highlighted that the Assassin's Creed franchise's strength lies in its basis on historical knowledge, allowing players to revisit lost places and learn about history at their own pace. He believes this educational aspect, exemplified by Discovery Tour modes, makes the series great and offers a unique way to experience human history.
Ariana and the Elder Codex Review - Abscessed Ubiquity
Ariana and the Elder Codex is a surprising standout in the 2D action and metroidvania space, delivering fast, fluid combat and a highly customizable build system that keeps encounters engaging throughout. Its story and characters are more compelling than expected, with strong dialogue and an endearing protagonist, while the structured progression across codex worlds maintains a satisfying sense of momentum. Although limited enemy variety and a slightly short runtime hold it back from true genre dominance, the overall experience is polished, rewarding, and consistently enjoyable, marking it as one of Compile Heart’s most impressive releases in years.
Melody Friends Lets You Turn Any Song Into a Rhythm Game on Steam
Melody Friends has launched on Steam, featuring a unique mechanic that allows players to turn any song from their music library into a playable rhythm game. Developed by WINE GL, the game automatically generates notes for user-imported tracks and offers a less punishing, more accessible experience compared to traditional rhythm games. It includes over 60 built-in songs, customizable characters, and Steam Workshop support for community-created content.
'If I Wanna Be the Most OP Mfer Every Why Try to Hinder Me?' — It Turns Out That Flying a Dragon in Crimson Desert Is on a 15 Minute Timer and There's a 50 Minute Cooldown You Can't Speed Up
Players of Crimson Desert are expressing frustration with the game's design choices, particularly regarding creature mounts. While the endgame dragon is a permanent addition, its use is limited to 15 minutes with a 50-minute cooldown that cannot be bypassed, leading to discussions about game design and player experience.
After a very fun, but very frustrating, first weekend, Bungie is considering tweaking Marathon's Cryo Archive
Bungie is considering changes to Marathon's Cryo Archive mode based on player feedback from its first weekend. Key discussion points include making the mode available outside of weekends, ensuring essential subroutines drop from solved vaults, and providing options for solo players. Game director Joe Ziegler acknowledged the feedback and stated the team will discuss potential iterations.
Tides of Annihilation Interview: Ary Chen on Knight Combat, Gwendolyn, and Arthurian Inspiration
Ary Chen of Eclipse Glow Games discusses their debut title, Tides of Annihilation, an action-adventure game inspired by Arthurian mythology. The game features a unique combat system where players fight alongside legendary knights, blending modern London with a fantasy world. Chen also touches on the team's focus on single-player narrative, the importance of community feedback, and the collaboration with voice actor Jennifer English.
More Pokémon! Switch 2 update! And what makes a perfect game? Pure Nintendo Podcast E155
The Pure Nintendo Podcast episode E155 covers recent Pokémon news and an update regarding the Nintendo Switch 2's backward compatibility with Nintendo Switch games. The hosts also discuss elements that contribute to a perfect game.
The Daily Grind: Do you level MMORPG crafting skills so you can make money – or just make your own stuff?
This article discusses the motivations behind players leveling crafting skills in MMORPGs, questioning whether it's primarily for economic gain or personal satisfaction. It explores how players might learn skills to avoid purchasing items or to create custom goods for themselves, even if it's not the most cost-effective approach.
What do you dislike about GW2, or why did you quit?
This article seeks to understand player dissatisfaction with Guild Wars 2, asking former players and current ones what aspects of the game they dislike or led them to quit. The discussion also considers player priorities in MMORPGs, with an eye towards the upcoming game Warvox.
Crimson Desert Players Are Begging For Mounts To Be Permanent
Players of Crimson Desert are expressing a strong desire for mounts to be permanently rideable, rather than having timed usage. Despite the game featuring numerous mount options, including dragons, their limited availability is a point of contention within the community. Developer Pearl Abyss has recently released a patch addressing other game issues and is reportedly aware of player feedback regarding mount functionality.
Crimson Desert Update Makes Control Improvements, Eases The Difficulty
Crimson Desert has released update version 1.00.03, focusing on significant gameplay improvements, bug fixes, and quality-of-life changes based on player feedback. The update addresses clunky controls, eases difficulty in boss fights and combat by reducing enemy health and attack power, and enhances various game mechanics. It is currently available on PC via Steam, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox versions rolling out soon.
Bungie Is Listening As Marathon Players Push For Solo Play And Better Scheduling In Cryo Archive
Bungie is actively listening to player feedback regarding the endgame activity Cryo Archive in Marathon. Game director Joe Ziegler confirmed the studio is reviewing suggestions for improvements, including the possibility of solo play and adjustments to the weekend-only schedule. The team is also considering making Subroutines a guaranteed drop and addressing player concerns about enemy range.
Games Inbox: Is Marathon worth playing?
Readers discuss various gaming topics, including Bungie's time-limited Marathon event, the effectiveness of game advertising for titles like World of Warcraft and Fortnite, and skepticism towards pre-ordering Crimson Desert. There's also a comparison of PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch sales, with a preference for the PS5 for AAA titles, and reflections on the strengths and weaknesses of Resident Evil Requiem.
