Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Will Automatically Raise Levels to Accommodate Story-Focused Players
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that an option will be available to automatically raise player levels to the recommended point for the story finale, addressing feedback from players who felt under-leveled. This feature aims to provide a more linear experience, similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and caters to players with less time for optional content. The article notes this is similar to the Streamlined Progression feature added in Intergrade and Rebirth for other platforms.
Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki was always "fascinated" by the "weird" executives of other companies: "I use some of them as enemy characters in our games"
FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that he finds other company executives to be "weird" and "fascinating," even using some of them as inspiration for enemy characters in games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring. He stated that his role as president has exposed him to new experiences and people, which influences his game design.
Mark Darrah, co-director of Dragon Age: Origins, has played Riven for 3 minutes and Factorio for 832 hours: 'If you want to know what kind of programmer someone would be, have them play Factorio'
Former BioWare director Mark Darrah discusses his gaming habits, highlighting an 832-hour playtime in Factorio and a brief three-minute session with Riven. Darrah, known for his work on the Dragon Age series, shares insights into game development, programming, and design, emphasizing the lessons learned from playing games like Factorio and his past projects.
Payday 3's third-anniversary update is a bold Hail Mary for the struggling heist FPS
Starbreeze Studios is releasing a major update for Payday 3 on September 22nd, aiming to revitalize the struggling heist FPS. This update includes a new story campaign, improved enemy AI, and makes all past and future DLC heists free. The developer acknowledges past shortcomings and hopes these transformative changes will win back players.
Wolverine Patch Aims To Fix Early Criticisms
Insomniac Games has released patch v1.001.005 for Wolverine, addressing early criticisms regarding the "scent trail" and "audio sense" features. The update aims to make these visual cues less intrusive and promises further optimization, potentially including a toggle option for players.
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is still basically the DNA of all Ubisoft open-world games
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is presented as the foundational game for Ubisoft's open-world design, establishing many mechanics that continue to influence their titles. While the game itself is hard to revisit due to the over-saturation of its elements, its design choices, particularly the integration of world-building and player progression, are argued to have rarely been bettered.
Total War Warhammer 40k learns from CA's fantasy trilogy to craft "a single experience" that will just keep growing
Creative Assembly is focusing on making Total War: Warhammer 40,000 a single, continuously growing experience, learning from the successes and shortcomings of the Total War: Warhammer trilogy. The developers are prioritizing robust tutorials, extensive modding support, and close community feedback to ensure long-term player engagement and a cohesive game world.
Over 10 years later, Gabe Newell's advice to devs still holds up
Valve head Gabe Newell's decade-old advice to game developers about distinguishing between genuine player creativity and malicious hacking remains relevant. He highlighted the Ultima Online incident where a player killing Lord British was treated as a hack, arguing that such player-driven events can create more compelling lore than planned narratives.
Alien: Isolation 2 is “An Intense Experience,” Thanks to More Open Spaces and Harsh Weather
Alien: Isolation 2 is set to offer an intense survival horror experience with expanded open spaces and dynamic weather systems, building on the strengths of its predecessor. Principal UI artist Laura Mouther highlighted how the contrast between claustrophobia and exposure, along with environmental factors like rain and thunder, will force players to adapt and improvise against the Xenomorph. The game is planned for release on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Diablo 5 is Happening Because Blizzard “Needed to Give Him His Own Game”
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed Diablo 5 is in development, with an expected release in Spring 2029. Executive producer Matt Zitterman stated the decision was made to give the titular villain his own game, rather than an expansion for Diablo 4. This sequel will feature a new story where Diablo has won, procedural dungeons, and returning classes like Demon Hunter and Monk, alongside a new Plague Knight class. Diablo 4 will no longer receive paid expansions, though seasons will continue.
Marvel’s Wolverine Hotfix Makes Scent Trails “Less Intense,” Insomniac Exploring Toggle Options
Insomniac Games has released a hotfix for Marvel's Wolverine on PlayStation 5, reducing the intensity of scent trails and audio sense indicators following player criticism. The developer is exploring options to allow players to toggle these features off in a future update. The patch also addresses some common crashes.
Crimson Moon Review | TheXboxHub
Crimson Moon is a roguelike where players control a nephilim battling demons in Gildenarch. The game emphasizes fast-paced action and gameplay over story, with a core loop of dying, earning experience, and upgrading. While the progression can feel slow initially and enemy variety is somewhat limited, the game offers an addictive experience once it gets going, despite some minor technical glitches and a story that feels underdeveloped for its intriguing world.
Late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata never wanted tons of Mario and Zelda sequels because that's "not the kind…
Late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believed that focusing solely on sequels would make the company appear conservative and unwilling to take risks. He emphasized the importance of both serving the fanbase with classic experiences and introducing new gameplay styles to attract broader audiences. This philosophy is seen as a driving force behind Nintendo's successful platforms like the Wii and DS, and continues to influence modern titles like Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at Rise of Isengard
This retrospective looks back at Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, released in 2011. The expansion marked a shift towards more experimental storytelling and a free-to-play model for the MMORPG. It introduced new zones like Dunland and Isengard, pushed the level cap to 75, and featured a memorable player betrayal and escape sequence.
30 years of Diablo with Diablo IV Devs Owen Leach and Dan Tanguay | Play History at Blizzcon 2026
Diablo IV Lead Encounter Designer Owen Leach and Design Director Dan Tanguay discuss their personal gaming histories and how these experiences have shaped their work on the game's Season of Hell's Legacy and the upcoming Amazon class. The interview was part of a 'Play History' segment at Blizzcon.
World of Warcraft: Forever's convinced me that we lost too much to modern MMO quest design
This article analyzes how World of Warcraft's quest design, particularly in its older iterations and expansions like 'Forever,' offers a more satisfying experience than modern MMO questing. It highlights elements like quest ordering, travel time, and level variety as key factors contributing to player engagement, contrasting them with the streamlined but less engaging approach of current MMOs.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Modders Aren’t Missing the Point – They Just Love the Game
Modders are extending the time limit in The Blood of Dawnwalker to allow for more quest completion, a practice that deviates from the developer's original vision. However, this approach is framed not as vandalism but as a demonstration of love for the game.
Över 1 miljon väntar på svenska HELA
Windup Games' upcoming title, HELA: Of Mice & Magic, is set to release on December 1st and has garnered significant attention with over one million wishlists. The game emphasizes cooperative play, exploration, and a narrative inspired by Swedish nature, drawing parallels to the studio's previous work on Unravel. The developers are focusing on creating an immersive experience with a strong visual identity and emotional storytelling, aiming to appeal to a broad audience including Game Pass subscribers.
New Marvel's Wolverine update makes the game's infamous scent trails "less intense," while Insomniac…
Insomniac Games has released a patch for Marvel's Wolverine to reduce the intensity of its "Scent Trails" and "Audio Sense" indicators, which players had criticized as overly hand-holdy. The developer is also exploring options to make these features toggleable in a future update, alongside fixes for common crashes.
Palworld lead thought one of Pocketpair's most iconic Pals would "fade into the background" before it unexpectedly became the survival game's "mascot"
John Buckley, head of communications at Pocketpair, expressed surprise at the unexpected popularity of the Pal 'Cattiva' in Palworld, which has become the game's unofficial mascot. While he was confident in other early Pals like Lamball, he initially believed Cattiva and Chikipi would fade into the background. Cattiva's widespread recognition, particularly in China, highlights regional differences in Pal popularity.
