Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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"We've got to slow down," Wardogs developer admits after Season 2's rocky rollout
Bulkhead, the developer of Wardogs, has admitted to making significant mistakes with the rollout of Season 2, including an economy wipe that was too quickly erased by rapid leveling and a rushed content schedule. The team is now planning to slow down the pace of seasons and focus on fundamentals, with Season 3 targeting November 12 and introducing limited servers to address player progression concerns. The studio acknowledges that external pressures, including Steam's review algorithm, influenced their rushed decisions.
Mass Effect 5 would have let players generate alternate timelines based on their choices in previous games, according to…
Details have emerged about BioWare's cancelled Mass Effect 5, which would have featured a sophisticated system for importing player choices from the original trilogy to generate alternate timelines. Franchise Technical Director Romain Toutain explained that the game, initially codenamed Mass Effect Universe, aimed to give players "absolute autonomy" by dynamically solving logical equations based on player decisions. The ambitious plans for handling player choice and its consequences have led to disappointment over the game's cancellation.
Motion controls are great and games should use them more - Reader’s Feature
A reader argues that motion controls are a valuable and underutilized input method in modern gaming. They highlight Nintendo Switch Sports Resort and the original Wii Sports as examples of successful family-friendly motion control games, contrasting this with Sony and Microsoft's lack of focus on such experiences. The author believes motion controls, when implemented well, can broaden gaming's appeal and improve accessibility for a wider audience.
Mass Effect 5 Set 600+ Years After the Original Trilogy, Featured “Hitman-Style” Freedom – Rumor
A rumor suggests that the next Mass Effect game, potentially Mass Effect 5, is set over 600 years after the original trilogy and would feature a customizable N7 agent protagonist. The game reportedly includes three ruling factions, an alliance between humans, Krogan, and Batarians, and a "galactic Cold War" setting. Gameplay is described as having "Hitman-style" freedom with hacking and executions, while Liara returns as an Asari Matriarch.
Subnautica 2’s Collector Leviathan Terrifies Other Creatures in the Next Big Update
Unknown Worlds Entertainment provided new details for Subnautica 2's upcoming early access update, highlighting the terrifying Collector Leviathan and its impact on other creatures. The update will also introduce the Axum and Colonists, new biomes, creatures, and gameplay mechanics like the Frog Chassis with new abilities and a Dash function for Fins.
Now it's over, WoW: Forever's beta has left me with just one fear—its endgame
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever has been a positive experience, but concerns remain about its long-term endgame design. While the developers aim for horizontal progression, the inclusion of vertical gear progression in raid tiers raises questions about sustainability and player retention over a decade.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at the Mordor expansion
This retrospective review of the Lord of the Rings Online Mordor expansion, released in 2017, highlights its divisive reception. While the expansion aimed to continue the narrative after the destruction of the One Ring, players found its gameplay mechanics, including the 'shadow' debuff and dense mob encounters, to be a grindy chore. Despite some visual interest and later tuning, the expansion is ranked low among LOTRO's content.
The best feature in the original Alan Wake is an absence: the man has no reticle
This article analyzes how the absence of a traditional reticle in the original Alan Wake contributes to its unique atmosphere and gameplay. While Agent Nightingale's inability to aim effectively is presented humorously, the lack of a reticle for the player character enhances panic and immersion, a design choice contrasted with Alan Wake 2's more traditional approach to accessibility.
Mass Effect: Universe Would Have Mixed James Bond, John Wick and Hitman, Claims Community Adviser
A canceled Mass Effect game, codenamed Universe, was planned to be set 600 years after the original trilogy. The game would have featured a cold war setting with secret agent themes, experimental technology, and offered players more freedom in mission design.
Aion 2's hardest fight is coming back, bigger and better, after being pulled from the free MMORPG's launch
The Ludra raid in the free-to-play MMORPG Aion 2 is set to return on November 4th with redesigned mechanics and new attack patterns. The raid was initially removed shortly after launch due to being defeated too quickly, sparking discussions about potential pay-to-win elements. NC is implementing several in-game events and login bonuses to help players prepare for the relaunch.
'At some point we did have a small rhythm game, but it didn't exactly match the feeling that you're promoting a show' — Stranger Than Heaven director says the showbiz system was 'a real challenge' and inspired by musicians with an 'antenna' for music
Mikinobu Abe, director of Stranger Than Heaven, discussed the challenges RGG Studio faced in designing the game's Showbiz system. He explained that the team researched the role of a promoter and experimented with different mechanics, including a rhythm game concept, before settling on the current system that emphasizes inspiration gathering and production planning.
Blizzard finally sees sense and caves to Diablo 4 players, increases Prime Evil Splinter stack size by 9900%
Blizzard Entertainment has increased the stack size for Prime Evil Splinters in Diablo 4 from 1 to 99, a 9900% increase, following significant player outcry. While the change is seen as a reversal by many, the Diablo 4 subreddit largely views the adjustment as too little, too late, with many players having already expressed dissatisfaction.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time designer wanted Navi to be a "cute girl," but "that wasn't possible"…
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time designer Yoshiaki Koizumi revealed that the iconic fairy companion Navi was originally envisioned as a "cute girl" but was changed to a ball of light due to the Nintendo 64's technical limitations. This design choice was also influenced by Koizumi's desire to avoid a generic marker for the game's Z-targeting system.
Mass Effect 5 Details Revealed Following Cancellation, Including 'Hitman-Style Freedom' in Missions
Following the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and the closure of BioWare, new gameplay details have emerged. These include handcrafted missions offering Hitman-style freedom, environmental hacking, brutal executions, and the return of Liara.
The Next Mass Effect Sounded Like John Wick In Space
Details have emerged about the cancelled Mass Effect game, tentatively titled Mass Effect Universe, which was envisioned as a departure from the series' previous entries, focusing on covert ops and espionage with a tone compared to John Wick and James Bond. Content creator Dantics, who was part of a BioWare feedback group, described the game as set centuries after the Reaper War, featuring a customizable N7 agent and a smaller arsenal. While the game was shelved, a Mass Effect TV show remains in development, and a spiritual successor, Exodus, has released a new trailer.
WoW: Forever’s Divisive Layering Will See Major Improvements For Launch, Blizzard Says
Blizzard Entertainment has acknowledged significant issues with the layering system in World of Warcraft: Forever, particularly concerning players being unexpectedly separated. Associate production director Clay Stone stated that improvements are being made to ensure players remain together, especially on transports and when entering/leaving capital cities, aiming to recreate a more persistent world feel for the game's launch.
'Maybe you win the battle but lose the war because you put all your resources into one battle' — Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director says King Art Games 'wanted battles to take a while' so borrowed from the original strategy game's systems
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 creative director Jan Theysen explained that the team drew inspiration from the original Dawn of War for its RTS systems, aiming for longer, more strategic battles. He highlighted the on-field reinforcement feature as a key element that brings macro-management and economy into combat, a system they initially found odd but grew to love.
Shigeru Miyamoto comments on AI, claiming humans will always have a role to play in game design
Shigeru Miyamoto, upon receiving Japan's Order of Culture award, shared his views on artificial intelligence in game development. He believes that while AI can handle many aspects of game creation, it cannot replace the individual's intent and creativity, ensuring a continued role for human creators.
5 Video Game Casinos That Were Better Than the Main Quest
This article outlines key design principles for creating approachable casual games, focusing on low-friction discovery and intuitive onboarding. It emphasizes clear objectives, immediate feedback, and readable rules to ensure players can easily understand and enjoy the core gameplay loop. The piece also touches on session length, progression, community features, and interface clarity as crucial elements for player retention and satisfaction, with a brief mention of online bingo as an example of familiar mechanics.
Helldivers 3 "only makes sense" if it’s so unlike Helldivers 2 "that both games can exist side by side", says Arrowhead boss, discussing their new prototype game
Arrowhead Game Studios' Johan Pilestedt stated that a Helldivers 3 would only be developed if it significantly differed from Helldivers 2, to allow both games to coexist. He emphasized that 95% of the studio is focused on improving Helldivers 2, viewing it as a long-term community platform rather than a product needing an immediate sequel. Pilestedt also commented on the broader industry trend of live service games, suggesting that a strong existing player base negates the need for a sequel.
