Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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"We have to go a different path" - Krafton thinks PUBG Ded.Net's pulpy gameshow hyperviolence and roguelite twist can make it the next big battle royale
Krafton's PUBG Ded.Net aims to revitalize the battle royale genre with a pulpy, 90s-inspired gameshow aesthetic and roguelite mechanics. Creative director Dave Curd explains how the game incorporates player upgrades and persistent effects across matches to mitigate the frustration of losing, while maintaining the core survival thrills of Player Unknown's Battlegrounds. The studio is focused on creating memorable, entertaining experiences that push the genre forward.
Everything you need to know about Star Fox’s big update
Star Fox has received a free update on Nintendo Switch, adding new multiplayer content and addressing a lack of variety in its battle mode. Three new stages, Katina, Sector X, and Venom, have been introduced, alongside two new items: the Autoturret and the Multiblaster. The update also includes new profile icons and achievements, aiming to make the game's multiplayer a more robust experience.
Nivalis Nights might not have any combat, "but that doesn't mean it's a cosy game," so says its lead writer
Lead writer Thomas Welsh states that Nivalis Nights, despite lacking combat, is not a 'cosy game,' emphasizing that players must work to achieve comfort in its intentionally overwhelming cyberpunk world. The game's dating mechanics are designed to be messy and realistic, avoiding simple reward systems.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – A Timeless Masterpiece?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains a timeless masterpiece, lauded for its revolutionary Z-targeting and immersive 3D world that influenced countless action-adventure games. Despite some aged movement mechanics, its superb dungeon design, engaging gameplay loop, and universally relatable themes of growing up continue to resonate. Koji Kondo's exceptional soundtrack further solidifies its legendary status.
Silver Pines Review | TheXboxHub
Silver Pines is a survival horror game that blends point-and-click and Metroidvania elements with a David Lynch-inspired mystery narrative. Players control a private detective searching for a missing singer in a small, eerie town. Despite some cumbersome controls and inventory management, the game is praised for its excellent writing, atmospheric world-building, lush visuals, and moody soundtrack.
Beyond Graphics and Gameplay: What Makes a Video Game Truly Memorable?
A memorable video game transcends impressive graphics and gameplay by fostering emotional connections through compelling characters, meaningful choices, and rewarding challenges. Experiences become lasting when players feel personally involved, whether through character development, impactful decisions, or shared moments with others. The most memorable games offer more than technical prowess; they provide unique, personal experiences that resonate long after playing.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at Helm’s Deep
This retrospective examines the Helm's Deep expansion for Lord of the Rings Online, released in 2013. While the expansion introduced significant changes like trait trees and the controversial epic battle system, its landscape and story elements are praised for their connection to the source material and overall quality, despite the mixed reception of its core mechanics.
WoW: Forever, by casting off modern convenience, has horseshoed back around to being casual friendly again
This article argues that World of Warcraft: Forever, despite its initial appearance as an antidote to modern MMO convenience, is actually very casual-friendly. It contrasts the game's slower, more deliberate pace with the overwhelming nature of seasonal structures in retail World of Warcraft, suggesting that the older design offers a more relaxing experience for players with limited time.
Triple-A Minesweeper is a gleeful send-up of blockbuster gaming's worst habits, from yellow paint to characters who…
Triple-A Minesweeper is a satirical game by Mike Lacher that pokes fun at common criticisms of modern blockbuster games, such as excessive handholding and obvious visual cues. The game cleverly mimics these habits, offering a humorous take on design decisions often found in titles like God of War: Ragnarok and Stellar Blade.
Starfield modder finally brings seamless planetary landing to Bethesda's RPG "without any loading screens" after over a year of work
A Starfield modder named Frederik Wessberg has developed a "Seamless Landings" mod that allows players to land on planets and moons without loading screens, mimicking features found in games like No Man's Sky. The mod, which took about six months to develop, reimplements planet rendering in 3D and adds volumetric clouds and weather systems. It will be released for free on NexusMods.
Valve's Gambit: Deadlock's chess-playing new hero is its riskiest yet, and it's working
Valve's new hero shooter MOBA, Deadlock, is seeing significant player engagement on Steam, even in its invite-only beta phase, surpassing Team Fortress 2's peak player count. The game's latest character, Solomon, a chess hustler, introduces complex mechanics that allow players to manipulate their team and battlefield using chess pieces, offering a unique and ambitious gameplay experience.
'Overcooked broke you apart and Stage Fright is there to put you back together'
Stage Fright, the next co-op game from the makers of Overcooked, aims to foster positive relationships between players rather than create conflict. Developers at Ghost Town Games emphasize communication and collaboration as key to success, contrasting it with the often-stressful nature of Overcooked. The game features a Luigi's Mansion-style adventure with puzzles and mysteries designed for split-screen play.
Bungie addresses player issues with Marathon, announces map and gameplay changes
Bungie is implementing several gameplay changes to its extraction shooter Marathon based on player feedback. These updates, set to arrive with the Symbiosis update, include adjustments to map design, audio ranges for in-game events, and modifications to the Rook character's inventory system to offer a less punishing experience.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Review – Twists And Turns
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen offers a definitive version of the game with challenging new content in the Norgan region and significant polish. Performance issues on PlayStation 5 are resolved, and the new Relic system provides an addictive gear progression loop. While some story elements feel recycled, the engaging combat and exploration make it a worthwhile experience for both new and returning players.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Is Great, But At a Cost
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a substantial expansion that introduces a new region, Norgan, and a reworked loot system. However, the review criticizes Capcom's decision to reduce the game's intentional friction through increased fast travel options and a more lenient save system, arguing these changes dilute the unique identity and sense of adventure that made the base game compelling.
Gears of War: E-Day reportedly courts over 1.7m Xbox Game Pass players and makes over $37m since launch
Gears of War: E-Day has reportedly sold around 230,000 copies across Steam and Xbox consoles/PC, generating over $37 million including Premium Edition upgrades and microtransactions. A significant portion of its player base, over 1.7 million, engaged with the game through Xbox Game Pass, with many opting for the $30 Premium Edition upgrade for early access. The article also touches on player overlap with other titles and discusses the studio's confidence in the game as a foundation for future installments.
Street Fighter Was On Death’s Door, And Its Players Weren’t Getting Any Younger
Street Fighter 6 producers Shuhei Matsumoto and Takayuki Nakayama revealed that the franchise was on the brink of decline before a strategic shift revitalized it. They aimed to attract new players while retaining the aging fanbase, a goal achieved with Street Fighter 6's innovative design and accessibility features.
Video games need to let players feel stupid
This article argues that many triple-A video games are overly afraid of players getting stuck, leading to excessive hand-holding and hints that diminish the satisfaction of solving puzzles. Games like Order of the Sinking Star, Routine, God of War, Marvel's Wolverine, and Halo: Campaign Evolved are discussed as examples of this trend, with the author advocating for more trust in players' problem-solving abilities to foster a greater sense of accomplishment.
WoW: Forever dev says 'there's a real longing for that slower, more deliberate pace' in MMOs: 'A…
World of Warcraft: Forever's associate production director Clay Stone discusses the appeal of a slower, more deliberate pace in MMORPGs, citing the success of Classic, Season of Discovery, and Hardcore modes. He suggests that the modern world's constant information overload creates a longing for less rushed gameplay experiences, and that "WoW Forever" aims to answer the question of whether it's too late to start playing with an emphatic 'no'.
Blizzard explains why WoW: Forever won't have Summoning Stones, says 'easy quick access to teleports shrink the world' and 'easily erodes' its core design pillars
Blizzard Entertainment has explained that World of Warcraft: Forever will not include Summoning Stones, citing that easy access to teleports shrinks the world and erodes core design pillars like nurturing social experiences and treating the world as the main character. The studio believes convenience features can negatively impact the game's social fabric and pacing.
