Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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ROTETRA is Tetris where the blocks fall from four different sides at once and lord almighty I don't have the brainspace to be good at it, but it sure is fun
ROTERA is a new Tetris-like puzzle game developed by Michael Kamm where blocks fall from four sides simultaneously, requiring players to manage multiple falling pieces and rotate the entire board. The game features various modes, including standard, cross, classico, and puzzle, with a demo available on Steam.
There’s Never Been A Better Time To Play Fire Emblem: Awakening
The author argues that Fire Emblem: Awakening is a superior experience to the more recent Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave due to its immediate accessibility and focus on core tactical gameplay. While acknowledging Fortune's Weave's intricate mechanics, the article criticizes its excessive layers of tedious daily activities that bury the enjoyable combat.
Gears of War: E-Day review
Gears of War: E-Day offers excellent cover-based shooting mechanics and a strong multiplayer experience, but its main campaign is criticized for being an exhausting and overly long firefight. The game introduces some new mechanics and weapon upgrades, but the narrative struggles to justify its existence as a prequel.
RuneScape devs apologize for plan to reset and divide the MMO: "We have made you, as existing players, feel like…
Jagex has apologized and is reconsidering its "RuneScape Reignited" plan, which proposed splitting the MMO into new worlds with fresh economies, after significant player backlash. Existing players felt neglected, fearing their progress and accomplishments would be devalued. The developer is now exploring revisions to better integrate veteran players and address concerns about community fragmentation and monetization.
"Your word is undeniable truth": Can't be bothered to find evidence in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy? It's fine, because no matter what, you're always right
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy's narrative designer Veronika Larionova discussed how players can conclude investigations with minimal evidence, as their word as an agent of the Inquisition is considered undeniable truth. While uncovering actual truth is not mandatory, players have the freedom to use evidence as they see fit, with choices leading to different story paths, rewards, and endings.
Choose My Adventure: Preparing for the first steps into Aion 2 – with your help
This article introduces a new 'Choose My Adventure' format for covering Aion 2, where readers will guide the author's in-game decisions. The author shares initial impressions from a scale test, noting familiar elements from the original Aion and a generally positive presentation, though questioning the necessity of mouselook. The focus will be on exploring player-chosen content as a free-to-play experience.
STAR WARS: Galactic Racer — Crashing with Consequence in Runs-Based Racing
STAR WARS: Galactic Racer, available on Xbox Series X|S, emphasizes a runs-based racing mechanic where failure is a fun and consequential part of the gameplay loop. Developers at Fuse Games, including Creative Director Kieran Crimmins and Head of Content Steve Uphill, highlight how their "wreck-out system" makes crashing a spectacular and educational experience, fueling player progression and creating unique stories.
Gears of War: E-Day – Surviving the First Night of Emergence
Gears of War: E-Day has launched worldwide on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Game Pass, and Steam, returning to the series' origins on Emergence Day. The game features Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago fighting the Locust Horde in an action-horror experience emphasizing cover-based combat, strategic weapon use, and survival against terrifying new enemies. It is built in Unreal Engine 5 and offers both campaign and multiplayer modes.
Galactic Racer Immediately Taught Me A Hard Lesson, And I Have To Respect It
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is praised for its tense arcade racing and inventive roguelite structure, which immediately teaches players a hard lesson about failure. The game's commitment to allowing players to crash out early is seen as a brilliant gameplay loop that clearly communicates the reckless fantasy of Star Wars racing.
Aion 2 celebrates over 400K Steam users and opens multiple new servers in its first day of release
Aion 2 has achieved over 400,000 concurrent users on Steam within its first day of global release, prompting NCsoft to open multiple new servers. While the game topped several Steam charts, user reviews are mixed, citing issues with combat, monetization, and auto-movement, alongside praise for visuals and gameplay.
Silver Pines review: "This horror Metroidvania take on Silent Hill and Resident Evil is a mystery that's hard to put down"
Silver Pines is a compelling and atmospheric survival horror Metroidvania that masterfully blends elements of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. The game features stylish visuals, engaging gameplay, and excellent pacing, running smoothly on PC and Steam Deck. While boss fights can be janky and the ending leaves some questions unanswered, the overall experience is gripping and leaves players wanting more.
What Makes a Game Interactive? Mario vs Lain vs AI
This analysis explores the definition of interactivity in video games, contrasting the direct physical input of Super Mario Bros. with the cognitive friction of Serial Experiments Lain. It argues that true interactivity lies in the player's agency and the push-and-pull relationship with the media, rather than mere convenience or information overload, a concept highlighted by Nintendo's historical approach and contrasted with modern predictive media and AI.
GTA 6 – 15 Details That Reveal the Depth of Rockstar’s Vision (Part 3)
Rockstar Games' upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature dynamic weather systems, including hurricanes, that impact gameplay and the environment. The game will also include extensive usable interiors, diverse wildlife with rare and legendary variants, and new activities like demolition derbies and motocross, enhancing open-world exploration and immersion.
Gears of War E-Day Multiplayer Final Impressions – Nice!
The Coalition's Gears of War: E-Day revitalizes the franchise with revamped movement mechanics that feel fresh yet retain the series' signature weight. The multiplayer suite, particularly the new Horde Siege mode, is highlighted as a significant improvement over previous entries, offering dynamic and engaging PvE experiences that echo the success of Helldivers 2. While PvP modes offer classic gameplay with a faster pace, the article suggests that the PvE offerings are the true standout, making E-Day a highly recommended title for both new and returning fans.
City of Heroes Homecoming offers a deep-dive into why enemies run – and what it’s doing to address it
The Homecoming development team for City of Heroes is addressing enemy AI behavior, specifically why enemies flee combat. Changes in Issue 28 Page 4 will improve the 'avoid' behavior and adjust the distance terrified mobs run, aiming to make combat more engaging.
RuneFest 2026 Reveals Huge RuneScape Future | Invision Game Community
RuneFest 2026 revealed significant future plans for the RuneScape franchise, including a new RuneScape MMO in development with Unreal Engine, an animated adaptation partnership with Charlie White and Lyrical Media, and major updates for RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Key announcements include RuneScape Reignited launching in December, new story arcs for 2027, an end-game raid for Old School RuneScape, Hardcore Worlds, and the Blood Crystal Saga for Dragonwilds, alongside official modding support.
World of Warcraft: Forever brought back a Make-a-Wish quest at the behest of the community
The 'Kyle's Gone Missing!' quest, originally created as a Make-A-Wish fulfillment for former player Ezra Chatterton in 2007, has been readded to World of Warcraft: Forever. This decision was made after significant community requests, honoring Chatterton's legacy and his contribution to the game.
Why it's still worth making immersive sims
Former Arkane Studios collaborators Harvey Smith and Ben Horne, now co-founders of Black Pony Immersive, are committed to developing ambitious 'immersive sim' games. They discuss the challenges of creating these genre-defining titles without the backing of major publishers like Zenimax or Microsoft, emphasizing creativity and passion.
Inside RuneScape Reignited, Jagex's ambitious plan to "relaunch" its longest-running MMO: "There's a level of confidence that this is the right thing to do"
Jagex is relaunching RuneScape with 'RuneScape Reignited,' a new server set to reset all player progress and the in-game economy to attract new and returning players. This move follows the removal of unpopular microtransactions and aims to re-establish the MMORPG's appeal, though it has caused controversy among existing players regarding potential playerbase fragmentation and a separate membership requirement.
TW: Warhammer 3 lead sees Lords of End Times DLC as an entry point as much as new content
Creative Assembly's Senior Game Director Richard Albridge discusses the new 'Lords of the End Times' DLC for Total War: Warhammer 3, highlighting its potential to serve as a standalone entry point for new players. This DLC marks a new era for the series, offering modular content and a bridge to future expansions.
