Interactive Design

"We're not perfectly replicating the real world, that would be crazy": The invisible design behind Firewatch's pine cones and picture frames

This article analyzes the subtle yet impactful design choices in Firewatch, focusing on how interactive elements like pine cones and picture frames convey character and narrative. Developer Campo Santo intentionally differentiated object interactions to create a tangible and grounded world, contrasting physics-based objects with those that return to a 'put back spot' to match player intention and character behavior.