Game Developer Deep Dives are an ongoing series with the goal of shedding light on specific design, art, or technical features within a video game in order to show how seemingly simple, fundamental design decisions aren’t really that simple at all. Earlier installments cover topics such as creating a game manual that accommodates multiple learning …
Bryant Francis, Senior Editor February 7, 2024 7 Min Read Image via Adobe Stock. At a Glance Developers needing to pitch games are turning to generative AI art tools to sell the vision for their game. The temptation to go quick and easy is unavoidable. But the old ways still have much merit. I’m lucky …
Ali Zandian, Blogger November 6, 2023 20 Min Read Video games are fun only when players’ minds are engaged in playing and pretending. Pretending creates a mental state that some call the Magic Circle, and maintaining it is essential for players to enjoy the gameplay. In this article, we explore the concept of the Magic …
Patrick Traynor’s latest puzzle game Patrick’s Parabox is both an evolution of the block-pushing puzzle game, and something new and unique to itself. It allows players to shrink down and enter boxes, where there can be whole levels inside them, but that is just barely scraping the surface of a unique and ingenious experience. According …
Julian Togelius, Contributor June 18, 2024 5 Min Read One of the most exciting and controversial technological developments in recent years has been the rise of generative AI in game development. This powerful technology has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of game creation, from coding to graphics and beyond. In this article, we’ll explore …
In the midst of a layoff crisis impacting game developers across the globe, a disheartening trend has emerged: American studios are being crushed under the weight of the country’s high cost of living. This phenomenon is hitting companies of all shapes and sizes. Big players like EA, Microsoft, and Sony have cut workforces in the …
Maria Amirkhanyan, Blogger October 13, 2023 9 Min Read As the video game industry continues to grow, developers are increasingly focusing on creating immersive, emotionally engaging experiences. To that end, understanding and measuring players’ emotional responses is crucial for optimizing gameplay mechanics, narrative elements, and overall game design. Hello everyone, my name is Maria Amirkhanyan, …
Game Developer Deep Dives are an ongoing series with the goal of shedding light on specific design, art, or technical features within a video game in order to show how seemingly simple, fundamental design decisions aren’t really that simple at all. Earlier installments cover topics such as how Ishtar Games approached the design of a …
Game Developer Deep Dives are an ongoing series with the goal of shedding light on specific design, art, or technical features within a video game in order to show how seemingly simple, fundamental design decisions aren’t really that simple at all. Earlier installments cover topics such as how solo developed Devon Wiersma optimized the spraypainted …
There is nothing wrong with an inherently difficult game. It’s what I’ve built my entire career on, in fact. But the degree to which I was shutting out players from enjoying our games simply due to our staggering difficulty didn’t become apparent until it was too late—and the features we put in to make our …
