News

Thoughts on Detroit: Become Human
Thoughts on Detroit: Become Human
Quantic Dream learns with each game, and adresses their issues with new features. But with new features come new issues, and lots of juicy design lessons. In this blog post I will talk at length about affordance, then touch upon branching and themes.
Jan. 15, 2019
Video Game Deep Cuts: The Dusk Of The Bandersnatch Game Jam 2
Video Game Deep Cuts: The Dusk Of The Bandersnatch Game Jam 2
This week's highlights include pieces on formidable '90s-style first-person shooter Dusk, the classic '80s game that inspired the Black Mirror episode Bandersnatch, and a surprising mega-roundup of 2018's best 'game jam' games.
Jan. 14, 2019
MAGFest 2019 - A Student Dev's Experience
MAGFest 2019 - A Student Dev's Experience
A reflection on our first experience showcasing Runaway, a punk rock parkour platformer, at the Music & Games Festival (MAGFest). We've learned a lot and share here what went well and where we have room to improve.
Jan. 14, 2019
Tips, Tools and Guidance: VR Assets for the Game Music Composer
Tips, Tools and Guidance: VR Assets for the Game Music Composer
Game composer Winifred Phillips presents an annual VR audio resource list for game audio pros. Included: technology and tools, methods and techniques, communities and organizations, and popular VR conferences.
Jan. 14, 2019
It Took us 1.5 Years to Figure Out What our Game is About
It Took us 1.5 Years to Figure Out What our Game is About
Rise's main mechanic was first designed during a game jam on the 7th of July 2017, after 3 disappointing iterations we finally started development on the 21st of November 2018.
Jan. 14, 2019
A simple format to archive design decisions
A simple format to archive design decisions
How we keep an archive of decision-making within the design docs with the help of a few emoticons.
Jan. 11, 2019
Designing a Production Process: An Addendum
Designing a Production Process: An Addendum
An addendum to my "Designing a Production Process" series that describes how to further utilize your issue tracking database to support it.
Jan. 11, 2019
When the UI is the Game
When the UI is the Game
The sci-fi MMO Prosperous Universe is played entirely through a futuristic user interface. Read about our initial inspirations, the biggest challenges and the solutions we have come up with over the past three years.
Jan. 10, 2019
Kliuless #18: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
Kliuless #18: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
Each week I compile a gaming industry insights newsletter that I share with other Rioters, including Riot’s senior leadership. This edition is the public version that I publish broadly every week as well. Opinions are mine.
Jan. 10, 2019
The JRPG Startup Cost
The JRPG Startup Cost
Timing various gameplay elements in JRPGs of the 4th console generation: the Genesis, Sega CD, Super Nintendo, and the Game Boy. Were random encounters really that frequent and XP-grinding a necessity?
Jan. 10, 2019
Netflix's Bandersnatch UX: Cinema meets Gaming, how to make the marriage last!
Netflix's Bandersnatch UX: Cinema meets Gaming, how to make the marriage last!
Bandersnatch: Netflix's attempt at gamifying cinema is a commendable attempt but leaves more to be desired, ideas on how it can benefit from deep learnings & psychology of games.
Jan. 9, 2019
Growing the Conversation on Game Design
Growing the Conversation on Game Design
Despite how it has come to define this industry, the study of game design for a lot of people continues to be discounted, and it's time for that to change.
Jan. 9, 2019