This week, our partnership with game criticism site Critical Distance brings us picks from Joe Koeller on topics ranging from the discussion of body image in Robert Yang's NSFW Cobra Club to player reaction to Rust's recent update randomizing the race of player avatars. ...
"Event Structure: Mastering this concept is crucial to creating a powerful player experience. Many games have collapsed due to a lack of structural integrity." ...
Technical designer James Lantz breaks down Klei's iterative approach to designing the alarm systems in Invisible, Inc. so they consistently create a tense, high-pressure environment. ...
"Good puzzle design gives a player that moment of epiphany, where suddenly all is clear, and the following satisfaction when your put your solution in place, and it works!" How do you achieve it? Here's a guide. ...
As the two industries clash over who gets what, a lack of compromise and heightened scrutiny from politicians means that the latest subsidies are looking very lean by previous standards. ...
When you plug Twitter data from the UK's national elections into a game, what do you get? These devs experimented with turning results into realtime parliamentary fisticuffs. ...
A how-to guide: "I immediately fell in love with its intuitive interface and powerful features. I was able to turn a linear composition into an adaptive score ready for a video game in less than an hour." ...
Tools for taking a critical eye to games: "An analysis can be broad or focused. It can take a little or a lot of time. But in any case, it should answer your questions, your needs." ...
Worst-case scenario: your spaceship is gone, your crew is scattered, and there's no hope for rescue. Your only option: Grab your crew and fly into the sun, so at least you don't die alone. ...
Developers of MMO Das Tal surveyed their likely players -- and found out about platform and purchasing-style preferences. Useful info for those targeting a very core audience. ...