article thumbnail

The three most important qualities in an RPG

Keith Burgun

AAA games are first and foremost products and their “smooth functionality” is prized above all else. I tend to think that “genres” in videogames are believed in, or thought to be real in a way that is massively over-stated. Actual surprises are costly, they create bugs and instability, they create imbalances.

Fantasy 52
article thumbnail

Deathloop deconstruction / design thoughts

Radiator Blog

unlike Outer Wilds, golden loop here is heavily hard-gated by quest progression, not a "true" information game, compromise with AAA market? I imagine Arkane debated this a lot, and over the years, had to bow to AAA approachability and clarity. no mind control) only 5 powers (+1 PvP only power).