The Bottom Feeder

APRIL 5, 2023

As I said in my last GoWR piece (which got quite a lot of reads), it's kind of futile to critique big AAA games. On one end: Video games tend to work best as a power fantasy , a source of emotional pleasure and fulfillment for the player. This game needs to be wish-fulfillment power fantasy. This is a Power Fantasy.

Art 70

Art Fantasy Writing Agent 70

Moonmana

APRIL 7, 2023

Thanks to groundbreaking technology advancements, developers can now take advantage of cutting-edge software and game engines which enable them to create fantasy worlds in video games. Both Unity and Unreal are popular choices among giant game development studios as well as indie developers. But is there an ultimate winner?

Engine 52

Engine Engineering Game Engine Asset 52

Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

unlike Outer Wilds, golden loop here is heavily hard-gated by quest progression, not a "true" information game, compromise with AAA market? This fighting game health mechanic is too fussy and unreliable for a busy shooter. no mind control) only 5 powers (+1 PvP only power). Limited regen (e.g. No hoarding / shopping trips.

Fighting 52

Fighting NPC Puzzle AI 52

Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

The final boss fight is a conversation, and the ultimate weapon is. Planescape Torment's final boss fight conversation works because the god stuff is a metaphor for the protagonist's personal arc -- the final boss isn't god! Final Fantasys end with god-killing because that's what changing your life requires! Take that, god!

NPC 52

NPC Fighting Art Dev 52

Radiator Blog

JUNE 2, 2023

You're fighting not only the privatization of public health but also reckless climate engineering! Three safehouse skulls + main quest macguffin = boss fight. that a bigger US AAA or a non-US indie would've failed to capture. But not really. The player never quite experiences these ideas in the game itself.

Studios 98

Studios Co-op Open World Cutscenes 98