iHobo

JULY 12, 2023

Although these lines are increasingly blurred today (as AAA cRPGs will tend to draw heavily from both traditions), there is a clear historical period after the Ultima - Wizardry split that dominates more than two decades of cRPG design.

Open World 52

Open World AAA Game Design Game Designer 52

The Bottom Feeder

OCTOBER 13, 2021

Our tiny company has been earning (well, "earning") a good living making indie computer games for 27 years now. We write super-retro, super-low-budget games that don't look great. Our game design is quite solid, but the stories we tell is what keeps us in business. I'm not a great fantasy writer. Never have.

Writing 57

Writing Games AAA Indy 57

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. The immersive worlds game developers craft will get players hooked and keep them coming back for more. But is there an ultimate winner?

Engine 52

Engine Engineering Game Engine Asset 52

Deconstructor of Fun

DECEMBER 13, 2022

That makes them the closest thing in games to a rock supergroup: Maya Kylmamaa (Game Lead, Engineer) , was CEO of the now defunct Reforged Studios (a Helsinki studio focused on AAA strategy games). The common point is that both were the co-founders of the indie games company Scuttlebutt Games.

Studios 52

Studios Mobile Mobile Console 52

The Bottom Feeder

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

I’m only being driven out of my shell by my need to push the Kickstarter for our next indie RPG, Geneforge 2 - Infestation. Let’s talk about games. There is a surprise hit indie game I really like, and breaking down that kind of thing is very much in my job description, so let's talk about Vampire Survivors.

Indy 81

Indy Balance Game Design Game Designer 81

Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

In a past era of game design, we complained when combat games had obligatory stealth sections -- now we have story games with obligatory combat sections. Before you begin the zombie-filled Palace quest, the game UI helpfully advises, "if you're not a fan of action or horror gameplay, feel free to decline this quest."

NPC 52

NPC Fighting Art Dev 52

Radiator Blog

JUNE 2, 2023

In this sense, playing a 75% finished game is more useful than playing a 100% finished game. So this post will focus on my read of the general game design and player experience. Similarly, you can see where the core game design wanted to hit. that a bigger US AAA or a non-US indie would've failed to capture.

Studios 98

Studios Co-op Open World Cutscenes 98