Grid Sage Games

DECEMBER 3, 2022

First here’s our yearly dev collage showing off in visual form some of the progress and work since our last review, version 2022! This year’s major release was of course Beta 11 “Mechanical Renaissance,” in the works for 17 (!) months, and a massive set of new toys, challenges , revamped mechanics , and more.

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Beta Mechanics Content Art 52

Brand Game Development

OCTOBER 23, 2017

I’ve split it into five sections for your convenience: How Ben, Sarah, and Will Got Started How Working in a Team Feels The Downsides of Teamwork Communication in a Team Advice for New Game Devs. Sarah: It was summer of 2012 that Will had the idea to make a board game for my birthday, but didn’t know how to go about it.

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Prototyping Playtesting Games Game Design 130

Brand Game Development

NOVEMBER 20, 2017

Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the third of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? Game mechanics are how we bring the core engine of a game to life.

Mechanics 130

Mechanics Games Game Design Game Designer 130

Grid Sage Games

MAY 8, 2022

Recently a player asked me a question regarding my game balance philosophy, and while I can often respond to queries by pointing to some previous article, despite all my writing and no doubt occasionally touching on related topics, I had yet to explicitly do any sort of summary of the philosophy behind my gamedev work. Difficulty.

Game Design 52

Game Design Game Designer Balance Games 52

Game Analytics

DECEMBER 5, 2022

One of the reasons why hyper-casual games are so popular is due to how quick and easy they are to make. Simple controls, artwork, and game design make it easy for any developer to pick up. There are other ways to build a game on a budget. Because choice is how you can differentiate a book from a game.

Horror 109

Horror Games Mobile Mobile 109

Game Dev Unchained

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

But, beyond gameplay mechanics, Eco speaks to a much larger industry trend: the emergence of the metaverse. “The community’s voice is invaluable; it helps shape the game,” he remarked. With it comes the challenging balance between financial backing and creative control. But publishers are not the only avenue.

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Indy AAA Platformer Educational 105

Brand Game Development

NOVEMBER 27, 2017

Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the fourth of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? This guide comes in three parts: How do you test game mechanics?

Mechanics 130

Mechanics Games Balance Development 130

Deconstructor of Fun

OCTOBER 10, 2021

I should have predicted a $10 billion-a-year game if I wanted to sound like a true visionary. In my heart, I am a game designer. I spend most of my waking hours thinking about game mechanics and how they will make players feel. I know a thing or two about power creep in game economy. Bullish On Blockchain.

Asset 52

Asset Games Fighting Mobile 52

Grid Sage Games

MARCH 10, 2022

Mechanics that are never quite worth taking advantage of, items that haven’t lived up to their potential, or were later superseded by other options but remained unchanged, or even long-term experiments that were included at some point but never updated/expanded/removed. Categorical Approach. Alien Artifacts.

Balance 52

Balance Mechanics Beta Prototyping 52

Brand Game Development

APRIL 23, 2018

Much like my old staple How to Get Big on Twitter as a Board Game Dev , I’ll be covering everything you need to know to get started on Facebook as a board game developer. New game devs: don’t write off Facebook because it’s expensive. You have strike a balance.

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Dev Build Advertising Games 130

Brand Game Development

DECEMBER 11, 2017

Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the sixth of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? Rules provide directions on how to execute activities within a game.

Mechanics 130

Mechanics Concepts Writing Games 130

Brand Game Development

MARCH 13, 2017

Not only does he help gamers make healthier choices, but he’s a fledgling designer himself! Today he shares with us a game he really enjoys: Colony. Burt: I’ve fallen in love with Colony by Bezier Games, designed by Ted Alspach, Toryo Hojo, and N2 (the pen name for Yoshihisa Nakatsu). Need help on your board game?

Mechanics 130

Mechanics Games Advertising Balance 130

Deconstructor of Fun

JUNE 6, 2022

Passes can generate different player experiences, follow a different balance, and emphasize different components depending on the genre and audience. For most players (including payers) the Pass is primarily retention and an engagement mechanism. Enjoy from the links below. Why are Battle Passes so successful?

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Content Mechanics Balance Mobile 52

Game Dev Unchained

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

This episode is sponsored by Autodesk AU 2023 | November 13-15 in Las Vegas ⁠ ⁠ My conversation with Brian Canary, a seasoned game designer, reveals the intricacies of the industry’s shifting dynamics. Collaboration and Single-Player Game Resurgence The discourse delves deep into the essence of game design—collaboration.

AI 52

AI Games Technology Film 52

Brand Game Development

AUGUST 11, 2017

Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. Between 7 Subtle Player Behaviors You Should Notice When Play-Testing and The Art of the Play Test: Designing Tests and Keeping Records , you might think that’s all I’ve got on my mind.

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Point and Click Art Games Communications 100

Grid Sage Games

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

Some roguelikes don’t go heavy on realism, in which case backtracking for this reason can be considered a non-issue and solely a decision to be made within the greater mechanical design, though this does mean progress ends up feeling gamier overall. Design Control.

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Point and Click Mechanics Open World Feature 52

Grid Sage Games

JULY 17, 2022

I’m reminded of Beta 11’s spicing up the main complex with Heavies and Cargo Convoys , though in this case it’s not just adding one or two new mechanics but instead about turning Garrisons into proper branch maps in terms of content distribution… Encounter Architecture.

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Beta Content Balance Mechanics 52

Keith Burgun

JANUARY 27, 2023

In JRPGs, when the battles are fun, it’s actually usually that the party-building / character configuration mechanics are good. In none of these games is the actual combat system itself the draw, really, it’s more in how you’re arranging and leveling up your party that’s interesting. 50% fewer minigames.

Writing 52

Writing Fantasy Fighting Cutscenes 52

Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

This is similar to my tactics games writeup and Enderal (huge Skyrim mod) writeup where I spoil some interesting game designer / systems design things. I don't discuss much of the game narrative. I assume general game design knowledge but minimal Deathloop-specific knowledge. Limited regen (e.g.

Fighting 52

Fighting NPC Puzzle AI 52

Brand Game Development

JANUARY 29, 2018

Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the thirteenth of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. This week, I want to zero in on the subject of making the perfect board game rule book.

Writing 130

Writing Games Mechanics Balance 130

Radiator Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2022

You can place this game in a tradition of walkie-talkie games like Firewatch or Wheels of Aurelia. Here my walking mechanic borrows some sensibility from Death Stranding, where terrain can seriously slow down the player's speed, so a skilled player should micro-optimize their route a little and avoid water / hills / obstacles.

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Pixel Film Art NPC 52

Brand Game Development

JULY 15, 2019

One of the hallmarks of good board game design is being able to create hard choices. Particularly when hard choices come from simple mechanics. Sounds easy enough to do, but it’s actually really tough from the designer’s perspective! Let’s talk about how you can create hard choices in your board game.

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Tile Mechanics Games Puzzle 130

Brand Game Development

JULY 22, 2019

Perfect board game pacing is one of the most underrated aspects of board game design. Somewhere between overwhelm and ennui, there lies a middle ground where a game is perfectly paced. A great board game feels challenging and interesting throughout. Now I want to zoom out a bit and look at the design as a whole.

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Tile Games Playtesting Balance 130

Game Dev Unchained

MAY 1, 2023

AI in Art: Balancing Creativity and Ethics In the realm of digital art, AI technology is stirring up a mix of excitement and controversy. Artists, game developers, and big companies alike are grappling with the implications of AI-generated art, raising questions about consent, copyright, and the value of creativity.

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AI Technology Content Art 98

Radiator Blog

JUNE 30, 2022

For balance purposes, I limit the number of voyeurs in the maze, otherwise it can enter a deadlock where there's only voyeurs but no one for them to watch. This points to a general problem with treating sexual moods like immutable video game character classes. Voyeurs work differently, they have sex by watching a couple have sex.

Code 52

Code Educational Education Prototyping 52