Raph Koster

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

I thought it would be interesting to contrast this to Word Dad , a puzzle game made by my friend, master game designer John Cutter. A brief aside on puzzles All three of these are more correctly called puzzles, of course. This means that really, puzzles and games are terms that are matters of degree, not kind.

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Puzzle Build Data Content 119

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 10, 2021

Facebook Gaming helps developers and publishers to build, grow and monetize their games. Laura Taranto has 12 years experience in casual games and is a product advisor and puzzle game aficionado. Puzzle Games in 2020 Puzzle, out of all of the genres and mobile, is the largest one when looking at IAPs only. It made $5.1

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Puzzle Mobile Mobile Advertising 52

PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

I had literally just started programming 6 months prior and now I’m building a full game? It usually starts with a ‘think pad’, which is basically just a google doc where I write down anything to do with a specific game concept. I played around with a few ideas and one of them was a simple cube rolling puzzle game.

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Dev Puzzle Prototyping Playtesting 104

Logic Simplified

OCTOBER 23, 2023

To build a truly immersive gaming environment, a team of designers, developers, artists and programmers employ a combination of psychology, art and technology into video games that challenge and capture players, resulting in satisfying gameplay. It is essential to define game mechanics, which refers to the systems that guide gameplay.

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Development Mechanics Games Game Design 52

Big Games

OCTOBER 13, 2023

Let us unveil valuable tips and insights to guide beginners in building their iPhone games. When venturing into the concept of how to make an iOS game , it’s essential to grasp the industry’s dynamics and market conditions. For aspiring game creators, venturing into iOS mobile game development services can be thrilling and rewarding.

Mobile Gaming 52

Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile UX 52

Brand Game Development

JULY 15, 2019

Particularly when hard choices come from simple mechanics. He, after all, created the pattern building game that we call Tasty Humans , so it makes for a great case study! In my Tasty Humans Designer Diary posts so far, I have focused on the puzzle aspect of the game. The design process really started with the puzzle.

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Tile Mechanics Games Puzzle 130

PreMortem.Games

AUGUST 9, 2023

Solve puzzles and wander your way across the iris, and through the life, of Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Is this mechanic fun? Asking and discussing general ideas about themes or concepts, ‘I’m thinking of making my eye game about Monet now… what do you reckon?’. I think Limbo was a team, but still).

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Dev Art Concepts Film 104

Game Analytics

DECEMBER 28, 2022

Think of this as a hyper-casual Beyblade game with a merge mechanic mixed in the middle. What we liked about Spinner Merge is how they came about the idea of bringing in the merge mechanic. Cart Crash is an incredibly satisfying game that relies much more on timing than any other mechanic. That’s the core concept from Voodoo.

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Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile Mechanics 98

PreMortem.Games

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Solve puzzles and wander your way across the iris, and through the life, of Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Is this mechanic fun? Asking and discussing general ideas about themes or concepts, ‘I’m thinking of making my eye game about Monet now… what do you reckon?’. I think Limbo was a team, but still).

Dev 104

Dev Art Concepts Film 104

Game Designing

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Both are open-world action-adventure games with fantasy elements and similar mechanics. Overall, it is a more moody atmosphere that lends a sense of dread, and this goes along nicely with the hostile game mechanics players will be up against. Is the game simplistic and easy to understand, or are mechanics obscure and complicated?

Games 136

Games Mechanics Fantasy Art 136

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 22, 2021

Especially since the game seeks to dominate the puzzle genre, which is the largest and arguably the most competitive genre in mobile games. Our partner ironSource builds technologies that help game developers take their games to the next level. In casual games overall, puzzle games account for just over 50% of all revenue for 2020.

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Puzzle Mobile Mobile Mechanics 69

Game Daily

OCTOBER 20, 2023

But we know that if you get the player engaged or focused on something in the world – a puzzle or environmental storytelling -then they’re very susceptible to being suddenly scared. Using time and space to build up tension and anticipation for something, and then utilizing a release valve. Players become numb to it.

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Horror Art Build Cinematics 52

Game Refinery

OCTOBER 26, 2023

The ever-changing nature of the mobile market means that new monetization mechanics are constantly emerging and evolving. One of the most popular monetization mechanics is the subscription-based battle pass , which was introduced via Valve’s DOTA 2 in 2013 but popularized by the worldwide phenomenon, Fortnite.

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Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile Co-op 82

Astral Clock Tower Studios

JUNE 29, 2021

This month, in addition to our typical development sprints, we've also been hard at work prepping a super special convention build of Kristala for the upcoming Play NYC convention. Concept Art. We really liked the concept of the existing logo, but we wanted to see what it would look like with a more realistic clock tower.

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Keith Burgun

JUNE 18, 2022

The 1P videogames I’ve always dreamed of had these qualities: Mechanically deep and systemically driven – perhaps even if that means it’s got a learning curve. Indeed, one of the main starting points for the design was that it wouldn’t be a puzzle, standing in contrast to the highly puzzle-like nature of Advance Wars.

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Games Puzzle Graphics Cutscenes 52

Radiator Blog

OCTOBER 13, 2022

There's a Portal-like moment where you escape the puzzle. Cult of the Lamb by Massive Monster This is a Hades-like / Binding of Issac-ish 2D action roguelike wrapped around a Don't Starve / Rimworld-y town building crafting survival system, with all the subversively violent dark cartoon humor of those references.

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Indy Film Games Puzzle 52

Astral Clock Tower Studios

AUGUST 31, 2021

You'll read a lot about the work that went into making our Play build smooth and seamless in this issue of the blog, but check out this article from our friends at NoobFeed and the following video from Piercing Metal that explain a bit more about the exclusive build of Kristala we exhibited at Play NYC. link] Concept Art.

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Game Refinery

JANUARY 5, 2023

When a game with a unique style and appearance becomes a hit, it doesn’t take long for new games to emerge, hoping to emulate that success by using the same gameplay mechanics, visual style and features. You’d be forgiven for mistaking Stumble Guys for Fall Guys. Tournament options in Stumble Guys.

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Mobile Mobile Mechanics Racing 52

Astral Clock Tower Studios

MAY 27, 2021

Concept Art. In our last issue, we introduced you to a bunch of new team members that recently joined our growing family, including our newest Environmental Concept artist, Harold. Right away, Harold dove into creating fresh, detailed concepts for each level area in the Kristala demo. Let's dive in.

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Dev Concepts Demo Animation 52

Astral Clock Tower Studios

APRIL 21, 2021

Concept Art. As part of our demo overhaul, we recently welcomed a few new team members into our motley crew in order to help us better establish the dark-fantasy vibe we're going for—including the newest member to our Concept Art team, Harold. Curious about Harold's process for building out each concept's composition?

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Brand Game Development

JULY 1, 2019

Once you craft the basic concepts of your game and find the right mechanics to express them , you have to set rules. He, after all, created the pattern building game that we call Tasty Humans , so it makes for a great case study! These elements combine to create the central puzzle of each turn in Tasty Humans.

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Tile Games Mechanics Build 130

Deconstructor of Fun

JUNE 12, 2023

The timing of the Floodrush beta is puzzling because playing Squad Busters just before Floodrush remarks the weaknesses in the latter. I find the comparison unavoidable: They share many similarities and core concepts. To do so, they need to collect resources and build an army during the match. Floodrush versus Squad Busters ?

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Beta Fighting Build Mobile 52

Astral Clock Tower Studios

JULY 31, 2021

After over a year of exhibiting at various online game conventions, we can't properly tell you how stoked we are to be presenting an exclusive build of Kristala—featuring our revamped demo level—at this year's Play NYC convention. Concept Art. Kristala at Play NYC 2021.

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Brand Game Development

AUGUST 26, 2019

Targeting Attention, Interest, Desire, And Action Product Your Niche Price Process & Logistics Core Concepts of Promotion Outreach Reviews Distribution Kickstarter Advertising. This concept is called product-market fit. You have to very slowly build your reputation. There is no perfect product. There is no perfect audience.

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Advertising Games Media Concepts 130

Keith Burgun

APRIL 10, 2023

This concept of “secret” doesn’t really make sense in a strategy game, contest, or a puzzle. Secrets are hidden, but findable parts of a game that help give games a sense that there is “more than meets the eye” and that this is a world , not just a content delivery mechanism.

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Fantasy Puzzle Content Cutscenes 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 17, 2022

One of the main problems in Clash Mini is the strong similarity with Clash Royale , the other Supercell auto battler whose gameplay and unit mechanics are very similar. This is an existential threat to Clash Mini since the lack of innovation in-unit mechanics was among the top reasons why Rush Wars failed to captivate players.

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Content Mechanics Point and Click Mobile 52

Astral Clock Tower Studios

NOVEMBER 9, 2021

Here's how it works: each month, we share all the progress every branch of development has made as they collectively work towards completing Kristala's vertical slice—from stunning concept art and 3D models to custom animations, level design, and everything in between. Concept Art. These pieces will vary in both shape and strength.

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Dev Concepts Animation Animation 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 13, 2021

Facebook Gaming helps developers and publishers to build, grow, and monetize their games. Hypercasual Trend #1 The Rise of Feel-Good Mechanics Ultracasual is the youngest subgenre within Hypercasual and it seems to have peaked in 2020. Our 2021 predictions have been sponsored by Facebook Gaming. Nothing new really.

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Mechanics Puzzle Advertising Studios 52

Deconstructor of Fun

FEBRUARY 24, 2020

This post is written by Sophie Vo who’s building a kick-ass game team at Voodoo Berlin. With each experience, I perfected my approach to building highly creative and effective teams. Building teams is like cooking to me, my other passion. I want to share my journey of building my team. Both are a mix of art and science.

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Studios Build Puzzle Concepts 52

Deconstructor of Fun

FEBRUARY 13, 2022

Playtika’s Pirate Kings trails Coin Master and has similar mechanics but uses a Wheel of Fortune instead of a slot machine. Coin Master loop Coin Master disrupts the traditional Slots core loop of Spin + Collect coins by adding mechanics of raiding player villages and building/upgrading villages.

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Games Mobile Mobile Puzzle 52

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 31, 2021

Facebook Gaming helps developers and publishers to build, grow, and monetize their games. Similarly, look for a wave of new titles from established companies—both in the casino and in other genres—as they strive to build growth. Access all of our previous predictions. Signup for the newsletter. Apply for our Slack group.

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Mobile Mobile Games 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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Astral Clock Tower Studios

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

When we last met, we shared some exciting updates from our time exhibiting at Play NYC 2021, and shared all the work that went into ensuring the exclusive build we prepared for the convention was in tip-top shape and ready to be played. Concept Art. We ultimately ended up choosing the first option to include on the character in game.

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Deconstructor of Fun

AUGUST 29, 2021

But what’s unique is that an actual villager needs to be assigned to the crafting building or construction site to finish the task. In other words, villagers are the pacing mechanisms in the game. And players can arrange their buildings’ positions to make resource transportation faster.

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Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

none of Dishonored's morality system and I think this is good, the "stealth puzzle = humane cage free assassination" philosophy has aged poorly imo 69% less stealth. NOT telekinesis, only works on NPCs / PvP) Havoc (temporary shield / damage buff), very useful for people who keep dying (i.e.

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Deconstructor of Fun

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

After that, Space Ape has been clearly boldened to take riskier shots as they’ve seemingly pursued big hits without focusing on building a specific genre nor audience expertise. We always advocate for genre and audience mastery , urging studios to focus on building expertise rather than constantly trying something new.

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Mobile Mobile Build Feature 52

Astral Clock Tower Studios

MARCH 23, 2022

Concept Art. When we last met, our concept art team was working on finalizing a few last-minute items needed for our Vertical Slice. With all core mechanics and elements now in place, the last thing on the list is to add any last-minute assets and address bugs. First, James worked on the concept for our Warp VFX sequence.

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