iXie gaming

OCTOBER 3, 2023

Gameplay testing is done before launching the game to identify and mitigate issues in the game’s design, controls, graphics, and mechanics, to mention a few. This ensures more efficient and customized solutions to the game. But what is gameplay testing? And how does it work? What is Gameplay Testing?

Bug 52

Bug Mechanics Beta Playtesting 52

Interesting Choices

OCTOBER 5, 2011

Also wanted to give a quick update on my various boardgame designs: City Draft - This 7 Wonders inspired drafting game is consistently liked in playtests and has been improving slowly and steadily. The game feels too easy, doesn't have enough strategy, and doesn't seem to quite evoke the feelings that I'm looking for.

Game Design 40

Game Design Game Designer Playtesting Tile 40

Radiator Blog

MARCH 16, 2023

I assumed it was mostly for fans but after watching all 32 episodes (on 2x speed, skipping some parts) I've changed my mind and now I think it's essential viewing for all game designers / devs. Each level also had unique mechanics and art styles that all tied into a cohesive whole.

Art 59

Art Concepts Dev Studios 59

Mnenad

JULY 8, 2018

The Mechanic I. I was looking for suitable solutions for having both views in the mechanic of the game. But before I explain the narration, I want to jump back in time when I started building the endless terrain generator. But on the other hand, this fact made me aware of my competence as a game designer. 

Prototyping 52

Prototyping Terrain Open World Rigging 52

Sirlin

JUNE 13, 2015

During Pandante development, I posted dozens of versions of the game board, cards, rules, etc. Patrons helped playtest and also just point out errors or give suggestions how to improve things. Codex, Flowchart, and now.the Fantasy Strike fighting game (yes, really!). Tech buildings let you build more powerful units.

Fighting 52

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that are never quite worth taking advantage of, items that haven’t lived up to their potential, or were later superseded by other options but remained unchanged, or even long-term experiments that were included at some point but never updated/expanded/removed.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

Balance 52

Balance Mechanics Beta Prototyping 52

Designer Notes

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Game designers would just be guessing. So, what can games simulate? Strangely, the best example I can think of is a game trying to recreate a situation MUCH more difficult to simulate than baseball, life as a border agent in a totalitarian country. However, Wright was not making a game in the abstract.

Simulation 73

Simulation Agent Game Design Game Designer 73

Interesting Choices

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

Not long after that I started working on a game (then called City Draft) that would be strongly inspired by a few key influences: 7 Wonders for the mechanics and structure, Carcassonne for the idea of placing tiles in a grid, and SimCity for the theme. Limited play decisions.

Build 40

Build Tile Point and Click Games 40

Brand Game Development

JANUARY 2, 2018

Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the ninth of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? Carla: I have a few other games in the works as well, Drapple and Observance.

Playtesting 130

Playtesting Games Advertising Prototyping 130

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 14, 2023

So how should publishers think about launching new games right now? Building a brand Cilingir used League of Legends and Genshin Impact as examples of brands that have resonated outside games, and stressed that community-building has never been more important as it lowers your UA cost.

Games 59

Games Cross platform Mobile Mobile 59

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.

Beta 52

Beta Content Balance Mechanics 52

Deconstructor of Fun

OCTOBER 17, 2022

However, even back then, Chinese players would spend a substantial amount of money in microtransactions which, thanks to a massive gamer population, were driving multiple franchises above the annual billion dollar revenue mark, making the free-to-play model the only way to build a viable business.

Content 52

Content FPS Mobile Mobile 52

Brand Game Development

JULY 20, 2020

Garret: I have been making games all my life, from building and tweaking Amiga Basic examples from a textbook when I was 8, to making Quake2 mods in my teens, to redesigning an all new dynamic version of Axis and Allies with my friends in university. Garret: My name is Garret Rempel, I’m a 34 year old Canadian father of 4.

Prototyping 130

Prototyping Games Playtesting Dev 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.

Tile 130

Tile Games Playtesting Balance 130

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.

Tile 130

Tile Mechanics Games Puzzle 130

Radiator Blog

JUNE 30, 2022

Can we build a sex dungeon that would do Jane Jacobs proud? This points to a general problem with treating sexual moods like immutable video game character classes. So in hindsight, a better game design analogy for sexual roles would've been "stances" or "buffs" that freely change and/or stack.

Code 52

Code Educational Education Prototyping 52