PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

All this before there’s ever any playtesting done. 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. So I made a shift in puzzle design to negate that.

Dev 104

Dev Puzzle Prototyping Playtesting 104

Brand Game Development

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

On the other hand, playing Tasty Humans has short turns, which helps the game stay snappy even though it’s a brain-burny puzzle game. one place I’ve encouraged surprise is the facedown card mechanic. If you hate the game you’re playtesting, do something different. Predictability is the bane of games.

Game Design 130

Game Design Game Designer Tile Games 130

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 14, 2023

Kudos to Neil Long of Mobilegamer.biz for joining the event and writing the notes. Running through the market by genre, Kress noted that King has done quite well, but other genres had suffered badly, with strategy, RPG, match puzzle, and casino games all down double digits. Shooters got creamed”, too, he said – down 33%.

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. …alert level xD. That’s a problem.

Beta 52

Beta Content Balance Mechanics 52

Radiator Blog

JUNE 30, 2022

A dense randomized mini-chess puzzle where everything matters. L loss or often worse, since cops can exploit the same chain reaction mechanic as the player. In my playtests, it felt like the best tactic is to try to trap the cop in the corner with your body while the AIs coordinate a big orgy that gives you a huge payout.

Code 52

Code Educational Education Prototyping 52