Designer Notes

MARCH 31, 2023

So, why should I go back to make a historical, tile-based 4X game? Here are some screen’s from the game’s prototyping phase. Civ inherited this mechanic directly from Empire, a game from the 80s which had much of the same tile-based, turn-based combat as Civ but without the scope of all human history.

Tile 98

Tile Point and Click AI Mechanics 98

Designer Notes

AUGUST 10, 2021

The big change that always gets mentioned when going from Civ 4 to Civ 5 is one-unit-per-tile (1UPT), which is interesting as 1UPT is purely a mechanical – as opposed to thematic – change. Generally speaking, opinions were divided over (although largely in favor of) the success of one-unit-per-tile.

Tile 40

Tile Point and Click AI Mechanics 40

PreMortem.Games

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

Without it, rendering the 800.000 tiles that compromise the game map became problematic, so the team had to spend a week on optimizing that. Identify key features you need your engine to support, make some prototypes and see if Godot suits you and your game. Still, the switch didn’t occur without its fair share of issues.

Dev 115

Dev Development Prototyping Feature 115

Brand Game Development

JANUARY 2, 2018

With various other developers, I’ve talked about all the different parts that go into making a board game: the core engine , the mechanics , rules , and storytelling / internal narrative. Drapple is an abstract, tile-laying gardening game. Carla: There’s making the review prototypes themselves.

Playtesting 130

Playtesting Games Advertising Prototyping 130

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. Science is purely all or nothing. Few viable paths to victory.

Build 40

Build Tile Point and Click Games 40

Designer Notes

OCTOBER 14, 2021

Simulations can be great games, but they tend not to be a good format for turn-based games with transparent game mechanics. Hence, themed victory conditions were out for Old World , but we needed something in place, especially since we were playing MP within a few months of early prototyping.

AI 40

AI Simulation Mechanics Mobile Gaming 40

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 22, 2021

Royal Match Royal Match is a perfect example of finding success through improvements - not step-change innovation - cherry-picking the strongest mechanics from the best games to create a new top game. The majority of growth in 2020 in Match-3 games came from Tile Blast, Puzzle & Decorate, and classic match-3 games. With $3.7B

Puzzle 69

Puzzle Mobile Mobile Mechanics 69

Brand Game Development

JULY 22, 2019

In each of the design diaries that I have written so far, I have focused on a specific game mechanic or isolated portion of the game. There is also an escalation in strategy as the players fill up their boards by acquiring more and more Leader tiles. They have just a single Leader tile and their monster’s unique “personal craving.”

Tile 130

Tile Games Playtesting Balance 130

Radiator Blog

JUNE 30, 2022

I first prototyped it back in 2019, but I didn't really know how to finish it. Originally this was prototyped as "Saugzwang" and I made it for the 7 Day Broughlike Jam back in 2019. L loss or often worse, since cops can exploit the same chain reaction mechanic as the player. Their victim's mood or consent is irrelevant.

Code 52

Code Educational Education Prototyping 52