Keith Burgun

JULY 29, 2022

AAA games are first and foremost products and their “smooth functionality” is prized above all else. Here’s a handful of good examples: Final Fantasy VII : you’re part of a terrorist organization that is doing a bombing mission to try and fight back against an evil empire.

Fantasy 52

Fantasy AAA Concepts Games 52

Radiator Blog

JUNE 2, 2023

You're fighting not only the privatization of public health but also reckless climate engineering! Instead there's cutscenes without animation, scripted conversations without choreography, and readables you rarely read because the game never pauses. Three safehouse skulls + main quest macguffin = boss fight. But not really.

Studios 246

Studios Co-op Open World Cutscenes 246

Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

unlike Outer Wilds, golden loop here is heavily hard-gated by quest progression, not a "true" information game, compromise with AAA market? This fighting game health mechanic is too fussy and unreliable for a busy shooter. I think the intention is to make you scrounge around for ammo during a fight and/or swap weapons more often.

Fighting 130

Fighting NPC Puzzle AI 130

Radiator Blog

MAY 5, 2021

This is a convenient diegetic way of locking the player in-place for a cutscene, while also priming the player for an extended cutscene. It is much better than the boring shot reverse-shot cutscene stuff going on in AAA RPGs these days, and makes Skyrim's "sit" mechanic more meaningful. Money sink.

Open World 130

Open World NPC Cutscenes Terrain 130