Brand Game Development

NOVEMBER 20, 2017

The core engine is what’s left when you strip a game of mechanics and obstacles. The core engine is the bare minimum set of mechanics and concepts you need to have a functioning (but not necessarily fun) game. Game mechanics are how we bring the core engine of a game to life. What are game mechanics?

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Mechanics Games Game Design Game Designer 130

iXie gaming

MAY 24, 2024

As game analytics advances and data collection becomes more pervasive, the need to strike a balance between leveraging data and respecting player privacy becomes more crucial. In this article, we dive into the ethical considerations developers must consider in-game analytics to ensure a balance between data usage and player privacy.

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Data Balance Games Game Development 52

Brand Game Development

NOVEMBER 27, 2017

We’re picking up where we left off last week with How to Design the Mechanics of Your Board Game , so read that if you haven’t had the chance yet. Today, we’ll be focusing on testing game mechanics after you design them. A quick recap: game mechanics are how we bring the core engine of a game to life.

Mechanics 130

Mechanics Games Balance Development 130

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 25, 2024

It’s a brutal journey of persistence, frustration, and constant restarts, where the stakes are as emotional as they are mechanical. Internal debate The development of Ascending Inferno wasn’t just about embracing punishing mechanics though. For Oppolyon Studio’s co-founder, Isaac Iozzi , this hellish struggle is all too familiar.

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Studios Indy Mechanics Games 118

PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

Combining these elements with sim mechanics meant we could come up with some exciting, innovative gameplay.” But it took some tweaking to get the right balance. Wu emphasizes the importance of creating a game that strikes a balance between realism and player enjoyment. It showed that players preferred a less hardcore approach.

Studios 104

Studios Balance Content Playtesting 104

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 18, 2024

The key idea was to use the gameplay mechanics from Vampire Survivors in a different genre. “We Gamecraft is placing a heavy emphasis on the weapon stacking mechanic, which sets it apart from other shooters. The game features a corridor-like mechanic, which they want to fully explore. “We And it was!”, The solution?

Concepts 104

Concepts Mechanics Studios FPS 104

Deconstructor of Fun

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Whether it's a unique gameplay mechanic from an indie title or a groundbreaking event in one of the biggest franchises, developers consistently look to each other to spark creativity and fuel progress. There's always something new to learn, a fresh perspective to consider, or an innovative mechanic to experiment with.

Feature 52

Feature Art Mechanics Balance 52

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 9, 2023

What originally started out as a treehouse building simulator prototype, slowly evolved as the duo gradually added different mechanics. “It From the building mechanics, all the way to the third person character movements. Does it improve the mechanics of the game? We judge each feature based on three criteria.

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Engine Engineering Build Mechanics 129

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 16, 2024

The complexity of player AI, dribbling mechanics, and zonal positioning in football translates into a massive technical challenge for game developers. Developers also have to balance realism and fun, something that Moss found fascinating. It’s this balancing act what separates iconic games from their less successful counterparts.

Balance 156

Balance Games Writing Editing 156

Ask a Game Dev

OCTOBER 10, 2024

World of Warcraft's old raid system where raids supported only 10 or 25 players are examples of such where tuning and mechanics were modified to specific player numbers. However, doing this for one to eight players (or, as it stands now in WoW anywhere from 10 to 30) means eight balancing passes for every encounter.

Fighting 52

Fighting NPC Balance Mechanics 52

PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

With my artistic background, I focused less on programming and mechanics, and more on storytelling and visuals.” Quickest method “I then fine-tuned the resolution level of the pixel art, seeking a balance that would spark players’ imaginations while leaving enough room to fill in the details.

Pixel 104

Pixel Point and Click Art Balance 104

PreMortem.Games

JANUARY 3, 2024

The collaboration extends to game mechanics and gameplay loops, where player feedback plays a crucial role in shaping the final product. Compelling gameplay loop Balancing the creation of assets, the Mojsovski brothers share that the assets are a mix of marketplace acquisitions and in-house development. “I say it’s 50/50.

Horror 211

Horror Build Playtesting Animation 211

PreMortem.Games

MAY 24, 2023

Combining these elements with sim mechanics meant we could come up with some exciting, innovative gameplay.” But it took some tweaking to get the right balance. Wu emphasizes the importance of creating a game that strikes a balance between realism and player enjoyment. It showed that players preferred a less hardcore approach.

Studios 104

Studios Balance Content Playtesting 104

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 28, 2024

The control mechanics are integral to the gameplay, allowing players to operate Kazimir and his staff both together and independently. The way you control the old man and the magical staff at the same time is a neat mechanic that I am proud of,” Khoroshavin says.

Prototyping 104

Prototyping Indy Games Concepts 104

PreMortem.Games

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

We have really worked hard on making each mission a different and fun experience that introduces a unique mechanic.” It was definitely a challenge,” Olsson admits, referring to balancing player freedom with cohesive level design. Beyond the joy of destruction, Deliver At All Cost offers players a wide variety of missions.

Open World 104

Open World Games Studios Puzzle 104

PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

” From Healer to Necromancer The inspiration for Necro Story came from a simple idea: take the mechanics of Healer’s Quest, where the player controls one character in a party, and apply it to a different role. But it was more than just the combat mechanics that intrigued him.

Development 104

Development Indy Mechanics Art 104

PreMortem.Games

MARCH 29, 2024

So, what sets our game apart is its blend of authentic ’90s rally racing experience with modern gaming mechanics. The handling definitely leans towards arcade-style physics and is designed to offer a balance between being accessible and challenging. “We We want it to appeal to both casual gamers and racing enthusiasts.

Pixel 156

Pixel Racing Terrain Asset 156

Brand Game Development

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

As I said last week , “rules regulate the way mechanics are implemented. A mechanic is the concept behind the game and the rule is the way that it’s handled to ensure balance.” ” Rules are really tricky to do right because you have to serve two purposes: balance the game and communicate clearly.

Balance 130

Balance Games Communications Mechanics 130

Played with Fire

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

The challenge for VR game developers lies in designing mechanics that are both challenging and appealing to advanced players. Advanced mechanics Standard mechanics are not something that will satisfy this group of players. Their experience needs to be much more in-depth, so the mechanics require a special approach.

Mechanics 72

Mechanics Games Technology Entertainment 72

PreMortem.Games

JUNE 27, 2023

The key idea was to use the gameplay mechanics from Vampire Survivors in a different genre. “We Gamecraft is placing a heavy emphasis on the weapon stacking mechanic, which sets it apart from other shooters. The game features a corridor-like mechanic, which they want to fully explore. “We And it was!”, The solution?

Concepts 104

Concepts Mechanics Studios FPS 104

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 2, 2024

What started as a simple concept quickly turned into a game that challenges players with a mix of strategic depth and risk-reward mechanics. I think we have a similar attitude about what ‘good game design’ is, mechanically. Kaye also embraced the use of Large Language Models, which he credits with saving valuable time. “I

Dev 104

Dev Development Mechanics Writing 104

PreMortem.Games

JANUARY 15, 2024

With my artistic background, I focused less on programming and mechanics, and more on storytelling and visuals.” Quickest method “I then fine-tuned the resolution level of the pixel art, seeking a balance that would spark players’ imaginations while leaving enough room to fill in the details.

Pixel 138

Pixel Point and Click Art Games 138

Logic Simplified

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Level design is a part of video game design that focuses specifically on designing game levels (an area or stage a player must complete before moving on to the next one) while keeping in mind the architecture, layout, video game mechanics , and pace to keep the players invested in the game. Define the gameplay mechanics.

Mechanics 40

Mechanics Games Playtesting Prototyping 40

Deconstructor of Fun

JANUARY 29, 2024

Events with different mechanics sometimes complement each other, but at other times they divert players' attention, resulting in reduced activity and monetization. We had a case with an event based on merge mechanics. They just liked the mechanics and continued playing until the event had ended. Try different combos, too.

Mechanics 98

Mechanics Content Puzzle Mobile Gaming 98

Grid Sage Games

NOVEMBER 18, 2023

Cogmind’s “ special modes ,” timed events with unique mechanics, can in one sense be seen as the experimental test beds of Cogmind. but to me it wasn’t the sort of tech that the game was ready for, be it for balance, architectural, or lore reasons. This is the third post in a series on new item mechanics.

Mechanics 52

Mechanics Feature Balance Alpha 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. Alien Artifacts.

Balance 52

Balance Mechanics Beta Prototyping 52

PreMortem.Games

MARCH 30, 2023

Delightfully eerie world Development on Dredge began shortly after and took roughly two years to complete, with the last six months mostly focused on balancing, bug fixing and other tweaks. A few different mechanics For a game about fishing stuff out of the water, Dredge is surprisingly light on fishing mechanics.

Playtesting 104

Playtesting Prototyping Games Mechanics 104

PreMortem.Games

MARCH 20, 2023

Delightfully eerie world Development on Dredge began shortly after and took roughly two years to complete, with the last six months mostly focused on balancing, bug fixing and other tweaks. A few different mechanics For a game about fishing stuff out of the water, Dredge is surprisingly light on fishing mechanics.

Playtesting 104

Playtesting Prototyping Mechanics Games 104

PreMortem.Games

MAY 19, 2023

Drawing inspiration from their own experiences in bouldering, the team sought to incorporate the exhilarating mechanics of climbing into the game. To strike a balance, the team aimed to automate as much of the body movements as possible while retaining the meaningful choices that players make while climbing.

Indy 104

Indy Dev Studios Playtesting 104

Logic Simplified

OCTOBER 18, 2023

Let’s elaborate on how multiplayer game design isn’t as simple as just throwing together some mechanics and calling it a day. Here, the game is overpowered (OP) by the strategies and calls for a balanced approach for individual players involved in the game. There are game accessibility guidelines that help avoid such barriers.

Game Designer 52

Game Designer Game Design Balance Concepts 52

Game Refinery

MAY 4, 2023

In the past, hybridization was mainly seen in 4X strategy games that merged with puzzle and idle RPG mechanics , but in recent months this phenomenon has spread to titles of all shapes and sizes across the market – not just the hybrid-casual genre. Mechanically, the mode is relatively similar to Blizzard’s Hearthstone.

Mobile Gaming 98

Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile Mechanics 98

Logic Simplified

AUGUST 14, 2023

A playtest is a method to see what works in terms of gameplay mechanics. Game app developers can learn much about how players will respond to the game’s mechanics, controls, level design and other elements through playtesting. These insights can help to fine-tune numerous game elements like flow, pacing, UI, difficulty balance, etc.

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Playtesting Game Design Game Designer Games 98

iXie gaming

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Developers must balance the quantity of content generated with its quality. Clear communication about game mechanics and avoiding manipulative practices can help address these concerns. The key is balancing automation with human creativity and adapting to new industry roles.

Content 52

Content Quality Assurance Balance Games 52

PreMortem.Games

APRIL 12, 2024

Even if it’s just for testing a small mechanic. I try to keep a balanced life. It gets lonely, your only friend being a dead artist from the 1800s.” What’s your creative process? “I I try to bring players in as soon as possible in my process. How do you stay motivated through (years of) development? “I

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Dev Horror Studios First person 151

iXie gaming

MAY 24, 2024

User experience testers can provide valuable insights into the difficulty level and balance of the game. By observing how players interact with the game and gauging their reactions to different challenges, game QA teams can adjust game mechanics, level designs, and difficulty settings. How can UX testing improve game balance?

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UX Bug Games Balance 52

Brand Game Development

JUNE 20, 2019

The reason is that Cover Your Assets’ core mechanic is deceptively quite compelling. The core mechanic of stealing and defending sets of cards that increase in value is essentially the whole game. Wide audiences find the core mechanic of Cover Your Assets really compelling. Two Stacks Per Player.

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Asset Mechanics Games Balance 130

iXie gaming

OCTOBER 10, 2023

Striking the right balance between revenue generation and player experience is essential. Cons: Potential for P2W (Pay-to-Win): If not balanced carefully, this can lead to a pay-to-win dynamic, where players who spend more have an unfair advantage. But what is the ideal way to monetize a game, if there is one?

Balance 52

Balance Content Games Platformer 52