Balance, Mechanics and NPC - Game Developers Network

Space is not a wall: toward a less architectural level design

Radiator Blog

MAY 10, 2025

If you want a space to feel more mechanical, more prefabricated, then a visible grid helps bring out that modular vibe. In levels, this looks like planning out quest arcs, pacing setpiece beats, balancing spreadsheets, and choreographing battles. What sounds more effective for pulling the player to the exit of a non-linear level? (a)

NPC

NPC Scripting Asset Racing

Like a Dragon Gaiden Low FPS: How to Boost Performance

Game Errors

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Interesting fact Games rich in visuals and mechanics, like Like a Dragon Gaiden , demand substantial computing power. Finding the right balance between visuals and performance is crucial for an enjoyable gaming experience. This can overwhelm systems, especially if they’re not fine-tuned, resulting in low FPS.

FPS

FPS Graphics NPC Ray Tracing

The Future of Art & AI in Game Production

iXie gaming

MAY 24, 2023

AI-driven tools generate dynamic content, adapt game mechanics, and customize aesthetics, resulting in more engaging gameplay and new storytelling possibilities. Therefore, these characters are always monitoring user gameplay data and reacting appropriately to increase the fun and challenge of games.

AI

AI Art Simulation Games

The Lost Ark Has Found its Way

Deconstructor of Fun

MAY 15, 2022

Balancing relies heavily on gear, maps are crowded with question marks, Boss fights feature repetitive mechanisms. Battle: Simplified skill point system and amazing visual effects The core of the skill system relates to balancing and mechanisms. In the later game, raid mechanisms become quite rich.

Cutscenes

Cutscenes Art Content Mechanics

A comprehensive guide to in-demand roles in film and games

CG Spectrum

JUNE 10, 2024

They are also responsible for implementing NPC (non-player character) movement, performances, and behaviors, which are controlled by AI (artificial intelligence). They oversee both the foundation and execution of the game mechanics and overall user experience. Others are writers and/or world directors who focus on player experience.

Film

Film Animation Animation Concepts

Open world RPG design notes from Enderal, a big long Skyrim mod

Radiator Blog

MAY 5, 2021

Whenever an NPC is about to dump backstory and exposition on you, they'll ask you to take a seat. 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. Destroy the player's expectation that relationship mechanic = main cast member.

Open World

Open World NPC Cutscenes Terrain

Say you’ve got a dungeon that can be played with 1-8 players; how do you scale that for each number of players? What variables tend to wind up being the most fun to have tweaked (enemy hp, numbers, etc)?

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

Fighting NPC Balance Mechanics

Deathloop deconstruction / design thoughts

Radiator Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

NOT telekinesis, only works on NPCs / PvP) Havoc (temporary shield / damage buff), very useful for people who keep dying (i.e. This fighting game health mechanic is too fussy and unreliable for a busy shooter. Very streamlined, much faster, low stakes, and often just setting up the inevitable ensuing gunfight. Limited regen (e.g.

Fighting

Fighting NPC Puzzle AAA

The Kristala Dev Blog - Issue #20

Astral Clock Tower Studios

AUGUST 5, 2020

[link] It's been awhile since we've unveiled a new character in Kristala.which is why we're super pumped to share the progress our 3D Character Designer, Bianca, has made on the Nisargan forest nymph NPC we've got in the works. Speaking of sprinting, Will found a better way to balance our sprinting/dodging control that uses the same button.

Dev

Dev Clipping Texture Concepts

Item Variants and Randomization in Roguelikes

Grid Sage Games

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Items in Rogue may also be cursed and therefore non-removable except via special means, though that is a tangential mechanic tied more to the identification minigame rather than item randomization itself.) Other types of NPCs can modify or convert other types of items. Find a Mechanic who may be hanging around a Repair Station.

Data

Data Terrain Balance Mechanics

Warcraft Rumble - the ULTIMATE Deconstruction

Deconstructor of Fun

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

The game's complexity, especially for new players, is a significant challenge, with an overwhelming number of game mechanics introduced rapidly. Every time you complete the Dungeon, you can do it again right away, but the NPC Opponent goes up by one level, so it becomes more and more difficult each time.

Mobile

Mobile Mobile Mobile Gaming Games

Deconstructing Warcraft Rumble

Deconstructor of Fun

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

The game's complexity, especially for new players, is a significant challenge, with an overwhelming number of game mechanics introduced rapidly. Every time you complete the Dungeon, you can do it again right away, but the NPC Opponent goes up by one level, so it becomes more and more difficult each time.

Mobile

Mobile Mobile Mobile Gaming Games

That Lonesome Valley as cowboy coin crusher

Radiator Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2022

Here my walking mechanic borrows some sensibility from Death Stranding, where terrain can seriously slow down the player's speed, so a skilled player should micro-optimize their route a little and avoid water / hills / obstacles. Balancing the weight of each system was difficult. It already feels so fraught to me.

Pixel

Pixel Film Art Prototyping

Zugzwang as a pole dance upward unto heaven

Radiator Blog

JUNE 30, 2022

For balance purposes, I limit the number of voyeurs in the maze, otherwise it can enter a deadlock where there's only voyeurs but no one for them to watch. Some players may try to guess an NPC's sexual mood based on stereotypes like muscular tops, skinny submissive twink bottoms, etc. L gain, cop attacks inflict a -1.0

Code

Code Educational Education Prototyping

Game Developers Network

Space is not a wall: toward a less architectural level design

Like a Dragon Gaiden Low FPS: How to Boost Performance

Trending Sources

The Future of Art & AI in Game Production

The Lost Ark Has Found its Way

A comprehensive guide to in-demand roles in film and games

Open world RPG design notes from Enderal, a big long Skyrim mod

Say you’ve got a dungeon that can be played with 1-8 players; how do you scale that for each number of players? What variables tend to wind up being the most fun to have tweaked (enemy hp, numbers, etc)?

Deathloop deconstruction / design thoughts

The Kristala Dev Blog - Issue #20

Item Variants and Randomization in Roguelikes

Warcraft Rumble - the ULTIMATE Deconstruction

Deconstructing Warcraft Rumble

That Lonesome Valley as cowboy coin crusher

Zugzwang as a pole dance upward unto heaven

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