Keith Burgun

JANUARY 4, 2023

It’s good at moments like these – moments where you’re kind of at a loss, and wondering whether you’re maybe just a bad game designer or something – to just ask yourself, what am I trying to do here? I really appreciate the design work that’s happening in this space, and I want to be a part of it.

Mechanics 52

Mechanics Game Design Game Designer Playtesting 52

Radiator Blog

MARCH 16, 2023

I assumed it was mostly for fans but after watching all 32 episodes (on 2x speed, skipping some parts) I've changed my mind and now I think it's essential viewing for all game designers / devs. Outside of game design, there's a growing tide against "design thinking" style methods, see "Design thinking was supposed to fix the world.

Art 59

Art Concepts Dev Studios 59

Grid Sage Games

MARCH 10, 2022

Before doing a full item-by-item review, I started with two special categories of unique build-defining items: aliens artifacts and Exiles prototypes. Exiles Prototypes. ASCII art for Exiles prototypes. As an example, by far the most sought after prototype was Lightpack 2.0, Categorical Approach. Slot-wise Approach.

Balance 52

Balance Mechanics Beta Prototyping 52

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 14, 2023

Inonu, Polyak, and Dymshits agreed that developers should also explore subscription products and leveraging IP outside of games, as well as re-investing in brand marketing and original game design. Fun generates retention, he said, stating that game designers should think of their games as becoming a daily player habit.

Games 59

Games Cross platform Mobile Mobile 59

Interesting Choices

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

I've created an online prototype for playtesting that has seen almost 2000 games completed with at least a dozen players clocking in at over 100 games apiece. The rapid feedback and iteration cycles enabled by this level of playtesting mean that the game is currently in fantastic shape.

Build 40

Build Tile Point and Click Games 40

Tom Francis

AUGUST 20, 2019

I thought it would be an interesting game design challenge to come up with a single player game you can play with a regular deck of playing cards. In the video I both explain it and play a full game. If you’re going to charge for it, maybe think about if there’s something you’d like to add to the game.

Games 52

Games Playtesting Prototyping Concepts 52

Deconstructor of Fun

OCTOBER 17, 2022

In an attempt to make content more scalable, PVE design borrowed a page from PVP and the team built new PVE modes as rule-sets that could be applied to any map by a game designer through simple tooling vs. baked in-experiences on custom maps. Lightspeed came in with a mobile rendition of a single player campaign mission.

Content 52

Content FPS Mobile Mobile 52

Brand Game Development

JULY 22, 2019

Perfect board game pacing is one of the most underrated aspects of board game design. Somewhere between overwhelm and ennui, there lies a middle ground where a game is perfectly paced. A great board game feels challenging and interesting throughout. In playtesting, the time between turns has rarely been an issue.

Tile 130

Tile Games Playtesting Balance 130

Brand Game Development

JULY 20, 2020

Brandon: In regards to your first printed game, Go Fish Fitness , how long did it take you to make it? If you want reviews available when you launch you Kickstarter (I didn’t, but it is highly recommended) you need to have your completed prototypes in a reviewers hands 6-8 weeks before you launch. The cost of game development.

Prototyping 130

Prototyping Games Dev Playtesting 130

Radiator Blog

JUNE 30, 2022

Zugzwang by Robert Yang This post details my process and intent for making my new release Zugzwang (pronounced in German like /ts'OOK-ts'VAHng/ ) a tactical sex dungeon roguelike cum ritual game. I first prototyped it back in 2019, but I didn't really know how to finish it. CONTENT WARNING 1: I mention a suicide from a century ago.

Code 52

Code Educational Education Prototyping 52