game design Archives

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

7 years on, CliffyB is ‘still bitter’ about people gravedancing when his studio Boss Key failed: ‘It was amazing at first and then, well, it broke me for a good long while’

Cliff Bleszinski, a game designer known for his work at Epic Games and as the lead designer for the original Gears of War trilogy, founded Boss Key Productions, which launched the game LawBreakers in 2017. Despite innovative mechanics and unique characters, LawBreakers struggled in a competitive market dominated by games like Overwatch and PUBG, leading to its failure. Bleszinski reflected on the experience, expressing bitterness about the public's reaction to his studio's closure. He noted that shortly after LawBreakers' release, Epic Games introduced a new mode for Fortnite, further intensifying competition. Currently, Bleszinski prefers consulting over game development.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

How to survive as an indie developer for 20 years

Dan Marshall began his game development journey at 24 while learning C++. Over two decades, he created three games that received over 80% review scores in PC Gamer, despite facing challenges such as a 26% rating for Behold the Kickmen. His company, Size Five Games, started as a hobby, and he developed games like Ben There, Dan That! and Time Gentlemen, Please! with minimal financial risk. One notable game, The Swindle, featured a unique design that limited players to 100 attempts, leading to mixed reactions but ultimately became Size Five's most financially successful title. Marshall has kept overhead costs low by hiring external talent for short projects and has navigated the industry's volatility without significant expenses. Despite critical acclaim for Lair of the Clockwork God, its sales did not match expectations, and he speculated that a change in protagonists might have affected its performance. Marshall expresses anxiety about the future of his projects and the possibility of needing a traditional job, yet he remains committed to game development regardless of financial circumstances.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

Ken Levine wanted System Shock 2’s final level to be set in outer space, but the idea was shot down by its senior designers: ‘They’re like dude, we have 14 months to make this game’

System Shock 2 is a highly regarded PC game known for its storytelling and gameplay, but its final act, The Body of the Many, has received criticism for not matching the quality of earlier parts. This level features a challenging environment that can leave players unprepared for the final confrontation with the antagonist, Shodan. Ken Levine, the game's designer, acknowledged that the finale's shortcomings stemmed from his ambitious vision for a zero-gravity environment outside the ship, which was impractical given the tight development timeline. Despite his colleagues' skepticism, he created a level that differed significantly in appearance and gameplay, which he later admitted was not one of the game's strongest. Levine's initial concept of an exterior level influenced later games like Dead Space and Prey. System Shock 2 recently received a remaster from Nightdive, which has been well-received, while Levine is working on a new project called Judas.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

The game that would become Deus Ex was originally called Troubleshooter and starred Jake Shooter, supercop

Deus Ex is a classic PC game known for its innovative approach to the first-person shooter genre and as a pioneer of the immersive sim, allowing players to explore a non-linear world with moral complexities. The game's designer, Warren Spector, initially pitched it as "Troubleshooter" to Origin Systems before joining Ion Storm in 1997. He faced skepticism regarding the mix of shooter, stealth, and RPG elements. The protagonist's name, JC Denton, was chosen during development, contributing to the game's legacy. An interview with Spector will be published in PC Gamer on July 15.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Deus Ex was a hard sell because, among other things, the Thief devs thought ‘if you give players a gun, they won’t sneak’

Deus Ex is a significant title in the immersive simulation genre, allowing players to approach challenges from various perspectives and breaking away from traditional linear gameplay in CRPGs and FPS games. Warren Spector, the game's creator, expressed frustration with conventional RPGs and FPS games before developing Deus Ex. The game has influenced many others, including Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity, Skyrim, Avowed, Prey, and Baldur's Gate 3, showcasing its impact on player freedom and game design. An interview with Spector will be featured in the upcoming issue of PC Gamer, releasing on July 15.

BetaBeacon

July 1, 2025

How Android Game Development Is Fueling the Next Generation of Mobile Entertainment

- Android gaming ecosystem has evolved significantly in the last decade, offering a wide range of gaming experiences. - Android game development has reshaped the way entertainment is consumed on mobile devices. - Android offers advantages such as device diversity, open-source flexibility, monetization freedom, robust development tools, and global reach. - Key trends shaping Android game development in 2025 include cloud gaming integration, AI-powered game design, cross-platform play, AR and VR capabilities, and the continued dominance of hyper-casual games.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

King of Meat’s dungeon maker mode won’t offer the Minecraft-esque freedom, says Glowmade co-founders: ‘Sometimes the best creativity comes from having limitations’

Glowmade's co-founders discussed the creative framework of their upcoming game, King of Meat, particularly its Create mode, which features intentional design limitations to enhance players' creative learning experiences. The game does not provide a completely freeform environment but instead offers a structured approach that simplifies the creative process. Players can tweak various behaviors within the game to encourage experimentation while focusing on creating enjoyable content. The development team aims to communicate the nuances of fun gameplay through visual language and tools. King of Meat is in development for multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch, but does not have an official release date yet.

AppWizard

June 23, 2025

This week in PC games: System Shock 2 remastered, multiple Warhammer 40,000 dogs, and an unexpected continuation of toilet theming

The text discusses various new PC game releases for the week, including: - Rentlord: A real estate roguelike game focused on maximizing rent while avoiding taxes. - Shuffle Tactics: A tactical RPG with deckbuilding mechanics inspired by classic games. - Lex Imperialis: A story expansion for Rogue Trader that continues exploring the Arbites theme. - Nanomon Virtual Pet: A light-hearted virtual pet game. - Condo: A free walking simulator set in an apartment complex during insomnia. - Dungeon Mori: A dungeon crawler that may not appeal to everyone. - Antro: A rhythmic 2.5D platformer about a courier aiming to overthrow a regime. - Untitled Shoes Game: A playful game showcasing creative design.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

Sword of the Sea fuses Journey with Tony Hawk to make a pro skater game that feels as good as it looks

At the Summer Game Fest, players experienced Sword of the Sea, where they navigate desolate dunes as the Wraith, a magical hero on a hoversword, working to restore ancient ocean life. The gameplay allows for a free, mood-based approach without rigid formulas, inspired by the Tony Hawk series and snowboarding. Creative director Matt Nava emphasized that players can recover from mistakes without harsh penalties, enhancing the surfing experience. The game encourages exploration with seamless instructional breaks and features a vibrant aesthetic reminiscent of Nava's previous titles, particularly with its use of the color orange. The design integrates graceful movement and dynamic action, creating a harmonious connection between gameplay and environment.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

Kojima says he prefers smaller development teams

Hideo Kojima advocates for smaller development teams in gaming, believing they foster creativity and efficiency. He praised the compact team size of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has about 30 core members, despite a larger pool of contributors from outsourcing firms. Kojima reflected on his early experiences with a six-member team, noting that larger teams complicate control and communication. He expressed a preference for smaller groups, stating that they can lead to more innovative projects. Kojima highlighted the tension between the desire for grandiosity in game design and the efficiency of smaller teams, emphasizing the challenges modern developers face.