gameplay systems Archives

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Crysis 4 is officially ‘on hold’ as Crytek lays off 15% of its workforce, saying it ‘cannot continue as before and remain financially sustainable’

Crytek has laid off approximately 15% of its workforce, equating to around 60 employees out of 400, due to challenging market conditions. As a result, the development of Crysis 4 has been put on hold, although it is not officially canceled. The studio will focus on expanding Hunt: Showdown, which has seen increased player engagement following its recent update.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

The Best PC-Exclusive Games Of 2024

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an open-world first-person shooter that combines elements of horror and survival, challenging players to navigate hostile environments. The game faced technical imperfections at launch due to its development amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022, but has since received multiple patches to address these issues. It encourages improvisation and spontaneous action, fostering shared experiences among players. Richard Wakeling noted the difficulty in critiquing the game’s technical issues, acknowledging GSC Game World's achievement in launching it under challenging circumstances. The game's non-linear quests and unpredictable nature contribute to its unique storytelling and immersive experience.

AppWizard

November 17, 2024

The Big Indie Interviews: Message Photon on their award-winning roguelike Painted Peril

Painted Peril secured second place in The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki. The game is a roguelike experience developed by a team from Finland, where players explore a world of color magic and combine hues to create spells. The project originated about 1.5 years ago as a university course initiative at Chalmers University of Technology, where a group of six students developed the initial prototype and won the Jury Spotlight Award at the Gotland Game Conference. Players control Sylvia the squirrel, navigating a cave system and using color effects and spellcasting mechanics. The game includes various bottles that affect spell behavior, promoting experimentation with color combinations. Emil Ekroth, a developer, discussed the challenges of indie development, emphasizing the need for versatility and motivation. The pitching experience highlighted the importance of clear communication. The team is exploring publishing options for Painted Peril, including potential self-publishing on Steam.

BetaBeacon

October 30, 2024

Autogun Heroes now available on PC thanks to a collaboration between CrazyGames, Nitro Games and Pley

Autogun Heroes, an action-packed shooter game, is now available on CrazyGames thanks to a collaboration between developer Nitro Games and game distribution platform Pley. The game tasks players with reclaiming the planet from extraterrestrial invaders and offers increasingly powerful weapons and equipment as players advance.

AppWizard

October 24, 2024

Sorry if this sounds shallow, but I do care about how long a game is before buying it

The debate over game length and its value has been a long-standing topic among gamers, developers, and journalists. This discussion gained momentum with the release of indie games like Gone Home in 2013, which challenged traditional expectations regarding price and length. Games such as The Order 1886 faced criticism for their short campaigns relative to their price, while Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart also received backlash for its runtime despite a premium cost. Players often prefer longer gameplay experiences, as seen in popular genres like immersive sims and open-world RPGs, but shorter games can still be appreciated for their artistic qualities. The value perception of games is influenced by their length, with titles like Vampire Survivors and Helldivers 2 praised for their substantial content at lower prices. Personal preferences for intricate gameplay systems over narrative-driven experiences can affect purchasing decisions. However, there are exceptions where the quality of a shorter game, such as Disco Elysium, can outweigh its length. Ultimately, gamers have diverse expectations, and disappointment can arise when a game does not meet perceived value based on its cost and duration.

AppWizard

August 17, 2024

Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition Receives New Update

Minecraft version 1.21.20 has been released, focusing on bug fixes, stability improvements, and enhancements to user interface and artificial intelligence. The update addresses issues such as content downloads freezing and save corruption, particularly benefiting Nintendo Switch players with a more stable experience. AI improvements have made non-player characters (NPCs) more responsive, with hostile entities showing greater awareness and passive creatures better at self-preservation. The user interface has been streamlined for easier navigation, and new content includes the sculk sensor for detecting vibrations and bundle items for resource management. Changes to the Deep Dark biome include a reduction in Trial Chamber frequency and tailored loot. Movement mechanics have been refined for smoother navigation, and bed interactions have been corrected. The aquatic creature Bogged no longer applies a Slowness effect, and parrots can now imitate it. Updates have also improved mount and vehicle interactions.

AppWizard

August 16, 2024

Minecraft Snapshot 24W33A: Bundles Return with Exciting New Features – PUNE.NEWS

The Minecraft snapshot 24W33A introduces several updates, including the return of bundles, improvements to Redstone mechanics, and enhancements to minecart functionality. Bundles allow players to consolidate items into a single inventory slot, crafted using one leather and one string. The updated bundle system enables easy access to the first eight visible item types. Redstone mechanics have been refined with the “Redstone Experiments” feature for better functionality. Minecarts have improved movement and gameplay systems. Additional updates include adjustments to item rarities, mob parity, item names, textures, and bee behavior.

AppWizard

July 23, 2024

Ubisoft’s live-service pirate sim Skull and Bones pulls into port on Steam this August

Skull and Bones, Ubisoft's pirate simulation game, faced criticism for underwhelming gameplay and live-service elements. Despite a modest review score, the game is now coming to Steam on August 22. Progress will carry over for players who link their Steam and Ubisoft accounts. The game's evolution and player reactions on Steam will be closely watched.