narrative design Archives

AppWizard

May 18, 2025

EA is reportedly cracking down on a Sims 4 mod. What it changes has fans furious

The Sims 4, developed by Electronic Arts, has maintained its popularity for over ten years, supported by a dedicated fan base and compatibility with modern hardware. The game recently released the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack in March, allowing players to start their own small businesses. The community has also created numerous fan-made mods, some of which enhance gameplay, while others have sparked controversy, such as a mod aimed at removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) elements. This led to backlash and accusations of censorship when EA requested the mod's removal. Additionally, the conversation about diversity in video games has grown, with criticism directed at Sweet Baby Inc., a consulting firm, for its influence on narrative choices in games like Alan Wake 2 and God of War Ragnarok, resulting in organized boycotts against games associated with the firm.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Fallout: New Vegas writer Gonzalez returns to Obsidian

John Gonzalez, the lead writer of Fallout: New Vegas, has returned to Obsidian Entertainment but is not involved in Fallout: New Vegas 2. He joined Obsidian in 2008 and worked there until 2011, after which he spent over two years at Ubisoft in Shanghai. He then worked at Warner Bros' Monolith Productions as the lead narrative designer for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and later served as the narrative director at Guerrilla Games for Horizon: Zero Dawn. Most recently, he spent nearly three years at Smilegate's Barcelona studio. Gonzalez is also set to release a novel titled God Mode: Single Player in 2025.

AppWizard

December 2, 2024

Dragon Age: Inquisition’s final expansion was going to force us to blow up our home base to kill a fan favorite Origins companion

Matt Rhodes, BioWare's art lead, shared concept artworks for the Trespasser DLC of Dragon Age: Inquisition, revealing an alternate storyline where Sten arrives to arrest players but discovers Dagna has reverse-engineered explosives, leading to a dramatic trap that sacrifices Skyhold. The concept art depicts a burned and disfigured Sten, highlighting a more impactful narrative moment that was ultimately not included in the game. Rhodes noted the challenges of killing off beloved characters like the Warden or Hawke, as many new players might not understand the significance of such arcs. He has been sharing development stories and concept art related to Dragon Age on social media, enriching the franchise's lore.