narrative design Archives

AppWizard

September 8, 2025

Dishonored ‘sounded a little bit ridiculous’ in the beginning, but came together with the help of the Sweeney Todd musical

Lackrow Boulevard in Dunwall is home to The Black Friar hotel, which is associated with the Hatters Gang. At number 131, AudioLog produces audiograph players that capture and replay spoken words through punchcards, preserving the thoughts of various characters. Austin Grossman, a significant figure in the gaming industry, is the creator of the audiograph. He contributed to influential games like System Shock and Deus Ex and wrote the novel You, reflecting on his experiences at Looking Glass Studios. Grossman praised Dishonored 2 for its dual protagonist system and the transition from Dunwall to Serkonos. He expressed a desire to explore more islands in the Dishonored universe and suggested that the series could benefit from a lighter tone. He also noted that the island in Deathloop is part of the Dishonored universe, set in a distant future, and highlighted the narrative design differences between the two games. Grossman believes that the emotional depth of the stories distinguishes them from other titles like Prey. He considers writing for the Dishonored series a privilege and acknowledges the unpredictable nature of success in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

August 30, 2025

The 10 best games of all time on PC

Video games have evolved significantly, with the personal computer playing a crucial role in the industry's growth. PC gaming is appreciated for its flexibility, diverse hardware configurations, extensive modability, and nearly 40 years of backwards compatibility. A selection of the best PC games based on Metacritic scores includes: - Disco Elysium: Score 97/100, known for its narrative design and player choices. - Half-Life 2: Score 96/100, celebrated for its innovative physics and storytelling. - Grand Theft Auto 5: Score 96/100, features a compelling single-player narrative and a vast online world. - Baldur's Gate 3: Score 96/100, recognized as a masterclass in role-playing games with community-driven updates. - BioShock: Score 96/100, blends first-person shooting with action-adventure elements and a strong morality system. - Persona 5 Royal: Score 95/100, balances dungeon exploration with a social life in a turn-based RPG format. - Portal 2: Score 95/100, known for its innovative puzzle design and engaging narrative. - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim: Score 94/100, offers vast replayability and extensive modding options. - Mass Effect 2: Score 94/100, noted for its impactful storytelling and memorable ending. - Sid Meier's Civilization 2: Score 94/100, a classic strategy game that remains popular despite its limited availability on modern platforms.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Surgent Studios unveils Dead Take live-action horror game for the PC

Abubakar Salim is the founder of Surgent Studios and the creative director of the upcoming live-action horror game, Dead Take, which will launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store on July 31. Surgent Studios, established in 2019, previously released the side-scrolling Metroidvania game Tales of Kenzara: Zau in April 2024, which did not achieve commercial success. Following funding issues for a project called Project Uso, the studio faced layoffs in July 2024. In January 2025, Surgent Studios secured funding from Pocketpair Publishing, allowing them to focus on Dead Take, inspired by Salim's experiences in the entertainment industry. Dead Take features a live-action film-like aesthetic created with Unreal Engine 5 and follows an actor named Chase Lowry, who searches for his missing friend in a mansion reminiscent of horror classics. The gameplay includes escape-room-style puzzles and fragmented video files revealing Hollywood's unsettling truths. The game explores themes of ambition and betrayal, with a cast that includes Neil Newbon, Ben Starr, Jane Perry, and Alanah Pearce, along with cameos from industry veterans. Salim emphasizes psychological horror over graphic violence, focusing on the emotional challenges within the industry. Players are encouraged to engage with the game using pen and paper and headphones for a richer experience.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

Pathologic 3’s time travel system will let players ‘explore the unknown boldly and without fearing permanent ruin’ and that makes me way more inclined to play it

Pathologic 2 is a challenging immersive sim from Ice-Pick Lodge that has a dedicated following but may not cater to players seeking a more balanced experience. The upcoming Pathologic 3 will redefine the player experience by starting at the point of failure and allowing players to backtrack through time to correct past mistakes. The narrative follows protagonist Dankovsky, who faces dire consequences for his actions, and players will have two key mechanics: "Amalgam," which enables time jumps to alter past events, and the "Mind Map," which visually represents decision interconnections for strategic planning. These mechanics are integral to the gameplay, with specific locations and endings accessible only through particular causal combinations, promoting exploration and creativity without forcing players into fail states.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Obsidian vet Carrie Patel has joined Netflix

Carrie Patel, former director of Avowed, has joined Night School Studio, a subsidiary of Netflix, as game director. She previously worked at Obsidian Entertainment for nearly 12 years, contributing to titles like Pillars of Eternity, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021 and is known for the game Oxenfree. In February 2025, Netflix announced layoffs at Night School Studio amidst broader changes, including the closure of its Blue studio and leadership reshuffling.

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.