worldbuilding Archives

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Debate: Which Grand Theft Auto radio station has the best tunes?

Licensed music in video games, especially in sports simulations and open-world adventures, significantly influences players' musical tastes. The Grand Theft Auto series, starting with Vice City, has introduced players to various music genres through its curated radio stations. Notable examples include iconic '80s tracks in Vice City and East Coast hip-hop in San Andreas. Players often have personal favorites among the radio stations, such as K-Rose and K-DST, which evoke strong memories and enhance the gaming experience. Grand Theft Auto V features Non-Stop Pop FM, known for its eclectic mix of pop hits, contributing to memorable gaming moments.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

Our pick for 2024’s best tactics game just got a community pack of featured levels—which ignore the dev’s difficulty balance goals because ‘our community, god bless em, have no such qualms’

Tactical Breach Wizards is a turn-based tactical RPG that has received the Best Tactics award and holds a 98% "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam. The developers have added community-curated levels to the game’s community browser, which are more challenging than the main campaign missions. One of these community levels features a new character named Bori, a "less-than-lethal pyromancer." The game is currently available at a 40% discount until November 9.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

When Irrational picked a new writer for BioShock Infinite, it didn’t realise he was in the next room, already working at the studio

Joe Fielder is the senior narrative designer for The Outer Worlds 2 and has worked in the gaming industry for over two decades in various roles, including level designer, producer, and director. He was a producer on BioShock Infinite, where he contributed as an art and narrative producer. Fielder's writing for BioShock Infinite included crafting the initial walk into Columbia, focusing on combat dialogue and worldbuilding elements. He emphasized non-expositional writing, allowing players to organically learn about the game's world through character conversations. Fielder has a strong focus on incorporating humor into games, which he has been doing for years, and he is now being paid for it in The Outer Worlds 2. He previously embedded comedic slogans into BioShock's in-fiction brands, such as a slogan for a fictional cigarette brand aimed at children.

AppWizard

October 13, 2025

RPG vet Josh Sawyer keeps things like Fallout and D&D grounded in history because ‘Once things get too magical… it’s impossible to bring it back down to Earth’

Josh Sawyer is a respected figure in gaming, known for his directorial roles in titles such as Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2, and Pentiment. He emphasizes a materialistic perspective in worldbuilding, drawing inspiration from real environments and historical contexts. His work often explores themes of colonialism, imperialism, and the struggles of survival in post-apocalyptic settings. In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, factions reflect historical conflicts between colonial powers and indigenous cultures. Sawyer approaches game mechanics with caution to maintain realism, highlighting the importance of believable narratives that resonate with players' understanding of human needs.