video games Archives | Page 2 of 6

GAMEOLOGY: Luck vs Skill

GAMEOLOGY is an ongoing video/written discussion of game design hosted by Mathew Falvai (me) and game developer Attila “Gabriel” Branyiczky Video games have varying ratios of luck/skill. The more competitive a game, the…

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FIFA 18 and Shadow of War Top UK Charts Mid-October

It’s no surprise to see FIFA 18 sit atop the UK gaming charts once again, but there were two new additions to the top three: Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (#2) and The Evil Within…

GAMEOLOGY – Where do I go, What do I do

In this GAMEOLOGY episode we discussed ‘signposting’, or the act of telling the player where to go and what to do. Earlier era games are often criticized for dumping the…

Developers Reveal Hidden Tricks That Make Games Feel Better

Game devs often implement techniques that make playing a game feel better, even if it isn’t completely accurate to the original rules of play. For instance, many platformers will allow…

GAMEOLOGY – Let’s talk about cut scenes

When I first sat down with Attila-the-game-dev to chat about cut scenes I immediately went to the cinematic pre-rendered moments you’d see in Uncharted or just about every AAA game for the…

The problem with 8/10 review scores

Everywhere I look I see 8/10. It’s the single most boring and easiest score to give. A 9 is essential and special, a 7 has issues, and anything 6 and…

GAMEOLOGY – Traversal – (Game Design)

In nearly every video game, movement is a vital aspect. Like seeing an amateurish poster, clunky movement is the first sign a game might not be worth your time. I’d argue…

GAMEOLOGY – Companion AI

Companion AI is a tricky, yet necessary element to program. Without it, the game world could be a very lonely place. Enemy AI is difficult enough, but balancing is easier.…

Announcements

Indie MEGASHOW Atlanta lineup released

MEGASHOW: Games. Music. Art. is a “new traveling event series produced by the creators of Indie MEGABOOTH”. The Atlanta show lineup has been released: detailing stage shows, game demos, competitions, and…

Xbox

5 Original Xbox Games that blew my mind

After loving my PS1 and noticing every one in the world had a PS2, the contrarian-futurist in me decided to take a chance on Microsoft’s big black Xbox. I loved…