December 6, 2024
Perfecting Survival Horror
#
I think the games that have had the most consistent impact on me in the past have been survival horror games. But what makes a survival horror game perfect?
A survival horror game transcends the genre when it uses horror elements to effectively enhance its non-horror message. Here are some examples:
System Shock 2, Half Life and Half Life 2, Portal and Portal 2, Fallout 3, MGS2 & 3. I would consider all these to be games that have themes beyond “escape” or “survival”, and the elements of horror in these games support these non-horror themes.
...
December 5, 2024 I’m Doing it Wrong
#
“If you’re not making quantitative predictions, you’re probably doing it wrong.” Said Gabe Newel, speaking about his company’s approach to design in this video.
Newel’s words got me thinking: What is a quantitative prediction? And how can game devs apply them to their design process? As a guy who wants to produce video games, it seems like a useful practice to employ.
Define: Quantitative Prediction
#
A quantitative prediction is a guess based on a mental model combined with measured, numeric variables that ultimately tries to predict an outcome.
...
December 4, 2024 What is Esmerelda: The Black Amber Covenant?
#
ETBAC is a game I’ve been working on (in some guise) since 2020. It’s a part-time, labor of love project, but I’m trying to take it as seriously as possible. I have big dreams for it, hopefully it gets to be as big as Stardew Valley someday.
Like SV, it’s a top-down adventure style game. It also is heavily inspired by Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It also draws on minimalist design styles from Gen 3 Pokemon and Earthbound to render the adventure.
...