Articles for Video Game Developers RSS Feed for Dear Devs

Explore topics regarding specific aspects about game development.

Telling Story Through Gameplay

The best way to form a cohesive narrative

August 11, 2020 - Video games have told countless unforgettable stories and many of them are made even more impactful through their gameplay so let's explore a few examples where gameplay and story have intermingled in interesting ways.
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Optimizing Video Game Difficulty

It's a balancing act

January 13, 2020 - Providing gamers with a rewarding challenge is an incredibly difficult endeavour in itself so here are my thoughts on how to optimize video game difficulty so players can feel satisfied with a minimal level of frustration.
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How to Make an In-Game Tutorial

Learning curve is everything

July 20, 2018 - I recently tried out Nobunaga's Ambition: Taishi and its tutorials inspired me to write this piece. Seeing as a good way to learn is by example, allow me to outline how to make an in-game tutorial that's as informative as it is engaging.
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Winning Formulas That Make Difficult Games Enjoyable

How to turn frustration into fun

August 8, 2015 - The resurgence of challenging games has brought back an old-school approach to development. However, not every game gets the delicate balance correct so hopefully this article will be insightful enough for you to implement the perfect difficulty for your next game.
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How Authentic Should Your Retro Game Be?

Nostalgia never gets old

May 10, 2015 - One of the most important decisions to make when creating a game is how it will look. If you're working on a retro game, how authentic should it be? Should it even be retro? Let's explore three options through examples that may help narrow your decision down.
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Why Criticism Is Important to Game Development

How to develop as a developer

May 7, 2015 - Becoming successful in the gaming industry undoubtedly requires a great deal of patience. In the first installment of our "Dear Devs" series, I hope to inspire developers to seriously consider the criticism that they receive instead of taking it personally and becoming bitter as a result. After all, criticism is a key tool for improvement and if used correctly, it could help you achieve extraordinary success.
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