Tag

Level Design

All articles tagged with #level design

technology20 days ago•5 min saved

Epic Games Loses Unreal Engine Legend as UE6 Advances with AI

Legendary Unreal level designer Sjoerd de Jong leaves Epic Games after 12 years as Unreal Engine 6 is unveiled with heavy AI integration (Claude and Gemini) and UEFN. The move comes amid industry anxiety about AI overtaking game development, though Epic says humans will still guide the process. De Jong’s departure, paired with UE6’s direction beyond UE5.8’s AI-driven world generation, underscores the industry-wide shift toward AI-assisted workflows while he remains optimistic about adapting to the new landscape.

via Wccftech|

#ai #epic-games #level-design

gaming1 month ago•4 min saved

Bubsy 4D Delivers Snappy Movement Despite Bland Worlds

Bubsy 4D is a surprising highlight in the Bubsy series: a compact, modern indie platformer built around a robust movement system (dash, wall runs, air dash, glide, and a Sonic-like roll) that compels players through obstacle-course levels across three worlds to collect five golden yarn balls. While the core mechanics are a strength and the humor stays light, the levels feel barren and garish, keeping the experience short and focused. It’s the best Bubsy yet and hints at a future where the character works in small, movement‑driven experiences.

via Giant Bomb|

#bubsy-4d #gaming #indie

culture2 months ago•13 min saved

Hidden Megastructures Surface in Dark Souls II's Abandoned Gutter

A modder uncovers and restores an ambitious, abandoned version of Dark Souls II's Gutter, revealing megastructures, a tavern, boss arenas, and other content that were cut from the final game, illustrating a more expansive underground world that developers originally envisioned.

via Kotaku|

#culture #cut-content #dark-souls-ii

gaming5 months ago•9 min saved

Softening the Grind: Cairn and Baby Steps Redefine Masocore

Two indie titles, Cairn and Baby Steps, reframe masocore by swapping reflex-heavy trials for patient, tactile traversal and handcrafted level design. Their slower, more deliberate progression strips away arbitrary gates, delivering hard-won emotional payoff and inviting a broader audience to experience the genre’s rewards without brutal punishment.

via Eurogamer|

#baby-steps #cairn #gaming

gaming8 months ago•6 min saved

PowerWash Simulator 2: A Clean Sweep

PowerWash Simulator 2 enhances the original with new washers, equipment, and level variety, offering a more refined and enjoyable cleaning experience, though the new office customization features are less compelling. The game maintains its relaxing, satisfying gameplay with small improvements and whimsical levels, making it a must-play for fans of the first game and newcomers alike.

via Rock Paper Shotgun|

#game-updates #gaming #level-design

games11 months ago•9 min saved

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Power, Performance, and Pre-Load Details

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a promising soulslike game praised for its dynamic combat, extensive skill tree, and interconnected level design, though it suffers from inconsistent difficulty and frustrating boss fights. The game features a dark fantasy story about a hero afflicted with amnesia and a disease called The Feathering, with gameplay emphasizing skillful dodging, weapon and skill customization, and exploration of a richly detailed world. Despite some repetitive and punishing boss encounters, it is highly recommended for fans of the genre seeking a challenging and visually stunning experience.

via IGN|

#boss-fights #combat #games

gaming2 years ago•3 min saved

"Unveiling the Phenomenon: Children of the Sun's Rise to Gaming Stardom"

Children of the Sun, a psychedelic puzzle-shooter, offers a unique gaming experience where players must use a single bullet to take down enemies in each level using telekinetic abilities. The game's 18th level, "Open Mic Night in Hell," is highlighted as a standout, requiring players to devise creative strategies to eliminate cultists in a complex environment. The game's optional solutions and visceral gameplay make it a compelling and challenging experience for players.

via Polygon|

#children-of-the-sun #gaming #indie-games

gaming2 years ago•5 min saved

"Unleashing the Speed: Sonic Superstars Roars on the PS5"

Sonic Superstars is a solid 2D Sonic game with vibrant visuals and varied level design. The game can be played solo or in co-op, but the co-op mode suffers from the game's fast pace and diverging paths, making it a messy experience. The chaos emerald powers add some replay value, but are not essential. Overall, the game is recommended for solo play, but co-op is not recommended.

via Push Square|

#2d-sonic-game #co-op #gaming

gaming2 years ago•2 min saved

"Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Rapid Evolution and Hilarious Highlights"

The design and elements of the Depths in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom were created in a surprisingly short period of time, but perfecting them took longer. The Depths and surface have an inverted relationship, and the team wanted to investigate this idea. With the help of programmers, they quickly finished a prototype. However, it took a long time and many adjustments for the Depths to take its present shape. Achieving seamless movement from the sky to the surface and then into the Depths was technologically challenging, but the programmers eventually made it a reality.

via My Nintendo News|

#game-development #gaming #level-design

gaming3 years ago•7 min saved

"Horizon Forbidden West: Lessons, Pre-Orders, and Perfect Quests"

Level designer Dennis Micka shared his process for designing Cauldron IOTA in Horizon Forbidden West, which climaxes with the player riding the head of a Tallneck as it emerges from the Cauldron. Micka had to make a lot of mistakes on the way to the finish line, including dealing with massive technical challenges and navigating the lack of Tallneck tools. He also learned key soft-skill lessons in the level design process, such as using pre-production time well and keeping coworkers from other teams involved in the process.

via Game Developer|

#cauldron-design #game-development #gaming

gaming3 years ago•5 min saved

Lead Developer Critiques Cyberpunk 2077's Design Flaws.

Miles Tost, a lead developer at CD Projekt Red, spoke at GDC 2023 about the non-linear level design in Cyberpunk 2077 and how it failed to make the various playstyles feel meaningful. Tost determined that CD Projekt's commitment to telling a strong story was a key stumbling block, resulting in a "generic path" that trivialized the game's robust selection of playstyles. Tost developed three basic principles for level design, including the perception of distance, exclusivity, and validation, which he believes can be applied to future games. The Phantom Liberty expansion is set to launch later this year.

via IGN|

#cd-projekt-red #cyberpunk-2077 #gaming