Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 2d

Weekly Headliner puzzle up now!

"'IT KEPT BLOWING AWAY': Runaway inflatable ____ spooks Ohio police"

#gamedev #indiegamedev #indiegames

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

A Prototype Can Save Your Game

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 3d

Did you know X-Com was almost canceled? They were saved by their prototype.

#gamedesign #gamedev #gameproduction

A prototype is a small playable version of your game; making one can save you a lot of time and money.

open.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 3d

Can we be added? Thanks!

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 4d

An important part of game design is being responsive and vague enough to account for the player's choices.

#gamedev #gamedesign #indiedev #narrativedesign

A fortune cookie with the description "go for the gold today! You'll be the champion of whatever."

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 9d

Weekly Headliner puzzle up now!

"A Pub Postponed Its ____ Night Due to ‘Unforeseen Circumstances’ and Everyone’s Laughing"

#gamedev #indiegamedev #indiegames

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

Directing Players with Keys

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 10d

The last thing any designer wants is for a player to reach a state in the game that’s unbeatable. So, what do you do? Lock it!

#GameDev #IndieGameDev #GameDesign

The last thing any designer wants is for a player to reach a state in the game that’s unbeatable. So, what do you do? Lock it!

videogameworkshop.substack.com

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 13d

Working for something makes it feel more important. An example from Nintendo: the songs from Ocharina of Time. Originally the songs were spells players could use like the medallions of a Link to the Past. They were changed to require the players to "play" the Ocharina

#gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign

A screenshot of N64 Link form the Legend of Zelda playing an Ocharina.

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Mack the Knife @punishedtake.bsky.social · 12d

Charlie and Dennis really crush this discussion. I want a (turn-based?) Superman savior simulator and a Kaiju disaster photography game so bad. Be sure to watch (seriously, look at Charlie's editing) and subscribe to their channel, there's really great stuff coming soon

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 15d

Did you see the new Superman movie? There should be a game! There used to be way more games based on movies!

This episode we discuss games based on movies and our experience making games for an established IP.

#gamedev #indiegamedev #podcast

Games Based on Movies - Videogame Workshop Podcast

Games Based on Movies - Videogame Workshop Podcast

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 14d

The most efficient way to pack 17 squares is visually unsettling.

So, maybe the lesson here is do what's best for your game, not always what's most efficient?

#gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign #residentevil

The most efficient way to pack 17 equal squares into the smallest possible larger square involves arranging them in a specific, non-grid pattern that minimizes wasted space, resulting in a square container with a side length of approximately 4.68 units for 17 unit squares. It's very asymmetrical and ugly to look at.

The briefcase from resident evil packed in the unappealing 17 item layout

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 14d

Incredible

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 14d

Spoiler from our Games Based on Movies podcast episode youtu.be/jAucKD4gpA0

#indiegamedev #podcast #godzilla #papersplease

A screenshot of the game Papers Please edited so Godzilla is in the game at the immigration counter.

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 17d

Knowing it’s not practical in big teams, I still love Rare’s use of post-its to design levels in Donkey Kong Country. It gives you a great bird’s eye view of the whole level, and it’s supper friendly to change and revisions!

What tools have a similar vibe now?

#gamedesign #Indiedev #leveldesign

A level from donkey kong country with each screen/room being drawn on a single post-it.

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 15d

Did you see the new Superman movie? There should be a game! There used to be way more games based on movies!

This episode we discuss games based on movies and our experience making games for an established IP.

#gamedev #indiegamedev #podcast

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 16d

Weekly Headliner puzzle up now!

"Hershey wins suit claiming its Reese's Halloween candies aren't ____"

#gamedev #indiegamedev #indiegames

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

How Much Art Should a Game Prototype Have?

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 17d

Too little and you get bad feedback.
Too much and you risk sunk costs.
So how do you decide when your game prototype has enough art?

Here are two common approaches-

#GameDesign #GameDev #IndieGameDev

It can be hard to know when your prototype is polished enough for other people to play.

videogameworkshop.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 23d

New weekly puzzle!

Fill out the crossword to win, all the clues are REAL headlines with a word missing.

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames #gamedev #indiedev

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

Greybox prototypes get something payable in front of a playtester without having to produce any new assets.

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 24d

Greybox prototyping is versatile. It can be used for all sorts of testing, like UI usability, or cultivating game feel. The two most popular uses though, are developing mechanics and designing levels.

#gamedev #prototypes #leveldesign

Greybox Your Game

videogameworkshop.substack.com

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 25d

Game design is more about cutting than adding.

#gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign

The Castlevania meme of "what is a man" but Dracula says ""

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 29d

Development has started on our next game!

If you like small puzzley games, thoughtful design, or the kind of thinking that happens before a prototype hits a screen, check it out!

#gamedev #indiedev #podcast

Top Words - Videogame Workshop Podcast

Breaking your game down into its core mechanics might be one of the hardest things you do, but it’s worth it.

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 17

Ridiculous news in horrific times. New Headliner puzzle every week!

www.videogameworkshop.com/headliner/

Fill out the crossword to win, all the clues are REAL headlines with a word missing. Correct answers link you to the VERY REAL news article.

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames #gamedev #indiedev

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 16

These exercises will help you identify your game’s core game mechanics, and keep you focused.

#GameDesign #GameDev #IndieGameDev

Core Game Mechanics

open.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 11

"Newly released video shows man arrested while wearing a ____ costume"

Play Headliner to see last week's weird headlines!

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

Knowing who your audience is can make or break your pitch.

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 9

Presenting works in progress or pitching new ideas can, and should, look very different depending on who you're presenting to.

#gamedesign #gamedev #indiegamedev

Know Your Audience

open.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 4

"Cyborg ____: The future of deep ocean exploration?"

Play Headliner to find out what you missed in last week's weird news!

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.