Max Nichols
@maxnichols.bsky.social
He/him. Game designer. I make worlds that you want to explore. Sr. Tech Design in AAA. Prev: Bungie, Turbine. I run @HyruleInterviews.bsky.social
Blog: namelessquality.com
Portfolio: maxnicholsdesign.com
Blog: namelessquality.com
Portfolio: maxnicholsdesign.com
I would argue that every gacha game starts off already that bad the moment they decide on that business model.
Some good work is trapped inside of gacha games, a lot in fact, but it can’t elevate any of them above the rotten core of the genre
Some good work is trapped inside of gacha games, a lot in fact, but it can’t elevate any of them above the rotten core of the genre
November 13, 2025 at 5:10 AM
I would argue that every gacha game starts off already that bad the moment they decide on that business model.
Some good work is trapped inside of gacha games, a lot in fact, but it can’t elevate any of them above the rotten core of the genre
Some good work is trapped inside of gacha games, a lot in fact, but it can’t elevate any of them above the rotten core of the genre
I used it just the other day!
Granted, I was being performatively grandiose when I did, so not sure if that counts...
Granted, I was being performatively grandiose when I did, so not sure if that counts...
November 13, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I used it just the other day!
Granted, I was being performatively grandiose when I did, so not sure if that counts...
Granted, I was being performatively grandiose when I did, so not sure if that counts...
#55: Beatmania IIDX 15: DJ Troopers
I'm cheating. It's a rhythm game. Think DDR. House, Trance, rock, all over the place
Check out:
- 湘南族 -cannibal coast-
- madrugada
- 少年A
- the trigger of innocence
- Digitank System
- quell -the seventh slave-
- THE LAST STRIKER
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBxv...
I'm cheating. It's a rhythm game. Think DDR. House, Trance, rock, all over the place
Check out:
- 湘南族 -cannibal coast-
- madrugada
- 少年A
- the trigger of innocence
- Digitank System
- quell -the seventh slave-
- THE LAST STRIKER
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBxv...
November 13, 2025 at 4:07 AM
#55: Beatmania IIDX 15: DJ Troopers
I'm cheating. It's a rhythm game. Think DDR. House, Trance, rock, all over the place
Check out:
- 湘南族 -cannibal coast-
- madrugada
- 少年A
- the trigger of innocence
- Digitank System
- quell -the seventh slave-
- THE LAST STRIKER
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBxv...
I'm cheating. It's a rhythm game. Think DDR. House, Trance, rock, all over the place
Check out:
- 湘南族 -cannibal coast-
- madrugada
- 少年A
- the trigger of innocence
- Digitank System
- quell -the seventh slave-
- THE LAST STRIKER
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBxv...
Hmm
Yeah Valve’s extractive business model is elsewhere in the ecosystem
Yeah Valve’s extractive business model is elsewhere in the ecosystem
November 13, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Hmm
Yeah Valve’s extractive business model is elsewhere in the ecosystem
Yeah Valve’s extractive business model is elsewhere in the ecosystem
Absolutely, please do!
November 12, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Absolutely, please do!
Yeah, exactly. None of the harm that games do has really been invented by games, but when our industry puts it's mind to it we're very good at doing it at vast scale and with frightening immediacy and plausible deniability
November 12, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Yeah, exactly. None of the harm that games do has really been invented by games, but when our industry puts it's mind to it we're very good at doing it at vast scale and with frightening immediacy and plausible deniability
Related thoughts I shared not to long ago. Even more than gacha and gambling games, this kind of harm is not something most game devs have really confronted and examined, IMO
bsky.app/profile/maxn...
bsky.app/profile/maxn...
I'm curious for takes from other game designers or players who feel compelled to 100% games--
Is designing really long-tail completion objectives to achieve 100% exploitative or unhealthy towards completionist players?
Is designing really long-tail completion objectives to achieve 100% exploitative or unhealthy towards completionist players?
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Related thoughts I shared not to long ago. Even more than gacha and gambling games, this kind of harm is not something most game devs have really confronted and examined, IMO
bsky.app/profile/maxn...
bsky.app/profile/maxn...
I have wondered lately if the existence of the artform I dedicated my life to has been a net negative for human society
Not a fan of having to think that thought
Not a fan of having to think that thought
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I have wondered lately if the existence of the artform I dedicated my life to has been a net negative for human society
Not a fan of having to think that thought
Not a fan of having to think that thought
But which one is the Source of Truth™ for this feature
November 12, 2025 at 10:45 PM
But which one is the Source of Truth™ for this feature
And of course, if you're someone outside the team looking at credits, you probably want more specific info than just "what are the names of people who got credited on this game"
November 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
And of course, if you're someone outside the team looking at credits, you probably want more specific info than just "what are the names of people who got credited on this game"
The reality is that unless you're on a ~3-person team, there ARE roles, and if there's more than ~5-10 folks there IS a decision-making hierarchy. That's just inherent to the way humans organize as teams.
If someone has an outsized impact or an impact on a specific thing, they deserve credit for it
If someone has an outsized impact or an impact on a specific thing, they deserve credit for it
November 12, 2025 at 9:16 PM
The reality is that unless you're on a ~3-person team, there ARE roles, and if there's more than ~5-10 folks there IS a decision-making hierarchy. That's just inherent to the way humans organize as teams.
If someone has an outsized impact or an impact on a specific thing, they deserve credit for it
If someone has an outsized impact or an impact on a specific thing, they deserve credit for it
Right? What possible use could the information be? It's not exactly actionable or useful for any empirical process
November 12, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Right? What possible use could the information be? It's not exactly actionable or useful for any empirical process
Yeah I'm definitely gonna pick it up, it looks great, and your posts are literally the only place I've seen or heard about it at ALL
November 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Yeah I'm definitely gonna pick it up, it looks great, and your posts are literally the only place I've seen or heard about it at ALL
Like, damn, you're being so aggressive with Brian in this thread. I can't believe he's putting up with your judgmental ill-informed shit instead of just blocking you
November 12, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Like, damn, you're being so aggressive with Brian in this thread. I can't believe he's putting up with your judgmental ill-informed shit instead of just blocking you
Why are you acting like it's a personal failing to not have a sewer line available?
November 12, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Why are you acting like it's a personal failing to not have a sewer line available?
There are also people who just aren't bothered as much by these kind of systems, and happily play these games as a serious hobby.
There are also people who grew up on these games because they were free and playable on phones, who've never acclimated to less exploitable types and genres of games.
There are also people who grew up on these games because they were free and playable on phones, who've never acclimated to less exploitable types and genres of games.
November 12, 2025 at 7:44 PM
There are also people who just aren't bothered as much by these kind of systems, and happily play these games as a serious hobby.
There are also people who grew up on these games because they were free and playable on phones, who've never acclimated to less exploitable types and genres of games.
There are also people who grew up on these games because they were free and playable on phones, who've never acclimated to less exploitable types and genres of games.
That's a complex Q, but some points:
Many people play games but are not part of the hobbyist "Gamer" subculture. In the 90s many of these folks would have been the "plays Mario Kart at friends houses sometimes" kinda players. Today that group is larger and makes up a big chunk of mobile players.
Many people play games but are not part of the hobbyist "Gamer" subculture. In the 90s many of these folks would have been the "plays Mario Kart at friends houses sometimes" kinda players. Today that group is larger and makes up a big chunk of mobile players.
November 12, 2025 at 7:44 PM
That's a complex Q, but some points:
Many people play games but are not part of the hobbyist "Gamer" subculture. In the 90s many of these folks would have been the "plays Mario Kart at friends houses sometimes" kinda players. Today that group is larger and makes up a big chunk of mobile players.
Many people play games but are not part of the hobbyist "Gamer" subculture. In the 90s many of these folks would have been the "plays Mario Kart at friends houses sometimes" kinda players. Today that group is larger and makes up a big chunk of mobile players.
It’d have so much material!
November 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
It’d have so much material!
Roblox is almost 20 years old and has been one of the most popular games on the market for at least ten of those years
Genshin Impact is old enough that 18-year-olds entering their freshman year at game design schools played it when they were 13
Genshin Impact is old enough that 18-year-olds entering their freshman year at game design schools played it when they were 13
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Roblox is almost 20 years old and has been one of the most popular games on the market for at least ten of those years
Genshin Impact is old enough that 18-year-olds entering their freshman year at game design schools played it when they were 13
Genshin Impact is old enough that 18-year-olds entering their freshman year at game design schools played it when they were 13
Sorry kids, I think that thing you're nostalgic for should be outright illegal
I'm entering my villainous adult phase, etc
I'm entering my villainous adult phase, etc
November 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Sorry kids, I think that thing you're nostalgic for should be outright illegal
I'm entering my villainous adult phase, etc
I'm entering my villainous adult phase, etc