In some MMOs, mob placement sucks. Most of the time, it’s one of those things you don’t actively notice, but you feel that it’s wrong. They don’t seem like they are actually leading lives where they are. They don’t seem like they belong in the climate or topography. They seem like they’re just fodder thrown in because “players need stuff to kill.” But there’s a lot more to mob placement than that. Continue Reading »

This entry was sparked by a post on the Nerfbat Forums. The question: “What would happen if people were presented with two routes: one involving a bit of effort but also some fun, and one which gets them to their goal faster and with less effort?” (Garumoo). To illustrate the point, check out this video: Piano Stairs. My response after the break. Continue Reading »

Without the risk of failure there is no risk of success. You need a balance of positive reinforcement and negative punishment–too much in one direction is a bad thing. For the most significant feelings of accomplishment, there must be significant risks and significant punishment for failure (not that I’m necessarily recommending significant punishment, but the more significant the punishment for failure, the more significant the psychological reward for success).

Every game designer has his quirks. One of the most important things to do when you become a game designer (or in any job, really) is to figure out what works best for you–how do you produce your best work? For some people, they just push through and work a little at a time. Others work in bursts. Some procrastinate. Whatever it is, it’s important to find out for yourself what works for you. What do I do? I’m glad you asked (read: I’m telling you whether you like it or not)! Continue Reading »

I started a post series about “hardcore” almost 3 months ago called “A Hardcore Embarkation.” There have been a whopping 2 articles so far. First, the introduction. Then, I discussed one way in which players can be hardcore: dedicating a significant amount of Time to a game. Other than time, what are players willing to do to reach the goals they set for themselves? One method is the acquisition of Knowledge. Continue Reading »