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Power progression in games: Crafting rewarding player experiences Power progression in games: Crafting rewarding player experiences

Within this article I will be exploring power progression, how it is a fundamental element of game design, and why it taps into the human desire for growth and mastery.

byCameron McKellar

Sep 6, 2024

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11 Min Read

Players tackle a dungeon in King of Meat

'It's got to be hard to make something bad:' How Glowmade is building UGC tools in King of Meat 'It's got to be hard to make something bad:' How Glowmade is building UGC tools in King of Meat

Sep 4, 2024

4 Min Read

A screenshot from Splitgate 2

'We were just fighting to keep the lights on:' 1047 Games founder on ditching Splitgate to create a scalable sequel 'We were just fighting to keep the lights on:' 1047 Games founder on ditching Splitgate to create a scalable sequel

Sep 3, 2024

7 Min Read

Key artwork for Dragon's Dogma II

Dragon's Dogma and Devil May Cry director Hideaki Itsuno departs Capcom Dragon's Dogma and Devil May Cry director Hideaki Itsuno departs Capcom

Sep 2, 2024

1 Min Read

Leading the charge: What makes Nikke's titular gals narratively and mechanically compelling Leading the charge: What makes Nikke's titular gals narratively and mechanically compelling

byMichel Sabbagh

Aug 30, 2024

13 Min Read

The Patch Notes logo overlaid on a photograph of Gamescom 2024

Patch Notes #2: How does the game industry survive beyond 2025?Patch Notes #2: How does the game industry survive beyond 2025?

Aug 30, 2024

11 Min Read

A character searches a cartoon alleyway strewn with refuse

Preserving the Past With Charles Cecil: Game Developer Podcast Ep. 46

Preserving the Past With Charles Cecil: Game Developer Podcast Ep. 46

byDanielle Riendeau

A person holding the Xbox Adaptive Joystick between their chin and collarbone

'A rising tide floats all boats': Xbox on the universal benefits of accessible design

'A rising tide floats all boats': Xbox on the universal benefits of accessible design

Getting under the hood of racing games

Getting under the hood of racing games

Book Excerpt: Animal Crossing tracks the rise of the original cozy life sim

Book Excerpt: Animal Crossing tracks the rise of the original cozy life sim

A screenshot of a grid-based battle in Bonaparte

Studio Imugi is ditching 'oatmeal' narrative design with Bonaparte-A Mechanized Revolution

Studio Imugi is ditching 'oatmeal' narrative design with Bonaparte-A Mechanized Revolution

A character in Monster Hunter Wilds holds a porkchop over their head.

Capcom's close communication culture is key to sustainability, say Monster Hunter Wilds devs

Capcom's close communication culture is key to sustainability, say Monster Hunter Wilds devs

byBryant Francis

Lessons on small scale strategy with the X-Com Files

Lessons on small scale strategy with the X-Com Files

Star Wars Outlaws player character Kay Vess fires on Stormtroopers.

Star Wars Outlaws creative director says Swedish 'pride in craftsmanship' was key to development progress

Star Wars Outlaws creative director says Swedish 'pride in craftsmanship' was key to development progress

byBryant Francis

A screenshot of a bustling city in Civilization VII

Firaxis' big swing with Civilization VII? Convincing players to actually finish their games

Firaxis' big swing with Civilization VII? Convincing players to actually finish their games

The Xbox Adaptive Thumbstick

Microsoft unveils new accessibility hardware including Xbox Adaptive Joystick

Microsoft unveils new accessibility hardware including Xbox Adaptive Joystick

Bridging history and gameplay: Lessons from historiographical video game design

Bridging history and gameplay: Lessons from historiographical video game design

byChristopher Gerteis

A player character dual-wields two red pistols against a cyberpunk background in Apex Legends.

Letting Apex Legends players go guns akimbo was harder than you might think

Letting Apex Legends players go guns akimbo was harder than you might think

byBryant Francis

Call for Submissions: Let's talk about photography games

Call for submissions: Let's talk about photography games

Jen and Zan, two player characters from Tactical Breach Wizards. They are wizards with guns.

Tactical Breach Wizards shows how strategy games can tickle the funny bone

Tactical Breach Wizards shows how strategy games can tickle the funny bone

byBryant Francis

Storm wizard Jen gives a peace sign for the camera in Tactical Breach Wizards.

Let's compare the narrative design of Tactical Breach Wizards and Into the Breach

Let's compare the narrative design of Tactical Breach Wizards and Into the Breach

byBryant Francis

War never changes: Why innovation in game development is (still) vital

War never changes: Why innovation in game development is (still) vital

byBenjamin Paquette

Conjuring a gestural spellcasting system for VR

Conjuring a gestural spellcasting system for VR

byEdward McNeill

The words 'Tiny Screens' on a green background

RANKED: Four tiny screens to power your tiny alt ctrl dreams

RANKED: Four tiny screens to power your tiny alt ctrl dreams

A combat encounter playing out in Arco

Why 'fuck around and find out' became the backbone of Arco's combat

Why 'fuck around and find out' became the backbone of Arco's combat

Key art for Vampire Survivors. A classic pale vampire glowers in front of a blood-red moon.

Vampire Survivors development sounds like an open source-fueled fever dream

Vampire Survivors development sounds like an open source-fueled fever dream

byBryant Francis

Deep Dive: How Owlchemy adapted its VR titles for the Apple Vision Pro

Deep Dive: How Owlchemy adapted its VR titles for the Apple Vision Pro

+3

byPhillip Johnson, Greg Tamargoand 3 more

Supporting game design with evolutionary algorithms

Supporting game design with evolutionary algorithms

byMaciej Swiechowski

Glow Golf being played at AMAZE Sheffield

'We're currently choking to death': Glow Golf developer Alex Johansson says the industry must engage new audiences

'We're currently choking to death': Glow Golf developer Alex Johansson says the industry must engage new audiences

From monopolies to tiny tools by solo devs

From monopolies to tiny tools by solo devs

byNathalie Lawhead

Two people holding hands while playing Between

'Touch can bring people together like nothing else': Sparking connections through video game intimacy

'Touch can bring people together like nothing else': Sparking connections through video game intimacy

art of a tea pot brewing tea

The Garden Path's savviest design decision: connecting to the cosmos

The Garden Path's savviest design decision: connecting to the cosmos

byDanielle Riendeau

Training the game designers of tomorrow (Part 3 of 5)

Training the game designers of tomorrow (Part 3 of 5)

The word 'gamer' in bold text on a bright yellow background

What exactly is a 'gamer' and why does it matter?

What exactly is a 'gamer' and why does it matter?

The concerns of covering gacha games

The concerns of covering gacha games

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