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Video: Jonathan Blow explains Braid's rewind mechanic at GDC 2010

In this free GDC Vault video from GDC 2010, Braid creator Jonathan Blow explains in detail how he programmed and designed the time-remind mechanic, and how he dealt with certain implementation issues.

Patrick Miller, Blogger

August 6, 2013

2 Min Read

"I wanted to find out what happens when you design a game where rewind is not a resource, and there's not a death challenge gating the game."

--Braid creator Jonathan Blow explains how he built and implemented Braid's time-rewind mechanic in this video from GDC 2010, courtesy of GDC Vault. In Braid, the player can rewind time at will -- the scene plays backward at an accelerated pace, like you might see on a VCR. Blow explains in detail how he programmed and designed this mechanic, why he chose this particular method instead of other possible solutions, and how he dealt with many implementation concerns.

About the GDC Vault

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent GDC events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers. Those who purchased All Access passes to events like GDC, GDC Europe, and GDC China already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscriptions via a GDC Vault inquiry form. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company. More information on this option is available via an online demonstration, and interested parties can find out more here. In addition, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault admins. Be sure to keep an eye on GDC Vault for even more new content, as GDC organizers will also archive videos, audio, and slides from other events like GDC China and GDC 2013. To stay abreast of all the latest updates to GDC Vault, be sure to check out the news feed on the official GDC website, or subscribe to updates via Twitter, Facebook, or RSS. Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.

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