Article Archive
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Crysis 2: Power Systems
Crysis 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter set in a plague-ridden New York City during a full-scale alien invasion. Players control Alcatraz, equipped with a powerful nanosuit that enhances combat, stealth, and mobility. As hes mistaken for Crysis' returning hero Prophet, Alcatraz becomes central to the war between humanity, the alien Ceph, and paramilitary forces. With dynamic environments, strong narrative design, and groundbreaking visuals, Crysis 2 blends story and gameplay into an intense, immersive experience.
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Stray: Random Noise Generation
Stray is a cyberpunk adventure game where players control a stray cat navigating a decaying walled city populated by humanoid robots and hostile creatures called Zurks. With the aid of a companion drone, B-12, the cat explores richly detailed environments, solves puzzles, and uncovers the city's mysterious past. The game blends atmospheric storytelling, minimalist mechanics, and immersive worldbuilding. Though short and light on replay value, Stray stands out for its unique protagonist, visual polish, and subtle philosophical undertones.
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Trashers Game Design Document
Trashers is a factory simulation game where players build and manage a recycling plant, processing trash into usable resources. Players lay conveyor belts, construct processing machines, train staff, and bid on contracts to expand their operations. The game features a story mode where players restore a rundown plant and manage various challenges, making it ideal for those interested in recycling and factory builder games. Trashers combines strategic planning with engaging gameplay.
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Alien Isolation 2
My take on a full sequel to 2014's Alien Isolation and the continuation of Amanda Ripley's story. I'll cover an in-depth summary of the story as well as proposed new mechanics.
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Sinking Logic in The Meg
The Meg is a big-budget sci-fi action film that brings B-movie shark tropes to the blockbuster stage. The film explores a research team's encounter with prehistoric Megalodons in the Mariana Trench. While the film embraces genre clichs giving them new life, it deserves praises for its straightforward plot but criticism for several logic gaps the billion-dollar Mana One station and dubious physics of deep-sea ecology.
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Golem Mancer Game Design Document
GolemMancer is a strategic RPG where players construct and command powerful golems to reclaim a kingdom overrun by monstrous armies. The game combines intricate golem-building mechanics with engaging side-scrolling combat in a richly detailed pixel-art world.
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Idle Doesn't Mean Off: Reimagining AFK Gameplay
True AFK gameswhere gameplay progresses independently of the playerare nearly extinct, overshadowed by engagement-heavy modern games. Yet, the core design philosophy of autonomous game systems remains relevant. This article explores how RPGs could implement AFK mechanics, allowing avatars to train, earn, build, or heal while players are away. Such systems add immersion, reduce grind, and offer design efficiency. With simple timestamp-based logic and smart scheduling, AFK mechanics can reinvigorate single-player experiences by giving time away from the game meaningful consequence.
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Climbing Giants: The Boss Design of Eternal Strands
Eternal Strands blends epic fantasy with tactile gameplay, delivering a vivid action-adventure experience rooted in exploration, elemental magic, and monumental boss battles. Drawing inspiration from industry titans like Shadow of the Colossus and Breath of the Wild, this Unreal Engine 5 title thrives on stunning visuals, fluid traversal, and climbable titans that anchor its most exhilarating moments. The analysis explores the design philosophy behind its boss encountersanalyzing their types, challenges, and mechanical innovations that position Eternal Strands as a spiritual successor to climbing-centric action games. While not without flaws, the game carves a memorable niche through sheer ambition and spectacle.
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The Core's Wobbly Science
A critical yet affectionate look at The Core (2003), a late entry in the disaster movie genre. Despite its star-studded cast, the film faltered with audiences and is riddled with scientific absurdities and narrative inconsistencies. Highlighting numerous internal contradictionsranging from pacemaker deaths and bird swarms to gravity errors and vehicle design flawswhile still appreciating the movie as entertaining, if flawed, popcorn cinema.
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Jurassic Park: Health and Safety
Jurassic Park is widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiecebut even legendary films arent immune to scrutiny. This article explores some of the hidden inconsistencies and questionable decisions buried beneath the blockbusters thrilling surface. Its a loving critique from a devoted fan, not meant to tear down the film, but to examine it with a more skeptical lensone that notices what most first-time viewers never do.
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Chopping Block: April 14th 2025
Among Trees, Cookie Clicker, and Dishonored.
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Unity's Year of Backlash
In 2023, Unity Technologies proposed a controversial change to its pricing model under then-CEO, introducing per-install royalties for games made with the Unity engine. The plan lacked technical feasibility and transparency, sparking industry-wide backlash. Developers criticized the surprise changes, legal concerns, and unclear implementation. Unity quietly altered terms of service, further damaging trust. By late 2024, after losing market share and CEO's resignation, Unity reversed the decision. Speculation suggests the original idea stemmed from internal marketing goals, but executive overreach and potential greed distorted it into a damaging corporate misstep.
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Chopping Block: April 11th 2025
Diplomacy Is Not an Option, Gunsmith Simulator, and Machinika Atlas.
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New Update March 2025
In 2024, despite fewer published articles than planned, I made progress through research, project development, and website upgrades. I completed prototypes and developed reusable modules for future projects, like audio and save managers. The website saw several improvements, including updates to style, new features, and backend fixes. A new image uploader for easier management is in the works, alongside a basic site search feature. I also implemented view counts for articles and started optimizing the site's code and SEO to improve search engine visibility. Overall, progress was made, though challenges remain.
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System Requirements
Creating system requirements for a game is a key step in development, detailing software, hardware, and OS needs. While these are clear for things like RAM, operating systems, and network requirements, theres no strict formula, leaving some room for developer discretion. For instance, while testing, CPU and GPU specifications matter most, but the complexity of GPUs, with different brands and features, makes recommendations tricky. The process is less about rigid rules and more about balancing accessibility with performance. Ultimately, thorough testing across devices and systems ensures a smoother player experience, with feedback from users guiding necessary adjustments.
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The Secret Menace of Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation is a first-person horror game set between the films Alien and Aliens. Player controls Amanda Ripley aboard Sevastopol station, which is now overrun by a deadly xenomorph. The games innovative dual-A.I. systems controls the xenomorph's behavior, making it both a constant threat learning and reacting to players strategies. Praised for its atmospheric design, sound, and A.I., it received multiple Game of the Year awards. Despite some pacing issues, Alien: Isolation is a detailed, immersive homage to the Alien franchise.
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Forky's Pallet Panic Game Design Document
Forky's Pallet Panic is a block puzzle game where players control a cartoonish forklift (Forky), shuffling cargo around a warehouse. With multiple game modes including time trials, score runs, and pure puzzles, players face various challenges involving stacking crates, managing loading zones, and navigating conveyors. Set in a warehouse environment, this PC game combines strategic thinking and quick reflexes, making it perfect for casual gamers and puzzle enthusiasts.
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Choo-Choo Charles
Choo-Choo Charles is a third-person horror game. Players evading the terrifying spider train, Choo-Choo Charles. The game features a mix of walking simulator mechanics and train travel, creating tension as players must stay close to their train to avoid Charles. Despite mixed reviews, the game's standout element is Charles himself, whose presence adds genuine suspense.With a simple learning curve and minimal variety, the five-hour gameplay experience lacks depth for multiple playthroughs. The environments are well-crafted, though human models can feel lacking. The story revolves around "The Archivist," tasked with defeating Charles and his cult. Overall, while flawed, Choo-Choo Charles provides a unique experience worth exploring.
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The Measure of a Android
The Measure of a Man is one of the more lauded episodes of Star Trek the Next Generation but for me it has always been the silliest episode. So much of the episode requires a certain level of legal ignorance to take seriously and the whole thing is wrapped up in a massive Catch-22. Even looking past the nebulous nature of the Star Trek universes legal system the episode comes off as a bizarre kangaroo court.
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Gaming's Goodwill Depletion
The entertainment industry, particularly gaming, has suffered due to the depletion of goodwill, a key factor for success. Goodwill, or social capital, encompasses trust, reputation, and relationships, and is crucial for game publishers to build positive consumer views. However, practices like releasing incomplete games, monetization schemes, and neglecting customer satisfaction have eroded this goodwill. As a result, gamers are becoming increasingly disillusioned, and the industry faces growing backlash.
