How to Improve Controller Button Layouts
Many developers assign “jump” to the wrong button. We jump with the B/A/X button not because it makes sense, but because Nintendo trained us on the NES. For 2D platformers … Read more
Game Analysis
The Slow, Necessary Removal of Game Mini-Maps
Nintendo removed in-game lives from Mario games a decade too late. In Mario Galaxy, I first noticed lives limiting exploration and experimentation. The “game over” screen brought unneeded stress to … Read more
Hidden Content Risks Too Much for Players and Developers
When Assassin’s Creed released in 2007, Ubisoft kept a huge story detail a secret. Although demos and previews showed an action game set during the Third Crusade, a sci-fi story … Read more
Blocking vs. Dodging – How Games Fail to Protect You
Most action games or hack-and-slash games use either dodging or blocking for defence. Ninja Gaiden Black lets you do both. The combination sounds like an obvious pairing, but developers often … Read more