JM8, Author at The Escapist

The Scarily Good Design of Alien: Isolation

JM8 — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:30:00 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYD3F-BJgNI&t=10s

In today’s episode of Design Delve J & Ludo brave the terrors of the Sevastopol and unpack why Alien: Isolation remains such an effective horror experience.

For more episodes of Design Delve, check out J’s answers to How Sea of Stars Designed a Water Temple That Didn’t Suck, and Can A Poorly Designed Game Still Be Good?

How Sea of Stars Designed a Water Temple That Doesn’t Suck

JM8 — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:45:00 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKkmQxUXJ8A

In today’s episode of Design Delve J & Ludo sit down with Thierry Boulanger, Creative Director on Sea of Stars to see how they accomplished the impossible and created an underwater temple that doesn’t suck.

Can a Poorly Designed Game Still Be Good?

JM8 — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:30:44 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y18vswHjyB4

In today’s Deign Delve, J & Ludo delve deep into the design mines at Yahtzee’s request to ask the question, “What is a good game?” by taking a look at Starfield.

How Baldur’s Gate 3 Masterfully Emulates and Breaks D&D – Design Delve

JM8 — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:24:31 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tulJVmIS1eQ

In this episode of Design Delve, JM8 digs into Baldur’s Gate 3, and what it successfully emulates (and breaks) the D&D formula.

The League of Legends’ Client is A Nightmare of Design – Design Delve

JM8 — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:16:32 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNBzcAf48Yg

In this episode of Design Delve, JM8 delves into the League of Legends client, and explores why it’s such a nightmare of design.

BattleBit Stole Battlefield’s Audience by Just Being ‘Battlefield – Design Delve

JM8 — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:00:44 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fkEzIxbX20

In this episode of Design Delve, JM8 delves into what has caused the Battlefield franchise to fall so low, and how BattleBit swept in to pick up where it left off.

Why League of Legends’ Design Feeds Toxicity – Design Delve

JM8 — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:17:11 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnuVMePO14Q

In today’s episode of Design Delve, JM8 delves into why League of Legends will forever be toxic due to its fundamental game design.

Games Are So Pretty It’s Ruining My Job – Design Delve

JM8 — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 21:01:50 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTBHIBgbR6k

In today’s episode of Design Delve, JM8 delves into why video games being overly pretty can ruin other aspects of the game design.

Tears of the Kingdom Solves Breath of the Wild’s Biggest Design Flaw – Design Delve

JM8 — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 20:24:24 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feaEp5_HVTA

In this episode of Design Delve, JM8 delves into how Nintendo solved the biggest design problem with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in Tears of the Kingdom.

What’s Continuing to Hold VR Game Design Back? – Design Delve

JM8 — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 16:05:58 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmVSlyNx4Ys

In this episode of Design Delve, JM8 attempts to piece together the reasons why so many VR games are lacking in design, graphics, and storytelling.

Dredge and the Genius of Tetris-Style Inventory Systems – Design Delve

JM8 — Thu, 11 May 2023 17:30:40 +0000

In this episode of Design Delve, JM8 attempts to piece together why a knapsack inventory with Tetris-like structure has such a huge impact on game design when it is included, like in Dredge and Resident Evil 4.

Are Elden Ring’s Bosses Unbalanced? – Design Delve

JM8 — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:31:25 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oABRqXUqlQ

In this episode of Design Delve, JM8 takes a look at the balancing of the bosses in Elden Ring and if they might be a bit unbalanced in places.