shahaan
@shahaan.me
🎮 game designer @ electronic arts
⚙️ building game systems [and overthinking why they work]
🤔 offering shower thoughts and photos of squirrels, both unsolicited
🍁 toronto, canada
⚙️ building game systems [and overthinking why they work]
🤔 offering shower thoughts and photos of squirrels, both unsolicited
🍁 toronto, canada
if you are a people-pleaser, DO NOT work in AAA #gamedev
when you aim for mass appeal, you'll be stuck considering fans of the franchise vs. fans of the genre
lean into one, you alienate the other
try to balance both, now everyone's pissed off
it's a lose-lose folks, don't do it ✋
when you aim for mass appeal, you'll be stuck considering fans of the franchise vs. fans of the genre
lean into one, you alienate the other
try to balance both, now everyone's pissed off
it's a lose-lose folks, don't do it ✋
January 12, 2026 at 5:36 PM
if you are a people-pleaser, DO NOT work in AAA #gamedev
when you aim for mass appeal, you'll be stuck considering fans of the franchise vs. fans of the genre
lean into one, you alienate the other
try to balance both, now everyone's pissed off
it's a lose-lose folks, don't do it ✋
when you aim for mass appeal, you'll be stuck considering fans of the franchise vs. fans of the genre
lean into one, you alienate the other
try to balance both, now everyone's pissed off
it's a lose-lose folks, don't do it ✋
#HotTake: moving to another country because your money is worth more there is the IRL equivalent of smurfing
I may be broke but at least I have my honour ✊🥲
I may be broke but at least I have my honour ✊🥲
January 10, 2026 at 6:51 PM
#HotTake: moving to another country because your money is worth more there is the IRL equivalent of smurfing
I may be broke but at least I have my honour ✊🥲
I may be broke but at least I have my honour ✊🥲
maybe it's not the coding that you like so much, maybe you just like getting stuff done
January 9, 2026 at 4:35 AM
maybe it's not the coding that you like so much, maybe you just like getting stuff done
for me the tension created by pvp in #ArcRaiders is its best quality and a result of "the fear of the unknown"
encouraging pvp makes it expected / removing pvp kills the suspense
some villain players are essential to the #gamedesign bc if everyone is guaranteed to be friendly, the tension vanishes
encouraging pvp makes it expected / removing pvp kills the suspense
some villain players are essential to the #gamedesign bc if everyone is guaranteed to be friendly, the tension vanishes
Arc Raiders boss Patrick Söderlund has made his position clear when it comes to the debate about players who focus on the PvP, and said he doesn’t want to “foster” that type of gameplay. https://bit.ly/49JoKqf
January 8, 2026 at 2:54 AM
for me the tension created by pvp in #ArcRaiders is its best quality and a result of "the fear of the unknown"
encouraging pvp makes it expected / removing pvp kills the suspense
some villain players are essential to the #gamedesign bc if everyone is guaranteed to be friendly, the tension vanishes
encouraging pvp makes it expected / removing pvp kills the suspense
some villain players are essential to the #gamedesign bc if everyone is guaranteed to be friendly, the tension vanishes
yeah that's fair, though I'm using a broader definition of "designer"
to me anyone making decisions about how the product should function is designing the product, whether we call them product managers or designers, I think we agree that the "decider" role is the one that will grow 👍
to me anyone making decisions about how the product should function is designing the product, whether we call them product managers or designers, I think we agree that the "decider" role is the one that will grow 👍
January 7, 2026 at 9:10 PM
yeah that's fair, though I'm using a broader definition of "designer"
to me anyone making decisions about how the product should function is designing the product, whether we call them product managers or designers, I think we agree that the "decider" role is the one that will grow 👍
to me anyone making decisions about how the product should function is designing the product, whether we call them product managers or designers, I think we agree that the "decider" role is the one that will grow 👍
you're right that this is changing since coding can be done faster and with less people
design is an iterative process and there's no clear finish line like with most coding problems
I am curious though, will companies simply reduce engineers to cut costs, or will they also increase designers?
design is an iterative process and there's no clear finish line like with most coding problems
I am curious though, will companies simply reduce engineers to cut costs, or will they also increase designers?
January 6, 2026 at 10:56 PM
you're right that this is changing since coding can be done faster and with less people
design is an iterative process and there's no clear finish line like with most coding problems
I am curious though, will companies simply reduce engineers to cut costs, or will they also increase designers?
design is an iterative process and there's no clear finish line like with most coding problems
I am curious though, will companies simply reduce engineers to cut costs, or will they also increase designers?
hmm I think coding was traditionally seen as time-consuming rather than just "difficult".. which explains the typical 10:1 engineer-to-designer ratio we see on most teams
on the other hand high salaries for programmers were likely because better coders improved the time-bottleneck
on the other hand high salaries for programmers were likely because better coders improved the time-bottleneck
January 6, 2026 at 10:56 PM
hmm I think coding was traditionally seen as time-consuming rather than just "difficult".. which explains the typical 10:1 engineer-to-designer ratio we see on most teams
on the other hand high salaries for programmers were likely because better coders improved the time-bottleneck
on the other hand high salaries for programmers were likely because better coders improved the time-bottleneck
Reposted by shahaan
the point of a movie is not to be done watching it. the point of a song is not to be done listening to it. the gamers' obsession with completion as the only motivator to play a game has directly led to the medium's worst traits. "AI gaming ghost" is a reflection of the lack of willingness to engage
Sony has patented an AI gaming ghost that will play PlayStation games for you when you get stuck www.eurogamer.net/sony-has-pat...
January 6, 2026 at 2:58 PM
the point of a movie is not to be done watching it. the point of a song is not to be done listening to it. the gamers' obsession with completion as the only motivator to play a game has directly led to the medium's worst traits. "AI gaming ghost" is a reflection of the lack of willingness to engage
Reposted by shahaan
Game development tip!
If you’re unsure which direction to take your project, try making Halo 3. That game was very good.
If you’re unsure which direction to take your project, try making Halo 3. That game was very good.
January 6, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Game development tip!
If you’re unsure which direction to take your project, try making Halo 3. That game was very good.
If you’re unsure which direction to take your project, try making Halo 3. That game was very good.
it's so cute how his eyes follow the beetroot 🥹
side note: the beetroot shaking when it's being yoinked is a great example of game feel > realism
realistically the arm should shake, but moving that to the object visualizes the struggle and gives the player a clear cue that they're pulling #gamedev
side note: the beetroot shaking when it's being yoinked is a great example of game feel > realism
realistically the arm should shake, but moving that to the object visualizes the struggle and gives the player a clear cue that they're pulling #gamedev
January 6, 2026 at 6:07 PM
it's so cute how his eyes follow the beetroot 🥹
side note: the beetroot shaking when it's being yoinked is a great example of game feel > realism
realistically the arm should shake, but moving that to the object visualizes the struggle and gives the player a clear cue that they're pulling #gamedev
side note: the beetroot shaking when it's being yoinked is a great example of game feel > realism
realistically the arm should shake, but moving that to the object visualizes the struggle and gives the player a clear cue that they're pulling #gamedev
#HotTake: modern games die quickly because the #gamedesign caters to extrinsically motivated players who sprint to a finish line
the titans of the past (CS, Dota, LoL) catered to intrinsic mastery and that's why they are immortal
you can finish a battle pass, but you can't "finish" getting better
the titans of the past (CS, Dota, LoL) catered to intrinsic mastery and that's why they are immortal
you can finish a battle pass, but you can't "finish" getting better
January 5, 2026 at 8:44 PM
#HotTake: modern games die quickly because the #gamedesign caters to extrinsically motivated players who sprint to a finish line
the titans of the past (CS, Dota, LoL) catered to intrinsic mastery and that's why they are immortal
you can finish a battle pass, but you can't "finish" getting better
the titans of the past (CS, Dota, LoL) catered to intrinsic mastery and that's why they are immortal
you can finish a battle pass, but you can't "finish" getting better
it's worth mentioning that both of these categories are really just forms of literacy
reading an analog clock is intuitive for an adult, but a gen-alpha kid would likely struggle
when assessing whether a mechanic is intuitive, ask "does our audience have the required literacy for this convention?"
reading an analog clock is intuitive for an adult, but a gen-alpha kid would likely struggle
when assessing whether a mechanic is intuitive, ask "does our audience have the required literacy for this convention?"
I think usage of "intuitive" in game design discussions would be a lot more productive if people separated it into 2 categories - intuitive in accordance to real world experiences and intuitive from past exposure to similar games & existing conventions
January 4, 2026 at 7:15 PM
it's worth mentioning that both of these categories are really just forms of literacy
reading an analog clock is intuitive for an adult, but a gen-alpha kid would likely struggle
when assessing whether a mechanic is intuitive, ask "does our audience have the required literacy for this convention?"
reading an analog clock is intuitive for an adult, but a gen-alpha kid would likely struggle
when assessing whether a mechanic is intuitive, ask "does our audience have the required literacy for this convention?"
the best lesson on grief I've learned came from playing #ArcRaiders:
"it's not your loot, it's just your turn with it"
nothing in life is yours to keep, everything is temporary
the victory isn't keeping your loot, it's having the courage to press "play again" after losing everything
10/10 game
"it's not your loot, it's just your turn with it"
nothing in life is yours to keep, everything is temporary
the victory isn't keeping your loot, it's having the courage to press "play again" after losing everything
10/10 game
January 4, 2026 at 11:57 AM
the best lesson on grief I've learned came from playing #ArcRaiders:
"it's not your loot, it's just your turn with it"
nothing in life is yours to keep, everything is temporary
the victory isn't keeping your loot, it's having the courage to press "play again" after losing everything
10/10 game
"it's not your loot, it's just your turn with it"
nothing in life is yours to keep, everything is temporary
the victory isn't keeping your loot, it's having the courage to press "play again" after losing everything
10/10 game
Reposted by shahaan
Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over
January 1, 2026 at 4:43 AM
Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over
getting older is realizing that last year's miseries will carry over into the next year and next year's miseries will carry over into the year after that and the miseries of that year will carry over into the year after that and the miseries of that year will carry over into the year after that and-
December 31, 2025 at 11:40 PM
getting older is realizing that last year's miseries will carry over into the next year and next year's miseries will carry over into the year after that and the miseries of that year will carry over into the year after that and the miseries of that year will carry over into the year after that and-
all my aura goes out the window as soon as I encounter a door
December 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
all my aura goes out the window as soon as I encounter a door
why is this my everyday outlook login experience
July 2, 2025 at 5:37 AM
why is this my everyday outlook login experience
Reposted by shahaan
I have two New Years' resolutions:
1. Set realistic goals
2. Solve every single one of my problems
Excited to see where the year takes me
1. Set realistic goals
2. Solve every single one of my problems
Excited to see where the year takes me
December 31, 2024 at 10:06 AM
I have two New Years' resolutions:
1. Set realistic goals
2. Solve every single one of my problems
Excited to see where the year takes me
1. Set realistic goals
2. Solve every single one of my problems
Excited to see where the year takes me
Reposted by shahaan
Putting a project to bed after a lot of work, never to be made, is a strange kind of grief. Only your team will get it. For me, if I'd reached the point where it felt real, where my fingers were electrified and ready to type? It's so hard to move on to the Next Thing and forget it ever existed. 😞
December 27, 2024 at 10:32 PM
Putting a project to bed after a lot of work, never to be made, is a strange kind of grief. Only your team will get it. For me, if I'd reached the point where it felt real, where my fingers were electrified and ready to type? It's so hard to move on to the Next Thing and forget it ever existed. 😞
Reposted by shahaan
I don't know that I've ever heard a better idea than bagels.
December 22, 2024 at 4:36 PM
I don't know that I've ever heard a better idea than bagels.
pixel's circle to search is good
December 22, 2024 at 8:04 PM
pixel's circle to search is good
Reposted by shahaan
Skyrim was right: soup DOES heal you for 10 points of health and 10 points of stamina.
December 21, 2024 at 11:26 PM
Skyrim was right: soup DOES heal you for 10 points of health and 10 points of stamina.