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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 3d

Weekly Headliner puzzle up now!

"A Pub Postponed Its ____ Night Due to ‘Unforeseen Circumstances’ and Everyone’s Laughing"

#gamedev #indiegamedev #indiegames

HEADLINER

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

www.videogameworkshop.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 4d

The last thing any designer wants is for a player to reach a state in the game that’s unbeatable. So, what do you do? Lock it!

#GameDev #IndieGameDev #GameDesign

Directing Players with Keys

The last thing any designer wants is for a player to reach a state in the game that’s unbeatable. So, what do you do? Lock it!

videogameworkshop.substack.com

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 7d

Working for something makes it feel more important. An example from Nintendo: the songs from Ocharina of Time. Originally the songs were spells players could use like the medallions of a Link to the Past. They were changed to require the players to "play" the Ocharina

#gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign

A screenshot of N64 Link form the Legend of Zelda playing an Ocharina.

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Mack the Knife @punishedtake.bsky.social · 6d

Charlie and Dennis really crush this discussion. I want a (turn-based?) Superman savior simulator and a Kaiju disaster photography game so bad. Be sure to watch (seriously, look at Charlie's editing) and subscribe to their channel, there's really great stuff coming soon

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 9d

Did you see the new Superman movie? There should be a game! There used to be way more games based on movies!

This episode we discuss games based on movies and our experience making games for an established IP.

#gamedev #indiegamedev #podcast

Games Based on Movies - Videogame Workshop Podcast

YouTube video by Videogame Workshop

youtu.be

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 8d

The most efficient way to pack 17 squares is visually unsettling.

So, maybe the lesson here is do what's best for your game, not always what's most efficient?

#gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign #residentevil

The most efficient way to pack 17 equal squares into the smallest possible larger square involves arranging them in a specific, non-grid pattern that minimizes wasted space, resulting in a square container with a side length of approximately 4.68 units for 17 unit squares. It's very asymmetrical and ugly to look at.

The briefcase from resident evil packed in the unappealing 17 item layout

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 7d

Incredible

5

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 8d

Spoiler from our Games Based on Movies podcast episode youtu.be/jAucKD4gpA0

#indiegamedev #podcast #godzilla #papersplease

A screenshot of the game Papers Please edited so Godzilla is in the game at the immigration counter.

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Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 11d

Knowing it’s not practical in big teams, I still love Rare’s use of post-its to design levels in Donkey Kong Country. It gives you a great bird’s eye view of the whole level, and it’s supper friendly to change and revisions!

What tools have a similar vibe now?

#gamedesign #Indiedev #leveldesign

A level from donkey kong country with each screen/room being drawn on a single post-it.

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 9d

Did you see the new Superman movie? There should be a game! There used to be way more games based on movies!

This episode we discuss games based on movies and our experience making games for an established IP.

#gamedev #indiegamedev #podcast

Games Based on Movies - Videogame Workshop Podcast

YouTube video by Videogame Workshop

youtu.be

4 16

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 10d

Weekly Headliner puzzle up now!

"Hershey wins suit claiming its Reese's Halloween candies aren't ____"

#gamedev #indiegamedev #indiegames

HEADLINER

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

www.videogameworkshop.com

3 13

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 11d

Too little and you get bad feedback.
Too much and you risk sunk costs.
So how do you decide when your game prototype has enough art?

Here are two common approaches-

#GameDesign #GameDev #IndieGameDev

How Much Art Should a Game Prototype Have?

It can be hard to know when your prototype is polished enough for other people to play.

videogameworkshop.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 17d

New weekly puzzle!

Fill out the crossword to win, all the clues are REAL headlines with a word missing.

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames #gamedev #indiedev

HEADLINER

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

www.videogameworkshop.com

3 13

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 18d

Greybox prototyping is versatile. It can be used for all sorts of testing, like UI usability, or cultivating game feel. The two most popular uses though, are developing mechanics and designing levels.

#gamedev #prototypes #leveldesign

Greybox Your Game

Greybox prototypes get something payable in front of a playtester without having to produce any new assets.

videogameworkshop.substack.com

10

Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · 19d

Game design is more about cutting than adding.

#gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign

The Castlevania meme of "what is a man" but Dracula says ""

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 23d

Development has started on our next game!

If you like small puzzley games, thoughtful design, or the kind of thinking that happens before a prototype hits a screen, check it out!

#gamedev #indiedev #podcast

Top Words - Videogame Workshop Podcast

YouTube video by Videogame Workshop

youtu.be

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 24d

Ridiculous news in horrific times. New Headliner puzzle every week!

www.videogameworkshop.com/headliner/

Fill out the crossword to win, all the clues are REAL headlines with a word missing. Correct answers link you to the VERY REAL news article.

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames #gamedev #indiedev

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · 25d

These exercises will help you identify your game’s core game mechanics, and keep you focused.

#GameDesign #GameDev #IndieGameDev

Core Game Mechanics

Breaking your game down into its core mechanics might be one of the hardest things you do, but it’s worth it.

open.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 11

"Newly released video shows man arrested while wearing a ____ costume"

Play Headliner to see last week's weird headlines!

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames

HEADLINER

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

www.videogameworkshop.com

1 6

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 9

Presenting works in progress or pitching new ideas can, and should, look very different depending on who you're presenting to.

#gamedesign #gamedev #indiegamedev

Know Your Audience

Knowing who your audience is can make or break your pitch.

open.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 4

"Cyborg ____: The future of deep ocean exploration?"

Play Headliner to find out what you missed in last week's weird news!

#IndieGames #PuzzleGames

HEADLINER

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

www.videogameworkshop.com

3 5

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Sep 2

A wireframe is to a game what a blueprint is to a building. If you don’t have a way to make a full playable prototype by yourself, and a paper prototype doesn’t suit your needs, a wireframe prototype could be very helpful.

#gamedev #prototypes #indiegamedev

Make a Wireframe Prototype

Wireframe prototypes are fast, flexible, and can serve as a living game design doc.

open.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Aug 28

New weekly puzzle up now!

"UK court finds men who stole $6 million gold ____ guilty"

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Aug 25

Ridiculous news in horrific times. Headliner is our newest game!

Fill out the crossword to win, all the clues are REAL headlines with a word missing. Correct answers link you to the VERY REAL news article. Free updates every week!

#gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev

HEADLINER

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

www.videogameworkshop.com

1

Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Aug 26

It’s easy for a critique session to turn into a tear down, but it doesn’t have to be that way!

#gamedesign #gamedev

Videogame Workshop’s Blog

Videogame Workshop is an independent videogame development studio based in Minnesota. Our games are puzzley, interesting, and easy for anyone to play. We share our insights and dialogue as we…

videogameworkshop.substack.com

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Videogame Workshop @videogameworkshop.com · Aug 25

Ridiculous news in horrific times. Headliner is our newest game!

Fill out the crossword to win, all the clues are REAL headlines with a word missing. Correct answers link you to the VERY REAL news article. Free updates every week!

#gamedev #indiedev #indiegamedev

HEADLINER

A crossword puzzle about ridiculous news in horrific times.

www.videogameworkshop.com

2 9

Reposted by Videogame Workshop

Dennispr @dennis.videogameworkshop.com · Feb 7

Environmental story telling:

#gamedev #gamedesign #leveldesign

A picture of stairs with a suspiciously human head shaped hole in the wall at the bottom

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