Articles

Arrival: Speaking in Circles

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Arrival: Speaking in Circles

Arrival is celebrated for its striking visuals and thought-provoking themes, but beneath its elegant presentation lies a story built on questionable linguistics and shaky causality. This review examines where the film's ambitious ideas succeed, and where its internal logic quietly falls apart.

25 June 2026

Whole Plots

Hardspace Shipbreaker - Sequel

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Hardspace Shipbreaker - Sequel

An in-depth look at Hardspace: Shipbreaker, examining its innovative zero-gravity salvage mechanics, grounded sci-fi storytelling, immersive presentation, and technical achievements. This article explores where a potential sequel could expand on its physics-driven gameplay, ship variety, and management systems.

19 June 2026

Games.design

Star Trek (2009)

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Star Trek (2009)

Star Trek (2009) successfully relaunched the franchise with spectacular visuals, a charismatic cast, and plenty of action. Beneath the excitement, however, lies a script filled with scientific inconsistencies, questionable worldbuilding, and narrative choices that don't always stand up to the scrutiny of classic Star Trek's mindful fans.

13 June 2026

Whole Plots

Middle-earth Shadow of War - Nemesis Lite

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Middle-earth Shadow of War - Nemesis Lite

Middle-earth: Shadow of War builds confidently on Shadow of Mordor by expanding its world, refining the excellent Nemesis System, and introducing large-scale fortress warfare. While weighed down by uneven pacing and a notorious late-game grind, it remains one of Monolith's most technically ambitious and memorable games.

7 June 2026

Games.design

Chopping Block: June 1st 2026

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Chopping Block: June 1st 2026

Caravan Sandwitch, Humans: Fall Flat, Sea of Stars

1 June 2026

Chopping Block

News Update: May 2026

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News Update: May 2026

News Update: April 2026

26 May 2026

News

Codified Digital Ownership

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Codified Digital Ownership

The streaming wars were not an inevitable consequence of technology, but of business decisions. They created a fragmented ecosystem that left consumers with a out ownership rights and a declining user experience. In a competing ecosystems, one that explores a model for true digital ownership, and argues that stronger consumer rights could have created a healthier future for creators, distributors, and audiences alike.

20 May 2026

Pond-erings

Planet of Lana - Tree Shader

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Planet of Lana - Tree Shader

Planet of Lana is a colorful evolution of the cinematic platformer genre, blending Studio Ghibli-inspired visuals with clever puzzle mechanics and a interesting companion system. This article explores its world, design choices, presentation, and the technical tricks behind its atmospheric environments, including its approach to dynamic foliage and shaders.

14 May 2026

Games.design

Fallout 4: Lock Picking

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Fallout 4: Lock Picking

Fallout 4 expands Bethesda's post-apocalyptic formula with settlement building, deeper crafting systems, and a more action-oriented approach to combat. While some design decisions hold it back from surpassing earlier Fallout titles, the Commonwealth remains a compelling world to explore. I also take a closer look at the franchise's long-running lockpicking minigame and why such a simple mechanic remains so effective.

9 May 2026

Games.design

Still Wakes The Deep

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Still Wakes The Deep

Still Wakes The Deep, a first person horror game and one of the better cosmic horror games made. With a tightly written plot, smart compelling character drama, and strong visual storytelling it results in an impressive game. The mechanics of Still Wakes The Deep aren't incredible robust, but involve a number of important adaptations including the regenerative health system which employs an animated overlay that is unique.

6 May 2026

Games.design

Chopping Block: May 2nd 2026

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Chopping Block: May 2nd 2026

Gold Mine Simulator, Manifold Garden, Resistance: Fall of Man

2 May 2026

Chopping Block

Metro 2033: Ammo Currency

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Metro 2033: Ammo Currency

Metro 2033 remains one of the more distinctive post-apocalyptic shooters I've played, blending survival horror, stealth, and excellent worldbuilding into a remarkably cohesive package. While some technical shortcomings persist, its immersive sound design, atmospheric presentation, and unique military-grade ammunition economy help it stand apart from other first-person shooters.

29 April 2026

Games.design

News Update: April 2026

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News Update: April 2026

News Update: April 2026

24 April 2026

News

Golem Mancer - Music

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Golem Mancer - Music

This article explores plans for Golem Mancer's audio systems, from delayed sound effects and camera shakes that emphasize the immense scale of golems to an ambitious dynamic soundtrack. Inspired by Breath of the Wild, the proposed music system would layer instruments and motifs based on the player's chosen golem types, creating a unique soundtrack for every formation while presenting significant composition and implementation challenges.

21 April 2026

Golem Mancer

Sniper Elite 3: Noise Cover

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Sniper Elite 3: Noise Cover

Sniper Elite III blends tactical sniping, stealth mechanics, and open sandbox level design into a rewarding World War II shooter. We analyses the game's implementation of noise cover that enables stealthy long-range engagements.

18 April 2026

Games.design

Limbo

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Limbo

Limbo is a minimalist puzzle-platformer that combines atmospheric black-and-white visuals, subtle storytelling, and clever environmental puzzles into a memorable experience. We look at the game's design, presentation, and achievements while exploring how its distinctive film-grain and vignette effects can be recreated using Unity's Rendering Pipeline and 'Volume' post-processing system.

13 April 2026

Games.design

I, Billionaire

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I, Billionaire

Many of todays fashionable technologies are sold as inevitable steps toward a better future, yet their development is often driven by vanity, profit, and wishful thinking rather than necessity. From self-driving cars and Martian colonies to neural implants, AI, and bio-hacking. These projects frequently ignore practical limitations and social consequences. Science fiction may inspire innovation, but it also provides cautionary examples that todays tech evangelists seem determined to overlook.

8 April 2026

Pond-erings

5 Games If They Traded Dev's

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5 Games If They Traded Dev's

Frostpunk --- Metro 2033Assassin's Creed --- DishonoredBioShock --- Surviving MarsMegaquarium --- Power Wash SimulatorHardspace Shipbreaker --- Factorio

31 March 2026

Pond-erings

News Update: March 2026

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News Update: March 2026

News Update: March 2026

30 March 2026

News

Alien: Earth

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Alien: Earth

Rather than dissecting why Alien: Earth failed, this article rebuilds it into something closer to the franchises strengths. By removing the hybrid android storyline, refocusing the narrative on the Maginot crew, and restructuring the series around the capture and containment of its alien specimens, the result is a more cohesive survival-horror mystery. Through parallel timelines, corporate intrigue, and a stronger emphasis on the creatures themselves, this reimagining aims to transform a muddled first season into a proper Alien story.

20 March 2026

Pond-erings