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Game design

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Game design. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Ryan Reynolds (left) and Lil Rel Howery in a scene from Free Guy where most of the action takes place in a video game. Photo: AP

How Free Guy pays homage to Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto

Free Guy director Shawn Levy tells how he had to think like a hardcore gamer to successfully bring a video game to the big screen in the Ryan Reynolds hit.

16 Aug 2021 - 6:45PM

Sony’s Monkey King: Hero is Back doesn’t look like it’s ready to conquer China

20 Sep 2019 - 9:10AMvideocam

New Total War campaign draws on obscure history and impresses Chinese fans

20 Sep 2019 - 9:09AMvideocam

Tencent finally lets you play Teamfight Tactics on mobile, but only at home

Similar to Steam Link, WeGame’s new streaming feature lets you play PC games on your phone

20 Sep 2019 - 9:09AM

While it is certainly good to have more options, playing Teamfight Tactics on a phone isn’t ideal. (Picture: Tencent)

Calls for an Assassin’s Creed in ancient China inspired by hit TV show

Popular show The Longest Day of Chang’an prompts calls for Ubisoft to bring game series to ancient China

20 Sep 2019 - 9:09AM

Auto battlers started with Dota Auto Chess and now Valve and Riot Games are joining in

Auto battlers are multiplayer strategy games. Players select and assemble a lineup of characters to pit against opponents, then the game automatically plays round-by-round to see who wins. Popular games include Auto Chess, Dota Underlords and League of Legends Teamfight Tactics.

20 Sep 2019 - 8:10AM

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Tencent’s answer to Diablo Immortal bombed in China

To battle Blizzard and NetEase, Tencent released its own Diablo-like mobile game, but gamers hate it

20 Sep 2019 - 9:08AMvideocam

Tencent’s answer to Diablo Immortal bombed in China

Hit game Chinese Parents is a funny and insightful look at growing up in China

PC game Chinese Parents is now in English, letting you experience life as a Chinese millennial

20 Sep 2019 - 9:08AM

China’s blatant Breath of the Wild knock-off sparks outrage

Some lambast the company for being shameless, others said China’s games industry lacks self-respect

20 Sep 2019 - 9:07AM

Gamers in China want their own Total War: Three Kingdoms

Chinese gamers lament the country's failure to project its own culture through games

20 Sep 2019 - 9:05AM

Three Kingdoms looks like a good way to get immersed in China’s Three Kingdoms period, but careful not to butcher the pronunciations of these beloved characters. (Picture: Creative Assembly)

Tales of the Neon Sea is a beautiful but slow cyberpunk puzzle game

The pixel art is vibrant and detailed, but the puzzles are uninspired

20 Sep 2019 - 9:03AM

Tales of the Neon Sea is good at creating the cyberpunk atmosphere in the game, but it feels empty at heart without good gameplay design. (Picture: Palm Pioneer)

PUBG Mobile’s latest update adds a new adversary: Mother nature

Tencent’s new mode brings survival elements back into battle royale

20 Sep 2019 - 9:00AMvideocam

This cyberpunk Chinese city was made by one person

Chinese developer uses Epic’s Unreal Engine to create an epic, futuristic city with touches of Hong Kong

20 Sep 2019 - 8:59AMvideocam

Controversial shooter Bright Memory is getting an overhaul

The Chinese indie game shot to fame before it was busted for stealing art assets

20 Sep 2019 - 8:59AM

Controversial shooter Bright Memory is getting an overhaul

Adventure game Koi is all about fish, but it didn’t satisfy my fish fetish

Chinese game about a traveling fish gets new release on Steam

20 Sep 2019 - 8:59AMvideocam

Adventure game Koi is all about fish, but it didn’t satisfy my fish fetish

Developer says his romantic games aren't realistic because he's never been in love

Fans shower forever alone developer with love after honest response to criticism

20 Sep 2019 - 8:59AM

Sky: Light Awaits takes you back to childhood dreams, hand in hand with friends

The team behind Journey delivers beta version of a new game that feels very much finished

20 Sep 2019 - 8:58AMvideocam

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Clocker is an exhausting puzzle game that explores time and love

New Chinese indie game lets you solve puzzles by traveling in time

15 Jun 2020 - 2:02PM

You know what comes to mind? “Murph!” (Picture: Wild Kid Games)

Sex ed game made by Chinese high schoolers gets sex ed wrong

Seven high schoolers made Self-Reliance in a bid to improve China’s sexual education

20 Sep 2019 - 8:57AMvideocam

Horror game Devotion is an immersive triumph

From the makers of Detention, it's another spooky game that transports you to Taiwan's past

20 Sep 2019 - 8:57AMvideocam

How a popular PC gaming hit was influenced by the ancient game of mahjong

Dota Auto Chess combines elements of mahjong and real-time strategy to create something new

20 Sep 2019 - 8:53AMvideocam

As of Feb 21 2019, Dota Auto Chess has more than 4.5 million subscribers and often see more than 150,000 current players at any given point of the day. (Picture: Valve)

Indie game Bright Memory looks worse after replacing stolen art

Creator replaced enemy models downloaded from pirate software sites

20 Sep 2019 - 8:53AMvideocam

Indie game Bright Memory looks worse after replacing stolen art

Review: The Hong Kong Massacre is a bloody good time

Take Hotline Miami, add some John Woo, and you get this stylish action game

6 Aug 2020 - 10:46PM

Apex Legends is the most satisfying battle royale I've ever played

Respawn’s new Titanfall game is like Overwatch crossed with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

20 Sep 2019 - 8:52AMvideocam

Horror game Detention is like a Taiwanese Silent Hill

Detention is an acclaimed Taiwanese indie game taking place during the White Terror

20 Sep 2019 - 8:52AMvideocam

Yup, it’s a river of blood. You shall continue to expect this game to be one of realism. (Picture: Red Candle Games)

Virus-fighting game is an unpolished gem

Bacterium is all about fighting viruses in a nanobot inside human bodies

20 Sep 2019 - 8:52AMvideocam

The visuals of the game are also interesting although the UI can be overwhelming and obscure at times. (Picture: Dragon Whisper Game)

China's top court rips off Super Mario in a social video

Nintendo's mascot romps around a Weibo video to show... the achievements of the Hunan People's Court in 2018?

20 Sep 2019 - 8:52AM

Game developer behind Bright Memory Ep1 admits he used stolen assets

It’s like Titanfall crossed with Dark Souls (plus a bunch of pirated enemy models)

20 Sep 2019 - 8:51AM

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