Reading List (October 2019) (Patreon)

Hello!

It’s time for everyone’s favourite Patreon reward: the reading list! This is 30-odd videos and articles that I think you’ll dig. 

This month we’re looking at fake explosions, fake cameras, fake Fortnite players, and some real stuff too. Promise.

Cheers for your support!

Top Pick

[Watch | CC | 21 mins] What Games Are Like For Someone Who Doesn't Play Games - Razbuten subjects his partner to Dark Souls, Portal, Shovel Knight and more - all in the name of science!

Now Playing 

[Read | 9 mins] The State Of Overwatch In 2019 - Kotaku takes a look at Blizzard’s moreish online shooter to see how it’s shaping up three years after launch

[Watch | CC | 10 mins] The Only Zelda Game Without A Hero - The Link’s Awakening remake provides a perfect opportunity for Razbuten to dig into the game’s story.

[Read | 7 mins] Four Months Later, Auto Chess' Successors Are Rewriting the Genre - New game genres are always fascinating - will they succeed or snuff out like the latest fad? Here’s USGamer on the state of Auto Chess.

[Watch | 9 mins] Why Adding Bots to Fortnite is a Great Idea - Tommy Thompson from AI & Games is the perfect person to talk about Fortnite’s new non-human players.

[Read | 15 mins] Blast from the Past: Behind the Rise of the Throwback Shooter - From Dusk to Ion Fury: why we’re obsessed with shooters that look like they should have WADs, or be made in Build.

[Watch | CC | 13 mins] Attempting to Make Sense of Ghost Recon Breakpoint - Hamish has a surprising experience with Breakpoint: its shoddy tech does more to engross you in the world than its actual game design.

[Read | 15 mins] How Disco Elysium's opening sets the stage for existential revolt - This game is bizarre. Can’t wait to play more.

How to Make a Game

[Read | 9 mins] Why Online Game Launches Are Often A Mess - Anthem, Fallout 76, Ghost Recon. Online games are more often a disaster than a success on day one. Kotaku explains why.

[Watch | CC | 6 mins] So You Wanna Be A Game Designer? - Stanislav Costiuc is a bonafide game designer (working at Ubisoft), so his new series on the mindset of being a designer should be well worth watching.

[Read | 15 mins] Indie game makers open up about the money they actually make - Spoiler: it’s either a lot or not very much at all.

[Watch | 4 mins] The Naturally Viral Indie Games - Games like Untitled Goose Game do all the advertising for you, says this YouTube vid.

[Read | 12 mins] Jam Sesh: How a Popular Online Contest Sparks Design Innovation - Hey! Here’s a pice on the GMTK Game Jam, complete with interview quotes from me and noted jammers.

[Watch | CC | 23 mins] Good Design, Bad Design Vol. 7 - This series looks at scraps of UX design that either do or don’t work. This time, Monster Hunter World is the main focus.

[Watch | 9 mins] The spooky CARD GAME Begins! - Blackthorn Prod is making cards based on YouTubers for Halloween - and there’s one for little ol’ me!

[Read | 14 mins] Game Design Deep Dive: Telling Lies - Making a mechanic out of scrubbing video - Here, Sam Barlow explains his intentions for the slow scrubbing mechanic in Telling Lies. Can’t say it worked for me, but great to hear his design process.

Yesterday’s Fun

[Read | 5 mins] Cult of P.T.-nality - PT (the demo for the cancelled Silent Hills) has a huge following. This article looks at attempts to archive, sell, and remake the game.

[Watch | 47 mins] The Rise and Fall of Max Payne - This video goes into the behind-the-scenes making of Max Payne, from Remedy’s demo scene routes to Rockstar’s franchise takeover.

[Watch | 18 mins] The Great Staging of Luigi's Mansion - A lovely video for a great GameCube game, and perfect for Halloween.

[Watch | 19 mins] Jak X(cellent) - Hot off his hour-long retrospective on the Jak trilogy, The Gaming Brit takes a handbrake turn into the game’s racing game spin-off.

Art and Ambience

[Watch | CC | 14 mins] The Key to Metroid Prime's Atmosphere - Dan Root’s done explaining why the 2D Metroid games spook you out. Now here’s how Prime frightens you in 3D.

[Watch | CC | 12 mins] Turning Pop Music into a Video Game - Game Score Fanfare is the perfect channel to take on Simogo’s bonkers new game, Sayonara Wild Hearts.

[Watch | 7 mins] The Perfect Horror Protagonist - Extra Credits looks into writing a hero for your horror game, focusing on Silent Hill 2’s protagonist.

[Watch | CC | 10 mins] X7 and The Importance of Principles - More Dan Root, this time looking at how Mega Man X7 fluffed it.

[Watch | CC | 11 mins] Video game explosions are actually a lie - The artistic tricks that are employed to make your booms look bigger and boomier than they really are. 

[Watch | 17 mins] Banjo and Kazooie - Know Your Moves - I enjoy this series, which looks at how gaming characters get their iconic animations turned into Smash moves. 

[Watch | CC | 14 mins] What happened to Zelda's LOST song? - The Link’s Awakening devs weren’t quite sure how to tackle the music for this remake. Thomas Game Docs uncovers one bizarre take on the idea.

Game Over

[Watch | CC | 6 mins] This Video Is Sponsored By ███ VPN - Inundated with VPN Sponsorships on YouTube? Tom Scott tells you what those ad reads won’t.

[Watch | 37 mins] I Took My Parents to See AVENGERS: ENDGAME - This was really endearing. Patrick’s dad is such a dad it’s unbelievable. 

[Watch | 7 mins] The Real Fake Cameras Of Toy Story 4 - Nerdwriter never disappoints.