LucidTactics, BATTLEMODE and FragTactics discuss the nature and challenges of getting your strategy game to scale in a satisfying way. How do we manage players snowballing in power? Is it a desirable thing? Or a problem that needs to be eliminated? We show some examples of games with notable scaling mechanics as ponder on whether these can be added to other genres.

DasTactic and BATTLEMODE interview Andrew Greenberg from Holistic Design Inc. Andrew is a veteran games designer known for his work on Vampire: The Masquerade, Warhammer 40k: Final Liberation and many more.In this interview, Andrew tells us about his classic 4X/RPG hybrid game Emperor of the Fading Suns Enhanced, which just released onto Steam!

In this episode, Lucid and Ben are joined by Mark MSX from ‪@TheElectricUnderground‬ to discuss the nature of games critique today, and the effect it has on the design of the games we play. We deep dive into the value of Steam reviews to both gamers and developers, how useful is the IGN-owned mainstream games journalism media machine now, how developers use Metacritic, and how all this affects the design of the games we play today.

Ben, Shaun and Drexy from eXplorminate discuss many issues, including Unreal Engine and Unity, and the potential ramifications this has on the end product. We also discuss some recent(ish) news and talk about some games that we've been playing!

Ben, Lucid and DasTactic discuss the fantasy 4X Age of Wonders 4 by Triumph Studios, in what may be part 1 of a likely 2 part series.

Ben and Shaun catch up with Drexy from eXplorminate and discuss the new Path of Exile 2 early access, Civilization 7's mixed reception on launch, Distant Worlds 2 and more!

(00:00) Introduction(01:07) Path of Exile 2(16:41) Civilization VII(30:57) The Hobbit (ZX Spectrum)(39:18) ZEPHON(44:07) Distant Worlds 2(59:45) Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

This is the first episode where we have all five regular presenters together: Ben, Shaun, Richard Yorke, Lucid Tactics and DasTactic and discuss our favourite games of 2024!

Ben and Shaun are joined by Lucid Tactics to deep dive into the RTS genre - its history, the current state of the genre and their predictions for its future.

Ben & Shaun talk about the Game Awards, the game review process, some news and what games they've been playing.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:01:15) Game Awards Nominations

(00:20:12) Games Reviews: Timeliness vs. Accuracy

(00:27:30) STALKER Series

(00:37:17) Metal Slug Tactics

(00:43:03) Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O and VF6

(00:53:10) 2xKO

(00:54:16) How Do You Onboard New Players Without Ruining the Game for Veterans?

(00:59:45) So Many Games Don't Get Played Properly

(01:07:38) Steam Cracking Down On Dodgy Season Pass Practices

(01:15:17) What Have We Been Playing?

(01:18:40) Outro

Ben & Shaun chat about MechWarrior 5: Clans, ZEPHON, Hooded Horse, SEGA, as well as their thoughts on their own gaming habits and games industry sustainability.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:03:08) Gameplay Density in Modern Gaming

(00:07:10) Witcher 3

(00:10:22) Metal Gear Solid V

(00:13:25) Ubisoft's Open World Games

(00:15:38) MechWarrior 5: Clans

(00:24:53) ZEPHON

(00:54:15) Hooded Horse (Manor Lords, Against the Storm, Terra Invicta, Alliance of the Sacred Suns)

(00:59:27) SEGA & Amplitude

(01:05:49) Total War: Warhammer 3

(01:07:49) SEGA Classics Discontinued on Steam

(01:11:58) Decline

(01:17:31) What is Your Target Audience?

(01:22:12) Space Marine 2

(01:25:00) Instead of Remakes, Make New Games in the Classic Style

(01:32:49) Outro: Excited for the Futures