Design Sins & Gaming Lows

Ladders in First-Person Video Games - Rant and Analysis

Ladders in First Person video games risk life and limb because the rules keep changing!

Design Sins: Non-Customizable Controls – Part Two

We investigate a selection of AAA games to assess the customizability of their controls. It's not looking good...

Design Sins: Non-Customisable Controls - Part One

Some games allow the player to alter their controls to their liking, some do not. Lets investigate the best and worst examples of each.

Design Sins - Taking Control Away From the Player

Some games restrict the player's agency at predefined points. This is jarring and there are better alternatives. Let's investigate...

Design Sins in Video Games: Top Loading Level Design

Some games start out strong, but are weak at the finish - AKA 'Top Loading.' We look at this Design Sin, and how to fix it.

Design Sins in Platform Games

Some platform games are marred by multiple 'Design Sins'. Let's take a look the the ten worst offenders.

Design Sins (and Pet Peeves) in Shoot 'em Ups

Some Shoot 'Em Ups could've been great, but weren't due to 'Design Sins'. We investigate the ten most annoying and how to fix them.

Gaming Lows #5: Corrupted Physical Media in the Bad Old Days of Video Gaming.

In the bad old days games came on cassettes and floppy discs - which often didn't work

Gaming Lows #4: NO SAVE GAME SYSTEM!!!

In the bad old days of games you couldn't save your progress.

Gaming Lows #3: Dumb Non-Controllable NPCs.

NPCs are either dumb, suicidal or just get in the way. And its worse when you can't give them orders.

Gaming Lows #2 'Let me Choose my Own *CENSORED* Controls!'

I'm a control (options) freak, and I do not appreciate games telling me what controls I must use!

Gaming Lows #1: Arcade Joysticks and Why They Sucked

For some people arcade joysticks sucked! Join us and find out why.