WORST GAME DESIGN CRIMES

Here´s a list made by PC Gamer of the 13 worst game design crimes. I could add some more, I think :D

MCPIXEL

Well, it has been some time since I finished a game, but another one bites the dust! This time it was McPixel, an indie game I recently purchased on Steam.

The basic premise is simple: You control McPixel (a McGiver look-alike) and you have 20 secs to find a bomb in the scenario and defuse it somehow. The method is simply clicking on the different elements you can see, and sometimes combining them.

On the bright side the starting point is fresh, the design is simple but effective and there are plenty of pop references (which I generally enjoy a lot). Comedy is everywhere, and non-politically correct, my favourite one! Also there are some good design twists and game modes reusing the limited production capabilities I´m sure developers had.

On the minus side there are no interface elements highlighting interactive objects, which force you to a non-enjoyable pixel search. Also pixel art is difficult to understand sometimes due to low resolution, and most of the time you just try stuff and see what happens, you rarely feel in control.

All in all if you like indie games I recommend it. I also recommend it if you like designs which try something different. I won´t say it´s a perfect game, but at the very least is refreshing, something you won´t find in Call of Duty 37, or any number the franchise is on.

HOW TO BE A GAME DESIGNER

Here´s an interesting article from Penny Arcade about how to become a game designer:

I agree upon most of the points except for the order: I´d say making games is by far the most important thing you can do to become a decent game designer. Nothing compares to the direct experience of doing that, fail and succeed.