This blog is the first in a short series documenting recent changes to Infinities: Defiance of Fate, the strategic adventure tabletop game we are developing in the Infinities universe. If you are unfamiliar with the tabletop game, here are the rules. Since entering a closed beta phase for Infinities in March, …
One of our primary design initiatives for Infinities: The Chaos Paradox has been to employ what we have internally called “narrative progression”—that is, a game system which allows the story and combat development of player characters to reflect decisions made during the course of the game. Like any other mechanic, …
Please pardon the extended delay! We’ve been working on recruitment and story development for The Chaos Paradox for the past several months and are making good headway. We have two artists on-board already and will begin headhunting programmers shortly. It’s an exciting time! Speaking of exciting, who wants to talk …
Something we hold in high regard here at Vatal is dynamic content. There are various forms this type of content can take, from timed events to multi-stage zone objectives, but today I would like to address one particular type: asynchronous group content (AGC). The simplest way to look at AGC …
Infinities: The Chaos Paradox is a single-player sci-fi+fantasy roleplaying game that will send you across space and time to restore order to an endangered universe. CP serves as a precursor to Vatal’s prospective MMO, Infinities: The Continuum Order, both in story and gameplay. Whether it’s the lore, theme, subject matter, …
Two buzzwords one is bound to stumble upon when dealing with online games are “power creep” and “ability bloat.” We’re going to concentrate on ability bloat today, but since these two design phenomena often go hand in hand, it’s important to explain what they both are. Power creep refers to …
Many online games have taken to launching holiday events as a way to draw players to a certain area, participate in temporary content, and provide more track for the almighty achievement treadmill (all glory to the treadmill). These seasonal activities are a novel way of encouraging increased in-game traffic by …
Another game mechanic which brings an element of realism to Infinities is the Tide Meter. The primary purpose of the Tide Meter is to act as a measurement of momentum in combat. Momentum can then be identified and then acted upon by players and non-player characters. The applications of Tide …
Something games often aim to do is mix a tolerable amount of realism into the players’ collective fantasy. Whether it’s in role-playing games, action platformers, first-person shooters, or even MMOs, storytellers and mechanic designers look to realism as a way to give the experience context, reference, and resonance. One element …
When it comes to online role playing games, the ability of flight is a gift of freedom. In giving that freedom, however, a game designer could also be compromising key elements to some degree: challenge, competition, and immersion, among others. When a player is able to quite literally be above …
