In the world of video games, attention to detail can make the difference between a memorable title and a forgettable one. A clear example of this is Red Dead Redemption 2, known for depicting horses with an impressive level of detail, including multiple gaits, a realistic sense of weight, and, curiously, the simulation of horses’ testicles in cold conditions. This aspect, although controversial, underscores the amount of work that goes into AAA games. That doesn’t detract from the value of polish. However, at the opposite end of the spectrum is Peak, a game that […]
In the world of video games, attention to detail can make the difference between a memorable title and a forgettable one. A clear example of this is Red Dead Redemption 2, known for depicting horses with an impressive level of detail, including multiple gaits, a realistic sense of weight, and, curiously, the simulation of horses’ testicles in cold conditions. This aspect, although controversial, underscores the amount of work that goes into AAA games.
That doesn’t take away from valuing the polishing
However, at the opposite end of the spectrum is Peak, a game that started as a four-week project during a game jam. Lco-creator Nick Kaman highlighted that, despite its short development phase, the game has found surprising success. Peak has shown that there are different, and perhaps better, ways to make games, Kaman points out, suggesting that developers should avoid long development phases and focus on what really matters in their creations.
Kaman also mentioned that players are forgiving of the lack of polish if the game turns out to be fun. This phenomenon is evident in titles like Mage Arena, where a more relaxed approach to presentation can coexist with fun. Despite the growing demand for small-scale games, Kaman warns that financial challenges limit opportunities for medium and small studios in the industry. There will always be a player base looking for a great game, but what is being lost are the opportunities for funding and publishing, he claims.
Meanwhile, the gaming community continues to crave innovative experiences. Kaman concludes that, although development milestones may change, the passion for creating unforgettable games will never fade.
The video game industry in the West faces a discouraging outlook, with over 45,000 layoffs since the COVID pandemic in 2022. This phenomenon reflects the difficulty that studios and publishers face in adapting to rising production costs and changing player priorities. According to Meghan Morgan Juinio, former product development director at Santa Monica Studios, companies like EA and Ubisoft are likely to have to rethink their approach and develop smaller-scale games with more accessible budgets. We are heading towards a new video game paradigm In a recent interview in the […]
The video game industry in the West faces a discouraging landscape, with over 45,000 layoffs since the COVID pandemic in 2022. This phenomenon reflects the difficulty that studios and publishers face in adapting to rising production costs and the changing priorities of players. According to Meghan Morgan Juinio, former product development director at Santa Monica Studios, companies like EA and Ubisoft may need to rethink their approach and develop smaller-scale games with more accessible budgets.
We are heading towards a new paradigm of video games
In a recent interview at the Gamescom Asia x Thailand Games Show, Juinio emphasized that the most crucial aspect of a video game is its ability to entertain. “If a game is not fun, it is not worth the investment, whether it’s two million or 500 million dollars,” he stated. Despite the high expenses on graphics and music, fun must be the core of the player experience.
The growth of low-budget games, such as Clair Obscur and Peak, demonstrates that small developers can create viral hits, which calls into question the effectiveness of large publishers in producing titles that truly capture players’ attention. Juinio emphasized that, although iconic games like God of War will not disappear, we will see an increase in the development of smaller-scale titles by large companies, adapting to a more sustainable model.
As the demographics of players transform, with a large portion of them being adults over 35 years old, the challenges for games to reach a broad audience are evident. “We need to focus on building solid games that are truly fun to play,” concluded Juinio, pointing towards a future that could include fewer big-budget games but more accessible and appealing to a diverse audience.
It doesn’t catch us by surprise. We knew the date and were expecting it. The autumn sales on Steam have arrived and they are as juicy as one could expect. With prices for every budget and games for all tastes, there is something for everyone, regardless of your budget and preferences. It is also true that with thousands of games on sale, it can be difficult to choose. That’s why let us guide you on this journey by making a selection of games you shouldn’t miss for anything in the world. Monster Train (€2.45 | -90%) The most popular card roguelike that isn’t called Slay […]
It doesn’t catch us by surprise. We knew the date and were expecting it. The Steam autumn sales have arrived and they are as juicy as one could expect. With prices for every budget and games for all tastes, there is something for everyone, no matter your budget and preferences. It is also true that with thousands of games on sale, it can be difficult to choose. That’s why let us guide you on this journey by making a selection of games you shouldn’t miss for anything in the world.
The most popular card roguelike that isn’t called Slay The Spire has made quite a splash since its release in 2020. With a fabulous sequel that came out on May 21 and improves upon the excellent foundations of the original, if you haven’t played Monster Train yet, this is the perfect excuse. For the price of a decent medium coffee, you have hundreds of hours ahead of you to discover why people have become obsessed with a roguelike that, even after the release of its sequel, continues to be played frantically.
Mafia III has the stigma of being considered a bad game when the reality is different: it is a good game burdened by its name. It is not GTA and certainly does not aim to be, but it is a good Mafia. Even if it changes significantly from the previous two installments. Its narrative is interesting, its mechanics are up to par, and for three euros, you won’t find a better excuse to see that perhaps we were too harsh on a more than decent game.
If you are of a certain age, you surely remember games like Theme Hospital or Theme Park. Business management games, building the buildings, hiring staff, and making sure everything runs as it should. Two Point Campus is its spiritual successor, putting us in the position of having to manage something that only in the US would be understood as a business: a university campus. Make sure classes are running, that the labs have everything they need, and that no dinosaur escapes down the hallways. Dinosaurs? Don’t ask, it’s 3 euros: try it for yourself.
Although Alan Wake 2 has shown the world that Remedy are the best in their field, some of us already knew that long before. For example, when they released Control. To be fair, we already knew it before that, but in Control it was already indisputable: a game that perfectly blends weird fiction with a third-person shooter in a game as suggestive as it is artistically impeccable that leaves you wanting more. And you can, because a sequel has been announced. Although for what you are going to pay for the original, you also have no reason not to know if you want more Control or not.
The massive phenomenon of the year has been a climbing game. Who would have thought? But that’s PEAK: a game that draws from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to take the best of it, the stamina management, to build an entire game around it. If we add to that playing with friends and proximity chat, we have this game that has taken the gaming world by storm for good reasons. And now you can discover it for a couple of euros less. Which isn’t much, but it’s already a cheap game normally.
Now that Silksong has been released, you might be craving more metroidvania. Or things inspired by metroidvania. And the closest thing on crazy sale is Dead Cells. A frantic roguelike, heavily inspired by the genre, where dying, exploring, and fighting is the foundation of everything. Because we are going to do it many times. A frantic and crazy game that, even with all its DLC, doesn’t double its price, which is the GOTY every year if you like this kind of games and, after Silksong, want more exploration with strong doses of crazy action.
The football games of the past have not delivered this year, but that has opened the door for a new game that has decided to make its way into this highly competitive field. REMATCH is the new game from the creators of Sifu who have decided to create a very arcade-style, very fluid, and fast-paced 3v3 football game. Extremely fun, especially with two friends, we only ask one thing: it’s cheap, but please, if you get the ball, don’t be a ball hog.
The latest Call of Duty so far is always a safe bet and, moreover, it is its most notable offering to date. If you haven’t played it yet and have been waiting for a good deal, this is the time. The campaign is enjoyable and, as always, its real substance is in the online mode. So if you want dozens of hours of shooting ahead, you’ll have to pay up, but you will undoubtedly get your money’s worth like every year.
The popular video game Peak has recently received a significant patch that addresses both major and minor bugs, as well as balance issues that had affected the player experience. This patch is mainly notable for the inclusion of a new Color Blind mode, which was a highly requested feature by the community. This mode adds patterns to the game’s colored berries, making them easier to differentiate during climbs and improving gameplay for those who have difficulty with color perception. You are now welcome in Peak if you have color blindness The implementation of accessibility options is […]
The popular video game Peak has recently received a significant patch that addresses both major and minor bugs, as well as balance issues that had affected the player experience. This patch is mainly notable for the inclusion of a new Color Blindness mode, which was a highly requested feature by the community. This mode adds patterns to the game’s colored berries, making them easier to differentiate during climbs and improving gameplay for those who have difficulty with color perception.
Now you are welcome at Peak if you are colorblind
The implementation of accessibility options is a positive step towards inclusion, allowing a greater number of people to enjoy the gaming experience. These features not only benefit players with visual impairments, but it is also expected that, as has happened in other titles like Fortnite, these options will be integrated into standard gameplay, enriching the experience for all users.
Among the other fixes in the patch, issues that had frustrated players have been resolved, such as the erratic achievement known as Endurance Badge, which is essential for unlocking new aesthetic options for characters. Additionally, bugs that caused game crashes have been eliminated, such as the incident of getting stuck in a tornado that left players stranded on the loading screen.
These changes are part of an ongoing effort by the developers to improve the gaming experience, and the patch is received with enthusiasm by the community. With these improvements, Peak focuses on accessibility and more balanced gameplay, setting a standard that could inspire other developers in the industry.
Steam and Itch.io are facing pressure from payment processors that have requested them to remove certain adult games from their platforms. This situation not only affects the market giants but is also having repercussions on smaller platforms. A notable case is that of Zoom Platform, a digital game store that has reaffirmed its commitment not to remove titles, even those considered for adults. After receiving concerns from a payment processor, Zoom Platform committed to protecting freedom of expression on its platform. This was never about pornographic games […]
Steam and Itch.io are facing pressure from payment processors who have requested them to remove certain adult games from their platforms. This situation not only affects the market giants but is also having repercussions on smaller platforms. A notable case is that of Zoom Platform, a digital game store that has reaffirmed its commitment not to remove titles, even those considered for adults. After receiving concerns from a payment processor, Zoom Platform pledged to protect freedom of expression on its platform.
This was never about pornographic games
“One of our payment processors informed us that a ‘member of the industry’ was concerned about our content,” said Zoom Platform. In response, the company engaged in discussions with PayPal and Stripe to develop solutions that ensure the right to free expression and the safety of its users. Additionally, it has implemented a two-factor authentication system and a digital wallet to better manage transactions, preventing adult titles from being subject to individual scrutiny.
Although Zoom Platform has no plans to remove any titles, concern persists among developers that not only adult games are at risk. Examples like Grand Theft Auto and Duke Nukem have been mentioned as potentially threatened in this context. The pressure to remove adult games has been driven by Collective Shout, a charitable group that has been involved in video game censorship campaigns for decades, even attempting to pull GTA 5 from some retailers in Australia.
The concern among developers is palpable; as noted by the team behind the cooperative climbing game Peak, “it would be reckless to assume that any game is safe.” The current situation highlights how payment platform decisions can have a significant impact on the diversity of content in the realm of digital entertainment.
Since its launch in June, Peak has emerged as an unexpected viral success on the Steam platform, remaining in the top 15 of the most played games. This title from Aggro Crab Games has joined the list of contemporary indie phenomena like R.E.P.O. and Phasmophobia, standing out for its unique and fun approach to climbing mechanics. Always better the original However, this success has attracted unwanted attention from clone creators. A notable case is the game Cliff on Roblox, developed by PewStudio, which has been harshly criticized for its obvious similarity to Peak
Since its launch in June, Peak has emerged as an unexpected viral success on the Steam platform, remaining in the top 15 of the most played games. This title from Aggro Crab Games has joined the list of contemporary indie phenomena like R.E.P.O. and Phasmophobia, standing out for its unique and fun approach to climbing mechanics.
Always better the original
However, this success has attracted unwanted attention from clone creators. A notable case is the game Cliff on Roblox, developed by PewStudio, which has been heavily criticized for its obvious similarity to Peak. Although the game is presented as a tribute, both its art and mechanics unmistakably resemble those of Peak, which has raised eyebrows among the original creators.
Cliff has managed to capture the attention of players, with over 7,000 active users and 59,173 favorites on Roblox, but its business model, which includes microtransactions for the purchase of tools and pets, has been met with disapproval. In this context,the developers at Peak have preferred that their followers pirate their game rather than opt for this “derivative full of microtransactions,” as stated by the official Aggro Crab account in a tweet.
This type of reaction is not new in the PC developer community, which at times has promoted piracy as an option for those who cannot afford games on the market. Previous cases include the creators of Ultrakill and Loop Hero, who have expressed similar stances. Thus, the controversy generated by Cliff not only highlights the challenge that indie developers face against the proliferation of clones, but also reopens the debate on access and the valuation of video games in the digital realm.
Since its launch, Peak has captured the attention of players by achieving sales of two million copies in just nine days. However, its multiplayer mode had a limitation that frustrated many: only up to four players were allowed in a lobby, which restricted the collective experience of the game. To address this issue, modders have developed PeakUnlimited, a mod that removes this restriction and allows for larger lobbies. It is noteworthy that only the host needs to have it installed for the rest of the players to join without complications. Play with as many friends […]
Since its launch, Peak has captured the attention of players by achieving sales of two million copies in just nine days. However, its multiplayer mode had a limitation that frustrated many: only up to four players were allowed in a lobby, which restricted the collective experience of the game. To address this issue, modders have developed PeakUnlimited, a mod that removes this restriction and allows for larger lobbies. It is noteworthy that only the host needs to have it installed for the rest of the players to join without complications.
Game with as many friends as you want
This mod has seen notable adoption, with approximately 350,000 users making it an essential part of their experience in Peak. Additionally, it facilitates group play by adding more marshmallows to the campfires, which is crucial as food tends to become scarce in the later stages of the game. Although some players have pointed out that PeakUnlimited may make the game easier than the developers originally intended, the community has welcomed these improvements.
In a surprising turn, the developers of Peak, Landfall, and AggroCrab have shown support for the modding community and even fixed bugs caused by the mod in their latest update. An example of this is a patch that resolved an issue in the final screens that only occurred when using PeakUnlimited in lobbies with more than four players. This type of support is contrary to the previous experience in the game Content Warning, where the developers disabled a mod that allowed more than four players due to the server costs it entailed.
The receptiveness of Landfall and AggroCrab to modding suggests a positive relationship with the player community, setting an interesting precedent in the industry. However, it can be speculated that this policy could change in the future, depending on the financial impact that these mods have on game sales and server maintenance costs.
Steam’s sales have created an ideal opportunity for video game lovers, allowing them to acquire popular titles at significantly reduced prices. For example, the highly anticipated game Avowed, which debuted at a price of €59.99 in February, is now available for €46.89, thanks to a 33% discount in the Steam summer sale. This trend highlights how many games tend to drop in price within months of their release. Increasingly, patience is being rewarded. In this context, the subreddit Patient Gamers has gained relevance by promoting the discussion of titles that […]
Steam’s sales have created an ideal opportunity for video game lovers, allowing them to acquire popular titles at significantly reduced prices. For example, the highly anticipated game Avowed, which debuted at a price of €59.99 in February, is now available for €46.89, thanks to a 33% discount in Steam’s summer sale. This trend highlights how many games tend to drop in price within months of their release.
Patience is increasingly rewarded
In this context, the subreddit Patient Gamers has gained relevance by fostering discussion of titles that have been out for at least a year. This space allows players to explore experiences without the pressure of novelty and high launch prices. With over 750,000 subscribers, the community remains active, reflecting on recent games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Guardians of the Galaxy, and promoting a valuable buying philosophy while waiting for discounts.
The video game industry faces an interesting dilemma: developers and publishers rely on initial sales and pre-orders for the success of their products. However, alternatives are being discussed, such as adjusting launch prices to avoid failures. Titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Dune: Awakening have shown that launching at lower prices, such as €50, can be more effective than following the standard of €70.
Additionally, the Game Pass subscription model has created a competitive environment, where affordable games, like Peak at only €8, are gaining popularity. With the increasing number of remasters and indie titles, the perception of ‘new’ is being replaced by ‘new to me’, which benefits those who choose to wait until prices drop.
Therefore, in a constantly evolving market, patience becomes a valuable virtue for players, who have the option to build a game library without spending a fortune.
The climbing game Jusant has managed to capture the attention of players, quickly forming a cult fanbase. This title will be available for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers during the month of July, providing an excellent opportunity for those who have not yet tried it. Because every now and then, it feels good to climb a mountain in peace Unlike other popular cooperative games, such as Peak, Jusant presents itself as a mostly solitary experience. The player embarks on a challenging ascent up a gigantic mountain, accompanied only by a strange creature that resides in […]
The climbing game Jusant has managed to capture the attention of players, quickly forming a cult fanbase. This title will be available for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers during the month of July, providing an excellent opportunity for those who have not yet tried it.
Because every now and then you feel like climbing a mountain in peace
Unlike other popular cooperative games, such as Peak, Jusant presents itself as a mostly solitary experience. The player embarks on a challenging ascent up a gigantic mountain, accompanied only by a strange creature that resides in their backpack. At the beginning, the goal of the journey remains shrouded in mystery, but the purpose of restoring the lost rain becomes evident as the story progresses.
The arid world of Jusant, where the rains that once nourished civilizations have disappeared, demands a meticulous approach from the player. The manual grip system requires the player to be an active part of the climbing process, using the controller triggers to hold on with each hand, which adds a level of tension and excitement to the experience. Every movement counts, as the character’s stamina depletes over time, turning each hold into an urgent challenge.
The game’s weather conditions, such as strong winds and hidden resources, make the ascent a dynamic and exciting process. Additionally, the player can explore abandoned homes and collectibles, which not only enriches the narrative but also provides a breather between the intense climbing sequences.
Through a gradually unfolding narrative, Jusant offers a meditation on solitude and the struggle for survival, becoming an enriching option for those seeking an alternative to cooperative experiences. With its free version on PS Plus, it has arrived at a perfect time for those who wish to experience its unique approach to the climbing genre.
In a remarkable display of the potential of independent video games, Cairn has surpassed 500,000 downloads of its demo on Steam. This momentum is partly due to the interest generated by the success of Peak, a climbing game developed by Landfall Games, which managed to sell over two million copies in just two days. The connection between both titles was highlighted on Twitter, the app known as The Everything App, where the developers of Cairn, The Game Bakers, showcased a clip that incorporated Bing Bong, an iconic toy from the game Peak, as an element within Cairn
In a remarkable display of the potential of independent video games, Cairn has surpassed 500,000 downloads of its demo on Steam. This momentum is partly due to the interest generated by the success of Peak, a climbing game developed by Landfall Games, which managed to sell over two million copies in just two days. The connection between both titles was highlighted on Twitter, the app known as The Everything App where the developers of Cairn, The Game Bakers, showcased a clip that incorporated Bing Bong, an iconic toy from the game Peak, as an element within Cairn.
Peak has carried Cairn to new heights
The enthusiasm among the communities of both games seems to have been fueled by mutual support. While Peak focuses on a cooperative and comedic gaming experience, Cairn offers a more meditative and solo simulation, with a strong emphasis on the climbing mechanics themselves. In Cairn, players must manually move each limb to establish footholds, providing a unique climbing experience that is more intuitive than it seems, although reminiscently comparable to the mechanics of QWOP.
Jake Tucker, editorial director of the PC Gaming Show, has praised Cairn, suggesting it could be the best climbing game he has ever tried. The official release date of the game is scheduled for November 5, with the demo currently available on Steam, giving players the opportunity to experience its innovative gameplay before the full release.
The impact that Peak has had on Cairn demonstrates how the success of one title can benefit others in the same genre, fostering a strong community and interest in independent games. The conversion of attention into tangible success for Cairn highlights the collaborative dynamics in the world of video game development.
