Field notes from the studio — deep dives into how we build games, the systems behind them, and the projects we've shipped.
Before any code or art, we map three loops: match structure, core gameplay and progression. These are the flowcharts from the co-op survival game we're building now.
Why leaderboards built on a relational table fall over at scale, how Redis sorted sets fix the rank query, and the design details (ties, seasons, persistence, cheating) that decide whether it holds up in production.
The engine choice decides what your outsourcing partner can do for you. Where UE5 and Unity each win, and the questions to ask a studio before you sign.
Gamification is one of the most effective tools brands have for keeping people engaged, and most companies still aren't using it.