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Elden Ring cover

Elden Ring

GameBy FromSoftware · Released Feb 25, 2022

Documents about Elden Ring

Cover of How Hard Should Quests Be?
10 min
Extra Credits10 min

How Hard Should Quests Be?

The design of quest clarity in video games represents a significant spectrum of player engagement, ranging from fully opaque, lore-heavy exploration to highly guided, objective-driven experiences.

  • Quest design must align with a game's core goals, as there is no single superior methodology; mismatching guidance levels with desired narrative intensity risks alienating the target audience.
  • Maximal-work designs, exemplified by Elden Ring, prioritize deep immersion and discovery by requiring players to engage directly with world-building and lore to identify objectives.
  • Standardized, high-clarity models popularized by World of Warcraft and Assassin’s Creed utilize map markers and indicators to streamline gameplay, though this risks reducing narrative immersion by encouraging players to ignore context.
Extra CreditsJan 2023
Cover of 2022 Gaming Deals Review & Naavik’s Highlights Awards - The Metacast by Naavik
78 min
Naavik78 min

2022 Gaming Deals Review & Naavik’s Highlights Awards - The Metacast by Naavik

The global gaming industry faced a period of significant contraction throughout 2022, characterized by a marked decline in both deal volume and total investment value.

  • The global gaming industry experienced a significant contraction in 2022, marked by a decline in both total investment value and deal volume driven by macroeconomic instability and rising interest rates.
  • Regulatory scrutiny intensified in 2022, highlighted by the Federal Trade Commission’s record-setting settlement with Epic Games regarding privacy and monetization practices.
  • Despite the downturn, venture capital firms hold substantial dry powder, which is expected to support ongoing M&A activity and private investment throughout 2023.
NaavikDec 2022
Cover of 5 ODD Design Choices in Elden Ring - Extra Credits Video Games
9 min
Extra Credits9 min

5 ODD Design Choices in Elden Ring - Extra Credits Video Games

Elden Ring represents a significant evolution in FromSoftware’s design philosophy, characterized by deliberate shifts intended to modernize the Soulsborne experience while maintaining its core challenge.

  • FromSoftware designed Elden Ring to modernize the Soulsborne formula by diversifying player builds and moving away from the stagnant, traditional playstyles of previous titles.
  • The integration of Focus Points (FP) as a universal resource for both magic and weapon skills forces melee-focused players to invest in additional stats, increasing the complexity of character progression.
  • Developers actively discourage 'sword and board' turtling strategies by restricting the use of powerful Ashes of War when a shield is equipped.
Extra CreditsJun 2022
Cover of 7 Elden Rings - Parody Animated Music Video
2 min
Extra Credits2 min

7 Elden Rings - Parody Animated Music Video

The intersection of popular music and high-difficulty action role-playing games serves as a humorous lens through which to examine the cultural impact of Elden Ring.

  • The parody of Ariana Grande’s 'Seven Rings' serves as a cultural artifact capturing the 2022 release window of Elden Ring, illustrating the intersection of high-difficulty gaming and mainstream pop culture.
  • The content highlights the repetitive, punishing nature of soulslike gameplay, specifically focusing on the player experience of grinding, stat management, and repeated failure against bosses like Margit.
  • The video functions as a satirical critique of the gaming community’s tendency to over-analyze game lore and mechanics by mapping arbitrary pop culture references onto complex game systems.
Extra CreditsApr 2022
Cover of Remake an ELDEN RING scene with NO MODELS
10 min
Thomas Brush10 min

Remake an ELDEN RING scene with NO MODELS

Creating complex game environments without external 3D modeling software is achievable through the strategic use of Unity primitives and modular design principles.

  • Complex game environments can be constructed using only Unity primitives by creating a modular library of basic prefabs like bricks, planks, and pillars.
  • Visual variety is achieved by applying a strict color palette of three tonal variations per material and introducing subtle irregularities in the placement, rotation, and height of individual primitives.
  • Structural realism is enhanced by using corner pillars to hide wall junctions and placing black cubes to simulate unlit interior spaces.
Thomas BrushMar 2022
Cover of Jedi Fallen Order Not So Bad | Games ReCAP Episode 006
59 min
Game Dev Unchained59 min

Jedi Fallen Order Not So Bad | Games ReCAP Episode 006

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order suffers from a fundamental disconnect between its source material and its execution.

  • The gaming industry is shifting away from traditional annual sequel models, such as those seen in Call of Duty, toward persistent games-as-a-service models that prioritize long-term evolution and player mastery.
  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is criticized for a disconnect between its source material and gameplay, specifically failing to capture the tension of lightsaber combat through its reliance on arcade-style mechanics.
  • High-quality single-player titles like Elden Ring and God of War remain industry pillars, demonstrating that strong brand reputation is a primary driver of commercial success.
Game Dev UnchainedJun 2019