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  • Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Inspirations: Escape from Tarkov as an Ingenious Multiplayer Design img Mar 02, 2023 Benjamin Carter Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Inspirations: Escape from Tarkov as an Ingenious Multiplayer Design Gaming fans were thrilled when, today, Elden Ring's creator Hidetaka Miyazaki sat down for a chat with IGN, and even more excited when the announcement of a 2023 expansion was made. While talking to IGN, Miyazaki revealed that one of the games he has been looking to for inspiration recently is Escape from Tarkov, and he even went on to explain why this particular title has caught his eye.  When Miyazaki was asked what trends, ideas, or technology he finds inspiring, he responded that he has been keeping a close eye on how other developers are approaching multiplayer network design and game design. He went on to explain that he has been observing the changes as both a creator and a fan of the game and mentioned how players are now being used as a resource for the game's design itself. It is worth noting that the Souls series' multiplayer has been a major part of its experience for quite some time, so Miyazaki's interest in Tarkov is only to be expected.  Miyazaki's admiration for Escape from Tarkov could be associated with the challenge of completing an area only with the help of a full squad of players. It may also have something to do with the harsher consequences for dying to an enemy invader. Miyazaki’s quote about “using players as a resource for the game” is also reminiscent of other games, such as EVE Online, where players can influence the game world. The implications of Miyazaki's comments could potentially be seen in the upcoming Elden Ring expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.  In conclusion, it has been confirmed that Elden Ring's success will not be influencing Hidetaka Miyazaki's upcoming projects, and he won’t be swayed by its remarkable popularity. The development team at FromSoft plan to keep on creating the games they want, and it appears that one aspect they have taken a particular interest in is multiplayer design. Tarkov's ingenious multiplayer design caught Miyazaki's eye, and it remains to be seen what kind of implementations will be made in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Read More
  • Diving Deeper Into the Absurdities of Sons of the Forest img Mar 01, 2023 Benjamin Carter Diving Deeper Into the Absurdities of Sons of the Forest The release of Sons of the Forest in early access was a big hit, with more than two million copies sold during the first 24 hours. It’s clear that the game is popular, but with the unfinished nature of early access, the game is riddled with bugs, issues, and strange scenarios that are worth exploring. Before we dive into the bizarre situations, let’s understand what early access means. Early access indicates that the game is still in development, with the team at Endnight Games frequently releasing updates to enhance and expand the game with new content and improvements. On the upper-left corner of the main menu, you can find information that the next major update will appear in nine days. Weapon Viewing Animation One of the strange scenarios that players may encounter is the weapon-viewing animation. In the game, you can find various weapons, such as axes, spears, bows, and firearms. After acquiring a gun, it automatically lands in your backpack. When you equip it for the first time, your character will start to examine it from different angles. This animation cannot be interrupted, and sometimes this forces players to miss out on opportunities, such as defending themselves from an attack. A good rule of thumb is to watch the weapons you find right away so that you don’t have to deal with the animation later. Kelvin Coward, the First Kelvin is your companion in the game and is a strong man who is not afraid of anything. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Kelvin is somewhat of a coward, often running away from enemies instead of defending himself. This is strange, especially when compared to Virginia, who is a three-armed and three-legged woman. Initially, Virginia is afraid of you and will run away from you, but with a bit of patience and kindness, she will eventually stop running away and can be given weapons to defend herself. Hopefully, in the future, Kelvin will be able to use weapons and be more than just a helpful cart ox. A Cure for Everything In Sons of the Forest, you can find medicine in many places, such as containers... Read More