Stuart Maine, Author at Film Stories

Ico and its timeless level design: when less is more

The castle in Ico delivers a powerful atmosphere, demonstrating that games are stronger when elements are removed, not added...

Max Payne, with its bullet-time and hard-boiled aesthetic, was one of 2001’s big games. Producer Scott Miller discusses the shooter's making.

Exploring the advantages and challenges of giving players a first-hand perspective in your game world

The techniques behind beginning a game in media res, and when should you use it or avoid it

Puzzles and problems are a gaming staple, but how do they work, and how can you design them to challenge, but not frustrate, your players?

Balancing games can be a challenge, particularly because the goal isn’t to achieve perfect balance in the first place…

How to keep players coming back to your multiplayer maps

Level design can make or break your game. Here’s how to ensure yours are compelling experiences

Kingmaking can be controversial in games. Let’s look at what it is, why players do it, how to stop it – or why you might even encourage it

To make a great licensed game, learn about your audience and embrace your inner nerd, Stuart Maine writes