Nearing the completion of level 1 design and it’s BIG

By Chevas Balloun · Jul 23, 2019 · Game Design

The amount of detail that goes into a single level is extensive, far more than a traditional RPG’s hand-drawn level for a night’s session. Gambit levels must be carefully...

Bone Beacons: A sign and a riddle in one

By Chevas Balloun · Jun 18, 2019 · Art · Game Design

One of the mysteries only found in Arkhaven are Bone Beacons. They are a foreboding sight for the unfamiliar. Impaled on a pole is a skull that is emanating...

Act 1 Overview & Level Designing Tool

By Chevas Balloun · Jun 12, 2019 · Game Design · Story

Caleb is nearing completion of writing the overview for Act 1. Having a written overview significantly helps the level design process as it creates a map of where the...

Interview by Marvin from The Nerd Like A Boss Game Design Podcast

By Chevas Balloun · Jun 3, 2019 · Game Design

Marvin over at Nerdlikeaboss.com is capturing the essence of the nerd renaissance, specifically within the realm of game design and its cross section with entrepreneurial endeavors. Marvin discovered Gambit...

Making Loot Matter: Cues From An Old PC Game, Guess Which One

By Chevas Balloun · May 8, 2019 · Game Design

I believe it was the second isometric action RPG ever made. It doesn’t look like modern ARPGs, but it’s arguable this game, published in 1992, put the genre on...

Tile Design Progression

By Chevas Balloun · Feb 20, 2019 · Art · Game Design

Since the map tiles are featured significantly in Gambit, it was one of the most important things to get right. As you can see below, I went through several...