More Post by: Matthew Dogherby

Blockout Level Design: Why It’s the Most Critical Step in Building Gameplay…
Blockout Level Design: Why It’s the Most Critical Step in Building Gameplay…
Matthew Dogherby Aug 26, 2026

A blockout is the first playable version of a level, built with simple geometry like…

AI Game Prototyping: 3 Levels From Vague Prompts to Reliable Features
AI Game Prototyping: 3 Levels From Vague Prompts to Reliable Features
Matthew Dogherby Aug 20, 2026

AI game prototyping fails when developers ask for an entire game in one prompt. This…

How Player Abilities Evolve: Progression Patterns That Keep Your Game Engaging
How Player Abilities Evolve: Progression Patterns That Keep Your Game Engaging
Matthew Dogherby Jul 11, 2026

Progression defines your game’s long‑term fun. In this guide, you’ll learn how player abilities evolve…

Master Game Mechanic Design: Make Every Feature Memorable
Master Game Mechanic Design: Make Every Feature Memorable
Matthew Dogherby Jul 3, 2026

Some game mechanics feel essential from the first use; others vanish from memory instantly. This…

Game Systems Design: The Invisible Craft Behind Great Games
Game Systems Design: The Invisible Craft Behind Great Games
Matthew Dogherby Jul 2, 2026

Discover how game systems design translates player experience into mechanics. Learn balancing, traversal, progression, and…

Challenge Action Reward Loop: The Game Design Secret Behind Player Retention
Challenge Action Reward Loop: The Game Design Secret Behind Player Retention
Matthew Dogherby Jun 25, 2026

What keeps a player awake at 2 a.m. promising themselves “just one more run”? It’s…

Layers of Engagement in Games: The 4-Layer Framework That Separates Good Games…
Layers of Engagement in Games: The 4-Layer Framework That Separates Good Games…
Matthew Dogherby Jun 24, 2026

Most games nail the first layer. Few build all four. Here’s the framework top game…

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