Three years ago, Naughty Dog’s Anthony Newman took to the stage at GDC 2014 to deconstruct a complicated topic: the melee system at play in the studio’s 2013 game The Last Of Us.

It was interesting because Newman’s talk addressed both the deisgn of the system (discussing solutions to the challenges of creating an effective hybrid between gunplay and melee combat, and how those mechanics emphasized the tone and world) and the practical implementation of said system.

He delved into the technical details of how the Last Of Us team synced animations, handle memory management, and practiced efficient scripting practices. It was a neat talk that also touched on how the studio’s production process changed between Uncharted and The Last Of Us, as well as examining techniques the team used to achieve the game’s brutal aesthetic.

If that sounds like something you’d like to watch but you missed it in 2013, no worries — now you can watch it for free on the official GDC YouTube channel!

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its accompanying YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.

Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Americas

Spintires: MudRunner is Now Available on Steam!

Spintires: MudRunner is the ultimate version of the million-seller hit Spintires. Drive incredible all-terrain vehicles, venturing across extreme landscape! It’s not just an enhanced edition, it’s the ultimate off-road experience!

Welcome, gamers! Another great batch of games are coming your way soon, including one of the biggest games of the year in Call of Duty: WWII that brings the blockbuster series back to the front lines of World War II. We also have a wide selection of family-friendly games like Rush: A Disney / Pixar Adventure, Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection, and Disneyland Adventures to look forward to. And for (real) fantasy sports fans, Mutant Football League will enter the Xbox Game Preview program in the coming days. Read on for more details on these games and more below!

Games

October 31, 2017

Based on the best-selling fantasy novels, Beast Quest brings its blend of RPG and storytelling to Xbox One as you work to save the Kingdom of Avantia from ruin. Battle across this mythical world, tackling challenges through stunning landscapes and a plethora of side missions and objectives.

Games

October 31, 2017

Build, manage, and maintain your dream zoo in Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection on Xbox One. Fully-remastered featuring nearly 200 stunning animals and large, detailed environments. With intuitive controls and fun tutorials, Zoo Tycoon is easy to get started with and is great for all ages.

Games

October 31, 2017

Endure perilous conditions across wild landscapes in extreme conditions as you navigate 19 powerful all-terrain vehicles across raging rivers, muddy terrain and other obstacles powered by a realistic physics engine. Spintires: MudRunner is the ultimate version of the best-selling PC game Spintires.

Games

October 31, 2017

Fans of all ages are invited to play Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure that allows you to experience the worlds of six beloved Disney/Pixar films like “The Incredibles,” “Up,” “Toy Story,” and more where you’ll solve puzzles and uncover hidden secrets.

Games

October 31, 2017

Take a journey to Disneyland right in your living room that’s fun for fans of all ages! Journey from Main Street to Critter County, hang out with Mickey Mouse, and embark on challenging quests all inspired by the attractions found at iconic theme park.

Games

October 31, 2017

Get ready to start pointing and clicking (on console)! Three of gaming’s classic old-school adventure classics, The Uninvited, Shadowgate, and Déjà Vu, come to Xbox One in one package that’s full of challenging puzzles, scares, and a ton of nostalgia.

Games

October 31, 2017

In this casual side-scroller, play as Maria, an amateur witch, as she works to deliver mail all over the world (while practicing her broom riding skills). Travel through a wide range of magical worlds, collect a variety of items, and do battle with numerous adorable enemies.

Games

October 31, 2017

Fans of first-person horror games will be challenged in this eerie escape room adventure. With a mysterious fish-head nemesis (think Jigsaw from “Saw”) you must complete a series of trials should you hope to survive Dying Reborn.

Games

October 31, 2017

A mix of the apocalypse, base management, and card games, Dead Exit has you out thinking your opponents to make it out of the city in one piece. It’ll be up to you to find your own path for survival, be it through making or breaking alliances, as well as having a little bit of luck on your side.

Games

October 31, 2017

Units, heroes and battles inspired in real events in this hex-based, turned-based strategy game. With a deep narrative linked to the historical evolution of the conflict, Numantia features two different campaigns with their own heroes, troops, settlements and armies.

Games

November 03, 2017

Call of Duty: WWII introduces the definitive World War II experience across a formidable campaign, competitive multiplayer, and co-op challenges. With stunning visuals and realistic gunplay, you’ll battle across Europe in one of history’s most powerful wars.

Games

November 03, 2017

Featuring the voice talents of “Steven Universe,” explore and interact with expansive environments in this hybrid RPG, featuring a mix of real-time and turn-based combat, as you join Steven and the Crystal Gems on their ultimate quest.

Games

November 03, 2017

Mutants and monsters unleash maniacal carnage on the gridiron in this crazy gore fest of arcade-style football. Packed full of humor, intense online multiplayer action, and strategy, Mutant Football League is the latest edition to our Xbox Game Preview program.

Games

November 03, 2017

A modern classic in the vein of Double Dragon and Final Fight, 99Vidas features six unique characters to play as, either locally or online, against the pixelated 16-bit era inspired backdrop, ensuring you get your side-scrolling beat ’em up fix playing this game alone or with friends.

Assassin’s Creed® Origins is Now Available on Steam!

Ancient Egypt, a land of majesty and intrigue, is disappearing in a ruthless fight for power. Unveil dark secrets and forgotten myths as you go back to the one founding moment: The Origins of the Assassin’s Brotherhood.

Nintendo’s newest Mario platformer is here! With the launch of Super Mario Odyssey, the Nintendo Switch now has two major first-party titles (the other being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) inside its first year that demonstrate the design possibilities and motion control experiments that are possible on the sytsem. 

So what’s the game like? How does Nintendo introduce players to its weird new mechanics? We took a close look today on the Gamsautra Twitch channel. It’s definitely a wild new setting for Mario, and its areas neatly unfold to introduce you to new kinds of entities you can “capture,” as the game calls it. 

You can watch the full video above, and while you’re at it, be sure to follow the Gamsautra Twitch channel for more gameplay commentary, developer interviews, and editorial roundtables.

Lost Dimension is Now Available on Steam and is 40% off!*

In the near future a terrorist mastermind, known only as ‘The End’, threatens humanity with nuclear armageddon. A special task force, the S.E.A.L.E.D team, are the only ones who can stop him: a group of young combatants with incredible abilities and each with a mysterious past. Together, they must climb The End’s formidable tower one floor at a time and bring him to justice. Each of the S.E.A.L.E.D. members’ psychic powers will be put to the test against the sinister occupants of each floor as they race against the clock – and the traitors hidden within their ranks – to save the planet.

*Offer ends November 6 at 10AM Pacific Time

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!

November’s Games with Gold Are Full of Action and Adventure
Welcome to another month of Games with Gold! With a mix of racing, adventure, and platforming challenges, Xbox Live Gold members are sure to have a blast via November’s Games with Gold on Xbox One and Xbox 360. Available starting on November 1, the arcade racer Trackmania Turbo comes to Xbox One followed by the fantastic adventure game… Read more

Play XCOM 2 for Free This Weekend Only with Xbox Live Gold
Ignite a global resistance to reclaim our world and save humanity! This weekend only, all Xbox Live Gold members can enjoy 2K’s turn-based strategy hit, XCOM 2 for free as part of Xbox Live Gold’s Free Play Days. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. PT on Thursday, October 26 and running through to 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, October 29, Xbox Live Gold members… Read more

Join Us for the Launch of the World’s Most Powerful Console, Xbox One X
Xbox One X launches in less than two weeks and we’re gearing up for the biggest global launch in Xbox history on November 7. We’re thrilled to get Xbox One X, the world’s most powerful console, into the hands of our fans, so we wanted to share some early details about how you can participate in the Xbox One X launch no matter your location… Read more

Play Three Generations of Games – Better – on Xbox One
Starting tomorrow, for the first time, you’ll be able to play three generations of games on one console – a curated list of Original Xbox classics like Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and more will be available across the entire Xbox One family of devices. And when Xbox One X launches on November 7… Read more

Xbox Game Pass: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Halo Wars DE, Resident Evil HD and More Available November 1
Hello, fellow gamers! Welcome to your November Xbox Game Pass update. We’re adding seven more games to the Xbox Game Pass catalog! In addition to over 100 great games already included in your membership, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Halo Wars: Definitive Edition, Resident Evil HD and more will be ready to play starting November 1… Read more

A Gift to Insiders: More New Features
Last week, we delivered an upgraded console experience to Xbox One owners that focused on personalization and speed. It was a massive update, but we aren’t done just yet. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be addressing customer feedback and adding even more great new features that gamers have been asking for… Read more

Gears of War 4 Xbox One X Enhancements In-Depth
We’re excited to share how Gears of War 4 has been enhanced for the Xbox One X. Our new trailer showcases the wealth of graphical and gameplay enhancements that are only possible with the world’s most powerful console. We’re also excited to finally reveal the Preferred Rendering mode so you can play Gears of War 4 how you want… Read more

Save America in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Available Now on Xbox One
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to liberate the United States from Nazi rule by kickstarting an American Revolution in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Jump back into the boots of BJ Blazkowicz, scourge of the Nazi empire, and humanity’s last hope for liberty. Armed with guns and gumption… Read more

Journey to Ancient Egypt in Assassin’s Creed Origins, Available Now on Xbox One
The mysteries of Cleopatra’s Egypt are yours to uncover in Assassin’s Creed Origins, out now on Xbox One and will be Xbox One X Enhanced for Xbox One X on November 7. As Bayek, a protector of Egypt, you are thrust into a tumultuous time in Ancient Egypt’s history. The struggle for power between Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy… Read more

Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che and Colin Jost to Join Xbox Live Sessions
Hello Xbox gamers! We’re excited to announce another episode of Xbox Live Sessions, this one taking place this upcoming Monday night, October 30 at 5 p.m. PT. “Saturday Night Live” cast members Colin Jost and Michael Che will take a break from their hectic schedules to join Xbox Live Sessions, an interactive livestream hosted on the Mixer Xbox Channel… Read more

Free-to-Play Action MMO Skyforge Coming to Xbox One in November
Welcome, Recruits! I’m thrilled to give you the opportunity to become part of an elite group of immortals and discover what it means to fight ‘till the very end, again, and again (and again)! In Skyforge, our free-to-play action MMO, you become one of the chosen and receive the gift of immortality, tasked with the protection of your home planet of Aelion… Read more

Tips for Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition
Hey, Xbox gamers! The Tips & Tricks team is here with tips for Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition (click on the video player above). By now, most of us have logged quite a few hours into the base game, but for those who haven’t gotten their fill yet, Fallout 4’s Game of the Year Edition is here. This version of the game comes with all six of the DLCs… Read more

Building the 1980s VHS Horror Vibe of Slayaway Camp
When we decided to create “The Most Violentest Puzzle Game of All Time” we knew we had to go big (or go home). Slayaway Camp is a sliding block puzzle game, like Sokoban and many, many other logic games, yes… but it’s also a gore-encrusted love letter to the sleaziest horror films of the 1980s. While the actual puzzle mechanics will be familiar to many players… Read more

Xbox Live Sessions: Ronda Rousey to Play Assassin’s Creed Origins on Xbox One X
Ronda Rousey, American mixed martial artist, model and actress, will feel true power when she joins the first-ever Xbox Live Sessions to be played on the new Xbox One X console. The interactive livestream hosted on the Mixer Xbox Channel will have Rousey playing the new Assassin’s Creed Origins on Thursday, October 26 at 6 p.m. PT… Read more

Nintendo’s quest for mobile success has had its ups and downs to date. It’s enjoyed a modest share of (pocket) monster profits from Pokémon GO, while it has released three main games / apps of its own. The two most recent have had varied success, but Nintendo has confirmed a notable landmark for one in particular.

It’s confirmed that Super Mario Run has passed 200 million downloads, with over 90% of those outside of Japan. It’s also highlighted an increase in players following the recent major update (and discount). Nintendo does admit, however, that monetising the game (through its one-off purchase) is still an issue, as the game has “not yet reached an acceptable profit point”.

Nintendo states that it is, however, “on track” with its profit targets for Fire Emblem Heroes, with promotions and updates also leading to an increase in active users. The company is also keen to point out that sales (through microtransactions) are gradually improving outside of Japan.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp seems to be off to a strong start in Australia, too, and that’s an IP with undoubted potential for success on Mobile ahead of its late November global release. Overall, driven by Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo reported revenue of 17.9 billion Yen (approx $158 million) from mobile in its Q2 financial report.

It’s interesting to see the steady evolution of Nintendo’s efforts on Mobile; it still has the target of releasing 2-3 titles each year.

For now we await the global release of Pocket Camp – do you think it’ll be a success?

In what is now likely to be a regular update, we’ve been checking out which games are out early in this download week. With solid support for the Switch eShop we have release dates planned to tie-in with retail arrivals or multi-platform downloads; in crowded weekly release schedules ‘early’ arrivals can therefore fall through the cracks. We don’t want that to happen, do we?

Last week’s equivalent brought us four early games in the week, but this week we’re up to five. They’ll all be live through the course of the day (likely morning in North America, afternoon in Europe) – let’s get to it.

Perception (Deep End Games) – $14.99USD / £12.99

A definite win for marketing and savvy timing. This only arrived on other platforms earlier this year and was received quite positively; as you can see in the trailer above it takes the first-person scary house trope and adds a twist. The protagonist is blind, so you can only see the surroundings in limited details and outlines, effectively using sound as your guide. This is an enhanced edition that includes three options for playing the campaign and various adjustments designed to improve on the original.

King Oddball – (10tons) – $4.99USD – £3.99

This actually arrived on 30th October. You take control of a boulder (the King of boulders it would seem) with the aim of using your ridiculously long tongue to lick up other, smaller boulders, before launching them at tanks and helicopters. Despite sounding like something we’ve made up for the world’s earliest (or latest) April Fools article, the game is very much real and actually looks like a whole lot of fun.

One of the first games Ubisoft actually announced for the Switch, it’s now finally ready to make its entrance. Yep, it’s virtual Monopoly, though you can also customise rules and play shortened Special Goals games if you or the system’s battery are running out of time. 

Based on the PS4 and Xbox One title from 2016, this chaotic racer features more than 30 maps covering forest, desert, winter and farm environments. You’ll also find 84 skill challenges and 12 “authentic” events. There are also 6 officially licensed Monster Jam stadiums included, if you’re keen on that kind of thing.

Previously on 3DS, this beat ’em up-style title takes various IPs from the famous network and mashes them up into one adventure; it can be tackled solo or in local co-op. 

Those are your fresh eShop arrivals – will you pick any of these up?