The Sunday Papers: Criterion Pivots to Battlefield, the Rise of Respec, and Classic Level Design
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Rock Paper Shotgun's latest Sunday Papers roundup covers Criterion's permanent pivot to Battlefield, the launch of independent outlet Respec, and a nostalgic look back at the classic waist-high wall design of early 2000s shooters.
As the weekend winds down, our weekly reading roundup brings together some of the sharpest games writing and industry retrospectives from across the web. Rock Paper Shotgun recently published its latest edition of The Sunday Papers, curated by Julian Benson. The feature highlights a mix of investigative reporting, new independent media ventures, and deep dives into the mechanics that shaped past generations of gaming. For players tracking how the industry shifts behind the scenes, this week offers plenty of food for thought.
One of the standout pieces comes from IGN, where Phil Iwaniuk reports on a sobering milestone for arcade racing fans. Criterion Games recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, but the studio behind Burnout and Need For Speed is no longer making racing titles. Management confirmed that the Guildford developer is now solely focused on supporting the Battlefield franchise for EA. While the studio's legacy in high speed racing remains untouched, the official rebrand marks the end of an era for a team that defined a genre. On a brighter note for independent games journalism, industry veterans Alex Donaldson and Tom Orry have launched Respec, a new criticism and feature site aimed at delivering sustainable, no nonsense coverage without the typical clickbait grind.
Looking back at level design history, Jon Hicks over at Eurogamer explores the strange ubiquity of the waist high wall in early 2000s shooters. Long before modern games relied on fully destructible environments or vertical movement, open arenas were routinely littered with chest high concrete blocks and convenient crates to facilitate the cover shooter boom. It is a specific piece of environmental design that feels hilarious in hindsight, though it defined an entire generation of action blockbusters. You can read the full collection of recommended reads in the original post on Rock Paper Shotgun.
Tags: Industry News, Games Journalism, Criterion Games, Battlefield, Level Design
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun