What's The Point of a Day-Night Cycle in Games?

Design Doc November 28, 2022
Video Thumbnail
Design Doc Logo

Design Doc

@designdoc

About

We're Dan and Mike, and we're Design Doc! We make video essays on game design. Our videos are crosscuts that point out all the little details that add up to make amazing games. We pick a topic, and we see what we can dig up from all corners of the gaming world - from RPGs to Puzzle, from retro to modern, from AAA to indie. There's a lot out there to learn from. Wanna take a tour? Business email: [email protected]

Video Description

Sign up to Milanote for free with no time limit: https://milanote.com/designdoc1122 Games have to change as you're playing them to keep players interested, but that change could mean almost anything. Day-night cycles help create a platform on which lots of different kinds of changes can exist, and the idea is flexible enough to help game designers get just the kind of change they need to support the kind of game they want to make. Let's talk about great day-night cycles and how they support an ever-changing game. Featuring: Super Mario Sunshine Mario Kart 64 Final Fantasy IX Devil May Cry 3 Resident Evil 4 Lots of Zeldas: Ocarina of Time Majora's Mask Wind Waker Twilight Princess Moonlighter Mario Party 6 Don't Starve Animal Crossing Shenmue Pokemon, gens 2 through now Patrons get ad-free episodes early, plus access to our behind-the-scenes podcast. Support Design Doc on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/designdoc Design Doc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Warbot400 #gamedesign #majorasmask #animalcrossing

Enhance Gaming Immersion

AI-recommended products based on this video

Loading...
BOSGAME P5 Pro Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H Mini Gaming PC, 32GB DDR5 512GB SSD Desktops Computer, Quad Display, Dual USB 4.0 & HDMI, 2.5G RJ45 LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2

BOSGAME P5 Pro Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H Mini Gaming PC, 32GB DDR5 512GB SSD Desktops Computer, Quad Display, Dual USB 4.0 & HDMI, 2.5G RJ45 LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2

(230)
$649.99
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
GEEKOM A8 Max Mini PC (Ultimate Performance), AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (Advanced Computing), Dual LAN Mini Desktop, 16GB DDR5 RAM & 1TB SSD, Radeon 780M Graphics, Windows 11 Pro, USB4, 8K Support

GEEKOM A8 Max Mini PC (Ultimate Performance), AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS (Advanced Computing), Dual LAN Mini Desktop, 16GB DDR5 RAM & 1TB SSD, Radeon 780M Graphics, Windows 11 Pro, USB4, 8K Support

(108)
$949.00
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
GMKtec Mini PC Gaming, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U (8C/16T 4.70Ghz) Radeon 680M Desktop Computer Dual NIC LAN 2.5G, 16GB DDR5 +512GB SSD, Dual USB4, HDMI 2.1, USB-C M7 Ultra Global Recycled Standard

GMKtec Mini PC Gaming, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U (8C/16T 4.70Ghz) Radeon 680M Desktop Computer Dual NIC LAN 2.5G, 16GB DDR5 +512GB SSD, Dual USB4, HDMI 2.1, USB-C M7 Ultra Global Recycled Standard

(218)
$819.99
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
GMKtec Mini PC Gaming, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U (8C/16T 4.70Ghz) Radeon 680M Desktop Computer Dual NIC LAN 2.5G, 32GB DDR5 +1TB SSD, Dual USB4, HDMI 2.1, USB-C M7 Ultra Global Recycled Standard

GMKtec Mini PC Gaming, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U (8C/16T 4.70Ghz) Radeon 680M Desktop Computer Dual NIC LAN 2.5G, 32GB DDR5 +1TB SSD, Dual USB4, HDMI 2.1, USB-C M7 Ultra Global Recycled Standard

(941)
$929.99
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen) ATX Motherboard (PCIe 4.0,WiFi 6E, 2.5Gb LAN, BIOS Flashback, HDMI 2.1, Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header and Aura Sync)

Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen) ATX Motherboard (PCIe 4.0,WiFi 6E, 2.5Gb LAN, BIOS Flashback, HDMI 2.1, Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header and Aura Sync)

(12,062)
$239.91$169.99
FREE delivery Jan 19 - 28
100+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse, 2.4GHz with USB Mini Receiver, 12-Month Battery Life, 1000 DPI Optical Tracking, Ambidextrous, Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop - Black

Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse, 2.4GHz with USB Mini Receiver, 12-Month Battery Life, 1000 DPI Optical Tracking, Ambidextrous, Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop - Black

(48,912)
$15.99$12.79
FREE delivery Wed, Feb 18 on your first order
1K+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

(35,879)
$49.99$44.99
FREE delivery Mon, Jan 26
1K+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad, HTPC Keyboard for PC-connected TV, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Laptop, Tablet - Black
Best Seller

Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad, HTPC Keyboard for PC-connected TV, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Laptop, Tablet - Black

(38,516)
$39.98$35.98
FREE delivery Thu, Sep 4
500+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech G435 Lightspeed and Bluetooth Wireless Gaming Headset - Lightweight Over-Ear Headphones, Built-in mics, 18h Battery, Compatible with Dolby Atmos, PC, Mobile - Black

Logitech G435 Lightspeed and Bluetooth Wireless Gaming Headset - Lightweight Over-Ear Headphones, Built-in mics, 18h Battery, Compatible with Dolby Atmos, PC, Mobile - Black

(14,873)
$49.99$39.99
FREE delivery Thu, Aug 21
400+ bought in past month
Loading...
Philips Hue Bridge - Unlock the Full Potential of Hue - Multi-Room and Out-of-Home Control - Create Automations and Zones - Secure, Stable Connection Won't Strain Your Wi-Fi - Works with Voice, Matter
Best Seller

Philips Hue Bridge - Unlock the Full Potential of Hue - Multi-Room and Out-of-Home Control - Create Automations and Zones - Secure, Stable Connection Won't Strain Your Wi-Fi - Works with Voice, Matter

(10,705)
$57.60$51.14
FREE delivery Thu, Sep 4
400+ bought in past month
Loading...
CORSAIR iCUE Link XD5 RGB Elite LCD Pump-Reservoir Unit - D5 PWM Pump - 480x480 IPS LCD Screen - 22 Addressable RGB LEDs - 440ml Nylon Reservoir - White

CORSAIR iCUE Link XD5 RGB Elite LCD Pump-Reservoir Unit - D5 PWM Pump - 480x480 IPS LCD Screen - 22 Addressable RGB LEDs - 440ml Nylon Reservoir - White

(17)
$379.99
FREE delivery Sun, Aug 24
Loading...
CORSAIR iCUE Link XC7 RGB Elite CPU Water Block - Transparent Flow Chamber - 24 RGB LEDs - Fits Intel® LGA 1700, AMD® AM5 and Older - White

CORSAIR iCUE Link XC7 RGB Elite CPU Water Block - Transparent Flow Chamber - 24 RGB LEDs - Fits Intel® LGA 1700, AMD® AM5 and Older - White

(56)
$149.99$125.33
FREE delivery Sun, Aug 24
Loading...
CORSAIR Hydro X Series iCUE Link XH405i Custom Cooling Kit – Hardline Water Cooling Loop – XC7 Elite CPU Water Block – XD5 Elite D5 Pump Res – XR5 360mm Radiator – 3X QX120 RGB Fans

CORSAIR Hydro X Series iCUE Link XH405i Custom Cooling Kit – Hardline Water Cooling Loop – XC7 Elite CPU Water Block – XD5 Elite D5 Pump Res – XR5 360mm Radiator – 3X QX120 RGB Fans

(235)
$879.99
FREE delivery Sun, Aug 24
Loading...
Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse, 2.4GHz with USB Mini Receiver, 12-Month Battery Life, 1000 DPI Optical Tracking, Ambidextrous, Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop - Black

Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse, 2.4GHz with USB Mini Receiver, 12-Month Battery Life, 1000 DPI Optical Tracking, Ambidextrous, Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop - Black

(48,912)
$15.99$12.79
FREE delivery Wed, Feb 18 on your first order
1K+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, Hero 12K Sensor, 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery Life, On-Board Memory, PC/Mac - Black

(35,879)
$49.99$44.99
FREE delivery Mon, Jan 26
1K+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad, HTPC Keyboard for PC-connected TV, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Laptop, Tablet - Black
Best Seller

Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad, HTPC Keyboard for PC-connected TV, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Laptop, Tablet - Black

(38,516)
$39.98$35.98
FREE delivery Thu, Sep 4
500+ bought in past month
Loading...
Logitech G435 Lightspeed and Bluetooth Wireless Gaming Headset - Lightweight Over-Ear Headphones, Built-in mics, 18h Battery, Compatible with Dolby Atmos, PC, Mobile - Black

Logitech G435 Lightspeed and Bluetooth Wireless Gaming Headset - Lightweight Over-Ear Headphones, Built-in mics, 18h Battery, Compatible with Dolby Atmos, PC, Mobile - Black

(14,873)
$49.99$39.99
FREE delivery Thu, Aug 21
400+ bought in past month
Loading...
New SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox Multi-System Gaming Headset - Premium Hi-Fi Drivers - Hi-Res Audio - 360° Spatial - GameDAC Gen 2 - Quad-DAC - ClearCast Gen 2 Mic - Xbox, PC, PS5/PS4, Switch

New SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox Multi-System Gaming Headset - Premium Hi-Fi Drivers - Hi-Res Audio - 360° Spatial - GameDAC Gen 2 - Quad-DAC - ClearCast Gen 2 Mic - Xbox, PC, PS5/PS4, Switch

(517)
$209.41$122.65
PrimeFREE delivery Sat, Jun 14
Loading...
NEW SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Multi-Platform Gaming Headset - Signature Arctis Sound - ClearCast Gen 2 Mic - PC, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Mobile

NEW SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Multi-Platform Gaming Headset - Signature Arctis Sound - ClearCast Gen 2 Mic - PC, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Mobile

(9,500)
$99.98$67.37
PrimeFREE delivery Sat, Jun 14
100+ bought in past month