WE ARE CRITICAL MOVES

A Strategy Gaming Podcast

Asymmetry: The Secret Ingredient in Strategy Games (Ep.48)

Our strategy gaming veterans dive deep into the concept of asymmetry in strategy games, examining how different factions, victory conditions, and starting positions create unique gameplay experiences while presenting significant design and balance challenges for developers. https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode provides an unscripted exploration of asymmetry across strategy gaming, covering everything from the inherent advantages of going first in chess to the complex faction balance challenges facing modern RTS developers. The hosts examine how asymmetry manifests in different game types, from...
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Double Vision: The True State of 4X (Ep.47)

Our strategy gaming hosts team up with 4X experts from eXplorminate to correct misconceptions and explore the complex world of 4X gaming, covering everything from genre definitions and the innovation crisis to multiplayer potential and the future of explore-expand-exploit-exterminate gameplay. LISTEN LINK: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode features a collaborative discussion between Critical Moves hosts and eXplorminate podcast experts Drexy and Ricky, addressing previous misconceptions about 4X games while examining the genre’s current challenges and future potential. The conversation covers fundamental 4X...
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Beyond All Reason – Behind the Scenes of BAR (Ep.46)

Our strategy gaming veterans finally tackle the game they mention every episode, joined by Beyond All Reason’s community manager PtaQ and game designer Tim to explore how passionate volunteers built one of the most ambitious community-driven RTS projects ever attempted, transforming a Total Annihilation mod into a standalone epic-scale strategy experience. LISTEN LINK: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode provides an unprecedented look inside Beyond All Reason’s development process, featuring detailed discussions with the game’s community manager and lead designer about managing 60,000...
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When Developers Quit, Players Keep Games Alive (Ep.45)

Our strategy gaming veterans dive into the passionate communities that refuse to let classic strategy titles fade away, exploring how dedicated fans transform abandoned games through mods, custom servers, and total engine recreations that sometimes surpass the original developer’s vision. LISTEN LINK: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode examines the complex relationship between developers and communities when official support ends, featuring discussions of legendary community projects from Age of Empires 2’s multiple revival cycles to the complete engine recreation powering Beyond All Reason....
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