Sci-fi horror4 MIN
Choices With Consequences in Mostly Linear Games
How mostly linear games make choices matter with state tracking, ally changes and gated powers, and where designers use illusions of choice instead.
[ BLOG ]
Dixotomia, VR games and sci-fi horror
Guides and stories from Deep Matrix, the studio behind Dixotomia: how to play VR better, which games to try next, the hardware worth buying and how independent VR games get made.
VR hardware4 MIN
VR Controller Grips and Covers: Are They Worth It?
What VR controller grips, covers and straps do, who benefits most from them, what to check when buying, and how to decide if they are worth the money for you.
Sci-fi horror4 MIN
Why Corporations Make Perfect Villains in Sci-Fi Horror
Why corporations work so well as sci-fi horror villains, from Weyland-Yutani and Umbrella to company-owned planets, with Karna as a recent game example.
Sci-fi horror4 MIN
Cosmic Horror in Space: Why the Void Feels Hostile
How cosmic horror's indifference and vastness move into science fiction, with Lovecraft's influence and examples by premise. Why the void feels hostile.
VR hardware4 MIN
CPU Bottlenecks in VR: Signs, Causes and Fixes
How CPU bottlenecks show up in VR during physics-heavy games and crowded scenes, how to spot the warning signs and which upgrade to consider first.
Game development4 MIN
Crash Reporting and Telemetry for VR Games
Learn what to log for VR crashes and frame times, how to handle privacy and consent, and how small teams can act on anonymous telemetry data each week.
VR gaming4 MIN
Crouching and Dodging in VR Safely
How to crouch and dodge in VR without injury or collisions: set a boundary, protect your knees, learn lateral steps and avoid over-committing.
Sci-fi horror4 MIN
Cryosleep in Sci-Fi: Lost Time as a Horror Device
How cryosleep and hypersleep create lost years and arriving-blind stories in sci-fi horror, and what that time gap does to characters and audiences.
Sci-fi horror4 MIN
Cultists as Enemies in Shooters: Why the Trope Works
Cultists make strong shooter enemies because they bring identity, ritual spaces and escalating powers. See why the trope works, with well known examples.
Sci-fi horror4 MIN
Cults in Science Fiction: Faith, Technology and Fear
How science fiction uses cults, tech worship and secret orders to explore belief and control, from Dune's Bene Gesserit to Warhammer 40,000's tech-priests.
Sci-fi horror4 MIN
Cyborgs and Augmentation Horror: The Cost of Upgrades
What do cybernetic upgrades cost in fiction? A look at humanity, control and dependence, with examples from Deus Ex, RoboCop and Ghost in the Shell.
Dixotomia4 MIN
Deep Shaft 17: The Fever Behind Dixotomia's Story
Deep Shaft 17 is where Dixotomia begins: 28 of 42 miners with a 40°C fever and no diagnosis. A spoiler-free look at the mine, the fever and Reynor's return.
Game development4 MIN
Designing Enemy Roles for VR Shooters
Learn the core enemy roles for a VR shooter, from rushers to snipers, how each one changes player movement and how to teach them to players.
Game development4 MIN
Designing Moral Choice Systems Players Actually Feel
Moral choices feel real when stakes are visible, the game remembers decisions and each path changes play. Learn the rules, common traps and how to test them.
Game development5 MIN
Designing Mutually Exclusive Skill Trees
Learn how to design skill trees where one choice locks out another. Covers balance, player commitment and the mistakes that let one build dominate.
Game development4 MIN
Designing VR Boss Fights: Scale, Telegraphs and Space
How to design VR boss fights that read clearly, use real arena space, change phases without confusion and keep players from getting physically worn out.
Game development4 MIN
Designing VR Melee Combat That Feels Good
How to design VR melee combat that feels good: swing-speed hit detection, physics or animation hits, haptics, stamina limits and air swing fixes.
Game development4 MIN
Designing VR Weapons and Reload Systems
How to design VR guns and reloads that feel satisfying, not fiddly. Covers realism levels, assist options, magazine handling and malfunctions.
Game development5 MIN
Diegetic UI in VR: Interfaces That Live in the World
Why flat screen-space HUDs feel wrong in VR, and how wrist displays, holographic panels and weapon readouts keep players informed without breaking immersion.
VR hardware4 MIN
DisplayPort, HDMI and USB-C for VR: How Headsets Connect
How PC VR headsets connect with DisplayPort, USB-C link cables and USB, which adapters work and which do not, and the common wiring mistakes to avoid.
Dixotomia4 MIN
Dixotomia Beginner Tips for Your First Hours
New to Dixotomia? These beginner tips cover the demo, difficulty, the two upgrade trees, story choices and VR comfort, with no spoilers or walkthrough steps.
Dixotomia4 MIN
Dixotomia Bosses: Who You Face on Karna
Meet the named bosses of Dixotomia: Alister Duncan, Edward Price, Viviana Eidenhart and a dragon. A spoiler-free look at who they are and why they turn on you.
Dixotomia5 MIN
Dixotomia Characters: Who's Who on Karna
Meet the main cast of Dixotomia: Reynor Adams, Edward Price, Alister Duncan, Viviana Eidenhart, Otto Stern and more. A spoiler-free who's who of Karna.
Dixotomia5 MIN
Dixotomia Enemies: Robots, Zombie Soldiers, Snipers and More
Who you fight in Dixotomia: a vampire cult, shadow masters, cultists, androids and mercenaries, plus Robot Soldier, Zombie Soldier, Sniper and Patrol types.