✍️ Vipin Trisal's Blog

Friends and colleagues, I’ve had an epiphany while inching forward on the Outer Ring Road, and I feel compelled to share this revolutionary perspective. We've been looking at traffic all wrong. It’s not a problem; it’s a multi-faceted personal and economic growth seminar. Consider the benefits: Economic Stimulation : The more we idle in traffic, the more fuel we consume. This creates a powerful motivation to earn more, which in turn leads to higher tax contributions. We aren't just stuck; we are single-handedly powering the national economy from the driver's seat. It's a patriotic duty. ​The Mobile Sanctuary : Where else do you get 1-2 hours of guaranteed, uninterrupted time to think? The car has become a sanctuary for contemplation. Free from the watchful eyes of a boss or the honey-do list from a spouse, it is the perfect space to plan your next quarter, brainstorm a startup idea, or simply ponder the mysteries of the universe. Enforced Health Habits : Traffic has mad...

Let's talk about the incredible role music plays in video games. It's not just background noise, it sets the whole mood! Think about the haunting melodies of 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,' the epic score of 'Assassin's Creed II,' or the sea shanties of 'Black Flag.' These soundtracks are just as important as the graphics and story in creating the game's atmosphere. Try this experiment, Fight Cleric Beast in Bloodborne with Music turned off and see how it becomes about 10 times easier and you will realize the impact of music in creating environment, in this case of tension. I am really hoping that the remakes of these games keep that same epic feel in the music. I am especially excited for the 'Prince of Persia: Sands of Time' remake. What are some of your favorite video game soundtracks? I am new on YT Music and want to steal ideas for an epic playlist. Originally published as LinkedIn Post

Lately, I've seen several game studios claiming the title of "India's first AAA game studio." This has me contemplating: what truly defines a studio as AAA? ​Is it determined solely by the final product, or is it a reflection of the entire ecosystem behind it? ​Does it simply boil down to the "AAA quality" of a single game? ​How much does the talent pool matter? Is it about building a diverse, multi-faceted, and multi-cultural team? ​Should an environment that fosters continuous growth and innovation be considered a key part of the definition? ​ My take is that while creating a AAA game without mature processes is difficult but not impossible, a studio that aims for both a AAA product and a AAA work environment is planting a seed for the future. That is the foundation that will truly grow and, in time, bear fruit. ​ Ultimately, is "AAA" a label for the game, or for the studio that creates it? ​Would love to hear your thoughts. Originally published ...

Should a game's physics be simulated or emulated? I had a fascinating discussion with a video game engineer about this very topic, and it reveals so much about the art of game development. ​On the surface, the two concepts sound similar, but they are worlds apart: ​▶️ Emulation is like a clever magic trick. It's about understanding an input (like a car hitting a wall) and creating a pre-designed, believable output. It’s efficient and light on system resources. ​⚙️ Simulation is like building a mini-universe. It applies the actual rules of physics to that same input, calculating a realistic outcome from scratch. It’s powerful and dynamic but incredibly demanding on performance. ​Here's the developer's dilemma: If emulation can be done so well that a gamer would never know the difference, is a resource-heavy simulation necessary? Should we build something complex just to flex our technical prowess, or should we use the simpler, more efficient method? ​The answer isn't...

The landscape of Video Game QA has evolved significantly since I first entered the field in 2009. Initially, it primarily involved identifying and rectifying bugs across various features and areas of the game. However, over time, it has become more specialized, with QA Testers focusing on specific aspects such as walkthrough, content, audio, collision, and more. Test plans have become increasingly elaborate, with a weighted emphasis on different facets of the game, dictated largely by the game’s design and unique selling points (USP). An essential aspect of Video Game QA, as with all forms of QA, is the relationship with developers. This dynamic holds particular importance in Video Game QA, as QA serves as the first critical evaluation of the game. Reflecting on my journey from 2009, I initially found satisfaction in uncovering bugs for two simple reasons: it improved my performance reviews and provided a sense of fulfilment in discovering developers’ mistakes.   While these m...