✍️ Vipin Trisal's Blog

I recently had a chance to mix two of my passions together: driving simulators and game testing. I have been playing driving simulators for a while now, always wondering how closely they can simulate not just real-life scenarios, but everything down to the limits of physics. While researching this, I came across few concepts that are common in simulator studios, but have been absent in conventional game studios.  It is important to understand that a simulator should primarily be seen as a training tool rather than just an entertaining experience. Keeping that in mind, I read about training scars. Training Scar Let me explain. A training scar is an incorrect or bad habit that a person develops during training that can make an action inadequate, inefficient, or in some cases, counterproductive. This is easy to develop while working with simulators, as there are several aspects where the simulator does not completely replicate real life. One training scar that come...

As a long-time fan of management games like SimCity, Cities: Skylines, and Anno, I often find myself looking at real-world maps and imagining how I would plan a city. It's a creative exercise, a way to build worlds in my mind. Recently, one of these thought experiments took a strange and contemplative turn. ​It started, as it always does, with a grand vision. I imagined a new city, an urban utopia. In my city, the infrastructure would be flawless and all resources would be absolute. Residents would enjoy free electricity, free food, free healthcare, and free education. Wide, spacious lanes would make driving a pleasure, not a chore. As the benevolent mayor of this perfect city, I'd also ensure my citizens were well-entertained, in the way they wanted and when they wanted. For myself, I pictured a simple pleasure: driving up to the top of the hill next to the river on quiet nights to stargaze while listening to old Bollywood songs. ​As the city grew in my mind, I thought, "...

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...

An Unforgettable Day at the Gran Turismo World Finals Amsterdam, the city of canals and culture, became the backdrop for a day I will cherish forever. The Gran Turismo World Finals 2024 brought together the best racers, iconic cars, and the vibrant Gran Turismo community. The races were electrifying, with the competition staying fierce until the very last lap. Takuma Miyazono, known for his exceptional strategy and consistency, emerged as the new World Champion in a breathtaking finish. I had the privilege to meet him before the event began, capturing his autograph and a photo—a memento of his inspiring journey. The day was filled with iconic encounters. I met Lucas Ordóñez, the trailblazer who transformed from a Gran Turismo gamer to a professional racer, and he graciously signed an autograph for my twin boys, Monu and Mani. I also met Rory Alexander and Jimmy Broadbent, two legends in the racing and sim-racing worlds, and they added their autographs to my growing collection. The cold...

Phew more than two long years have gone through without me fulfilling my promise. Sorry, as I was engaged with different issues in life like college, games, ACCOMMODATION and JOB So, here I am back with a new game to include in my list of "The Game That Rocks". The Game is named " Onimusha 3 Demon Siege ". Well I was first introduced to playstation 2 with a prequel of this game called " Onimusha 2 The Warlords" Now I am here to write about Demon Siege . The Game starts off a man named Samanosuke Akechi fighting Genma in Japan close to 1540(I don't remember correctly) and some hoe he jumps time to modern world where he meets Jacques Blanc(I think he is modeled after a hollywood actor in MI2) Now there is lot of cool and awesome fighting with lots of puzzle solving. The most important phase of the game is the traversal between the present and the past with the ever intriguing question as what will be needed in what time and by what character. The time tr...

After I played Prince Of Persia Warrior Within I never thought that I would be playing a shooting game, but DOOM 3 came to me as a gift from my good old friend. I had got my new computer 3 days ago and wanted to buy POPWW so that i can again slash some sand demons. But I had no money left to buy the game. When my friend heard that I have got a new computer with high end configuration, he gifted me with DOOM 3. When I received the game I was disappointed and thought he should have gifted me POPWW, he should have known what my favorite game is. By that time I had completed POPWW just three times on my other friend's PS2. I wanted POPWW be the first game on my computer, but ok lets us what DOOM has. I installed it and stated the play and hey the game stuck!!! I then had to decrease the graphics details of the game and restart the computer. I started the game again. And was shocked to have a game with the graphics more than POPWW. I was upset as...

When I first saw the Prince Of Persia The Sands Of Time I was shocked by the graphics of the game....I was totaled stunned by the smoothness and flow of graphics but the one thing that took all the pleasure off the game was the way Prince used to find his way...It stuck my mind that he is on the mercy of the his enemies... If anyone has seen the start of the game he might have noticed that the Prince found his way through a wall when it was broken down in enemy shelling. Next step, I quit the game....Not long after that its sequel THE PRINCE OF PERSIA WARRIOR WITHIN was released. I said to myself in amazement "Was the previous game a hit that they made another one on the same theme".. Well the gamer in me wanted to give it a shot. POPWW started with a great video that showed prince running away from someone or something. The video was catchy. The Prince I noticed was different from that in POPTSOT. The fear was clear in his eyes. I just wanted to know what was prince run...