"What's the point of this if you're not feeling something?" Star Wars: Galactic Racer devs on how they bottled Burnout's magic 'game feel'

Key Points:

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer, developed by Fuse Games with strong ties to Criterion's Burnout series, emphasizes "game feel" to create immersive and responsive racing experiences that resonate with fans of both Burnout and Star Wars.
• The game captures the tactile, sometimes fragile technology of the Star Wars universe by simulating realistic vehicle physics, enabling players to feel connected to futuristic levitating racers rather than traditional wheeled vehicles.
• Fuse Games integrates Roguelite features and customizable vehicle parts to provide players with creative freedom, balancing accessibility and depth while aiming to evoke strong emotions aligned with Star Wars and racing themes.
• The development process heavily relies on rapid prototyping, including board game-style methods, to quickly test and refine gameplay mechanics and emotional impact, prioritizing player experience and "game feel" over rigid design.
• The team highlights the importance of emotional engagement in game design, drawing parallels to storytelling principles like verisimilitude, emphasizing that player belief in the game's reality is crucial for the overall immersive experience.