Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Why Traditional Boxing Games Are the Best Fit for Poe’s Blueprint

 For Poe’s Blueprint / Wishlist, the better fit is traditional (non-VR) boxing videogame design, not because VR is bad, but because of what a blueprint is meant to capture.

This is a practical design answer, not a value judgment.


What a Blueprint/Wishlist Is Optimized For

A blueprint is about:

  • Defining systems

  • Mapping interactions

  • Exposing tunable variables

  • Planning long-term depth

  • Communicating intent to developers and players

That kind of document needs clarity, repeatability, and abstraction.


Why Traditional Boxing Design Fits That Purpose Better

1. Systems Can Be Fully Specified

Traditional boxing games allow a blueprint to clearly define:

  • Punch taxonomies

  • Defensive layers

  • Stamina and fatigue models

  • Ring control logic

  • Fighter tendencies and traits

  • Risk vs. reward curves

  • AI decision trees

All of these can be written, diagrammed, and simulated without ambiguity.

VR introduces:

  • Player physiology variance

  • Hardware constraints

  • Gesture interpretation noise

Those factors are difficult to blueprint precisely.


2. Depth Scales Cleanly on Paper

A wishlist thrives on:

  • Sliders

  • Toggles

  • Optional complexity

  • Difficulty layers

  • Accessibility pathways

Traditional systems scale well:

  • Casual → Hardcore

  • Arcade → Sim

  • Offline → Competitive

VR depth scaling is constrained by:

  • Physical fatigue

  • Session length

  • Motion comfort

  • Space requirements

Those are harder to express in a universal design document.


3. Fighter Identity Is Easier to Encode

Blueprints often emphasize:

  • Historical accuracy

  • Stylistic differences

  • Behavioral nuance

Traditional designs can specify:

  • Guard styles per fighter

  • Unique defensive responsibilities

  • Punch rhythm and cadence

  • Fatigue behavior under stress

In VR, many of these become:

  • Player-driven rather than system-driven

  • Dependent on how someone physically moves

That weakens the usefulness of a blueprint.


4. Blueprint Longevity

A wishlist is usually meant to:

  • Outlive a single release

  • Apply across sequels

  • Guide patches, mods, and community discussion

Traditional design:

  • Is hardware-agnostic

  • Ages more gracefully

  • Transfers across engines and platforms

VR-specific blueprints age faster because:

  • Hardware evolves rapidly

  • Interaction paradigms shift

  • Standards aren’t stable yet


Where VR Could Still Appear (Without Dominating)

If VR is included at all in Poe’s Blueprint, it fits best as:

  • An optional mode

  • A training or immersion layer

  • A supplemental experience (gym, mitt work, drills)

Not as the foundation.

That keeps the blueprint coherent.


Clean Answer

For Poe’s Blueprint/Wishlist:

Traditional boxing videogame design is a better foundation
because it supports:

  • Precise system definition

  • Long-term depth planning

  • Fighter identity modeling

  • Clear communication to developers and players

VR can exist alongside it, but it shouldn’t define it.

That choice aligns with what a blueprint is supposed to do.

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