News

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Did Xbox back itself into a corner over minor leaks?
The angst over an Official Xbox Podcast announcement was all a lot of noise for a few games going to other platforms.
Feb. 16, 2024
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Can Ryukishi07’s “Sound Novels” be considered Games?
This short blog post will examine Higurashi’s design and apply concepts used in both Western and Japanese game theory to see if this sound novel series can be categorized as a “game.”
Feb. 15, 2024
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Dear Publishers, Ownership Matters
There is great potential for video game companies to use this digital future to promote better-preserved products, but they must choose to respect the consumer’s right to ownership.
Feb. 13, 2024
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Every Game Has the Community It Deserves
If game designers are to have any success combating toxicity, we must acknowledge that our own design choices are often the underlying systemic cause, and that it is our responsibility to change them.
Feb. 13, 2024
JikGuard
The Big Index 2024: Articles for Game Music Composers
An indexed collection of Game Developer articles by video game composer Winifred Phillips, organized by subject matter with selected excerpts and highlights.
Feb. 13, 2024
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Game developers, don't give up on your bad sketches
Generative AI art tools make it easy to whip up images for concepts and storyboarding. But don't throw out your pen and paper just yet!
Feb. 8, 2024
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Design Analysis: Snatcher's Representation of Detective Gameplay
Snatcher is usually regarded as a cult-classic that lays the foundation for Kojima's later work. It is more than that, however.
Feb. 6, 2024
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Backrooms, Liminal Spaces, And The Subliminal Menace Of Loneliness in Indie Horror Games
The other day I was told that my writing is appreciated and that I need to write more… so I'm taking a moment to write about a rabbit hole that I’ve fallen down since working on BlueSuburbia!
Feb. 6, 2024
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Microsoft owes everyone more context for mass Xbox layoffs
Costs are down, revenues are up, and its stock has never been higher-yet Microsoft still laid off nearly 2,000 developers.
Feb. 2, 2024
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Is NVIDIA's AI-driven NPC tech just really expensive improv?
NVIDIA's AI tech may still cost less than an improv education at Groundlings.
Jan. 24, 2024
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Food for thought: taking food in games beyond mechanics and into the narrative
Despite its rich symbolic, cultural, and social meaning, food rarely features in narrative. The rare exceptions are worth a closer look.
Jan. 20, 2024
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Replacing MetroidVania
I’m going to talk about one of the sillier plights affecting us - the persistence of the term ‘MetroidVania’.
Jan. 19, 2024