News

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How to make a hit indie Metroidvania: the lowdown!
Or at least, this is how Haiku The Robot did it.
July 7, 2022
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Big mobile marketing creative review: the things that work
Most mobile game developers will face the need to make ad creatives. But what do you do when an outsourcing studio wants $6,000 for a playable ad and gameplay videos for your project are being edited by a puzzled artist in whatever way they see fit?
July 5, 2022
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This game sold 500k copies - why didn't you know about it?
Talking to Hydroneer's creator. Also: your Steam wishlists in context!
June 28, 2022
JikGuard
The Struggles of Working with Your Friends in Game Development (And How to Overcome Them!)
It’s easy to make friends at work as game developers because we all have one thing in common from the start– we love video games! However, making friends at work comes with a dark side.
June 27, 2022
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Late Game Lessons of Live Service Design
The late-game of any live service title is the make it or break it point for the continued success and development, and I wanted to talk about the options designers have in terms of continued content support.
June 25, 2022
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Op-Ed: Roe v. Wade reversal hurts game developers
Abortion restrictions have already begun to hurt game developers across the country. The reversal of Roe v. Wade will only make things worse.
June 25, 2022
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In Defense of Restrictions
An examination of how games can feel all the more meaningful when they force us to slow down.
June 23, 2022
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Are derivative games now the only way to hit it big?
A big discovery question, and no clear answer.
June 23, 2022
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Never Enough Space! Redesigning the inventory system for Unexplored 2
Two weeks after the release of Unexplored 2 we’ve redesigned the inventory system as players found it to be too restrictive and too diminishing of the fun of finding treasure during their adventures. In this post Joris Dormans looks back at this pivot.
June 23, 2022
JikGuard
From Game Jam to Atari Published: How Two Indie Developers Had Their First Title Published
The story of how I was able to release my first game, Kombinera, on effectively every platform and be published by Atari.
June 22, 2022
JikGuard
28 Questions For a More Cohesive Narrative Design
Narrative Design is what can bring disparate elements of a game together. This thorough list of questions helps game designers review their narrative design from many unusual angles.
June 22, 2022
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How gamification ruined your Next Fest stats (and why it doesn’t matter)
Some Steam badge collecting shenanigans have distorted some developer's Steam Next Fest Stats. Here's why you shouldn't panic.
June 21, 2022