News

JikGuard
You’ve Been Laid Off: Now What?
This post goes over some of the important things you need to know if you've just been laid off from your game development job. The post includes a list of things you can expect, and a list of things you should do to get you back into the working world.
March 29, 2016
JikGuard
Watch Paint Dry
How I got a game on the Steam Store without anyone from Valve ever looking at it.
March 29, 2016
JikGuard
Splash screens are wrong
We see splash screens on every game and we are used to them but I think we should re-evaluate their need and execution.
March 25, 2016
JikGuard
ProcGen: pros and cons
In this post I discuss the pros and cons of using procedural generation (ProcGen). This type of analysis is a good way for you to understand when you should use it and it varies depending on what you want to do.
March 25, 2016
JikGuard
Space To Ground: Matters of Scale in Level Design
Designing for scale. Based on a talk of a similar name that was given at EGX Rezzed Sessions in 2015, Michael Barclay, lead level designer at Cloud Imperium Games, discusses creating drama at multiple scales in Star Citizen.
March 25, 2016
JikGuard
The Role of Animations in Hit Effects
This article tries to address some animation techniques to help the hit effects to be felt significantly in an action scene. The techniques mentioned here are effectively used in Dead Mage’s latest released game named Epic of Kings.
March 25, 2016
JikGuard
Mario and the Effects of Amplifying/Lessening Player Skill Gains
As you play a game you get better at it but what can Mario games tell us about how game mechanics can amplify or lessen the effects of that skill gain? Why might we want to lessen it? Why might we not want to amplify it?
March 24, 2016
JikGuard
Subterfuge was my favorite game of 2015, but I never want to play it again
I examine the impenetrable barrier I feel when trying to start a new game of Subterfuge, a barrier that exists despite how much I otherwise love the game.
March 24, 2016
JikGuard
Marketing a VR & non-VR game. The Perks & Challenges
VR is in its very early days and taking Dead Secret, a game designed for traditional platforms and VR, to market today presents serious marketing challenges as well as some nice unique benefits.
March 24, 2016
JikGuard
“Dancing baby” decision amended to remove automated fair use analysis language
The 9th Circuit has amended their decision in Lenz v. Universal. What effect will this have on fair use and DMCA takedowns?
March 24, 2016
JikGuard
Adapting Sega Saturn games to be Colorblind-Friendly
As a collector of Sega Saturn games, I've noticed that some of my favorite games on the platform would be impossible to play if I were colorblind. I'll pick out a few examples and propose fixes for each.
March 24, 2016
JikGuard
Combining Perspective and Orthographic Camera for Parallax Effect in 2D Game
How to use a combination of an orthographic and perspective camera in 2D game to make good looking parallax effect.
March 24, 2016