News

JikGuard
When Steam wishlists don't convert: a case study
Working out how your game is going to sell at launch - even if you’ve accumulated a lot of apparent interest and Steam wishlists - can feel like communing with the great beyond. We get into it.
July 27, 2021
JikGuard
GDC 2021 Wrapup: The Best Slides of the Event
Fore every GDC I like to recap the conference not by the best talks but by the best slides so that you can get back to making your games and not watching talks.
July 27, 2021
JikGuard
Game Dev Digest Issue #104 - Tools For Your Toolbox
Game Dev Digest Issue #104 - Tools For Your Toolbox. The latest from the free weekly Unity3d/gamedev newsletter.
July 26, 2021
JikGuard
Developing a Hyper Casual project that got turned down by a publisher because of the metrics
In 2020, we were approached by a developer with a game prototype. One publisher had already run their tests on it and immediately abandoned the project.
July 26, 2021
JikGuard
Verb Directions in Game Design
A deep dive into how Magic The Gathering expresses character through game mechanics, and how those same concepts can be applied to video game characters without breaking the design budget.
July 23, 2021
JikGuard
Discovering your game's regional appeal, pre-launch?
What's the best way to see the regional breakdown of Steam interesting and wishlists before launch? This, plus lots more, in our latest round-up.
July 22, 2021
JikGuard
How will publishing agreements be affected by Steam Deck?
If a publishing agreement covers PC but doesn’t specify channels, is the Steam Deck included or excluded?
July 22, 2021
JikGuard
A step-by-step guide to game localization
Modern game developers understand that it's not enough just to create an awesome game - you have to make it accessible to the broader public. That's where localization comes in.
July 21, 2021
JikGuard
Debating Difficulty in Game Design
The debate over difficulty in videogames continues to rage, and for today's post, I want to try, once and for all, to explain that difficulty is not a part of accessibility, but an essential element designers need to take note of.
July 21, 2021
JikGuard
Dynamic destruction in Radio Viscera
This is an overview of all the elements which contribute to the dynamic damage system created for Radio Viscera.
July 21, 2021
JikGuard
Getting excellent voice acting into your indie game - part 4
The actors have auditioned and you've made hard choices. In this final part of my series, I go over the last steps for bringing voice acting into your game.
July 19, 2021
JikGuard
The Impact of Dark Souls on Boss Design
The Dark Souls series has become popular for many reasons, but for today's post, I want to talk about how its use of boss designs has redefined the enemy, and how developers are playing catch up today with it.
July 19, 2021