News

Video Michael Brough dissects roguelike design at PRACTICE 2013
Video Michael Brough dissects roguelike design at PRACTICE 2013
Watch the creator of 868-HACK and CORRYPT (among other things) discuss the potential for contemporary roguelike game design at NYU's PRACTICE 2013 conference.
Jan. 14, 2014
Beyond the finalists: IGF 2014 Best In Audio jury picks
Beyond the finalists: IGF 2014 Best In Audio jury picks
We highlight the IGF 2014 entrants that earned at least one vote for the Best In Audio award from an IGF juror, but didn't reach the critical mass of votes to become a finalist.
Jan. 14, 2014
Mobile analytics platform Kontagent just raised nearly $5 million
Mobile analytics platform Kontagent just raised nearly $5 million
The funding follows news of a merger between Kontagent and mobile game marketing company PlayHaven to form a unified platform for mobile developers seeking to plan, publicize and monetize their games.
Jan. 14, 2014
Video: Dreamcast GDC keynote by Bernie Stolar
Video: Dreamcast GDC keynote by Bernie Stolar
Bernie Stolar took to the stage to introduce Sega's Dreamcast at GDC 1999, offering a built-in modem that fully supported online console play and a Virtual Memory Unit that allowed play-and share-anywhere capabilities.
Jan. 13, 2014
Blizzard shares Hearthstone design tips at GDC 2014
Blizzard shares Hearthstone design tips at GDC 2014
Today’s session highlights include design tips from Blizzard, a guide to animating human characters doing superhuman things, and a talk from Sucker Punch Productions about how to optimize your game for PS4.
Jan. 13, 2014
This Week in Video Game Criticism: The design of everyday games
This Week in Video Game Criticism: The design of everyday games
This week, our partnership with game criticism site Critical Distance brings us picks from Eric Swain on topics including the lasting influence of The Design of Everyday Things on the medium.
Jan. 13, 2014
How art history, sexuality matter in Painters Guild
How art history, sexuality matter in Painters Guild
"It's not about feeding history to the player as if reading a book. It's about giving the player the tools to rewrite history himself." Lucas Molina discusses how he will incorporate the Renaissance in his upcoming painter sim.
Jan. 13, 2014
Nidhogg unleashed on the masses - but what took so long?
Nidhogg unleashed on the masses - but what took so long?
Four years later, Mark Essen has made the decision to finally release the uproarious battle-fencing game Nidhogg from its cage.
Jan. 13, 2014
Mobile game usage grew in 2013, but more slowly - report
Mobile game usage grew in 2013, but more slowly - report
Although mobile game usage amongst smartphone and tablet owners isn't growing as quickly as the rest of the mobile app market, it's still showing signs of healthy growth year-over-year.
Jan. 13, 2014
Offline play finally comes to SimCity
Offline play finally comes to SimCity
Just as Maxis has announced that modding support is now available for SimCity, the company has revealed an even bigger u-turn for the title, in the form of an offline mode.
Jan. 13, 2014
SimCity modding is go - provided you follow the rules
SimCity modding is go - provided you follow the rules
Months after SimCity developer Maxis said that it was considering user-generated content tools for the city-building game, the company has now laid out the ground rules for the game's modding functionality.
Jan. 13, 2014
China's console ban lift: 'We want to open the window a crack to get some fresh air'
China's console ban lift: 'We want to open the window a crack to get some fresh air'
"We want to open the window a crack to get some fresh air, but we still need a screen to block the flies and mosquitoes." - China's Cai Wu explains the thought process behind the lifting of the console ban in China.
Jan. 13, 2014