News

JikGuard
The perfect Steam trailer, overlooked tools, & more 2
What do you really need in your Steam trailer? What video game data tools are you not aware of, but should be? This and more game platform round-ups within...
April 22, 2021
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When demos can radically expand your game's discoverability 2
Are game demos good? When you should leave your demo or prologue up for longer? We look at games with standout (but short!) gameplay loops for an answer.
April 20, 2021
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Predictions on Supercell's new Clash Games
Earlier this month, Supercell announced 3 new games based on the Clash Franchise, and they already softlaunched one of them (Clash Quest). Here are my thoughts & predictions on them, and a brief analysis after playing Clash Quest.
April 19, 2021
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The Simplest Trailer to Make For Your Steam Page 2
Valve itself recommends you put your Steam page up as soon as possible, but one major hurdle for first time and hobbyist developers is making a trailer. Here are my recommendations for how to make a minimum viable product Steam trailer.
April 19, 2021
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Game Dev Digest Issue #90 - Find Out What's New
Game Dev Digest Issue #90 - Find Out What's New. The latest from the free weekly Unity3d/gamedev newsletter.
April 16, 2021
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The IAP Merchandising Playbook, Part 2: Visual Hierarchy
When viewing visual elements, our eyes naturally gravitate to certain features. By being deliberate in how we structure information, we can guide the user’s experience and streamline their purchase decision. With lots of examples!
April 16, 2021
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Why TikTok matters for game discovery 2
TikTok - the shortform video social app which sports hundreds of millions of MAUs worldwide - can be a boon for the right type of game. We explain how within.
April 15, 2021
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Publishing a game on Epic Games Store: Three (not so) simple steps
Making sure your game reaches the widest audience used to be a straight-forward process: make your it available on the big digital storefronts, a few key retailers, and that was it. It all changed with Epic Games Store. How did we get there?
April 15, 2021
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Composer Interview: Examining the Craft of Video Game Music Composition
In this partial transcript of an online Q&A, video game music composer Winifred Phillips describes her process for several projects - including Spyder, Shrek the Third, Shattered State, and Assassin's Creed Liberation.
April 15, 2021
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7 Nudges & Manipulative Techniques present in Undertale
This brief article will highlight 7 major manipulations found inside Undertale, and how they influence the player's experience.
April 15, 2021
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Classifying Pay to Win Design in Today's Market
My fifth book is starting to take shape, and it's giving me the chance to revisit the topic of Pay to Win Design. For today, I want to discuss the three clear signs that a game is pay to win.
April 14, 2021
JikGuard
Recounting A Successful Failure (The Spaceslingers Post-Mortem)
So what does a successful failure look like? Well, first, let's talk about success...
April 13, 2021