I’ve met many programmers facing a single major problem when they attempt to create their own games: Art. They suck at it. It’s great to collaborate with other people who share talents that you lack, but a lot of times you don’t find the right person, or you do find someone but they may have a hard time committing without getting… Read more →
5. Steam Greenlight Steam is king when it comes to PC gaming. Their Greenlight community is an excellent tool to allow and encourage indie developers to put up their games on Steam and reach millions of players. Unfortunately, it’s not the easiest choice. Applying on Steam requires a lot of time and effort. Furthermore, receiving enough votes from the community can be… Read more →
One of the key rules of any game designer is the KISS rule: Keep It Simple, Stupid. This does not apply to the Europa Universalis series. EU has no mercy on beginners. It’s tough. It doesn’t care that your flimsy human brain can’t cope with so many opaque mechanics going on at once. It’s up to you to invest the time and… Read more →
Many abstract games don’t seem to have a story. And while there may not be characters involved, there is still a story arch, a trip that the player goes through when playing. This story arch is filled with moments of tension, excitement, success, failure, meditation, etc. A game without an interesting trip lacks engagement. Stories have specific structures: beginning, middle… Read more →
You may love it or hate it, but Gone Home is a testament to the enlightenment era that the game industry is going through at the moment. Every art has had to go through works that, although imperfect, have helped to make giant leaps in breaking the status quo. Gone Home is small, simple and flimsy at times, but it doesn’t… Read more →
When it comes to film, most of the directors we consider “Auteurs” are those who deliver products with great similarities in style and subject matter. Examples of this are: Tim Burton: Dark, Fantasy, Creepy, Playful. Woody Allen: Comedy, Absurd, Ensemble, Romance. Martin Scorsese: Mafia, Voice Over, New York, Fast Cuts. This “personal style” is what makes their films easily recognizable.… Read more →
10. Prague, Czech Republic Although getting more touristic every year, Czechia is still one of the most affordable places to live in Europe, making it an ideal spot for start-ups and small studios. 9. Helsinki, Finland If you don’t like cold winters and short days, maybe Helsinki is not the place for you. But if you’re looking for a country… Read more →
You can tell a filmmaker was behind the production of this game. It brings really interesting ideas, but also disregards some of the basics of game design. It is a visually astonishing game with a compelling story, a beautiful world to explore and game mechanics with great potential. However. Each joystick on your game pad represents one of the brothers.… Read more →
I believe that judging a game for its artistic value is quite different to judging a game for its commercial value. I don’t judge whether it’s fun or not. Replayability is not important. Quantity of content or multiplayer capabilities are not a factor. Neither are the quality of the graphics. In these reviews, the major factors are the following. MECHANICS: Does the game… Read more →
I have movies that define an era in my personal life. They radically change the way I see the industry. A side effect is that for the following couple of weeks after watching the movie, all others seem to suck. They just don’t compare. This wears off with time, but the benign scar still remains. Thankfully, I’ve had the luck… Read more →
