Alain Xalabarde speaks at Gamilearn 2019 in Barcelona. The talk explores the way Grand Strategy games have influenced the educational landscape and how the genre can be utilized by teachers to energize their classrooms. Read more →

Alain Xalabarde speaks at Gamilearn 2019 in Barcelona. The talk explores the way Grand Strategy games have influenced the educational landscape and how the genre can be utilized by teachers to energize their classrooms. Read more →
After 3 years working in the casino games development industry for one of the most prestigious companies in the world, I leave realizing that I’ve learnt much more than I had thought when I set foot on my very first day. Most of the lessons learnt have improved my outlook on game development as a whole, but some have dug… Read more →
In Germany it is illegal to use nazi references, including flags, in various ways. One of them is games. Wolfenstein for instance, is a game that looks very different in Germany. However, movies are not put under the same scrutiny. Reason? Movies are considered art. Games are only entertainment. But, is X-Men First Class less entertainment than a video game?… Read more →
Alain Xalabarde speaks at Game Dev Days in Graz on September 2nd, 2017 at 11:45 am. Alain’s “Games & Films: A Love Story” talks about the intricate and paternal relationship between the gaming and film industry, addressing their common ancestry and their role in the future. Read more →
At the start of a game’s development, it’s challenging to find an optimal way to monetize it. Above all, you must find a monetization method that is compatible with your game. In a way, your monetization should be integrated in the same way you would with a game mechanic. DIRECT SALES This one is the most straight forward. Players pay to buy… Read more →
Alain Xalabarde speaks at Gamilearn 17 in Tenerife. The talk took place on June 6th 2017 at 15:30. Alain’s “Learning to Learn from Tutorials” addresses the techniques used in game tutorials and how they can be applied in gamification as an educational tool. Read more →
Playing all the AAA titles available out there will only do you good if you are working at a studio that develops AAA titles. Even so, playing Auteur Games will still be extremely vital. Most big titles out there are innovative in scope, but not necessarily innovative when it comes to content. Most game designers are not currently working on… Read more →
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 →
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 →
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 →