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 →
Last year I published Actor Tycoon for Android (and currently working on the sequel). At the time I felt like there were good, classic Tycoon/Manager games missing. It’s a genre I personally love and is now, unfortunately, wrongfully put in the same basket of idle games. I will, however, mix and match them with “Manager” games as I find that the… Read more →
This is one of the joyful hidden gems. You can play it for free on Kongregate (which, by the way, if you don’t know about Kongreate – now you do). You cannot get simpler than this game. It reminds me of a 1944 film experiment, “Heider and Simmel”. The purpose of this film was to explore how human beings attach meaning. In the… Read more →
Ok, before I begin, I must admit, I am a little bit biased when it comes to Bilbao. I have Basque roots and I’ve always been a fan. However, that does not undermine the fact that this city is an unexploited paradise for game developers and studios looking to expand. First off, the Basque Country is undoubtedly the richest and… 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 →
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 →