Blog Posts

Are Publishers Good at Picking Games?

Recently, we have been discussing game pitches to publishing companies, and how to convince a publisher to take a risk on your game. In this discussion we often say 'Publishers want to see this...' or 'Publishers will be way of this...'. But how good are publishers at picking successes from the myriad of pitches they see? Do we overestimate our ability to craft good pitches and pick successful games?

April 26, 2018 . . comments

Blockchains for Ownership Tracking

In class, the idea of using a blockchain to sell and transfer video games was raised. I'd like to point out the pros and cons of using a blockchain for this application, and how it is all still just a buzzword.

April 12, 2018 . . comments

Blank Canvas in Game Design

There's nothing I hate more than a blank page. I get anxious starting a new paper or project, as the amount of work is infinite and the direction I should go in is ill-defined. When I am closer to finishing, the goals become clear (although boring): revise this section, reword this, research that.

March 29, 2018 . . comments

Where are the space utopias?

Why do game designers (and players) love a futuristic dystopia so much? As we have been discussing stories lately, it has made me think more about the themes of games I play and the other media I consume. I'm a bit of a geek, and love sci-fi stories, but I sort of hate how few utopian science fiction stories there are out there. Why don't game designers create more?

February 22, 2018 . . comments

Is a Challenge a Game?

This week we read [I Have No Words & I Must Design: Toward a Critical Vocabulary for Games](http://www.digra.org/wp-content/uploads/digital-library/05164.51146.pdf) by Greg Costikyan, which lays out the words game designers would use to determine if something is considered as a game. I believe this vocabulary will help me answer a question I have been toying with for the past few weeks: Is a challenge a game?

February 8, 2018 . . comments

A Maximizer in Tax Season

Being the end of January, tax season is here, and I have always enjoyed doing my taxes. I find it's like a game to get the highest score (return). Several of my friends think I'm nuts, but I often find spreadsheets and statistics engaging, rather than a boring task. This has popped up several times in the games I have played throughout the years.

January 25, 2018 . . comments