Video Game Psychology: Benefits of Games + Why We’re Addicted to Gaming

We’re addicted to video games because they’re fun, competitive, and satisfying. Here are the social benefits of video games & info about new activity oriented video games [Read More]

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

Insomniac Games opening NC-based development studio in Raleigh/ Durham area

Insomniac Games, an independent video game developer ranked among the top 10 best small companies to work for nationally and locally, is opening a North Carolina-based development studio. Our NC studio will blend our experience and proven track record of hits with the tenacity of a start-up. Expanding to the Triangle also allows Insomniac to maintain an ideal size in Burbank while offering an East Coast alternative to attract and retain the best in the industry! Yes, they seem to have jobs. Read More

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

How to Incorporate Stupidity Into Your AI Code

Neversoft co-founder West presents a thought-provoking look at improving the believability of AI opponents in games by upping their use of "intelligent mistakes", in a piece originally written for Game Developer magazine.Read More

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

Game Writing From The Inside Out

Backing games with a strong story is an inherently complex effort — and considering that not all games even need narrative, why go to all the trouble? In a Gamasutra-exclusive analysis, Marianne Krawczyk and Susan O’Connor, writers for the God Of War series and Far Cry 2/Gears Of War respectively, discuss the transformative effect that stories can have on gameplay. Read More

Google Blog Search Tags: game writing, video game writing, gave development, video game development, game design, video game design

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

Free trueSpace7 3D Modeling Software

For the moment, trueSpace7 is free via the company web site. I’m not sure how long this will last but get while you can @ http://www.caligari.com!

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

Video Game Industry Reconsidering The Players: Everyone is a Potential Customer / Gamer

If the state of a media business can be measured by its capacity for self-satire, then perhaps video games are the healthiest precinct in all of entertainment. Design Innovate Communicate Entertain, is one of the year’s most important events because it brings together the industry’s top minds in a low-noise environment, literally and figuratively. Major companies like Microsoft and Sony are playing catch-up in thinking of potential customers not as gamers but as everyone. Read More

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

U.S. Game Market To Reach $20 Billion In 2009

Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey forecasts that U.S. video game sales — minus accessories — will reach $20 billion this calendar year, growing 6.7 percent over 2008’s $18.8 billion. Making the comments in a note released after GameStop’s financials yesterday, Hickey expects 2009 software sales to account for $12.6 billion of that figure, up 15.3 percent over $10.96 billion in the previous calendar year.  Read More

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

The Pac-Man Dossier

What design and AI lessons can we learn from Namco’s seminal Pac-Man? From history through behavior, Gamasutra presents an astounding Jamey Pittman-authored guide to the classic game. Read More

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

Video games are good for children and teach them essential life skills – EU

Children who spend hours every day on their Playstation or Xbox video consoles may not be rotting their brains, as many parents fear. A report from the European parliament concluded yesterday that computer games are good for children and teach them essential life skills. Contrary to fears about the violent reputation of some games, there is no firm proof that playing them has an automatic negative impact on children’s behaviour, for example by causing aggression, said the report from the committee on the internal market and consumer protection. Instead, "video games can stimulate learning of facts and skills such as strategic thinking, creativity, cooperation and innovative thinking, which are important skills in the information society." Read More

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation

Record Attendance @ 2009 Carolina Games Summit

The fourth annual Carolina Games Summit wrapped up at 9 pm Saturday, Feb 7, with a full crowd experiencing the closing cinematic of the awards ceremony while Entertainment System played a classic gaming score from Castlevania 2. The band’s lead guitarist Chris Baines stated, "We have performed at over thirty events and this is one of the most organized we have seen, with attendees representing a friendly and engaged gaming community." Over 1400 attendees, special guests, and exhibitors made up the largest gaming event in the Carolinas. For twelve hours Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, NC, was transformed into a mecca for the video game community. A bus left early Saturday morning from Virginia Beach, VA, full of excited ITT Technical Institute students, while professional MLG gamers and members of the PMS and H2O clans flew in from across the country a day before the event. Read More

Filed under: Uncategorized, Gaming and Simulation