http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/member/ Gamasutra Blogs Wed, 22 May 2013 05:51:21 EDT en-us scarless@think-services.com (Simon Carless) http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/GeraldBelman/20130522/192812/Xbone__A_Call_To_Arms.php Xbox was hard enough to say. Xbox 360 was even harder. Now we've got Xbox One. But the brave men and women of the internet are fighting back. Just when you thought they were beaten, they give you: the Xbone. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/GeraldBelman/20130522/192812/Xbone__A_Call_To_Arms.php Wed, 22 May 2013 05:07:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RobinArnott/20130522/192807/First_Blog_Post_in_which_Robin_Tears_His_Heart_Out.php Putting something personal and intimate out in the world to be judged worthy or unworthy of funding was a trial of self-trust. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RobinArnott/20130522/192807/First_Blog_Post_in_which_Robin_Tears_His_Heart_Out.php Wed, 22 May 2013 03:42:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/OlgaNovikova/20130522/192780/Get_Your_Dream_Job_5_Tips_to_Ace_Your_Next_Phone_Interview.php If you’re trying to break into gaming it’s important to leverage all of your relevant experience. Here are 5 tips on how you can shine the light on the right skills, and avoid potential pitfalls during the phone interview. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/OlgaNovikova/20130522/192780/Get_Your_Dream_Job_5_Tips_to_Ace_Your_Next_Phone_Interview.php Wed, 22 May 2013 03:40:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MarynaPetrenko/20130522/192803/Upcoming_game_festivals_and_competitions.php Upcoming video game competitions and festivals at a glance http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MarynaPetrenko/20130522/192803/Upcoming_game_festivals_and_competitions.php Wed, 22 May 2013 03:03:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JoshKlint/20130522/192793/Leadwerks_3_Editor_features_and_workflow_enhancements.php This is an important update that includes new features and enhancements that improve usability and workflow, as well as adding a few new features. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JoshKlint/20130522/192793/Leadwerks_3_Editor_features_and_workflow_enhancements.php Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/KennethPoirier/20130522/192792/The_AI_Manifesto.php Understanding the need for good Artificial Intelligence http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/KennethPoirier/20130522/192792/The_AI_Manifesto.php Wed, 22 May 2013 12:27:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/TravisMartin/20130522/192776/1P_the_P_is_for_Performer.php Making games is an art form, but it's not the only art form to spawn from video games. Here is an argument that solo gaming is an artistic endeavour, which completes a game - in the same way a musician completes a written piece of music by playing it. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/TravisMartin/20130522/192776/1P_the_P_is_for_Performer.php Wed, 22 May 2013 10:02:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MichaelHahn/20130522/192764/The_Art_of_Providing_Content_in_Social_Media_Community_Management.php Social Media Community Managers have a duty to provide content of all types to its community members. The True Art of Providing Content in Social Media Community Management is being able to provide all the content in a seamless non tiring manner while dru http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MichaelHahn/20130522/192764/The_Art_of_Providing_Content_in_Social_Media_Community_Management.php Wed, 22 May 2013 08:36:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MatthewHodge/20130522/192731/Every_Game_Artist_Needs_a_Secret_Little_Tree.php The pursuit of oil on canvas training has helped me mature as a 3D texture artist, begin to develop my own style, and take control of my environment visuals. Discover how more traditional art training can be an invaluable resource! http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MatthewHodge/20130522/192731/Every_Game_Artist_Needs_a_Secret_Little_Tree.php Wed, 22 May 2013 01:41:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnathonSwift/20130521/192728/Microsofts_big_data_driven_misstep.php The Xbox One has been shown, and Microsoft seems to have forgotten it plays games. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnathonSwift/20130521/192728/Microsofts_big_data_driven_misstep.php Tue, 21 May 2013 10:56:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/WasinThonkaew/20130521/192712/XBoxOne_Youre_free_to_move_on.php Although it's not totally safe to judge anything right now for XboxOne but as far as it can be my opinion told me that we're free to move on. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/WasinThonkaew/20130521/192712/XBoxOne_Youre_free_to_move_on.php Tue, 21 May 2013 04:24:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JamesonQuave/20130521/192702/Microsoft_wants_to_own_the_living_room_with_the_Xbox_One.php Today Microsoft announced their new console, the Xbox One. It relies on heavy integration with cable television, multi-tasking, mobile phones, kinect, and voice commands. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JamesonQuave/20130521/192702/Microsoft_wants_to_own_the_living_room_with_the_Xbox_One.php Tue, 21 May 2013 02:15:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ShaunChatman/20130521/192701/How_to_Optimize_Your_Gaming_Website_From_a_Usability_Design_and_SEO_Perspective.php A quick web search for "flash games" can yield millions of results. If you want to shine amongst all the competition, you need to make sure your gaming website has something new and awesome to offer http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ShaunChatman/20130521/192701/How_to_Optimize_Your_Gaming_Website_From_a_Usability_Design_and_SEO_Perspective.php Tue, 21 May 2013 02:07:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SergioRosa/20130521/192697/Why_I_believe_the_noweaponsnocombat_formula_horror_games_is_highly_overrated.php These past years (or so) we’ve had many horror game devs stating that, to make a good horror game, you must take away from the player any gun and combat skills so the player is completely defenseless, like that’s the only way to make a “good” horror game. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SergioRosa/20130521/192697/Why_I_believe_the_noweaponsnocombat_formula_horror_games_is_highly_overrated.php Tue, 21 May 2013 01:28:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AlexanderEngel/20130521/192633/Art_Book_Review_Growlanser_IV_Character__Scenario_Collection.php Join Alex on his adventures reading, reviewing, and analyzing video game and film art and design books. Today's episode: reading and reviewing 2003's Growlanser IV: Character & Scenario Collection http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AlexanderEngel/20130521/192633/Art_Book_Review_Growlanser_IV_Character__Scenario_Collection.php Tue, 21 May 2013 10:55:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/KeyholeSoftwareTeam/20130521/192680/Writing_Games_With_Unity_3D_in_JavaScript_and_C__Part_2.php A continuation of John Boardman's introduction to Unity 3D development with C# and JavaScript. Particular emphasis on implementing a high score table using PlayerPrefs, a dialog with text fields to collect user data & cheat codes. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/KeyholeSoftwareTeam/20130521/192680/Writing_Games_With_Unity_3D_in_JavaScript_and_C__Part_2.php Tue, 21 May 2013 09:52:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/KeyholeSoftwareTeam/20130521/192679/Writing_Games_With_Unity_3D_in_JavaScript_and_C__Part_1.php An intro to game dev with Unity 3D using C# & JavaScript. Particular time spent on using multiple cameras to implement background images, JavaScript and C# implementations & using 3D models with axes that don’t line up with normal "Y-up” Unity standards. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/KeyholeSoftwareTeam/20130521/192679/Writing_Games_With_Unity_3D_in_JavaScript_and_C__Part_1.php Tue, 21 May 2013 09:43:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JamesCoote/20130521/192668/Indie_vs_Retail.php Can indie developers breath new life into flagging video game retailers? I decided to try and find out http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JamesCoote/20130521/192668/Indie_vs_Retail.php Tue, 21 May 2013 07:22:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BrendanVance/20130520/192627/The_Quest_for_Good_Platformer_Mechanics_Fat_Men_on_Ice_Skates.php An analysis of the first principles of the platformer genre through the lens of NES classic "Super Mario Bros". http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BrendanVance/20130520/192627/The_Quest_for_Good_Platformer_Mechanics_Fat_Men_on_Ice_Skates.php Mon, 20 May 2013 08:20:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/LahlaliIssam/20130520/192619/IrrlichtThe_art_of_using_GRASP_patterns.php When we search for design pattern articles, we found essentially documentation concerning “Gang of Four” patterns. But when I discovered GRASP patterns, I advise anyone interested to improve his skills design to look at these patterns. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/LahlaliIssam/20130520/192619/IrrlichtThe_art_of_using_GRASP_patterns.php Mon, 20 May 2013 06:33:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AmirEbrahimi/20130520/192614/Life_can_be_better_part_2_of_3.php In the previous article, I set the context of a personal journey of health within the backdrop of larger issues of quality of life in our industry. In this article, I continue that journey with my own personal experience of burnout and depression. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AmirEbrahimi/20130520/192614/Life_can_be_better_part_2_of_3.php Mon, 20 May 2013 05:22:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DustinHendricks/20130520/192608/Why_scope_doesnt_mean_quality.php Does your game need to be long to be fun and well received by critics? What are the effects of a large scope on games made by a small team? What can be done to mitigate the deleterious effects of a large scope? http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DustinHendricks/20130520/192608/Why_scope_doesnt_mean_quality.php Mon, 20 May 2013 03:18:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BenLowry/20130520/192601/Crowdfunding_our_independence_from_3rd_party_services.php Join me in building the world's most open, cross platform backend for games that developers of all sizes can host and own their independence, their players' experience, their http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BenLowry/20130520/192601/Crowdfunding_our_independence_from_3rd_party_services.php Mon, 20 May 2013 02:01:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/StewartLynch/20130520/192576/Anatomy_of_a_Memory_Manager.php A Memory manager such as malloc is the ultimate black box, you ask it for memory, and you get back a pointer (hopefully). But what is it doing under the hood? Here I cover the basics of how memory managers work, things to avoid, and some best practices. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/StewartLynch/20130520/192576/Anatomy_of_a_Memory_Manager.php Mon, 20 May 2013 09:12:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BenLewisEvans/20130520/192547/AntiSocial_behaviour_in_games_viewed_through_the_lenses_of_Engineering_Enforcement_and_Education.php Ben Lewis-Evans & Ben Dressler use the idea of the "three E's" to examine anti-social behaviour in games and the possible ways in which such behaviour could be reduced or prevented. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BenLewisEvans/20130520/192547/AntiSocial_behaviour_in_games_viewed_through_the_lenses_of_Engineering_Enforcement_and_Education.php Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MichaelLevall/20130519/192537/The_Creative_and_the_Leader.php In this post I discuss the differences of creative and project leadership in smaller game development teams. It is the first part in a series of reflections from my time in the Make Something Unreal Live competition. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MichaelLevall/20130519/192537/The_Creative_and_the_Leader.php Sun, 19 May 2013 12:45:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/CharlesCox/20130518/192534/Armored_Drive_Post_Mortem_The_Hard_Road_of_InApp_Purchases.php 4gency's founder looks back at a first year of lessons as a mobile/tablet developer. Lesson one shows how hard it can be to make money in the arcade genre with in-app purchases. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/CharlesCox/20130518/192534/Armored_Drive_Post_Mortem_The_Hard_Road_of_InApp_Purchases.php Sat, 18 May 2013 12:28:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/VictorManrique/20130518/192533/Why_people_play_games__Happiness_Motivation__Fun.php Why do people play Games? What is it about human motivators and fun? And why is happiness related to gaming? This is a post about the connections between happiness, fun, motivation & games. Because in the end, we have always craved for games. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/VictorManrique/20130518/192533/Why_people_play_games__Happiness_Motivation__Fun.php Sat, 18 May 2013 12:08:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/LyleCox/20130517/192517/Hidden_Costs_of_Extrinsic_Rewards.php Carrot on a stick rewards that guide player behavior could be detrimental to the long term health of the game industry. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/LyleCox/20130517/192517/Hidden_Costs_of_Extrinsic_Rewards.php Fri, 17 May 2013 11:36:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DanaRuggiero/20130517/192433/Speaker_for_the_Data.php Game researchers seek to understand gaming in multiple contexts using an objective data set. Without access to the big data sets that most game companies, platforms, and ISPs collect we are stymied. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DanaRuggiero/20130517/192433/Speaker_for_the_Data.php Fri, 17 May 2013 04:55:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/PaulAndrewMcgee/20130517/192492/Minimalism_in_Game_Narrative_Can_we_say_more_by_talking_less.php "Hemingway called it the Iceberg Theory. The art of implication. Just give people the little pieces they need to imagine up the other half of the game. It makes them more invested and it makes your work more adaptable and more rich." - Adam Saltsman http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/PaulAndrewMcgee/20130517/192492/Minimalism_in_Game_Narrative_Can_we_say_more_by_talking_less.php Fri, 17 May 2013 04:32:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnSzczepaniak/20130517/192484/QA_on_EYE_Divine_Cybermancy_with_StreumOnStudio.php A brief chat about the team's unusual cyberpunk FPS http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnSzczepaniak/20130517/192484/QA_on_EYE_Divine_Cybermancy_with_StreumOnStudio.php Fri, 17 May 2013 02:06:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/HarryMack/20130517/192482/GettingMaking_Game_Music_that_Fits__World_Tour_Series__Indian_Music.php Tips for new audio designers composing video game music out of their comfort zone. Useful for producers as well, looking to put together design directions for their audio designers. This entry focuses on Indian music. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/HarryMack/20130517/192482/GettingMaking_Game_Music_that_Fits__World_Tour_Series__Indian_Music.php Fri, 17 May 2013 01:06:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/VictorManrique/20130517/192470/When_not_to_use_Gamification.php Gamification is the use of game elements in non-gaming situations to achieve a goal, but..c an we always use it? Are there any signals not to apply it? This a post about the 3 factors that tell us when not to apply it and why. From Epic Win Blog. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/VictorManrique/20130517/192470/When_not_to_use_Gamification.php Fri, 17 May 2013 11:31:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JamesLiu/20130517/192266/Newbies_Exhibiting_at_GDC_Play_Our_Costs_and_Lessons.php Each industry has a unique landscape that takes time to observe and understand. Coming into the game industry for the first time, we knew nothing. As a team, we've seen other industries. Was Exhibiting at GDC Play for $3250 USD worth the price of tuition? http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JamesLiu/20130517/192266/Newbies_Exhibiting_at_GDC_Play_Our_Costs_and_Lessons.php Fri, 17 May 2013 08:35:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ThierryBrochart/20130517/192437/I_just_released_a_new_free_game_for_android__a_Bot_Adventure.php 3 mini games bundled in one android free game released today: a Bot Adventure! http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ThierryBrochart/20130517/192437/I_just_released_a_new_free_game_for_android__a_Bot_Adventure.php Fri, 17 May 2013 06:22:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RobertBasler/20130517/192425/You_SHOULD_build_your_own_MMO.php If people tell you your dream is too big, what they're really saying is that your dream is too big for them. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RobertBasler/20130517/192425/You_SHOULD_build_your_own_MMO.php Fri, 17 May 2013 03:08:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MichelleWu/20130516/192423/Zomber_Squad_Official_Server_Launch.php Since its first beta servers opened, Zomber Squad has been growing in popularity and making rapid improvements in response to the encouragement of its enthusiastic fanbase. Now, Omprus is pleased to announce the launch of Zomber S http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MichelleWu/20130516/192423/Zomber_Squad_Official_Server_Launch.php Thu, 16 May 2013 11:45:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JeremyBlum/20130516/192297/Games_as_a_Service__A_glimpse_into_the_design_and_business_of_Insurgencys_Early_Access.php This is the story of New World Interactive and the development of Insurgency, discussing 'Early Access' on Steam and why it is a good option for indie developers. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JeremyBlum/20130516/192297/Games_as_a_Service__A_glimpse_into_the_design_and_business_of_Insurgencys_Early_Access.php Thu, 16 May 2013 06:50:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/GeraldBelman/20130516/192398/Nintendos_Enforcement_of_Copyright_on_YouTube_Lets_Plays_is_Bad_Business.php Nintendo's Enforcement of Copyright on YouTube Let's Plays is a bad business move from a company that has made many bad business moves in the last few years (don't even get me started on how the WiiU). http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/GeraldBelman/20130516/192398/Nintendos_Enforcement_of_Copyright_on_YouTube_Lets_Plays_is_Bad_Business.php Thu, 16 May 2013 05:39:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EZacharyKnight/20130516/192394/Whats_All_This_About_Lets_Play_Videos.php Why have a policy on Let's Play videos when fair use already covers them? http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EZacharyKnight/20130516/192394/Whats_All_This_About_Lets_Play_Videos.php Thu, 16 May 2013 03:10:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EJRTairne/20130516/192184/Inside_the_Mind_of_Gary_Acord.php An interview with outsider game legend Gary Acord. Delight in his design process. Marvel at his mythology. Become a fan all over again. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EJRTairne/20130516/192184/Inside_the_Mind_of_Gary_Acord.php Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/TimHaywood/20130516/192307/The_Perils_of_being_a_Lead_Audio_Designer.php I explore the unrealistic nature of being a Lead Audio Designer within the UK game industry. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/TimHaywood/20130516/192307/The_Perils_of_being_a_Lead_Audio_Designer.php Thu, 16 May 2013 06:06:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BenLowry/20130516/192304/Stop_baking_3rd_party_products_you_dont_own_or_control_into_your_games.php Backend services have become mandatory and relying on 3rd party services that can stop existing, get banned, not support all platforms equally, and relinquish ownership of data and player's experiences is a mistake we don't have to make. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BenLowry/20130516/192304/Stop_baking_3rd_party_products_you_dont_own_or_control_into_your_games.php Thu, 16 May 2013 01:30:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DennisFong/20130515/192288/Developers_Community_matters_so_stop_milking_players_for_cash.php Raptr CEO Dennis Fong examines the concept of Community as a Service, where the real key to a successful game is a successful online community. Dennis points to League of Legends, Team Fortress 2 and EVE Online as examples of thriving communities. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DennisFong/20130515/192288/Developers_Community_matters_so_stop_milking_players_for_cash.php Wed, 15 May 2013 08:15:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JoshKlint/20130515/192287/Lightmapping_Curved_CSG_Surfaces.php I'm a big fan of constructive solid geometry because it allows people without advanced modeling skills to design levels. However, the faceted geometry it produces make it a poor choice for rounded shapes. So I decided to do something about that. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JoshKlint/20130515/192287/Lightmapping_Curved_CSG_Surfaces.php Wed, 15 May 2013 07:44:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BramStolk/20130515/192280/Emergent_Behaviour_not_just_the_AI.php When a game developer gets surprised by his own creation, it is often the A.I. doing things that the developer did not see coming. When this happens, we call it Emergent Behaviour. Other surprises will come from flesh-and-blood opponents though. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BramStolk/20130515/192280/Emergent_Behaviour_not_just_the_AI.php Wed, 15 May 2013 06:36:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/FlavioCreasso/20130515/192265/On_Mr_Spector_Vs_Metacritic.php Mr Spector did a post about Metacritic, this made me think a bit, and while I do respect him a lot, I'll like to share an alternative (and humble) thought... http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/FlavioCreasso/20130515/192265/On_Mr_Spector_Vs_Metacritic.php Wed, 15 May 2013 02:20:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JulietteDupre/20130515/192260/Get_it_Right_Your_Resume.php Your resume sends a powerful image of what you bring to the table - or what you don't. Market yourself properly and reap the rewards! http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JulietteDupre/20130515/192260/Get_it_Right_Your_Resume.php Wed, 15 May 2013 12:46:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RichardBlumenstein/20130515/192257/First_Steps_Faltered_GodSiege_Tower_Defense.php This blog is a post mortem of the Game Godsiege by Digital Asylum Games. It is a project that never was finished and it discusses what we learned as an Indie game Company. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RichardBlumenstein/20130515/192257/First_Steps_Faltered_GodSiege_Tower_Defense.php Wed, 15 May 2013 11:36:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BogdanTyler/20130515/192248/Why_Social_Games_Are_So_Popular.php The article is about the popularity of social games, why people choose to play social games as well as it provides interesting information on the popularity factors behind social games. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BogdanTyler/20130515/192248/Why_Social_Games_Are_So_Popular.php Wed, 15 May 2013 02:04:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/GavinKoh/20130515/192247/Can_a_minimalistic_simulation_game_be_any_fun.php The design of Nurture - my minimalistic life simulation game http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/GavinKoh/20130515/192247/Can_a_minimalistic_simulation_game_be_any_fun.php Wed, 15 May 2013 01:06:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DanielCrenna/20130515/192245/Defining_Indie_is_it_the_money_or_the_freedom.php We're a small team of passionate creators, and devoted fans of the Kunio-kun franchise. Our love letter to Technos and the 80's beat'em up genre is entirely self-funded--but it is licensed. Is it the worst of both worlds, and, are we indie? http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DanielCrenna/20130515/192245/Defining_Indie_is_it_the_money_or_the_freedom.php Wed, 15 May 2013 12:19:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JeremyReaban/20130514/192244/Gambling_comes_to_Middle_Earth.php Ever since Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) went to F2P, they've come up with more and more ways to monetize the game. Most of them could be easily ignored. But with the latest update, they've gone perhaps too far, introducing slot machines into the game. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JeremyReaban/20130514/192244/Gambling_comes_to_Middle_Earth.php Tue, 14 May 2013 11:06:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnAcunto/20130514/192229/The_Cool_Kids_Are_Coming_to_Facebook.php An inside look at why we can expect a surge in the social gaming ecosystem http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnAcunto/20130514/192229/The_Cool_Kids_Are_Coming_to_Facebook.php Tue, 14 May 2013 06:10:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JoelDreskin/20130514/192227/Never_a_Better_Time_to_be_an_Indie_Awesome_or_not.php There’s perhaps never been a better time to be an indie–with crowdfunding resources, expanding channels, cross-platform tech and a welcoming audience of gamers. This brings an expanding quantity of game releases and challenges. Ideas for addressing this. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JoelDreskin/20130514/192227/Never_a_Better_Time_to_be_an_Indie_Awesome_or_not.php Tue, 14 May 2013 05:52:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MarynaPetrenko/20130514/192222/App_Store_Optimization_The_basics.php The basics of app store optimization for mobile game developers. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MarynaPetrenko/20130514/192222/App_Store_Optimization_The_basics.php Tue, 14 May 2013 03:35:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/TrevorMcCalmont/20130514/192214/Muddled_Mobile_Metrics.php The mobile space is quickly adopting analytics as a complement to game design, but right now we are reporting metrics that communicate very little information about what they are supposed to be measuring. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/TrevorMcCalmont/20130514/192214/Muddled_Mobile_Metrics.php Tue, 14 May 2013 02:30:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AudunSorlie/20130514/192201/Symphonic_Memories_Tales_of_Merregnon_Studios_Part_2.php In the second part of roundtable with the team comprising Merregnon Studios, discussions continue into the making of Symphonic Shades and Symphonic Fantasies. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AudunSorlie/20130514/192201/Symphonic_Memories_Tales_of_Merregnon_Studios_Part_2.php Tue, 14 May 2013 10:32:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EJRTairne/20130514/192139/Bonus_Time_with_Andy_Stone.php Unused, yet no less interesting, material from our interview with Game-Maker programmer G. Andrew Stone http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EJRTairne/20130514/192139/Bonus_Time_with_Andy_Stone.php Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 EDT