The quest for good platformer mechanics 3
by Gamasutra Community [05.22.13]
This post takes in the evolution of the platformer genre's mechanics and control -- arriving at an exploration of the "critical ideas" that make Super Mario Bros. so special.
Console/PC, Indie, Design

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'If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards.' 60
by Kris Ligman [05.22.13]
Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft's interactive entertainment business, dismisses the idea of backwards compatibility for the Xbox One in an interview.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Ex-Valve VR expert, robotics specialist join Oculus Rift team  
by Kris Ligman [05.22.13]
Robotics researcher Steve LaValle and Valve VR veteran Tom Forsyth have collaborated with Oculus on the Rift before. Now Oculus announces both have joined its development team in an official capacity.
Console/PC, Programming, Production

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See some amazing new graphical techniques, in action 5
by Kris Ligman [05.22.13]
SIGGRAPH 2013's Technical Papers preview trailer has arrived, showcasing new techniques in dynamic lighting, 3D hair modeling, snow, and more.
Console/PC, Programming, Video

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Indies on Xbone: Where's the beef? 30
by Mike Rose [05.22.13]
No matter what you've read about the newly-unveiled Xbox One, I'll wager you haven't seen much mention of the role of indie developers on the new console.
Console/PC, Indie, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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A 2D shooter tutorial in Unity  
by Gamasutra Community [05.22.13]
This tutorial walks covers the creation of a simple 2D shooter in the Unity engine, using JavaScript and C# to implement game features, background graphics, and interface elements.
Console/PC, Indie, Programming

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Making competitive games more fair, more fun 19
by Gamasutra Community [05.22.13]
Designer Keith Burgun argues that rubber band systems and randomness thrown in to level the playing field undermine the fun of competitive games. It's time to learn to love handicapping.
Console/PC, Indie, Design

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Crytek reveals Ryse, CryEngine 3 for Xbox One  
by Mike Rose [05.22.13]
Crytek says that its CryEngine 3 is ready for action on the newly-announced Xbox One console -- and the company has offered up its long-awaited hack and slash game Ryse as an Xbox One exclusive.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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XBLA dropped for Xbox One, all games lumped together 13
by Mike Rose [05.22.13]
With the Xbox One, the Xbox Marketplace will no longer offer a distinction between retail, Arcade and Xbox Live Indie Games -- instead, all titles will be available under the same banner.
Console/PC, Indie, Business/Marketing

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EA is working on Wii U games after all 7
by Mike Rose [05.22.13]
"We are building titles for the Nintendo console, but not anywhere near as many as we are for PS or Xbox." - Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen says that EA is making games for the Wii U after all.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Kinect support will not be mandatory for Xbox One games 4
by Mike Rose [05.22.13]
Although Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox One will not work without Kinect attached, the company says that it is not mandatory for developers to integrate Kinect functionality into their games.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Xbox One isn't always-on, but it will require a regular connection 16
by Kris Ligman [05.21.13]
Xbox One players will not have to maintain a constant internet connection for single-player games, but they will have to connect once a day to keep playing at all, says Microsoft.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Xbox One's preowned games strategy involves a single-use code 24
by Kris Ligman [05.21.13]
UPDATED Installing a used game on your Xbox One will not require a fee, says Microsoft corporate vice president Phil Harrison. At least, not exactly.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Get a job: Be an Art Director for Unfinished Swan dev Giant Sparrow  
by Kris Ligman [05.21.13]
Unfinished Swan developer Giant Swan seeks an Art Director for "setting the visual direction, managing and giving feedback to our artist and animator, and working with our graphics programmer" on its upcoming title.
Console/PC, Indie, Art, Design, Recruitment

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Opinion: Xbox One is a desperate prayer to stop time 137
by Leigh Alexander [05.21.13]
Microsoft used words like "groundbreaking," "innovative" and "immersive" countless times as it unveiled the Xbox One, but Leigh Alexander argues that all we saw a disconnected prayer to stop time.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Programming, Design, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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Xbox One designers talk shop about the console's architecture 8
by Kris Ligman [05.21.13]
In an Xbox One recap panel, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb and a collection of tech specialists expanded on the hardware and software capabilities for the upcoming console.
Console/PC, Programming, Business/Marketing

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Game devs ask: What will Xbox One do for indies? 7
by Staff [05.21.13]
Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One today at its company headquarters in Redmond, Wash. We took to Twitter before, during and after the big unveiling.
Console/PC, Indie, Design, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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Tutorial: Making 2D games with Unity 14
by Gamasutra Community [05.21.13]
2D will never die, and if you're looking for a way to replicate a classic feel in the popular 3D engine, look no further than this post by Josh Sutphin (Warhawk).
Console/PC, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Programming

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Xbox One is Microsoft's biggest play for living room domination 195
by Kris Ligman [05.21.13]
UPDATED Microsoft's successor to the Xbox 360, the Xbox One, is being positioned as an "all-in-one" console combining multimedia consumption with cloud computing and a packed-in Kinect 2.0.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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GDC Europe adds Assassin's Creed III, Daglow, Epic level design talks  
by GDC Staff [05.21.13]
GDC Europe 2013 has added an Assassin's Creed III design keynote, luminary Don Daglow on the 'treasures and traps' of next-gen, and Epic's James Brown on empowering the player in storytelling.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Design, Business/Marketing

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