Sony and Microsoft betting heavily on free-to-play for next-gen 5
by Kris Ligman [05.09.13]
Both Sony and Microsoft are looking at taking advantage of free-to-play and in-app purchase models in their upcoming consoles, says Epic Games VP Mark Rein.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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As Vita languishes, why is Sony still gunning for indies? 26
by Mike Rose [05.09.13]
OPINION With Sony predicting sales of 5 million for the Vita this year, you have to wonder whether the publisher's indie push is working. But Sony has a longer-term plan for indies.
Console/PC, Indie, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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PlayStation Plus: Good for players, but is it good for devs? 20
by Staff [05.09.13]
Sony's PlayStation Plus is perhaps the most transformative console business model of this generation. But how do the program's aggressive "free" game promotions affect developers?
Console/PC, Indie, Business/Marketing

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Ouya games console raises $15M in run-up to launch 2
by Mike Rose [05.09.13]
Although the upcoming Ouya games console has been delayed by a few weeks, there is some good news: the startup behind the Android-based hardware has raised an extra $15 million in a new round of funding.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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The difficult life of a Japanese indie 7
by Gamasutra Community [05.09.13]
Takumi Naramura (La-Mulana) reflects on the challenges that Japanese indies face: a fractured scene, a major language barrier, and a lack of attention, among others.
Indie, Business/Marketing

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Ouya and GameStick will now release in the very same week 1
by Mike Rose [05.09.13]
Following a delay to the upcoming Ouya Android-based games console, the hardware will now be released to the public in the very same week as its main competitor, the GameStick.
Console/PC, Smartphone/Tablet, Business/Marketing

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Sony's first profit in five years, no thanks to PlayStation 26
by Mike Rose [05.09.13]
Although Sony recorded a swing to profits during the last fiscal year -- its first profit in five years -- the company's PlayStation business wasn't so healthy, with a significant drop in operating income.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Playtesting for indies 4
by Gamasutra Community [05.09.13]
Getting player feedback is key, but harnessing the power of playtesting isn't always easy when your resources are limited. One indie team shares its methods.
Console/PC, Indie, Design, Production, Business/Marketing

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Weak Wii U, console transition have Activision wary for 2013 7
by Kris Ligman [05.08.13]
Activision Blizzard released its fiscal year earnings results to investors today. While World of Warcraft subscribers are down globally, Skylanders keeps the publisher strong.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Video: Diverse game characters - write them now! 4
by GDC Vault Staff [05.08.13]
"The more stereotypical characters we create, the more we write ourselves into corners," warns Assassin's Creed III: Liberation writer Jill Murray in this GDC 2013 talk.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Design, Production, Video

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A decade of video game symphonies: A look back  
by Gamasutra Community [05.08.13]
In 2002, Thomas Boecker had the idea to launch a series of video game symphonies featuring music from Final Fantasy and other franchises -- and in this Q&A, he reflects on his early days.
Console/PC, Audio, Business/Marketing

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Diablo III's economy broke down this week. Here's what happened 29
by Gamasutra Community [05.08.13]
Blogger Max Woolf explains how an apparent error in the code for Diablo III's auction house has broken the game's economy -- allowing players to effortlessly accrue billions of gold.
Console/PC, Programming, Business/Marketing

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Going premium on iOS: One team's results 14
by Gamasutra Community [05.08.13]
At $3.99 with no in-app purchases and little promotion, Nameless: The Hackers has faced an uphill battle for downloads on iTunes. The developers share their stats on how it's gone so far.
Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Business/Marketing

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Get a job: Insomniac is looking for a Gameplay Programmer  
by Kris Ligman [05.08.13]
"Insomniac Games is looking for a gameplay programmer to design and implement gameplay systems and features."
Console/PC, Programming, Recruitment

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Star Wars 1313 dev on talking to the player through design 1
by Kris Ligman [05.08.13]
Matthias Worch, recently attached to the cancelled Star Wars 1313 project, talks in this encore presentation of his GDC 2013 session on how games are the perfect medium of modern culture.
Console/PC, Design, Video

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Blog: If you truly want diversity in games, take the risk 3
by Gamasutra Community [05.08.13]
MIT research Todd Harper argues that now is "the perfect time for people with passion to take the risks" in increasing diversity in their games' characters -- and this impassioned plea explains why.
Console/PC, Indie, Design, Business/Marketing

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Making 4X strategy work on smartphones 4
by Gamasutra Community [05.08.13]
Reducing complexity while enhancing depth -- a tough-sounding task, but this deep design post explains how Galactic Reign's team made the game rewarding to play.
Smartphone/Tablet, Design

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EA confirms laying off 900 workers last quarter 6
by Kris Ligman [05.08.13]
Electronic Arts' posted fiscal results and conference call to investors finally lays plain the number of workers affected in recently-reported layoffs.
Console/PC, Business/Marketing

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Porting to Android pays off nicely for another indie dev 1
by Kris Ligman [05.08.13]
With the release of its revenue data for action-puzzle game Spirits, mobile dev Spaces of Play illustrates how going multiplatform - and going against Android assumptions - can pay off.
Console/PC, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Business/Marketing

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A BASIC interview with Steve Wozniak 8
by Gamasutra Community [05.08.13]
In this previously unreleased interview conducted for the August 2012 issue of Game Developer, the creator of the Apple II reflects on developing BASIC for the platform, and its effect on games.
Console/PC, Programming, History

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