This is the catch-all category for stuff about games and game design. It easily makes up the vast majority of the site’s content. If you are looking for something specific, I highly recommend looking into the tags used on the site instead. They can narrow down the hunt immensely.
Phil Steinmeyer has a great post up going over the process of creating a look for his word puzzle game Bonnie’s Bookstore. What this reveals is both how important the dressing of a game is, and also how paradoxically unimportant it is. It also suggests ways in which we can drive innovation in games in general.
Legal Affairs has an article by Julian Dibbell entitled “Dragon Slayers or Tax Evaders?” in which he admits that he actually asked the IRS whether or not earning virtual currency in an MMORPG could be construed as taxable income on the grounds that it could be sold for real money.
He got back a non-binding “probably.”
All I can say is, Julian, please stop talking to the government.
Mirjam Eladhari has an interesting talk up on her blog that considers what she calls “the Holy Grail” for MMORPGs: making stories meaningful for thousands of players.
As is my habit, I’ve pulled out the statistical results that were most interesting to me. You can read the whole issue here.
There’s been a lot of heavy, arguably negative stuff here lately. So I thought it might be interesting to talk a little bit about possibilities instead.
In general, I’m a big proponent of treating players like people. The reverse is what game companies are often accused of, of course: treating players like numbers. Dehumanizing them. Viewing them through a purely statistical lens. All very mechanical.
But wait… what can be done if we really treat players like cogs in a machine?
