Game Development Essentials

01/09/2025

VideoGamer.com’s Lewis White sits down with veteran RTS developer Dave Pottinger (Age of Empires), who believes the genre needs a shakeup – arguing that most modern RTS games largely adhere to the same formulas established decades ago. Pottinger’s new studio, Last Keep Games, is currently developing Project Citadel – a new IP with the goal of providing a fresh RTS experience for players.

Age of Empires designer Dave Pottinger believes RTS games need to evolve, but can the developer's Project Citadel be that first big step?

01/08/2025

Why do older games like Red Dead Redemption and Far Cry 5 look subjectively better than those released in the last 5 years? YouTuber Radical Cap explains why your fond memories of Xbox 360 titles might actually make sense.

Why do software developers and hardware companies spoil us with new revolutionary technologies every year, while the technical state of video games not only ...

01/07/2025

BioShock creator Ken Levine talks with GamesIndustry.biz’s James Batchelor about the future of game storytelling and how his upcoming game, Judas, aims to address the challenge of developing interactive narratives that respond to player choices.

Ken Levine has spent much of his career trying to redefine video game narratives. Most famously with the iconic twists …

01/02/2025

Holly Green compiles Game Developer's 10 most impactful featured blogs from 2024. Highlights include advice for indie developers, the importance of historical accuracy in games, and critiques of the current industry.
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-developer-s-2024-wrap-up-10-must-read-featured-blogs

Read the most significant featured blogs of the year.

01/02/2025

Happy New Year from the GDE Series team 🎉

12/26/2024

Aspiring game designers should consider playing games with a critical eye, analyzing design choices, and reflecting on their own experiences. This approach helps build a strong foundation in game design principles while also fostering problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
– Ishan Manjrekar (Game Developer)

Starting game design journey by playing games with a critical eye. Experience games, record your thoughts, research opinions, and reflect to improve your skills.

12/24/2024

Our team wishes you a fantastic holiday season full of relaxation and cheer. Happy Holidays 🎄

12/17/2024

On Game Developer, Miguel Enjuto Ojanguren provides insights into the challenges and lessons learned from developing and publishing a game on Steam – emphasizing realistic scope definition, effective team organization, meticulous production planning, strategic marketing, and persistent outreach to content creators and press.

What seemed like just a technical challenge turned into a journey that included design, production, marketing and all the other aspects of the industry that make a good idea become a finished and published project.

12/12/2024

Xbox’s Agnes Kim and Jun Shen Chia spoke with GamesIndustry.biz’s Marie Dealessandri at gamescom asia about Xbox’s efforts to support indie game developers in emerging markets – particularly Southeast Asia. Xbox provides funding, educational programs, and global exposure opportunities to help these developers succeed internationally.

At Gamescom Asia last month, Xbox gave a talk about how it empowers creators across the continent, supporting indies so…

12/11/2024

At the core of game development is a love for games. See more from Evolver Studios and Offbeat Entertainment owner, Justine Mette, on p. 404 in Chapter 11 – Production & Management: Developing the Process.

Check out Game Development Essentials: An Introduction (4th edition) here:
http://gdeseries.com

Jeannie Novak
Jeannie Lee Novak • Musician, Author, Entrepreneur
Novy Unlimited

12/05/2024

On Game Developer, blogger Josh Bycer argues that while analytics and technical proficiency are important in game development, they're not enough to create a truly great game. Bycer emphasizes the importance of exploring unconventional ideas and avoiding “imitation” of successful games – where a title’s “feel” and unique qualities are crucial for developers who want their titles to stand out in a crowded market.

Developers are always trying to find that winning formula for the perfect game, but it takes more than analytics to build an amazing game.

12/04/2024

Learn more about the different platforms available for , how hardware affects the way we play them, and more in Chapter 2 (Platforms & Player Modes) of Game Development Essentials: An Introduction.

Check out the 4th edition here:
http://gdeseries.com

Jeannie Novak
Jeannie Lee Novak • Musician, Author, Entrepreneur
Novy Unlimited

11/28/2024

Gobble, gobble! Happy Thanksgiving from the Novy Publishing team 🦃

11/27/2024

Game Developer’s Sam Machkovech talks with Billy Basso and his business partner, Dan Adelman, about Basso’s side-scrolling adventure game, Animal Well – which achieved critical acclaim and commercial success through unconventional development and marketing strategies. Key factors included a custom-built game engine, a unique Discord-driven release, and a focus on player discovery and community engagement.

How an off-hours project, a rising YouTuber, and a unique Discord-driven release strategy came together for a game-of-the-year candidate.

11/20/2024

Immersion makes a world of difference in a ! Unbroken Studios' lead audio designer Nathan Madsen explains the importance of players connecting with characters on p. 202 of Chapter 6 – Creating the Experience.

Check out Game Development Essentials: An Introduction (4th Edition):
http://gdeseries.com

Jeannie Novak
Jeannie Lee Novak • Musician, Author, Entrepreneur
Novy Unlimited

11/14/2024

In a featured blog on Game Developer senior visual effects artist Antonio Gil Herrera (God of War: Ragnarok, Halo Infinite) discusses how visual effects (VFX) go beyond “just looking cool” and can use shape, color, timing, scale and contrast to achieve a variety of design goals – such as conveying information, highlighting mechanics, and maintaining immersion.

'If authored with intentionality and purpose, VFX can become an essential part of any game’s design.'

11/11/2024

Thanks to all our brave veterans for their selfless service and sacrifice.