Liam James (2025)

18/06/2024

Climbing Mount Everest may be my greatest achievement.

Okay... you caught me. I haven't done that quite yet, but starting a new business can feel like that if you aren't careful.

And I know a lot of us are feeling like that in the gaming industry. We've have 10,000+ brothers and sisters fired in the last two years. Many of us are moving in the direction of starting something new. It could be as a contractor or starting a new studio!

If you want it to feel a little less chilly out there as you're climbing the mountain, look no further. Through the fog and the haze of the ice caps, you'll find Nova Codes. If you want to share how you're feeling or need a shoulder, we're here.

PS: We have trained therapists making games with the profits from our business. We know the pain and it's okay to need help. ❤️

13/05/2024

Game designers keep you super glued into their games. They may be using a cool trick coined the " Cross Rule of Thumb"!

What's the Cross Rule of Thumb?: This rule designs each game level with three parts, each 15 minutes long. Those three parts are broken down further into three 5-minute chunks. Each part ends with an exciting "wow" moment to keep you playing.

Why 45 Minutes?: Research shows that players have the most fun in the first 45 minutes. After that, it's good to take a break so things stay exciting.

Designers are Time Wizards🧙‍♂️: Game designers use these timings to make sure each level is just long enough to be exciting ... but not too long that you lose interest.

Why Breaks Matter: Around 53 minutes of playing, your brain needs a break. You brain is less attentive and usually needs to switch gears. Game designers know this and plan levels around our natural need to pause.

PS: Next time you're deep into a game, remember, there's a lot of science making sure you're having a blast!

10/05/2024

Game designers create new worlds.

Think about the vast openness of Zelda or Skyrim. They're not just making games; they're predicting everything you'll do in their games! It's called Future Casting.

Great Game Designers have the ability to use level and quest design to "guide" you through wonderful worlds. Even open world games will have a linear path when necessary. And it's best when it FEELS like you have every choice in the world, and you choose the "right" path, that in reality, the designer planned you to feel that way all along.

They can use scenery like a rocky cliff pointing you towards a new city that looks exciting. Or a "side quest" with a mega reward, pulling your attention to it.

I love this part of gaming because with great game designers, I can feel at ease knowing the world is masterfully crafted around me.

PS: What do you think Cross?

08/05/2024

Meetings can feel more like a battle royale than a team huddle? 🤼‍♂️ It's funny because we usually all want to solve the same problem... make our game/business better.

We've been there, and trust me, it's not fun. I remember a time when me and one of my teammates were both yelling into our computers. So, we decided to change the game by embracing something awesome called mirroring. 🪞✨

Mirroring is like the superhero of communication. It's all about repeating back what someone just said before adding your own thoughts. Sounds simple, right? But this small change transforms meetings from a clash of egos to a chorus of collaboration. 🎶

How you do it:

Person A: "This is my thought"

Person B: "I heard you say, 'This is my thought', now this is my thinking."

If you've never done it, this could sound so silly haha. Have you read "How to Win Friends and Influence People"? A person's favorite word is their own name. Well, the next best words are what they just said.

07/05/2024

Ever feel like game testing is a maze with no exit? It takes too long and the data makes game devs turn around on tight deadlines🎮😵

It can gobble up way too much time. And let's be real, that's not the kind of creative fun we signed up for, right... lol?

Here's our twist: I want to make your life easier, for free! Testing doesn't have to be the monster under the bed. We've flipped the script in our studio. We've built out a ton of processes to make game testing take 80% less time. What used to take weeks of wandering now takes just a few hours. And I'll send you a tutorial video showing you how to do it.

Game testing = better games. If you want to make better games, for free, I'm here for you. Reply in the comments your experience with game testing. I'll send the tutorial video to everyone who comments!

01/05/2024

Ever lost track of time while playing video games? I've lost full days to World of Warcraft and Minecraft. It's because games are so fun and challenging, they make hours feel like minutes!

Here's why gaming time flies:

Games and Time: In games, time helps create exciting adventures. Every second is packed with action.

Time Warp in Games: When you're knee deep in an epic game, it's like time speeds up. You can stay up all night without meaning to!

Super Focused: Ever been so into a game that everything else disappears? Games have a special power to make the real world pause.

The Magic Behind It: It's all about dopamine, a happy motivating brain molecule. It makes us want to keep playing because we see more tasks/challenges on the horizon. That's why we say, "Just five more minutes," but keep playing much longer.

PS: Next time you're gaming and lose track of time, remember, it's just your brain enjoying every moment! Have fun and game on.

30/04/2024

Ready to bring your mobile game idea to life but stuck on where to start? 🚀 Say goodbye to confusion and hello to your dream game with our FREE offer!

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Imagine having a crystal clear roadmap from idea to launch, all in the palm of your hand.

We'll give you this free plan, but what's in the box? 🎁 An Asset List, One Pager, Market Research and a Full Project Timeline.
Success comes from clarity and a great plan. We're happy to help anyone that feels ready to start on the game of their dreams.

Click the link in the comments to give us information about your game. Then, we'll get in touch when we can to learn more about your vision!

PS: We want to help you because we love great games.

28/04/2024

Have you ever pushed yourself way past your limit?

26/04/2024

How gaming is addicting:

25/04/2024

Have you ever thrown a controller in rage?

Ever thought about why some games make you feel happy or super frustrated? It's all about how well the game designers understand your feelings. And if they are good, you'll almost never feel frustrated. Motivated and enthralled, yes! But frustrated/betrayed... No.

When designers make a game, they look deep into how we feel. Super nerdy designers like me will think about the brain parts we trigger in the game. Examples are the anterior temporal lobe and prefrontal cortices. This is where we process some of our feelings.

For example, when you play a game, your joy or frustration shows the designers if they are on the right track. We want you to feel the flow. If our game breaks your flow, it's our fault, not yours. By caring, we can learn to make even better games! With game testing, we can see what works and what doesn't in real-time.

So, next time you play a game and feel a rush of emotions, remember... it could be because the designers are really good at reading what makes you smile!

PS: Isn't it awesome to think that your gaming could be helping designers create even cooler games? It's a win-win.

23/04/2024

Escapism in Gaming And How It Helps Us Cope:

22/04/2024

Guess what? Cross and I are diving into the podcast world! 🎙️

Immediately, you might think: "Wow, another two dudes making a podcast... cool? NOT."

We're blending the nerdy realms of neuroscience with the magic of game design. I bring the science, he brings 25 years of gaming experience. Deep dives into how our brains tick and how that influences the games we love. 🧠🎮

I mean, Chris made Medal of Honor, Pacman Tunnel Battle: Mega Chomp Champs and Warhammer 40,000. He's kind and doesn't have an edge when sharing his truth. He makes it a pleasure to talk about games and why they are fun.

You know what makes me happy?
When we share our podcast dream, the reaction is always a resounding "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?"
So, stay tuned! We'll share when the first episode is live! 🚀✨

20/04/2024

Is Dopamine just for making us feel good? NO!

Dopamine is like the cheerleader in your brain, shouting, "Go for it, you've got this!" 📣 It's our very own MOTIVATION molecule, helping us decide if something is worth the effort. It's actually all about survival. At its core, your brain asks itself: "Should I be motivated to do this activity? Will it increase my survival chances?" 🖐️✨

But Liam! Video games and memes don't increase my survival! Here's the practical version of this.

Imagine you're about to score the winning goal in your favorite video game, or want approval from your friends on social media. Your brain releases dopamine, which feels like a mini-reward, pushing you to keep going. It's like the app is whispering, "You're doing awesome, don't stop now!" So we end up being motivated us towards any goal that FEELS important.

18/04/2024

Gaming makes you smarter and better at your job. Neuroscience says it's true!

Smart people did research and found out that people who play a ton of games can have some cool brain benefits. Even the World Health Organization looked into this and found the studies to be true.

Here’s what they found:

Increased Grey Matter Volume: Pro gamers have bigger parts in their brains. Grey matter is "thinking" tissue in the brain.

Better Focus and Control: Key areas like the left cingulate gyrus are more developed in gamers. This improves focus and control. This is great for school or work!

Good with Maps and Spaces: Gamers are great at figuring out where things are in games. This helps with jobs like building things or design jobs.

Improved Emotional Control and Awareness: Gamers can stay calm and make good choices even when things get tough. This is helpful at home and at work.

So, playing video games is not just fun. It’s like a workout for your brain that helps you do better in other parts of your life.

PS: Next time someone worries about you playing games, you can tell them how it helps your brain!

17/04/2024

Can gaming destroy your ears?

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People looked at a ton of studies! Here's the short of it:

Too Much Volume = Ear Trouble: Gamers often play with the volume high. This can lead to hearing loss or tinnitus (that's when your ears ring all the time).

Long Hours, High Volume: Playing for hours with loud sound is the problem. The World Health Org says adults should only listen to loud noises a little bit.

They looked at 50,000 people and found that some games have sound as loud as 91 decibels. That's higher than you should really ever (safely) listen to. That's like a motorcycle right next to you.

Safety Tips: Keep gaming volume at 50%. Use noise-canceling headphones in loud places. Have fun!

What’s the takeaway… Just remember to protect your ears by keeping the volume down. The ‘you’ of the future will thank you.

16/04/2024

Have you ever wished you could read minds? Maybe reading your clients or your business partner's minds would help your relationships!

Well, I can't help you there... BUT all the UI/UX designers out there. I do have good news for you. I stumbled upon this gem called Attention Insight. It's like having a mind-reading buddy for your designs! PS: I'm not selling anything, but sharing free software that makes my life so much easier.

Imagine having a magic lens that shows you exactly where people look when they see your game screen. That's what Attention Insight does! They collected a bunch of fancy eye-tracking studies from Ivy League universities and made an AI. 🤓🔥 It shows where people are most likely to look at an image. You get this cool heat map, so you know if players are noticing that button you placed.

We've been using it in our studio to fine-tune our games, making sure players' eyes are exactly where we want them. It's like giving our games a secret superpower!

15/04/2024

Ever feel like someone watching you work makes you push your limit? 🧐I found a way to cure my procrastination.

I always loved the subtle competitive pressure of an office. I want to show my best self to the people around me so I'm validated... Maybe that's my insecurity showing!😂
I didn't have that pressure in my home office. I've worked remotely for the last few years. To recreate it, I've started streaming my game design sessions on Twitch!
Here’s what happened: knowing someone might drop by and see my work keeps me super focused. It's like having a buddy there, making sure I'm on task. Plus, it's a fun way to connect and share my love for gaming. Who knew a little "social pressure" could unlock so much productivity and creativity? ✨

24/01/2024

As a CEO, dealing with indecision and fear is terrible. Here's a unique way I tackle it:

🖼️ If I can see something, it’s easier for me to deal with. I find an image that represents my fear and keep it on my screen. Today, I looked up “angry ghost disgusting” on Google Images. It's a constant visualization of my fear.

💪 I look at the horror, I feel a mix of fear and competitiveness. It's like a silent challenge: I refuse to let “my fear” stop me. I can't let my team down because I'm scared to work.

🔥 Interestingly, the image is way scarier than any task I need to do. This shifts my focus entirely to the task at hand. It makes it easier to start and complete. Suddenly, the task I was avoiding is now the “safe” space.
Sounds Crazy? … Haha Maybe. Effective? 100%

PS: Have you put off a hard task for a few months? This gets me going towards those tasks in about 30 sec.

23/01/2024

Riot Games just announced they're letting go of 530 employees... Yikes. NOT what the gaming world wanted to hear. That's about 11% of their team.

It's sad to see so many talented people having to leave. It's making the job market insanely competitive for anyone who wants to get into games.

For ANYONE affected by the recent layoffs, please feel free to send over your resume. We're planning on HIRING over the next few months. I'm happy to do what I can to help you transition.

22/01/2024

Seen the pilot of AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS? 200 MILLION VIEWS in two months… Woah.

Pomni, the main character, has captured hearts everywhere. Here's what stood out to me:

Expressive Eyes - Pomni's eyes are the windows to her digital soul. Her pupils change shape, size and color to reflect her emotions.

For example, When she’s distressed, her pupils become scribbles. They look like mini hand-drawn storms, showing how she feels.
This adds significant depth to her character. She's more relatable to us as the audience.

Talk about character. Pomni's design is a great example of how eye animation creates memorable characters.

PS: Watch a bit yourself to check it out. Props to Glitch Productions!

19/01/2024

🎮 The Journey to the Perfect One-Armed Gaming Setup. Here’s a heartbreaking story with a fantastic ending.

Last year, life took a shocking turn for a gamer named Charlie. After a serious car accident, Charlie lost his arm and had a traumatic brain injury. Gaming, his favorite hobby, seemed impossible with one arm.

His journey began with frustration. Traditional gaming controllers weren't designed for someone like him. He tried various solutions... from custom-made controllers to 3D printed add-ons. Nothing felt right.

Then, Charlie discovered something game-changing: the AZERON Cyro. It's a one-handed keyboard and mouse, perfect for gamers like him. BUT, it wasn't marketed for gamers with disabilities. It was made for two-handed gamers who wanted to hold a drink while playing...

Had Charlie lacked motivation to find this item, we would have to quit gaming.

Why aren't more companies considering gamers like Charlie in their marketing? Shouldn't this solution take 5 minutes to find? For me, the answer is yes.

Charlie's story ended well with the AZERON Cyro. But his journey highlights a major gap in the gaming industry. There should be more attention on supporting disabled gamers. Because every gamer deserves to enjoy the games they love. 🕹️

18/01/2024

🎮 Personalized Games for All Kids in the Hospital

Some kids love Disney princesses, others like Fortnite or Paw Patrol. How can we make a game that every kid will love?

We couldn’t customize our game for everyone’s preferences. So… we decided to introduce external rewards that cater to the kids!

We started with the basics. As a special treat, when kids finish a game task, they get to watch 2 minutes of their favorite show! It was heartwarming to see them smile/beam through all the traumatic pain they were in.

Then, after completing a week or two of games, we’d buy them a special toy on amazon. If someone liked Moana, we’d buy a stuffed Maui doll. If someone liked Fortnite, we’d get them the battle pass for the season.

Our game became one of their favorite parts of their stay at the hospital.

PS: With better data, we made a stronger impact on their recovery. It’s a win win.

17/01/2024

My 3-Step Method for Meeting Deadlines!

If you don’t meet deadlines, everyone’s unhappy. Here's how I'm working on staying accountable in 2024:

1. Trello for Transparency - We use Trello for clear, accessible task lists. Everyone on the team knows what they need to do. It's a game-changer. Keeps us organized and focused.

2. Weekly Show-and-Tell - Every week, we gather for a meeting where each team member shows their work. It creates social accountability. We fear judgment from people we care about. So, I'm fueled to stay on top of my work and make my team proud.

3. Daily Progress Texts - I write a quick text about what I've accomplished in the day with a screenshot or two. It takes 5 minutes, but this sharing keeps me motivated. I get feedback from my team and we feel connected despite living in a remote working world.

🎉 Bonus - I give myself 1.5x the time when estimating the length of time for a task. That way, if I’m on time internally, I’m actually early in everyone else’s eyes. If I run into a speed bump, I don’t feel stressed because I’ve given myself enough time.

15/01/2024

In the past, I had a hard time relating to people when different ideas came up for a decision. I knew we all wanted to make a great decision, but I didn’t think they were right. I didn’t want us to lose.

I started taking hints from my wife, a therapist, around how I could get my way. She asked me, “If they are so wrong, what is their idea? Tell it back to me.”

I couldn’t tell her… at all. I wasn’t even listening because I was so focused on my own thoughts.

“So if you can’t tell me what they are even talking about, how can I support and tell you HOW RIGHT you are, Liam?”

I sank. A pit formed in my stomach. I’m being a bad teammate. Really bad. I can’t even listen because I’m excited to tell my team how wrong they are.

I asked for help and she taught me Active Listening. You retell what you heard someone say. Simple as that.

Example: says, “Liam, I think we need to look at Stacy for the new job.”

I say, “, I heard you say… we need to look at Stacy for the new job. That’s a great idea.”

When I held meetings and used Active Listening, something incredible happened. Instead of arguing, our ideas blended. Naturally, the best idea came to the surface… We all got what we wanted.

PS: Get the best decision in the shortest time. And some peace.

14/01/2024

🧠 Testing Games for Kids with Brain Trauma

When I was creating games for children with traumatic brain injury, I had to change my approach. We needed the testing process to be sensitive to their needs. Here's how I did it:

1. Minimizing Distractions - The environment matters a lot. I reduced distractions in the room. This helped the kids focus better on the games. As a result, we got better data.

2. Breaking Down Tasks - I broke down the assignments into smaller, manageable tasks. This approach made it easier for them to understand. We didn’t want them to feel overwhelmed from a video game.

3. Rewarding with Breaks - Everyone needs a break… Especially kids in a hospital. We incorporated break times where they could watch their favorite shows. It balanced and motivated them.

When you can create games for this population, you break down the fundamentals of UX.

PS: Now, I like considering their viewpoint when making any game. We make better games and happier players as a result!

12/01/2024

Wonder why roguelike games, like Hades, are so much fun? Let's dive into the science behind the fun!

What's a Roguelike? A roguelike game is where you explore and fight through randomly generated levels. Each playthrough is fresh with new experiences. The key here is random.

🎁 Powerful Unpredictable Rewards. Roguelike games master “variable reward schedules”. All that means it you get good things at unpredictable times.

🌟 Random + Good Thing = REALLY Good. In a Roguelike, your whole run can change with a single power-up. This potential reward makes you excited to see what’s next, even if you don’t get what you want.

🎰 Kinda like Gambling. It’s basically the same as using a slot machine, but you’re not losing any money. So, think of roguelikes like Gambling’s safer younger sibling.

PS: No, roguelikes don’t need to be a gateway to bad habits. I like playing with limitations and don’t feel compelled to go to Vegas... lol

11/01/2024

🌟 Is AI Art ethical? You decide. Here's how we use it over 3 steps:
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1. Generate Images - We start with Midjourney, an AI tool. We type what we want and it makes cool art for us! It usually takes 10 minutes to get something we like.
2. Test & Learn - Next, we use this AI art to see what our audience loves. It's like a fun game to find out what's best!
3. Inspire Our Team - Lastly, our art team gets inspired by the AI art and testing to make even better designs!

PS: The picture shows how we test art styles. What do you think? Is this practice ethical?💡

10/01/2024

Working out is hard and I don’t like doing it. Here’s how I trick myself into being EXCITED to go to the gym:

Some people love candy, some love beer, most love video games. My guilty pleasure is watching gaming content on YouTube. I could watch for 10 hours straight.

It’s so much easier to sit on the couch than workout. Watching my favorite streamers. Eating chips. I really love it. And there’s no way I’m going to the gym when I’m chowing down.

I made a small change and now I’m addicted to working out.

I only let myself watch my favorite videos when I’m at the gym. My cravings for YouTube propel me to get up and workout! It’s incredible how effective this is. You’re caught in a jet stream of desire, pushing to the gym.

I love gyms that has machines with video screens. Most can be used to watch YouTube, connect Bluetooth earphones: the whole 9 yards.

PS: I went from 0 workouts per week to 6 using this method! Better relationships, healthier body, and just “feel” happier.

09/01/2024

Hi everyone! 🎉 Welcome to 2024! This year, I've set a big goal: post content every day. Get ready for fun posts and pictures about making games exciting, user testing, and using video games to help people.

For the past three years, I've worked on therapy games. Now, I'm ready to spread the knowledge and joy. Let's make this year amazing and help people :)

Liam James