Game Over
- 240 posts.
- Over 400 comments
- And more readers than I'd ever hoped for.
Things are going well for this blog-site-thingy, so why not stop while I'm ahead?
Due to several circumstances, of which most of them are very positive in fact, I'll be closing the site. All the current posts will remain and I'll leave the commenting system online, but there will be no more Game Design posts in any foreseeable future.
Back in 2008 I started this site as a way to think out loud about my passion for game design and it has helped me in many ways. Because of having a "pressure" of having to write posts, I've been constantly stimulated to have an analytical mindset to everything and to actually organize my thoughts to be able to convey them. This techinique, intentional or not, has worked wonders and I think I've "learned" more during this time than I would have if I hadn't run this site at the same time.
During my first month I had 19 unique visitors... The following month I had 404. By now I have more than 10 times that, and considering it's a one man show about someone who's just writing whatever he feels like, I'm satisfied.
In fact, I've even been surprised when I've been meeting people in the industry and they've actually read my blog and enjoyed it. I'm not saying they've learned from it because I don't know.
I actually have a long list with topics I wanted to write about, and some drafts with almost finished texts, but I guess they'll have to be my little secrets.
But as mentioned, this is the season finale. I can't go into much detail at the moment, but there are good reasons for me to not continue doing this.
What I really want right now is to thank each and every reader during this time. You've been what's been motivating me to write and it's resulted in my Level Up!
Thank you!
I hope to be seeing you again, somewhere, sometime. Dun dun dunnn!
Or is it, "Press Start to Continue"? 
Cleaning Game?
There's been previous talks about how to implement gaming into the everyday life and activities and let me tell you one thing. I'd love to have a cleaning game.
Every day after work I start going trough my stuff (read: shit I've collected over the years), keeping some, throwing some away, trying to sell some of it and packing the rest. I would be enjoying the whole thing a whole lot more if there was a system monitoring my choices and giving me points for every item I donate to the poor, etc.
Heck, if there was such a system, I wouldn't let my place turn into the mess it has in the first place!
It's all about the Theory of Fun which I link a video about in:
http://arcadeberg.com/causerie/highscore-hurts/ (26/4/2010)
And talking about games and the real life working together, I found this today on Gamasutra. There's a company that's launching a thingymajing for the NDS that's suppose to help people work hard on handling their diabetes. Since I'm a diabetic I find this very interesting. It's not something I'll use, but it's interesting nonetheless.
[...]DIDGET converts blood glucose test results into reward points.
Players can redeem these points to unlock new levels, minigames, and items[...]
- http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28234/Bayer_Launches_Diabetes_Management_Game_for_Nintendo_DS.php
Here's the problem I see with this. The games unlocked in this package are probably gonna... Well... Suck... Hard... So very, very hard. I really hope I'm wrong.
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that in a product like this you really have to create a strong incentive to actually wanting to unlock more stuff and I'm not sure they can do that. Great idea otherwise though.
But being a diabetic is not the only reason why I found this interesting. Dun dun dunnn! Stay tuned!
Captain Novolin; an old SNES-game about Diabetes.
When Epic met PCF
I promise I won't just post things about Epic/PCF but this article is too good in its timing and content, so I can't help but share it with you.
http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/04/21/when-epic-met-people-can-fly.aspx (22/4/2010)
I didn't see the doll when I was there the last time, but I'll make sure to shake her hand when I meet her.
EDIT: I removed the video, as I can't seem to get the embedding to work. You'll just have to follow the link and watch it.
I’m gonna be an Epic Game Designer
People say that one should be modest and I agree, but someday I'm gonna become an epic game designer. In fact, in late May.
1.1 The Company hereby employs the Employee as a Game Designer.
The "Company" being Epic Games Poland (People Can Fly) and the "Employee" being me!
I'm extremly happy to dance a little dance of joy for getting this opportunity to work with some of the best people there are making the best game ever (of course).
I'm actually in a blood pact with them, because I got a paper cut signing the papers. So there's no backing out now. They own my soul.
So what now? Well, I'm in good terms with my current employer and we're on the same page on this and I'll keep a healthy relationship with them. So no hard feelings there and I'll finish my current project with them before leaving.
I'm guessing most of my time now will be spent on preparing to move abroad and make epic games.
http://www.epicgames.com/
http://www.peoplecanfly.com/
iPhone Game Achievements
More than once have I complained about my dislike for achievements in games. Most notably in a special earlier post:
http://arcadeberg.com/causerie/achievements/ (24/8/09)
Just a few hours ago Apple announced a "Game Center" with among other things achievement support.
Another major announcement today was Apple's intention to provide a centralized Game Center that offers users a way to track achievements, high scores and offer matchmaking services for online multiplayer. The system sounds similar to Microsoft's Xbox Live service which has been very popular.
- http://www.macrumors.com/2010/04/08/apple-introduces-game-center-for-leaderboards-and-achievements/ (8/4/2010)
This is in no way surprising and even though I overall dislike the concepts of achievements to measure the size of ones gaming e-penis, I'm still very fond of this Game Center.
Partly because it shows a strong sense and will to get serious about gaming from Apple's side and partly because with a communication device such as the iPhone, it's obvious that you should try and connect players. And by doing so in a centralized manner is a great thing for developers and consumers alike!
Quick Update
Hello people!
Things been hectic for a while now and I'm going abroad for a short while in a few hours, so I'll make this super quick.
First of all, sorry for several downtimes that has lasted a couple of hours each. I've talked to my host and they're trouble shooting the machines to see what's causing it. Hopefully they're done and it won't happen again.
Secondly, Bob Came in Pieces, the well reviewed game in which I'm credited is now not only available on the developer Ludosity's site and Steam, but also on Gamersgate for both PC and Mac! If you haven't already; get it!
http://www.gamersgate.com/all?q=bob+came+in+pieces (31/3/2010)
Thirdly, my spare time project Iskall has grown since it started and is now made by a team of 13 people, so my work as a project manager (in addition to the game/level design) is increasing. It's both good and bad. It's not as fun as designing, but I still enjoy it and it's a great opportunity for me to increase my management and administration skills.
That's it for now. I gotta get moving!
Off I go then, Tally-Ho!
We’re Super-Empowered Hopeful Individuals
Since you're here I suppose you're a gamer of some sort. Maybe even one that plays online?
Either way; you play games.
And you know what? You're great! You can solve the worlds problems.
In a TED-talk by Jane McGonigal, a researcher and game designer, she explains how we're super people. Apparently, I'm a virtuoso. I like that. Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field. I wonder what my field is?
http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html (25/3/2010)
Games like World of Warcraft give players the means to save worlds, and incentive to learn the habits of heroes. What if we could harness this gamer power to solve real-world problems? Jane McGonigal says we can, and explains how.
- TED.com
Even if she might seem a bit "out there" and overly optimistic at times. I do agree with her as it has long been a fact that we do learn stuff from games.
Online player seems to have four super powers.
The clip is 20min long and it'll make you feel good about yourself. TED always beat random YouTube:ing.
What is a game designer?
Ten days without posting, I must be dead! No, but I've been abroad to a couple of places and just got home and I'm about to crash into bed. I just wanted to tell you one thing first.
While being abroad I met with a game developer student, recently graduated. It was pretty much random that I met him and I didn't know who he was. We introduced each other and we talked about our diciplines of development. He told me that he was a character artist and I told him I'm a game designer. That's when he said to me:
- Game Designer? I do not know what that is.
I was totally in shock and didn't know what to do. I tried explaining it and I think he eventually understood it somewhat. But apparently, some game development schools have a long way to go....
But I've been thinking about a few things while being away. So tomorrow I'll make sure to write a couple of posts (published every other day) about:
- Uncanney Valley of Gameplay
- One hand games
- Beat Boxing
Me in German!
Back in late 2009 I wrote a post in which I presented an actual level design test that I got from GRIN and that led me to getting my first job as a professional designer. I've recieved a lot of positive feedback for it, both here and via other ways.
http://arcadeberg.com/causerie/an-actual-level-design-test/ (7/2/2010)
I recently got contacted by a German level design portal asking if it was okay to translate it into German and post it. Of course it was more than okay!
http://www.realize-portal.de/ (7/2/2010)
So here we are; me in German!
I don't even know what that means. I hope it's not something mean.
http://realize-portal.de/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=480&sid=eb648d20fe157884fc65838414202c8b (7/2/2010)
I'm international!
Calling code: 49
He’s THE Shepard
Funny thing.
I started playing Mass Effect 2 last night and I imported my character from Mass Effect (1).
During my play-troughs of Mass Effect, I've always been a bit bothered with the looks I set for my character, because his hairstyle is a bit glitchy sometimes. In some cut-scenes there's some major clipping going on. So yeah, that's always been annoying me.
After having imported him into Mass Effect 2, I got the option to keep or change the appearance of him and guess what; I just couldn't bear with me to change it. I just couldn't. Because for me, that guy with the glitchy hair is commander Shepard and we've been together for more than 50 hours already, so I can't just change him for my Mass Effect 2.
Well done Bioware!
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