Game Developer
Game Developer business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
The Sunday Papers
This week's gaming news roundup features an interview with multimedia artist Jeremy Couillard about his game Soul Injector Commando, a discussion on game development team sizes and outsourcing, and an analysis of why games like Manhunt sometimes fail to maintain their simulated worlds. It also highlights a Game Boy Museum project and the eccentric life of Timothy Dexter.
Busting myths in game writing
This article debunks common myths surrounding game writing and narrative design, such as the idea that screenwriting directly translates to game writing or that players dislike reading stories. It features insights from writers Bruno Dias, Aysha Farah, and Andrea Saravia Pérez, who have worked on titles like Fallen London and Life is Strange: Double Exposure.
Game Developer veteran Chris Kerr launches Vertical Slice, a games publication "giving workers a voice and holding power to account"
Veteran games journalist Chris Kerr has launched Vertical Slice, a new subscription-funded publication aimed at providing "incisive, bold reporting" for industry professionals. The outlet, which is entirely funded by reader subscriptions and will not carry advertising, aims to give workers a voice and hold power to account. Kerr, formerly of Game Developer, has self-funded the site and plans to reinvest revenue back into editorial content.
How to run an indie game studio: Part 2, Defining your future
Business coach Martijn van Zwieten outlines how indie game studios can define a long-term future goal, known as a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), to guide all future decisions. This article, part two of a series, details an exercise for teams to collaboratively establish a 5-10 year vision and then set yearly goals to achieve it.
Exploring co-development opportunities with Sam Carlisle
This episode of the Game Developer podcast features a discussion on co-development and external development opportunities with Sam Carlisle of XDS Spark and Beth Elderkin. They explore how these practices can help manage large game productions and budgets, offering insights for studios and job seekers.
Inside Austin Wintory's Collaborative Composing Process
Composer Austin Wintory discusses his career in video game music and his role in curating the Developer's Concert at the GDC Festival of Gaming. The interview, hosted by Beth Elderkin for GDC Side Quest, explores Wintory's collaborative approach to composing and the intersection of art and business in game development.
What devs need to know about localization
This article discusses the importance and often undervalued role of localization in game development, particularly for reaching overseas markets. It highlights the challenges localizers face, including being excluded from credits and the pressure from AI translation, and aims to bridge the gap between developers and localizers.
Evening Interviews
Interviews with the creator of Human Fall Flat and Insomniac Games reveal details about Marvel's Wolverine, which is set in a timeline before the X-Men exist. The article touches on a decade of game development and studio insights.
Comings and Goings
Microsoft's Xbox division has undergone significant layoffs, impacting numerous studios and projects. Industry figures like Jason Schreier have reported on the scale of these cuts, with outlets like Game Developer and BBC analyzing the implications for the gaming giant's future.
NexusMods CEO digs into the dynamics of video game modding
NexusMods CEO Victor Folmann discusses the complexities of game modding and his vision for NexusMods as a user-generated content platform. He highlights the challenges of balancing mod accessibility with developer terms of service and fostering relationships between creators and players.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various gaming-related topics from recent publications. It touches on the struggles within the game development industry, the personal journey of Cliff Bleszinski after the closure of Boss Key Productions, and explorations of queerness in games like Elden Ring and Disco Elysium. It also briefly mentions themes of labor and slavery in relation to AI films.
Business and Finance
A union has established a hardship fund to support game developers affected by recent layoffs. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to industry professionals facing job loss.
Phantom inspiration and the ethical auteur
Strange Scaffold creative director Xalavier Nelson Jr. discusses his studio's latest game, El Paso, Elsewhere, and broader issues in game development, including career longevity and knowledge transfer. Nelson highlights the disparity in creative output between film directors and game directors within their first ten years, attributing it to industry practices.
Discussing unionization, layoffs, and monetization
A Game Developer podcast episode, featuring analysts from GDC and Omdia, discusses key findings from the GDC 2024 State of the Game Industry report. The conversation covers trends in monetization, industry layoffs, and conglomeration, as well as developer opinions on unionization, with younger developers showing significantly higher support.
Ten Questions and Answers About the Games Industry in 2024
Omdia's expert games analysts will discuss pressing industry questions for 2024 in a webinar preparing attendees for GDC. Key topics include the reasons behind industry layoffs, the impact of subscription services on player behavior, and developers' current and future spending plans, all supported by Omdia's data.
Road to the IGF 2024 with Joel Couture
Game Developer editor-in-chief Danielle Riendeau interviews indie journalist Joel Couture about his 'Road to the IGF' series, which highlights finalists of the Independent Games Festival. Couture discusses his preparation process for conducting numerous interviews and shares insights from developers, including those behind the game Tchia, about showcasing their culture and homeland.
Behind the GDC scenes with Beth Elderkin and Sam Warnke
Game Developer Conference content marketing manager Beth Elderkin and conference producer Sam Warnke discuss the extensive year-round planning required to organize the annual event. They highlight the challenges of curating hundreds of panel submissions and coordinating discrete events into a coherent program, emphasizing the importance of game preservation efforts like the Game History Gallery.
Photography Games | Game Developer Spotlight Series
Game Developer is hosting a "Photography Week" exploring the genre and its mechanics, featuring new interviews and essays. Topics include how photography games encourage players to notice their surroundings and document experiences. Discussions will cover game design choices, balancing artistic freedom with progression metrics, and applying basic photography tips to improve in-game photo modes.
Snapping Your Career into Place with Ben Brode
Ben Brode, chief development officer at Second Dinner, discusses the challenges of designing Marvel Snap to be both accessible and expandable for long-term live service. He highlights the iterative process of defining core game mechanics and the studio's use of the Godot engine for efficient over-the-air updates.
Digging into SAG-AFTRA’s Stellar Win With Sarah Elmaleh
Actor and SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Negotiating Committee chair Sarah Elmaleh discusses the recent Interactive Media Agreement that ended an 11-month strike. The deal includes improved actor pay, new safety standards, and terms for the use of generative AI, giving actors more control over their data. Elmaleh shares her experience navigating the three-year negotiation process.
