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How to run an indie game studio: Part 5, Better meetings
This guide, the final part of a five-part series on indie management by Martijn van Zwieten, focuses on improving studio meetings. It outlines a structured approach to weekly, quarterly, and yearly meetings, emphasizing clear agendas, time allocations, and specific goals like check-ins, to-do reviews, rock status checks, and problem-solving (IDS) to ensure progress and decision-making. The article introduces the FIRM framework for studio management, covering vision, goals, issue resolution, and quarterly traction.
How to run an indie game studio: Part 4, Setting (and hitting) quarterly rocks
This guide, part four of a series on running an indie game studio, focuses on setting and achieving quarterly goals, referred to as 'rocks.' Business coach Martijn van Zwieten explains why yearly goals are insufficient and how quarterly objectives provide a crucial middle-distance focus for substantial progress. The article details the 'rocks' metaphor from Stephen Covey's 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' and outlines a straightforward process for teams to define and commit to these critical quarterly priorities, emphasizing specificity for accountability and team alignment.
How to run an indie game studio: Part 3, Dealing with issues
This guide provides strategies for indie game studios to address and resolve internal issues that go beyond typical development problems. It introduces methods like creating a studio backlog and using the IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) framework to foster constructive problem-solving and build essential team habits for long-term studio health.
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.
Yet another free fan level pack for Quake has arrived, and this one's all about a feature rarely seen in id…
A new fan-made map pack for the classic first-person shooter Quake, titled Quake Rooftops Jam, has been released, featuring 19 custom maps centered around the theme of rooftops. This release adds to a strong year for Quake mapping, with other notable projects including Quake Brutalist Jam 3 and the official Dawn of the Machine campaign. The article also touches on the uncertain future of the Quake series, with Quake Champions recently ending its live-service updates.
Remakes och remasters är inget nytt fenomen
The article discusses the long history of video game remakes and remasters, arguing that the practice is not a new phenomenon driven by developer laziness. It defines remakes as games rebuilt from the ground up with updated assets and mechanics, while remasters involve graphical and audio enhancements to existing games. Examples from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, as well as early PC titles, are provided to illustrate the historical prevalence of these updated versions.
How to run an indie game studio: Part 1, What is a studio?
This guide, the first in a five-part series by business coach Martijn van Zwieten, focuses on the fundamental aspects of running an indie game studio. It emphasizes the importance of building the studio itself alongside the game, defining what a studio is, and establishing a clear purpose based on passion, excellence, and economic drivers. The article introduces the FIRM framework (Future, Issues, Rocks, Meetings) as a tool for studio management.
What Is Xbox Game Studios At This Point?
Recent changes and layoffs within Xbox have led to a significant restructuring of its studios, questioning the identity and purpose of the 'Xbox Game Studios' brand. With only four studios remaining under its direct banner and others absorbed into Bethesda or Activision Blizzard, the publisher's internal structure has become complex and its future branding uncertain.
Hit PS5 Adventure Game by Xbox Half Price on PS Store With DLC
The PlayStation Store is offering a half-price deal on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Premium Edition for PlayStation 5, including its DLC, as part of a Tokyo Game Show promotion. Developed by MachineGames and published by Xbox Game Studios, the action-adventure game is available for $49.99 until September 24, 2026. The Premium Edition includes the base game, The Order of the Giants story DLC, a digital artbook, and a Temple of Doom outfit.
The Quake shareware CD-ROM contained encrypted copies of every id Software game—and yes, it was cracked 39 days…
The shareware CD-ROM for id Software's Quake included encrypted copies of the company's entire game catalog, intended to be unlocked via phone purchase. However, just 39 days after its release, a tool called Quakecrk.zip emerged, allowing users to generate unlock codes for all included games, effectively enabling widespread piracy of id Software's back catalog.
The Quake community simply cannot stop delivering, having just released a 22-map 'Deathmatch Jam' to celebrate…
The Quake community is celebrating the game's 30th anniversary with a new 22-map 'Deathmatch Jam' called Q30 Deathmatch Jam, featuring diverse arenas from gothic castles to industrial sewers. This release follows other community map jams and official content like id Software and Machine Games' 'Dawn of the Machine' episode.
No Man’s Sky Studio Co-Founder Says “There is Probably Some End Date” For New Content
Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray discussed the future of No Man's Sky, suggesting there is an "end date" for new content, though it's further off than previously anticipated. He drew parallels to MachineGames' recent update for the 30-year-old game Quake, highlighting the joy in revisiting and expanding older titles. The studio is also working on a new update for No Man's Sky titled "Cosmos" and has recently released updates like "The Swarm" and "Xeno Arena" which introduced new expeditions and creature battles.
"There is probably some end" to No Man's Sky, says Hello Games boss, but he'll probably come back 10 years later for a surprise update anyway
Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray discussed the future of No Man's Sky, stating that while it will eventually end, he could see himself working on it for another decade or even returning for surprise updates years later, similar to Quake. He also mentioned that the studio's next ambitious game, Light No Fire, is in active development, but No Man's Sky will continue to be supported as long as players are engaged.
10 years of No Man's Sky: How Hello Games and Sean Murray keep getting away with it
Hello Games director Sean Murray reflects on the 10-year journey of No Man's Sky, highlighting the studio's dedication to continuous free updates and the rewarding nature of game development. Despite a difficult launch, the team has transformed the game with numerous additions, fostering a strong community and a sense of accomplishment. Murray also touches on the industry's consumable nature and his desire for games to have lasting appeal, drawing parallels to the continued support for older titles like Quake.
Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 is a miracle port – and a reminder the RPG still isn't fixed
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 is a surprisingly capable port, retaining key Unreal Engine 5 features like Lumen lighting and Nanite geometry despite visual compromises in handheld mode. While the port successfully brings the 2006 RPG to a new platform with impressive visuals, it inherits the original's technical issues, leading to stuttering and performance hiccups that tarnish the overall experience.
20% rabatt på ISK-tshirt #5 - den med SULFUR
SULFUR, an indie action game, has received a review highlighting its unique premise of a cheese protagonist. The article also touches upon other game releases and industry topics, including Peak's final update, Serious Sam: Shatterverse, and the implications of not owning digital games.
FZ High Score - Säsongsuppdatering
The FZ High Score program is concluding its summer season with a recap of the top scores and a look at the winning contestant. The article also features reviews for games like SULFUR and Halo: Campaign Evolved, alongside discussions on open-world games and gaming hardware.
Hit 2021 PlayStation 5 Shooter Game Surprise Drops Free DLC
MachineGames and id Software have surprise-released a free DLC for the 2021 PlayStation 5 shooter Quake, titled 'Dawn of the Machine.' This new episode adds a 19-map campaign, a new soundtrack, and a Deathmatch map, available to all owners of the base game on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The expansion was conceived by Lead Level Designer Andrew Yoder and Game Director Jerk Gustafsson, aiming to capture the original game's horror and action.
Surprise! The original Quake gets a free expansion on all platforms to celebrate its 30th birthday
To celebrate Quake's 30th birthday, id Software and MachineGames have surprise-released a free expansion, Quake: Dawn of the Machine, on all platforms including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The expansion features a 19-map campaign with a looping structure, new enemies, weapons, and a soundtrack, offering a fresh take on the classic shooter with roguelike elements.
Quake gets a free new chapter promising "ferocious combat, labyrinthine level design, and nightmarish realms" to celebrate its 30th birthday
To celebrate Quake's 30th anniversary, Id Software and MachineGames have released a free expansion for the 2021 enhanced version, titled Dawn of the Machine. This new chapter introduces 19 new maps, new enemies like the Rocket Ogre, and weapons such as the Super Axe and Laser Cannon, all available on PC via Steam, Microsoft Store, and Game Pass.
