A free HTML5 engine to play around with
Experienced Flash developer Zac Zidik has been transitioning to HTML5 and written an open-source engine, complete with tutorials posted here on Gamasutra, that you can give a spin.
Automated testing the BioWare way
Forget what you think you know about automated testing. BioWare QA engineer lead Alex Lucas explains why you need to rethink where in the dev cycle you automate and even
what you automate.
Safe Sex with Friends wins Games for Change design challenge
Games for Change, in conjunction with SEXECT.org, has announced the $35,000 winner of its sexual awareness game design competition,
Safe Sex with Friends.
Nintendo tests free-to-play waters with Steel Diver
3DS launch title
Steel Diver is reincarnating with a new free-to-play entry, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto confirms in a new interview.
Video: How Western mobile games conquered China
Google Play, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are blocked in China -- so how can Western mobile games succeed? Yodo1's Henry Fong suggests a complete re-write for marketing.
Protecting immersion: 'Whyproofing' your game
Droqen (IGF nominee
Starseed Pilgrim) writes about what really breaks immersion -- bad creative decisions on the part of a game's creator -- and how to use the game's world to "whyproof" it.
Get a job: Activision looking for a Tools Technology Director
"Reporting to the VP of Technology, this role's primary objective is to direct the development of significant tools technology across multiple Activision studios and titles."
'Next-gen' isn't just a new console: Emerging trends from E3 2013
While everyone else was focused on the Microsoft-Sony horse race, editor Patrick Miller was paying attention to the Oculus Rift, eSports, and a collection of creator-driven games as the
real next gen.
Group monetization: Building MMOs so people will play together
When your game must be played in a group, you should design your business around fostering great group dynamics and not "rewarding narcissists," argues virtual economist Ramin Shokrizade.
GDC Europe 2013 adds Kick Off classic postmortem
Organizers have confirmed a classic postmortem of
Kick Off from Dino Dini for
August's GDC Europe, also adding talks on
Warface's low-end PC optimizations and Heidi McDonald on romance games.
Supercell aims to replicate its mobile success in Japan
Supercell today announced that it has launched its hugely popular
Clash of Clans free-to-play game in Japan -- and a cross-promotion with GungHo will no doubt help it storm the charts.
The creation of Ubisoft Singapore: Building a ship as it sails
Its first game was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In a few years, it was building major oceanfaring sequences for
Assassin's Creed III.
Blog: The world doesn't need another mobile card battle game
Rage of Bahamut launched a card battle crazy, but is enough enough? Mobile developer Joseph Kim takes a look at the market after speaking to
too many devs following in its trail.
Why people cheat, and what to do about it
We all know some players will inevitably cheat, but why? This blog delves into the psychology of cheating and the effect it has -- and some solutions to it.
Mii Plaza update adds paid minigames to Nintendo 3DS
Although Nintendo chose to stay out of the fray at E3 last week, the publisher has come out swinging this week with a large-scale update to its 3DS handheld.
Puzzle design in Valve's Portal 2 alternate reality game
The man behind the massive viral campaign for
Portal 2, which employed a dial-up BBS and hidden messages in indie games, shares the secrets of building a successful alternate reality game.
Oculus VR secures $16M in funding
Oculus VR, developer behind the upcoming Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, has obtained $16 million in Series A funding through Spark Capital and Matrix Partners.
Why Gamasutra is skipping monthly NPD reports
Gamasutra will not be reporting on the monthly NPD Group U.S. video game sales releases for the foreseeable future. EIC Kris Graft explains why.
Bogost: Let's make 'earnest' games, not 'serious games'
Most "serious games" exist for some other purpose than to be played, says scholar and designer Ian Bogost, suggesting at 2013's Games for Change that earnestness, not seriousness, is what's needed.
Discussing Data Dealer, a game about online privacy
Games For Change award nominee
Data Dealer is designed to help players understand the risks to their privacy online -- and this Q&A from the conference reveals more about its development.
Hunicke: Small games can make a big impact
The industry can make small, impactful games -- and nowhere is that more evident to
Journey developer Robin Hunicke than on her latest project: Working with kids to make games.
CD Projekt RED confirms new studio opening in Krakow
The Witcher developer CD Projekt RED is expanding to a second studio in Krakow, Poland, managing director Adam Badowski confirms.
Blog: How big is the real-money gambling market?
For developers considering jumping in when the U.S. lets the doors open, this post from Betable's William Chambers offers hard data on how big it could potentially be for game developers.
Hitman developer lays off half its staff
Copenhagen-based
Hitman: Absolution developer IO Interactive has laid off half of its work force and canceled non-
Hitman projects, in order to consolidate resources on the franchise.
This Week in Video Game Criticism: From Religion to Candy Box
This week, our partnership with game criticism site
Critical Distance brings us picks from Johannes Koeller on topics including representations of religion and aniwey's
Candy Box.