Making Video Game Sites

Type
Research
Know Your Stuff
Name
When to Make a Gaming Site
Content
Design
Content Management System
Advertising
Revenue
Press Contacts
Keeping Up with the News
Getting Staff
Gimmicks

Type / Research. There are 5 different types of gaming sites.

Multi-Console : Covers all aspects of gaming. Eg - PS2, Xbox, GameCube etc

Single-Console : Covers just one console. Eg – Nintendo Wii

Single-Company : Covers everything to do with one company. Eg – Nintendo

Single-Series : Covers whole series of games. Eg – Legend of Zelda

Single-Game : Covers just One (1) Game. Eg – Metroid Prime 2
It is simply personal preference to what type of site you want, they can all perform equally, though there is the possibility of a wider audience for multi-console sites, but some may argue that your audience will be less wide due to the fact that it is a saturated market.

Research. Use a tool like this one from SeoBook.com to see what people are searching for – this is more useful in the smaller gaming sites (Single company, series, game) as you will need to target a lot smaller audience. Also, check out what related-sites are doing, if you’re the first site in the field try to make it as original as possible – check out the Gimmicks section for more help with this.

Know Your Stuff. To make a good gaming site you need to be a good and active gamer. You need to be ‘in the know’ – know the lingo, the companies, the games, and what’s happening in general in the gaming world, if you know stuff you can give educated opinions, or thoughts.

Name. Of course, it’s best for search engines to include keywords in your sites name, but since the market is so saturated, a brandable & memorable name is what you should go for, so instead of MetroidPrime3Gaming.com, you would use MP3Gaming, MP3Gamers, or more simply MPGamers, of course you can buy the variations and see which is most effective.

When to Make a Gaming Site. There are points in the year that are prime times to open a gaming site, which will give you a better launch, and a boost of visitors.

Gaming Conventions: More specifically, E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), this is when I’ve opened my gaming sites and it definitely helps. A lot of people will be looking for all the E3 goss and media, so if you have it, you will get plenty of visitors.

Christmas: Everyone wants games at Christmas, so give them games! Christmas holidays are always the most profitable/trafficked months for gaming sites.

Content. Content really depends on what you want to offer. You want to be a news site, an editorial site, review site, cheat site, or a bit of everything. Of course it’s best to open with as much content as possible, but if you’re doing a bit of everything, then try to have at least 5-10 reviews/articles, so your site looks slightly established, and people can decide if your site is worth visiting again.

Design. Gaming designs are usually bold, flashy, shiny, and high-tech, and it seems to be working, so try to get the most in-your-face design you can, whilst still fitting a wide variety of content on each page.

Content Management Systems. Take a look at these very cool Content Management Systems, unless you want to go custom.

http://www.ncastercms.com/ - Free!

http://www.igamingcms.com/ - Free!

http://www.insanevisions.com/onecms.html - Free!

http://www.gamecms.com/ - Free!
[http://www.vgportal.com/]

http://www.customcms.net/

OneCMS from Insane Visions is a little hard to get used to, but is probably my personal favorite, but if you have the money check out VG Portal or CustomCMS.

Advertising. Here is how I advertise new gaming sites:

Related Forums
Top Site Lists
Link Exchanges with Similar Sites
Digg.co
MySpace.com

Revenue. CPM methods, once you receive some traffic would be the best bet, so sign up for a program like Valueclick Media who have decent rates, and you can start earning some cash on the side. CPC ads pay very low on video game sites, so stay away from them. Better idea to keep your visitors on your site. Press Contacts. The wonderful thing is, once your gaming site has traffic/user base you can get some press contacts. Most game publishers will have a person dedicated to Public Relations, so register at GamesPress.com to get a long list of these people & companies. Don’t go for the big fish at first, contact companies such as THQ, Vivendi, or Ubisoft, as they are known for supporting the newer sites. Now, if they have a press site, easy, just go their and register, if they don’t get their PR email and type something like this:

Dear Mr/Mrs CONTACTNAMEHERE,

I am the owner of SITENAME, which provides its users with high quality and informative……….

We are requesting to be added to your press release list so we can further increase our news broadcasts. SITENAME receives X amount of unique visitors daily, and has been open for the past X days/weeks/months.

Thank you,

NAME

E-MAIL

SITENAME

ADDRESS

PHONE NUMBER

If you get accepted to their Press Release list, wait a few months, post their news, and then you can request Free Reviewable Copies of Games. You may not even need to ask, a lot of companies just send them out after X amount of days.

Keeping up with the News. Forums are the best source for news & rumors, big ones have thousands of people continually scouring the net for information, and when they find it, they post it, then you can simply post it on your site, simple! So check out:

http://www.gamespot.com
http://www.ign.com
http://www.gamefaqs.com
http://www.gametrailers.com
If you check out their forums regularly you should be kept up to date with the latest news.

Getting Staff. Finding staff to work for free is usually hard, but if you can grow a decent sized gaming forum, there should be at least 2-3 people who would be glad to post some news or review a few games. The best way to get staff is, once you start receiving free games agree to send a few to your staff for them to review, and then send back, a lot of people will gladly review a game if they are one of the first to play it. Getting staff mainly takes a lot of patience, if your site grows, so will the number of people who’ll want to work for it.

Gimmicks. Here are the gimmicks I usually use to get extra visitors:

Userbars: People love userbars, and use them on many forums, so if you make some, then use basic html to make them a link, you will get extra visitors/exposure. Just in case the user removes the linking part, add your URL into the actual images.

[ Check out http://www.userbars.com to see examples of userbars. ]





Flash Games: Have gaming-related flash games on your site, your visitors will surely love to play remakes of some of their favorite games.

Wallpapers: A section for wallpapers never hurts, some people may even submit their own, so it’s good for community involvement.

David Turnbull [http://www.turnbullsblog.com] is a long-time blogger & online writer. He owns multiple sites such as Drawing Tips, Wii Gamin', and his blog: Turnbull's Blog [http://www.turnbullsblog.com].

Kids' Games

Kids love to play, so games are a major part of their lives. Choosing the

right games for you kids can be a challenge. It needs to be fun, but you

also want them to "get something" from the games. There are new games

coming out all the time, but sometimes the classics are still the best.

Outdoor games - Outdoor games are a great way to encourage teamwork and get

exercise at the same time. Softball, baseball, wiffleball are always a hit.

Badminton and volleyball are inexpensive, and a lot of fun for everyone.

There are also games that require no equipment, like Tag and Duck, Duck,

Goose, that are always favorites.

Board games - Board games are a great way to spend family time, and

encourage taking turns and playing by the rules. There are the classic

board games, like Candyland for younger children. Then games like Clue,

which encourage logic and puzzle solving and Monopoly, where they can learn

about money. There are also many trivia games that help test knowledge and

have a little fun, too.

Card games - Card games are always a fun family activity. Simple games like

Go Fish and Old Maid help kids learn to match. Other card games, like

Cribbage, can help with math skills. There are other specialty card games,

like UNO, which are also good for matching and following directions.

Computer/video games - There are an almost unlimited number of computer and

video games, with new systems coming out all the time. Not all the games are

bad. There are quite a few educational games, as well. The best games

encourage creative thinking, puzzle solving and help improve hand eye

coordination. The key is checking out games, through reviews and other

parents, before buying a new game for your children.

On-line games - There are several websites that provide kid-friendly and

educational games. PBS Kids, Nick Jr. and others have games that feature

the kids' favorite characters, and help them learn skills while having fun.

Parents always need to supervise the sites to make sure they are safe for

kids.

If all else fails, give them an empty box, some crayons and see what

happens.

Adriana Copaceanu is a busy mom of 2. If you are looking for Tips for Raising Great Kids, or need to De-clutter Your Life make sure you visit http://www.busy-moms-online.com.

Valve Wants Students to Play Video Games … in the Classroom

If you think back to your physics class back in high school, you might remember (or conveniently “archived”) a bunch of formulas, calculations and headaches.

Physics can be hard to learn, and until you get up to the level where you’re discovering new particles, might not be the most fun or interesting. But if Oregon Trail can make a whole generation enjoy learning about Conestoga wagon trains, just think what adding a video game element to a dynamic science will do.

Some high school students are lucky enough to be experiencing that kind of class right now. Game developer Valve recently launched the “Teach With Portals” program, which is an initiative to bring physics-based Puzzle Game, Portal 2, into the classroom with the aim to teach the science in a hands-on, virtual environment.

The program allows teachers to download an educational version of the game platform Steam, which includes Portal 2 and Puzzle Maker, as well as suggested lesson plans for teachers in other subjects. There are already some crowdsourced lessons in math and physics, with additional categories for game design, chemistry, and language arts. The lessons include activities such as having students perform experiments to explore the nature of in-game gravity, momentum and other physics concepts. Some lessons also call for students to design their own puzzles and challenge each other.

As part of the lesson plan submission process, users have to give some information – including the school they work for, what subject they teach and what education standards the lesson fulfills. Then, each lesson goes through a thorough review process. This means students can’t design a really simple lesson to trick their teacher into giving them an easy grade, but they can finally tell their parents they’re playing video games for homework!

According to a recent Wired article, the program has received immensely positive feedback from educators.”A teacher can use an aspect of the game for demonstration purposes, or have students use it more interactively,” said Leslie Redd, director of educational programs at Valve, who was quoted in the article. “The lesson plans on the website are created by educators and are aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. Teachers in the initial beta test have told us that they use the Puzzle Maker to introduce, support and supplement their students’ learning.”

You might be a little skeptical of a full on trend toward using video games in the classroom. After all, Portal 2 has the advantage of being inherently educational. But Valve’s new program isn’t the only example of innovators using the concepts and structures of video games to motivate or teach students.

ClassRealm is another educational gaming platform that originally began as a KickStarter project, according to an Indianapolis Star article. Rather than help students learn a particular subject, this game focuses on shaping how a student acts throughout their day at school. ClassRealm allows students to create a virtual avatar, which gains levels and earns achievements based on classroom behavior and performance. At the basic level, ClassRealm is a management tool. Imagine being able to level up for doing homework or getting achievements for hardly ever being late to class. On a deeper level, it’s a way for teachers to engage students in their learning by providing immediate feedback for classroom accomplishments.

The concept of “gamification” – the idea of using video game principles for everyday life – is not just a new fad; it’s something that many experts believe has real power to change the way people live. For example, gamification thought leader Gabe Zichermann explained how incorporating video games in learning can make kids smarter in a TED Talk he gave last year. And another TED speaker explained how gaming can create a better world. See? All those online games you’ve been playing may not be as wasteful as you thought!

When you really think about it, this approach makes a lot of sense. Video games provide immediate rewards, even if they’re just virtual rewards. They’re naturally motivational because players can immediately tell whether they’ve done a good or a bad job. That’s not something we always have access to in the real world. Add gamification to the mix, and you get a steady stream of feedback. Submit a resume to a new job and get an interview? Give yourself +1 job hunting. Go on a date and the guy calls you for a second night out? +1 relationship skill. You get the idea.

Just imagine being able to end every year with a list of accomplishments and a splash screen saying, “A Winner Is You.” We could all use a little gamification.

View the original article here

Video games, hygiene and the ancient Greeks

There has been a large debate over the effect playing violent video games has on gamers. The jury is still out on whether video games have any effect at all on aggressive behavior, but we think people have been asking the wrong question.

The debate centers around the question, “Does playing violent video games translate to real-world violence?” But the right question is: “Does playing violent video games make you buy more soap?”

Let me guess, you’re thinking “WTF, Mate?” But it’s true! Researchers at the University of Luxembourg found a link between playing violent video games and buying more hygiene products, such as toothpaste and shower gel.

If you’re wondering what could possibly be the link, you may want to read up on your Shakespeare. University researchers theorized violent video games cause something known as the “Macbeth effect” in inexperienced gamers. It’s a psychological effect in which people try to cope with negative moral inklings by cleansing the body. It certainly doesn’t make up for real-world violence, but there’s nothing wrong with a little digital destruction-induced bathing, right?

As with most things, there’s a catch, so hang on a minute if you think buying the next Grand Theft Auto will get your significant other to bathe more often. The link between violent video games and hygiene was only identified in inexperienced gamers. But, hey, if you’re feeling a little guilty after completely crushing your opponent in a game of War Chess, don’t let anything stop you from getting a new bottle of shower gel.

And, for the veteran gamers out there, playing video games has plenty of other nice benefits.

Don’t worry, a catharsis isn’t some weird disease caused by playing too many video games. Besides being a fancy word, it’s used to describe a specific emotional effect. You’ve probably already gone through a catharsis if you tend to watch intense TV dramas or get attached to video game characters.

The definition of catharsis varies depending on who you ask, but the basic idea is a strong release of emotion after engaging with a form of art. In the psychological sense, catharsis can be the act of using violent media to vent real-world violent feelings. However, literature ties catharsis to a very specific release of complex emotion.

The ancient Greeks used the term to describe the complex feelings that arose from watching characters suffer in stage theater – a mixture of sadness that their beloved characters suffered and relief due to being able to release emotions. They didn’t have TV or video games back then, but it’s still a good term when talking about modern media. Have you ever broke down and cried after a beloved book, movie or video game character died? That’s a form of catharsis – and not a bad way of describing your reaction to friends later: “No, I didn’t ‘cry,’ I experienced catharsis.”

The jury might still be out on whether violent video games produce any profound effect on aggression, but we’re willing to bet more than a few of you have had catharsis-like experiences. Have you ever felt so happy after completing a game that your eyes teared up? Or maybe you were so happy to get past some really tough puzzle games that you had to post about it on Facebook, call all your friends and do a victory dance in your living room.

Regardless of the situation, it’s about getting to experience real, intense emotions without the risk of suffering real-world consequences, and a well-written video game can do just that!

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How To Get A Video Game Tester Job - 2 Quick Tips

Landing a job as a video game tester is no walk in the park. As a matter of fact, it can be overwhelmingly difficult if you don't know where to start. Many gamers, instead of being proactive about becoming a professional video game tester, just sit around and do absolutely nothing to further their goals. They never actively search for video game tester jobs, so they never actually land one.

If that sounds at all like you, read & follow the two tips below. They should help you get started with finding your very first video game tester job.

Tip 1: Network!

The game industry is a large one, so the more connections you have, the better. You may have heard the phrase "it isn't what you know, it's who you know." Well, it absolutely applies to being a game tester. So, with that being said, start getting to know as many people in the gaming industry as possible; concept artists, designers, programmers, coders, testers, developers, support specialists, and anyone else who hangs around video games and/or has a video game related job.

Although it is very possible to do it all on your own, having a network just makes things easier; a LOT easier! The people in your "network" can let you in on jobs opening up, developers that are opening their doors, or they can just put in a good word for you when you are applying for a testing job. Plus, it never hurts to have a few friends in your respected field of work.

As you have probably guessed by now, having a network of reliable contacts is really a must in this industry; so be sure to work on expanding your "friends list" as much as possible. Although, don't let the networking part of video game testing get you down. After all, no one starts off knowing all of the most influential people.

Tip 2: Get Out There!

Don't wait until you have a huge network of contacts before you get started with your game testing career; just get out there! Game companies and developers are not going to put "Game Testers Wanted" ads in the paper. Sure they need video game testers, but they aren't going to advertise it everywhere.

Why don't they advertise? Because they would be swarmed with want to-be video game testers that just want to play games all day long and get paid for it. Although that can be seen as the situation for testers, it actually isn't. Game Testers are paid to test games; they are not paid to play them for hours on end. So basically, game developers advertise in order to separate the real testers from the fakes.

What does this mean for you? It means you have to go right to the game companies and developers themselves. You have to find them, talk to them, and convince them that you are an experienced video game tester and that they would greatly benefit from hiring you. Don't be shy either. Tell them about your experience with games, your extensive research on the video game industry, as well as anything else that would likely impress them. Remember, the more experience you have, the better your chances are for being hired.

If you still think this is a dream job and want nothing more than to become a video game tester, then follow the 2 tips above and you should be able to land your first testing job in no time.

Do You Think You Are Ready For a Career as a Video Game Tester? Are You Prepared To Make Up To $120 an Hour Testing Video Games? If You Are, Click Here To Find Out How To Get Started With Your Very Own Game Testing Career

To Get More Information on Video Game Testing & a Free "Quick Start" Game Tester E-book, Visit This Website... www.GameTestingParadise.com

How to Make a Video Game in Seven Days -for Free

There is plenty of free software and resources out there that will enable you to quickly make your own video game. All you need is a plan and some persistence. Here is the plan.

Today's software for game making is fairly complete and you don't need to be a programmer to learn how to use it. It is much like an automobile; you don't need to know how to build one you just need to know how to drive. With a little bit of effort and some practice you can use the freely available software to make games that will unleash your creative potential.

Day 1: Gather up the necessary resources and get familiar with it

You will need a computer and if you are reading this article you probably already have that! You should also download the necessary game development software. There are two that I recommend. Either get the Genesis 3D game engine or the Reality Factory Game development software. Of the two I suggest the Reality Factory software but if you have a really old computer and are concerned about your ability to run software then get the Genesis 3d software. Both these programs are readily available and easy to find on the web. Just do a search engine check for keywords Genesis 3d or Reality Factory.

Install this software and run it. Tinker with it and get familiar with it. Experiment with all of the different screens and settings then go through the help files and tutorials. Get an initial understanding of what it will be like to make a video game with the software.

Day 2: Begin learning the software

Get a notebook and label it "My Video Game Making Reference Book" Locate a tutorial on the web for the software you have used. Don't rush through this process. There are plenty of available tutorials for both of these programs. Take your time and go through the tutorials and take notes in your book. Keep a page for tips, keystrokes, and routines for getting things done.

Day 3: Take a break from the computer

Now that you have an idea of what the software is all about you can design your game on paper. First write down the concept and goals of your game. For example: Your game will be a game about how the player has been trapped in a dungeon and has to fight his or her way out to freedom. Or someone has been captured in a dungeon and the player has to break in and rescue him. For your first game keep the concept relatively simple. Something like you want your player to explore a dungeon, kill all the creatures, and find a treasure chest is perfectly good. Make it a small game with maybe ten to fifteen rooms and some outdoor areas. Sketch out every room and place in all the doors and major items like stairs, furniture, treasure chests and monsters.

Day 4: Build the empty shell of your game world

Crank up the computer and using the game software build just the buildings, rooms and structures of your game world. Do not yet populate it with furniture, doors, monsters or any other type of extra. Just build the structures of the world. Apply only basic textures to the surfaces in the world. Do not at this point worry about the colors, lights or textures of anything. You want to just build the grey shell of the world so you can text it and see if it works properly and if it is how you want it to be. After the world is built insert a character into it and walk around to see if it is as you planned it.

Day 5: Add the details to your game and make it look real

This is the day where you work on the look of your game. Go over all the structures and add textures, lighting, models, characters and all of the other accessories that will make it look right.

Right about now you might be thinking: "How do I do all that?" But the great thing about the software you are using is that models, characters, tables, chairs, doors, and lights are all pre-built and come in a library with the software. You can just click on them and place them right into the game.

Day 6: Have somebody play your game and give you feedback

Are your platers clear on the objectives of the game? Do they understand what it is all about? Do they have to ask questions? If anything is unclear to the player of if anything is difficult start up your software and modify the game.

Day 7: Complete the game

Add any extras like a splash screen that displays the name of your game or add sound effects. If you are ambitious you can create your own models or textures to give your game a unique look.

Making a video game is really not a hard process. If you have a plan and the discipline to put some time into learning the software you can have a small but complete game one week from today.

For more information, tutorials and information about making video games visit the author?s website at =>Make Video Games Resources and Tutorials

Million Dollar Quest

All Games : Hidden Object Games : Million Dollar Quest

Sandra's never had a lot of luck. Early on in life she was in a horrible car accident that resulted in her losing her memory and landed her in an orphanage. As and adult she decided to answer an invitation to participate in a competition for one million dollars. It seems exciting at first, involving trips all around the world, but it begins to get a little freaky as numerous clues in the competition seem linked to her amnesia and lost childhood memories.

Could someone be playing a mean trick on her? Will she win the million dollars? Will she piece together her lost past? Work your way through the various twists and turns of the plot to find out.

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Plants vs Zombies Cheat Codes, Tips & Tricks

Those of us who have played Plants vs Zombies know what an addictive, fun game it is. From the fifty different plants available for your army to the multitude of wacky Zombies crossing your lawn, you’re bound to get a laugh from every new level.

Want to have even more fun protecting your brains? How about Zombies in retro sunglasses or Zombies dancing? These are just two of the cheats coded into the game to ’enhance’ play. If you don’t want to “cheat” you can also check out our free Plants vs. Zombies strategy guide!

By typing any of the cheat codes shown in the table below during Plants vs Zombies game play, you can add new effects to the game and make a fun game even better! You don’t have to type the cheats in any specific location…just type them and the game will respond accordingly.

For those of you who are new to cheat codes (also known as Easter eggs), they represent additional ’hidden’ game triggers players can use to access new content, enhance gameplay, or just have a little fun. Popcap Games is known for including such Easter eggs in most of their games.

It should be pointed out that each code requires your Tree of Wisdom to be at a certain level. In the early stages of the game, some cheat codes will not work. However, the game will let you know your Tree of Wisdom isn’t tall enough…so you at least know the cheat code is legit. Have fun tricking out your PvZ gameplay!

Type any of the following cheat codes during gameplay to see the effect take place. Remember, in some cases, you have to grow your Tree of Wisdom to a specific height in order to activate the code. In such cases, we’ve called out the minimum height required to activate the cheat.

Code: pinata

Effect: A shower of candy erupts from Zombie whenever one is destroyed.

Tree of Wisdom Height: 1000 Feet

Code: trickedout

Effect: The appearance of the lawn mower is updated to a much more tricked out style.

Code: future

Effect: Give Zombies futuristic retro shades (is that a contradiction of terms?). It’s like you’re back in the ’80s.

Code: daisies

Effect: Zombies leave small patch of daisies behind when destroyed.

Tree of Wisdom Height: 100 Feet

Code: mustache

Effect: What Zombie doesn’t want a killer motorcycle cop mustache? Make it happen!

Code: dance

Effect: Want to see some super-bad moves? Dance, Zombies, dance! FYI, this is different from the Dancing Zombies.

Tree of Wisdom Height: 500 Feet

The final Plants vs Zombies cheat code you can implement doesn’t result in any visual change to the game. It simply toggles the Zombie talk. Implement it and you’ll no longer hear the Zombies call for your BRAINS!!!!

Code: sukhbir

Effect: Turn Zombie’s brains-sound on and off (I can’t imagine wanting to do this).

If you are new to Plants vs Zombies, it’s likely you are quick to build an army of plants to defend your home.

This technique may work in the early levels when the advancing Zombie army is small, slow, and underpowered. However, as the game progresses, it gets harder and harder to lead with power. Eventually, you’ll run out of sun and the Zombies will overrun your front lines.

The experienced Plants vs Zombies player knows what to focus on at the start of each level – sun, sun, and more sun! Without it, you’re brains are as good as eaten. Sun represents the energy you need to plant and sustain your army. Without an effective army the Zombies will overrun your lawn and all will be lost.

The question is, how do you insure you’ll have enough sun? After all, if you only plant Sunflowers, you’ll have no defenses to stop the advancing Zombies.

The trick here is balance.

While you’re dropping Sunflowers on your lawn, Zombies will still be advancing. Left unchecked, they can (and will) take down your smiling Sunflowers quickly. However, said Zombies can be dealt with swiftly without deviating from our sun strategy.

In the early stages of the game, the Zombie front lines are sparse and slow moving. Don’t take this as an opportunity to sit on your heels and casually establish your sun economy. You’ll still have to deal with each advancing Zombie. The technique here is to use cheap one-hit-kill plants like Potato Mines and Squashes to give yourself time to establish at least two columns of Sunflowers.

For those who are addicted to Pea Shooters in the early stages of the game, consider this, Popcap Games cites the combination of Sunflowers and one-hit-kill plants as the #1 and #2 strategies in the official Plants vs Zombies gameplay tips documentation.

If you’re still hesitant to put so much effort into plants that don’t function as weapons, here is one more fact that should open your eyes. Ty Roberts, the Associate Producer of Plants vs Zombies, endorses this technique.

Enough said.

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How Does Online Gaming Work?

Online gaming provides spirited or supportive games on computer with various users, through Internet or a local area network. Now, a question arises, why it is required to play against a computer once you have option to play with a human being? The answer for this question is that online gaming links you with various players of the globe and creates such an atmosphere for you where you can contend with each other and feel like a real situation.

Through online gaming, you can subjugate a rival of such a nature who doesn't yet live in this world. The action between players is controlled through servers in net games while graphics and sound are handled with your computer. There are mass varieties of internet games to choose with. You can play complicated games promptly with the help of a rapid Internet connection.

Online gaming requires a network that includes solitary or more computers to work as servers. The computers of the players are termed as clients. Clients link to the server through the Internet or a local network. The server acts like an organization of the net gaming that keeps track with selected game of player, keeps records of player and also provides gossip between players.

At the time of playing game, the server facilitates the actions of every participant. As participants shift, play a card or blaze a weapon, the "state of the world" messages is sent to the server by their computers then after receiving the signals server transmits these signals to the other client computers immediately. Any movements that you make at the time of game emerge on other users' computers. The client computer then transmits the sounds and graphics thus provides the visual effects for all players.

Internet games can be classified into two groups. One group that is accessible through centralized servers while other group that runs via distributed servers. Federal servers normally host the games that permit number of users to play simultaneously at the same time as is required in enormous players games like Ever Quest. The central server enclosed with a lot of information concerning the situation for these games. The world of game runs non-stop around the clock, hence the game continues either you play or not. Internet games by no means actually ends, you can continue play as per your desire. To start play user needs to open the client software that connects to the master server of the game.

While in a distributed system, server software stores numerous excited game servers on clients' PCs. Instantaneous strategy is used in games such as Myth and 3D shooters like Quake III Arena etc. These games need very prompt updates known as "state of the world". Distributed servers extend the pack of communication out; a solitary server hardly keeps up with numerous Quake players.

The game servers communicate signals to master server in every minute and the master server shows the addresses of every dynamic game servers. If you want to play then you need to get the list of active game servers available with the master server. Players can inquiry individual servers, from the information list, regarding the category of game exist on that server; the "ding time" and how many players are playing or duration requires for communicating of commands between the server and the player. Players generally select a server of the less ping time before they link straight to the game server.

The latest videogame news, reviews and previews. Online gaming is a world of fun and any one can join in on the action. Visit http://justonlinegamesblog.com

Game Tournaments

If your passion in life is to play free games online, then you have spent a great deal of time in front of your computer monitor honing your skills on your favorite free online games and Flash games such as Drag Racer V2, Pinch Hitter 2 and so many other action games. If you are ready for a new gaming challenge, there are several online gaming tournaments where you will have a chance to compete with others in a friendly atmosphere and shine at your favorite free Internet games.

There are different types of tournament classifications. Although member tournaments require you to be a member of a particular website or organization, open tournaments are available for everyone to enter.

Some websites that offer game tournaments also provide other helpful information to help you enter and prepare for the big event. Tournament rules will also likely be listed. Each game tournament offered will likely be listed separately and played in its own rounds so that there will eventually be a championship winner for that particular game. You should be able to sign up for as many different games as you wish to participate in, and at that time you can designate at which skill level you would like to play. Tournaments can take a round robin format where participants are randomly grouped together, and the winners from the initial games advance to further rounds. This process of competition in rounds progresses until there is a final round, the winner of which is named the game champion. Some tournaments set time limits for how much time you are allowed in which to make your move, so be sure to read your specific tournament rules for these types of instructions. Some gaming sites that offer tournaments may also have a Tournament message board, so that there is one central place to look for tournament information. You might also find available tournaments that are currently in progress, and learn about past tournament results as well.

Some superior gaming sites offer online gaming tournaments for the online Battleship game, for example. You might have played this fun game many times against the computer as your enemy, but what a great deal of excitement will be yours when you play with a real enemy opponent, who might physically be thousands of miles away from you. You could play against friends you have made playing online Battleship, or you might play against complete strangers. Either way, you will have a competitive time matching wits against other excellent players.

Some gamers become so good at game tournaments that they enter professional game tournaments. These individuals have sponsors and play action games for big money prizes. There is even an idea in the works to televise these competitions. No matter what level of competition at which you would like to compete, there is an online gaming tournament ready for you to join in.

Jonathon Blocker enjoys playing online video and flash games. In addition to spending his time playing his favorite Free Online Games, he also competes in online gaming tournaments. His descriptions on where to find Free Internet games and what to look for in a quality flash game can help add some variety to your gaming life.

History of Arcade Games

The first video game machines appeared in the and were mainly coin-operated. To play the game, you sloted in your coin or token and when that run out the game ended. You then had to purchase further tokens if so desired. Today, most pinball machines use solid state electronics to operate. Scores and bonuses are all electronically controlled.

In the seventies, one of the major players Atari, which was started by Ted Dabney dominated the arcade games industry. With good marketing and the sheer addictive nature of these games, - including The Pacman series, Donkey Kong, Pong and Space Invaders - many video arcade game machines sprouted up all over cities especially popular social hangouts such as bars, college campuses, supermarkets, movie theaters and gambling houses. In fact, te presence of these machines in seedier places rather led to a dip in its popularity as increasing people perception of it changed. The advanced gaming console technology also added to the decline in the popularity of these slot machines.

A business just offering arcade games to people, could well make a tidy profit, the decline is such that many of such businesses have had to re-think and offer a variety of attractions in order to keep their visitors coming for more. The hard facts now is that many such dedicated arcade amusement centers have since closed down. If not, evolved so thoroughly it is hard to remember what they once were. Even if there exist such venues, they are generally visited by hobbyists whose passion for tradition has not waned.

Playing arcade games is now even easier. With most dedicated venues closed due to advances in the gaming console technology and the internet, you do not need to uproot yourself and find a physical venue. If you are into gaming consoles, all you need is to buy or rent your game and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. On the other hand, if you wish to play free arcade games with a bit of social interaction, you can choose from many internet gaming platforms where you can play as well as chat or interact with other game lovers in the forums.

In spite of the many milestones arcade games have come, the basic essence of the "arcade" is still present in most modern games. Most arcade games offer the gamer different levels of play, starting with the easiest. Once that level has been mastered or maximum points have been scored, you are allowed to move to the next level. Each higher level is progressively more difficult. You stay in the game if you stay "alive" or your "virtual" tokens get finished. Obviously, physical tokens are not needed for online arcade games but the general theme is always present. Newer games such as Street Fighter I and King Fighters offer a two player game mode which further draws the game lover.

Arcade games have survived, mainly because they are so addictive and they offer a good recreation time for kid, teens and adults alike and they are likely to be with us for a long time to come.

By Jake Jenkins, Games enthusiast
Strategy games, find Free Online Arcade Games and free games at Gamerevolt.com

Games That Make You Think

Oftentimes we play games because they are an escape. However, games can be a great way to keep your brain active and force us to really think. This is especially true for games that involve critical thinking skills.

While many games have elements that can be challenging, games such as Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy or Echoes of the Past: The Castle of Shadows are designed as much to present an entertaining storyline as they are to challenge our brains.

However, if you really want to put your brain through its paces, it is great to look for games that vary from the traditional Hidden Object Adventure gameplay. We’ve put together a list of ten great games that do just this.

In this game, you take on the role of master Safecracker hired to uncover the location of an eccentric billionaire’s hidden will and deed to his riches. As you search for the document, you’ll work your way through his mansion and crack open 35 locked safes, each one presenting a unique challenge.

Some of the safes are pretty straightforward, but others offer challenging puzzle mechanics that will cause even the most seasoned puzzle gamer to pause.

Of all the casual Adventure games that have been released over the years, Myst is one of the most successful. Originally released for the Mac in 1993, Myst was a surprise hit and went on to become the top selling PC game of all time – prior to the Sim series. Full of challenging puzzles and an immersive backstory, Myst will keep you thinking for hours and hours. Best of all, this game is just your first step in the Myst trilogy. Follow it up with Riven and Exile, the second and third installments in the series.

What has come to be a classic genre spanning game, World of Goo is a truly unique physics game in which the player works to rescue gooballs by building structures. The game itself is actually kind of hard to explain. But, trust us, it’s challenging.

Are you a tinkerer or an engineer at heart? Crazy Machines: New from the Lab presents a vast number of physics based puzzles where the player is expected to use such devices as gravity machines, C4, electrical outlets, levers, and inclined planes to guide objects from a starting point to a completion point.

You’ll find yourself planning, building, testing, analyzing, and retesting to clear each level.

Sudoku Latin Squares offers a true classic in the world of brain teasers. Trying to solve such a puzzle using only your brain (no using the classic Sudoku tricks) can really put your mind through a wringer.

If you are unfamiliar with Sudoku, we recommend you check out our Sudoku tips for beginners. It offers a great starting point for learning the techniques best used for successfully finishing Sudoku puzzles.

If you are more of a visual person, a game like Temple of Tangram can be a great way to improve your spatial awareness. Tangrams are a classic activity for your children and this game is a great candidate for a parent/child gaming hour. Visualize how to configure the given shapes to complete each puzzle.

Deductive reasoning is one mode of thinking we were all exposed to during our secondary education days. A Series of Unfortunate Events takes this style of puzzle solving and rolls it into a game. Although somewhat dated and lacking a strong storyline, the puzzles themselves offer a chance for exploring a new way of thinking – especially for young kids.

Of all the games on this list, we would have to rate Murfy Maths as the most challenging. It is a straight ahead mathematics game where the player is presented with a collection of numbers and a final total. By using standard mathematical operations, the player must devise an equation that results in the final total.

Make no mistake about it, this game can be tough. Moreover, it will test your mastery of basic algebra. This is really a great one for those kids out there who need to sharpen their mental mathematics skills.

The Samorost series of games are classic point and click style games that will have you thinking long and hard about what to do, where to click, and how to solve the game. Samorost 2 owes much of its success to the unique art style and the layers of humorous anecdotes interspersed throughout the gameplay.

This game is not for the lazy gamer. You’ll be challenged to think through obscure puzzles and tricky mechanics. In the end, though, the gameplay and the storyline more than carry the challenge.

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Scintillating PS2 Game Cheats

I love ps 2 game cheats. Well...no one loves a cheater. But when it comes to discovering video game cheats, cheating isn't what you're doing. I prefer to think of it as discovering shortcuts, tips and tricks, or video game hints.

Most ps 2 game cheats have gotten really complex since the days of PacMan. The game authors have even thrown in back doors and shortcuts to make life interesting for the player.

The problem is most of these back doors are too well hidden. The authors are forced to give information on their whereabouts or no one would ever find them.

Many video games offer game cheats. "Finding Nemo" is a good example. Did you know that there are at least six video game cheat codes hidden there? If you play a video game online, like XBox Live, there are a whole slew of video game hints available.

Of course ps 2 game cheats and game hints are sort of useless if you don't own any video games. And that's where video game web sites come in.

Any web site worth visiting will not only have video game reviews and cheats for you to peruse, but they will also have game walkthroughs. Video game walkthroughs differ from cheats in that they actually "walk you through" the process of achieving some goal.

Video game cheats, on the other hand, are often cryptic one or two liners like enter xx312 in the password field.

Professional video game reviews are typically written by paid reviewers who work for video game magazines. These are generally well-written, in depth, and definitely worth reading.

The other most common writer of video game reviews are the actual end users. If purchasing ps 2 game cheats, the key point to remember is that you don't want to invest in a video game until at least a couple of people have taken the time to write a review of that game.

The video game industry has been participating online. As more and more video game systems opt for Internet connectivity, you're likely to find that you never have to play video games alone again.

The ps 2 game cheats provide great help when playing these games. Does time fly when you play these games? Does with me! Check out more games ps 2 game cheats [http://www.wyclefinnovations.com/ps2gamecheats].

Twisted Lands Origin

All Games : Hidden Object Games : Twisted Lands Origin

Experience the birth of the terror that gripped the island of Tormente in the Twisted Lands series of hidden object adventure games! Take the role of a gifted detective who's always trusted his intellect and never given a second thought to the horrors hidden in the dark corners of the world. Watch his survival instincts kick in as he travels to Tormente to find a young lady and discovers misshapen creatures that threaten to kill him before he completes his task. Then protect the woman and her son from something even more evil and race to escape the island before death catches up!

Twisted Lands: Origin will lure you in with stunning artwork and bone-chilling audio, and then hold you captive as you explore dozens of bloodcurdling locations, search for useful items and solve cleverly designed puzzles.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, Review

Game Overview

Many games have emerged during the last decade with the words "Lord of the Rings" in their name from traditional board games to Monopoly: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition and Risk: The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a Living Card Game (LGG). In Living Card Games, a system invented by Fantasy Flight Games, all cards of the game become available in packets, that contain all the cards published in the set in contrast to Trading Card Games in which expansions become available in small packages, called "booster packs" that contain some random cards from the set. That means that with TCGs one has to buy countless boosters in order to find specific cards and thus spend much money whereas on LCGs you just have to buy the appropriate expansions that contain the cards and that's all. This system has proven to be quite successful taking into account the economic difficulties many countries have run to the last few years. This review is about the core set of the game which contains four 30-card starter decks and components for two players. Expansions of the game, called "adventure packs" come out every month and so far two cycles of expansions have been published, "Shadows of Mirkwood" and "Dwarrowdelf", along with a deluxe expansion called "Khazad-dûm". Adventure packs contain 60 cards that include a new scenario, a new hero, three copies of nine new player cards from all spheres and new encounter cards. But what are heroes, player decks, encounter decks and spheres?

The Lord of the Rings: The Card game is a cooperative game based on the renowned trilogy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. One to four players travel through the lands of Middle-Earth trying to complete dangerous quests and defeat the ancient evil Dark Lord, Sauron. Each player controls 1-3 heroes that become available from the start of the game and each has a deck of cards, that can be played by spending resources that belong to a specific sphere. There are four spheres: "Lore" which emphasizes the potential of the hero's mind, "Tactics" which emphasizes a hero's martial prowess, "Spirit" which emphasizes the strength of a hero's will and "Leadership" which emphasizes the charismatic and inspirational influence of a hero. Each sphere provides a unique style of play and you can include in your deck cards belonging to more than one sphere, providing that you use appropriate heroes as well as they are the source of resources. The player decks comprise of Allies that come to aid your heroes, events influencing the course of the adventure, and attachment cards.

At the beginning of the game you decide which of the three scenarios included in the game you are going to play. Each scenario has different difficulty and is represented by quest cards that provide the storyline of the scenario. Each scenario consists of a sequential deck of quest cards and goes along with specific threats (unexplored locations, enemies, treachery and objectives) represented by specific encounter sets. Each scenario requires two or three encounter sets that are shuffled to form the encounter deck.

The game starts by setting the threat level of each player (depends on the heroes used) and by shuffling the player and encounter decks. In the course of the game the threat level will eventually rise and when it reaches level 50, the player is eliminated. The rest of the players continue the adventure and if at least one survives till the end of the quest, the whole group of players is considered to have accomplished the quest. The first quest card is revealed and each player draws 6 cards. Then the game continues in rounds, consisting of the following phases:

Resources are gathered from heroes and one card is drawn from the player deck.
Planning. Each player can use resources and play cards such as Allies and Attachments.
Quest. Each player decides which characters (heroes or Allies) they will send to the quest. Then cards equal to the number of players are revealed from the encounter deck and positioned on the staging area. Total willpower of the heroes is compared to the total threat strength of cards in the staging area and if willpower is greater, players have successfully quested and some progress tokens are placed on the quest card. A specific number of tokens are required in each quest for it to be completed.
Travel. Players may travel as a group to a location on the staging area, making it an active location and no longer contributing with its threat level upon questing. Progress tokens are placed there first after successfully questing until the location is fully explored.
Encounter. Players may engage enemy creatures on the staging area and then engagement checks are made to see if any enemies engage the players. Engaged enemies are moved from the staging area and placed in front of the engaging player.
Combat. Enemies then attack the players first and then players attack enemies. Characters may either commit to a quest, defend or attack enemies. Each of these actions require the character to exhaust (turn sideways). Characters may also exhaust when using an ability that requires them to do so.
Refresh. All exhausted characters become ready (moved to their normal upright position). Each player increases his threat by 1, and the first player passes the first player token to the next player clockwise on his left. That player becomes the new first player. Play then proceeds to the resource phase of the next round.

But enough with gameplay aspects. Now is the moment of truth. Does the game hold up to our expectations?

First Impressions

Upon opening the game box, I realized that it was simply too big for what it contained. Actual contents require only the middle one-third of the box, while the two other thirds are covered with cardboard pieces. Overcoming the initial frustration I began opening the small packages containing cards and the cardboard sheets with tokens and the threat counters. Upon observing the components I realized how much attention to detail was given during design. Fantasy Flight has proven in the course of years that where looks matter, it can make the difference and this game is no exception. All cards are exquisitely beautiful and detailed.

And then comes the rulebook. I have to admit that it seemed pretty intimidating to read through the 32 page manual but taking into account that many pages are example illustrations, things have been a bit easier than anticipated. But let's go through our usual rating categories:

Components:

As mentioned earlier, cards couldn't be better designed. Images of all cards are awesome, tokens are sturdy and the threat trackers are just superb. The only complain I had is about the number of players that can play the game. While four 30-card decks are included in the box, allowing four players to play, only 2 threat counters are included. I think that it would be appropriate to give full components for four players as only two threat counters would be required. Of course one can easily track threat in a piece of paper but it still seems a bit awkward. Fantasy Flight preferred profit over efficiency stating in the rulebook that "a one to two player game can be played using only the contents of this core set. (Up to four players can play the game cooperatively with a second copy of the core set.)" 9/10

Gameplay:

Gameplay is well thought of. The game has a lot of depth and allows many different strategies giving players the privilege of adjusting their decks as they please even combining different spheres in them and play according to their style. The game provides absolute immersion, through the beautiful artwork and interesting text on cards, not only quest cards that describe the mission of the party of adventurers but character and enemy cards too. Players are constantly faced with important decisions such as: Which characters should I use to commit to quests, which to defend or attack? Maybe I could use the character's special ability instead. I was really impressed by the duration of the first few games until all players felt comfortably regarding the rules. The game box states a playing time of 60 minutes but be prepared to play a lot longer in the first games. Everyone who is not intimidated by complex rules and long gameplay and is a fan of the book will simply love this game and never be bored to play it. 8/10

Learning Curve:

All that is required to learn the game is go once through the rules and play the game once. That could take a while though. It is recommended that one of the players who likes to read rules should just do that and then explain the game to the others while playing the first (easier scenario). Merely stating the game rules will be intimidating and won't serve much as the rules are pretty extensive and will be soon forgotten without the in-game experience. The sequence of phases is shown in the last pages of the rulebook along with the timing when players can take actions which will prove quite useful. 6/10

Theme:

The game quests take place during a timespan of 17 years: from when Bilbo celebrates his 111th birthday (and Frodo's 33rd) to days just prior to Frodo's leaving the Shire. However the scenarios are not retelling the story of the books but instead they describe new adventures throughout Middle-Earth history. That may be seen as a positive or negative point to players and is clearly a matter of character. I personally find this idea refreshing and more intriguing. Game artwork along with detailed texting and the appearance of well-known heroes such as Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli makes the theme of the game always present in every action players make. 9/10

Replayability:

Replayability is another strong point of this game. While new adventure packs are released each month, keeping up the interest in the game, even the core set with it's 3 scenarios is pretty interesting as you will always want to replay scenarios to achieve better scores (lower scores are better!) and accomplish quests in fewer rounds. So replayability is at its best here. 9/10

Fun:

The game is much fun, though not in a way that will amuse you or make you laugh. Most times you will be struggling to make the right decisions about what actions to take or talk to your fellow mates about the right strategy to advance in the game. I think most fun comes out of the fact that this is a cooperative game. This is accomplished with an intuitive way though, allowing enough space for player cooperation and allowing players to make their own decisions too. I had a lot of fun playing this game 8/10

Pros:

Beautiful artwork and high quality material
Each game is different as encounter and player decks are shuffled
Theme is implemented most efficiently
Full deck customization
All cards become available in adventure packs (LCG system)

Cons:

Learning curve is a bit slow (complex rules)
Playing time can be several hours especially for the first game
Components could be included for all 4 players with minimum additions

Overall: 8.2

Find out more about this game at:

http://www.boardgamemaniac.com/Games/By-Genre/Customizable-Games/LCG/The-Lord-of-the-Rings-The-Card-Game-l97.html

Maria Panagou is the owner of http://www.boardgamemaniac.com website.
If you liked this article, feel welcome to read more articles about board games, plus find informative game presentations, strategy guides, a comprehensive sleeving guide and more by visiting the above link.

Farm Frenzy 3 Bundle

All Games : Strategy Games : Farm Frenzy 3 Bundle

Manage five farms around the world and try your hand at penguin breeding and jewelry making in Farm Frenzy 3 Bundle! This 2-in-1 bundle includes two classic games, Farm Frenzy 3 and Farm Frenzy 3: American Pie.

What's more, as you grow crops, feed animals, collect produce and manufacture goods, you'll be treated to some of the zaniest animation to ever grace a casual game! Will you help Scarlett become the president of the farmers union by earning the votes of the people she helps in Farm Frenzy 3 Bundle?

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Full deluxe version with unlimited play and all levels.
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Series Spotlight: Margrave

In this very special “Series Spotlight” we peer behind the development curtain of the beautiful Margrave game series. I recently caught up with the project’s Creative Director to discuss the development of  Margrave: The Blacksmith’s Daughter.

We wanted to take you back to the very beginning, when the game was just scribbled words and rough sketches on scraps of wrinkled paper. Luckily, the team saved a few of those “scraps” (of gold) and they have been included for your viewing pleasure below. You can also check out all of the sketches on the full storyboard here! 

Please introduce yourself/development team

It would be my pleasure! I’m Dave, the creative director. I’m kind of the daddy. Ben is my senior artist and right-hand man. He paints those utterly amazing backgrounds and also concepts everything with me and helps me define the style of our virtual worlds. The rest of the art is created by 2D Sally and 3D André, who are an unstoppable duo and make those glorious HO scenes and puzzles and cut-scenes. Lucy is my senior programmer, and I always turn to her when I need help with a puzzle or a line of dialogue. And Adrian is the guy responsible for those magical soundscapes.

How did you come up with the Margrave game series?

Back in 2008, company directors Greg and Graeme hopped on over to Casual Connect with a portfolio of solitaire and mahjongg games. It was at that conference that they saw their first hidden object adventure. Returning from Casual Connect, the guys delved a bit deeper and discovered a little-known game called Ravenhearst!

A year later, they returned to Casual Connect with their own take on the hidden object game. They showed it to the Big Fish gang, and Margrave Manor was born.

By the time they released the sequel – Margrave Manor 2: Lost Ship – it was obvious to them that the shape of hidden object games was changing, and they hired me to design the third in the series. They gave me a wonderful team to work with and we’ve gone from strength to strength.

What are the biggest technical challenges when you develop a game?

For me, the greatest technical challenge is figuring out how to get five hours or so of engaging game-play from a tiny team in twelve months. It’s the eternal battle between quality and quantity. The problem is compounded by the need to synchronize the schedules so that every team member has the same amount of work. To that end, we’ve all learned to become adept at multiple disciplines.

As a developer, after shipping a game, do you enjoy playing it just as much as you enjoyed making it? Or when it’s shipped do you take a sigh of relief and forget about it, knowing you don’t need to worry about it anymore?”

It’s a sad truth that we never get to experience the game like our players. For one thing, the game is developed piecemeal, and is inexorably tweaked and balanced and edited along the way. The closest we come to experiencing as a player is, perhaps, when the multiple elements of a cut-scene all come together at once, or when the voice overs for a character are implemented and the character comes to life. But mainly, we watch the game mature in tiny steps, day by day. And invariably, when the game is complete, we tend to get hung up on the parts that we know we could have accomplished better. In all sincerity, the sheer pleasure of working with such talented and delightful individuals is more than compensation enough.

How many ideas have you had to abandon or drastically change because someone beat you to the punch?

None! My view is that originality is the unique composition of non-unique elements. So, whilst you and are are both made from the same basic components (pieces of dead stars!), this doesn’t detract from our individuality! The fact of the matter is that some themes are more popular than others, and some motifs work better in puzzle adventure games than others. It doesn’t concern me if I see a game open with another crashed car, or if another family member is taken hostage, or if I have to search for another sand timer in a hidden object scene. Because a game is much much more than the sum of its parts, right?

What do you find is the best approach for starting a new project? Do you think about the story (or characters or style etc.) you want to get across or do you worry about mechanics and gameplay first?

Once my bosses and I have decided on a theme and a direction, I begin filling notebooks and sketchbooks with every cool idea I can conjure, researching as I go. At that point, it makes no difference if an idea relates to a puzzle mechanic or a powerful plot device or a shade of green. Then I bring Ben in and see which ideas excite him most. He begins building a reference library for the art team and concepts a few backgrounds. While he is doing that, I kind of work backwards from the ending, and devise the act reversals and character arcs, which will form the spine of the story. Ben and I build a prototype of the first hour out of our concepts, so that we can all wander around our world and soak up the mood. This also allows me to get a sense of how I might pace the gameplay. This initial process is incredibly fast: our last prototype was up and running in just a couple of weeks!

What do devs think about the people who get mad about a particular aspect of a game, whether it be story, customization, gameplay, etc. Do they take it personally or ignore it?

As creative director, my sole ambition is to please the players. If the players are happy, then my bosses are happy, my team are happy, and the lovely folk at Big Fish are happy too. If even one person is upset by any single aspect of our game, then it’s entirely my fault and not theirs! Yes, it does hurt if someone dislikes our game. I wouldn’t be much of a game dev if I didn’t care, would I? But I’m pragmatic about this: I understand that I can never please everyone. That said, it sure won’t stop me trying.

Do developers ever realize that the game they’re making needs a major overhaul? If so, is there a process to improving a game in the latter stages of development?

Game devs rely on something called the rule of the loop. Essentially, this means that the more we test a game and the more feedback we get, the better it will be. I guess that, for a game to require a major overhaul, something fundamental would need to be wrong in the first place. You don’t tend to see that happen very often amongst experienced devs for one of two reasons: either they have chosen to follow a time-tested path, or they have been at it long enough to understand what does and does not work.

Because we’re such a small team, I would never attempt to walk in the footsteps of the puzzle adventure leviathans out there! I have to take many (calculated) risks, which can be terrifying for us all. But I rarely feel compelled, nor do I have the time, to tinker with the more fundamental mechanics. And I always ensure I have a back-up plan should a gamble backfire!

Often, after designing a puzzle or a plot development, I’ll sit back in my chair and try to picture the faces of my players and imagine how they will react. Ultimately, there is no substitute for player feedback. It is like gold dust to us. We’re unconditionally grateful to every single volunteer who has tested and critiqued our game!

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