Designing Gameful Experiences Part I
Many game scholars have given different definitions to what a game is, for the sake of clarity and to be able to establish a common ground with the reader, I will endorse the definition formulated by Jesper Juuls: “a rule-based system with a variable and quantifiable outcome, where different outcomes are assigned different values, the player exerts effort in order to influence the outcome, the player feels emotionally attached to the outcome, and the consequences of the activity are optional and negotiable.”[1] The term ‘Gamification’ and the indiscriminating and overwhelming trend to slap badges and points to every single thing took ...
Unethical Game Design
When does an entertaining system turn into an addictive money making machine? Where is the line in ethical game design? How far can a game designer go? There is a thin line between making a game "for" your audience and making a game "to abuse the wishes of" your audience. It also depends on each individual if a game is for him or abusing him, depending on how susceptible the player is to compulsive behavior. For example I can spend hours playing Quake Live, part of that is due to the actual fun I have in the game, and the mastery of the ...
Pulling strings
Hey Folks, last week I did an introduction to the Self-Determinant Theory led by Deci and Ryan since 1985. At the end I brushed over ways of companies, marketing and (game)designers to trick people into liking their product or service. Today we will look into these a little better as I increased my knowledge on the subject. Before we start with Facebook and its ‘casual games’ I will need to explain what is seen as a ‘casual game’. Or at least what is at the moment seen as a ‘casual game’ as this term is relatively new and has not reached a consensus ...
Kid Icarus: Uprising European Launch Date Announced
Nintendo have announced that Kid Icarus: Uprising is set to be launched on the 23rd of March in Europe. That’s exciting enough news at the best of times but add in the fact that game will come bundled with the recently announced 3DS stand, and things are looking that little bit brighter. The 3DS stand was created so that the gamer could easily place the system on a flat surface and be able to play the game without having to worry where to put their hands. Kid Icarus also supports the new Circle Pad Pro (due for release this Friday alongside Resident ...
Game Narrative: It’s Getting Better
Once every now and then a game is launched that delivers a special sensation. A sense of harmony that is unfortunately very rare. It manages to deliver a compelling experience as a whole, with each element of the game working together towards the same goal. Narrative plays a part in this as well, and it’s here that many games take a wrong turn. The most compelling game I’ve personally played in 2011 was Bastion. Bastion is the game that opened the Xbox Live summer of arcade. It’s a small indie game developed by Super Giant Games. The studio counts seven team ...
It’s 18 For A Reason
Some might argue that computer games and the stories that are contained within could be classified as an art form. Others suggest that the mere thought of a game is enough to send their children into drug fueled killing sprees with nothing but a NES pad as a blunt yet deadly weapon. Let me tell you how I feel about all of this absurdity. Being a games journalist I get bombarded by people throwing their random nonsense at me about games being degrading or how they are destroying their children's mental state. I believe this stems from people not understanding games ...
What is League of Legends?
In the past year there is one game I can say that has kept me glued to my PC day in and day out, and that game is League of Legends, also known as LoL. So what is League of Legends? What makes it so special that 32.5 Million people have felt the need to sign up to play the game? League of Legends is a free online MOBA game or DotA game developed by Riot Games. MOBA stands for 'Multiplayer Online Battle Arena' which is what Riot Games wants to call this new up and coming game genre, but DotA ...
Games and Psychology
[caption id="attachment_9429" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Skinner box"][/caption] In this article I have chosen to investigate the self-determination theory. The self-determination theory suggests that people have an inherent tendency to grow innate psychological needs which, if fulfilled, allow for optimal growth. These factors influence a person’s motivation behind choices and to what degree these choices are made through self-motivation and self-determination. Self-determination theory can be seen as a facet of the recently established branch of psychology coined ”Positive Psychology”. This is a branch in psychology that focuses on finding and nurturing people so that they can be thriving individuals, families and participants in society. ...
Articles
Designing Gameful Experiences Part IMany game scholars have given different definitions... Read
Unethical Game DesignWhen does an entertaining system turn into an addictive money making machine? Where... Read
Pulling stringsHey Folks, last week I did an introduction to the Self-Determinant Theory led by... Read
Game Narrative: It’s Getting BetterOnce every now and then a game is launched that delivers... Read
It’s 18 For A ReasonSome might argue that computer games and the stories that are contained within could... Read
Reviews & Interviews
Might And Magic: Heroes 6 ReviewThe Heroes of Might and Magic series has been a series of slow but gradual development in... Read
RoboFonics: Production Complete!“This factory upholds human rights. You are a robot” RoboFonics is a game for... Read
Batman Arkham City: Return of the BatBack in 2009, Rocksteady had relatively unexpected success... Read
PES 2012 ReviewPES 2012 also known as Pro Evolution Soccer was released the 14th October 2011 in Europe and... Read
Ace Combat a View on Combat HorizonAce Combat is a hybrid arcade-simulation flight action... Read
News
Kid Icarus: Uprising European Launch Date AnnouncedNintendo have announced that Kid Icarus: Uprising is set to be launched on the 23rd of March in Europe. That’s exciting enough news at the best of times but add in the fact that game will come bundled with the recently announced 3DS stand, and things are looking that little bit brighter. The 3DS stand was created so that the gamer could easily place the system on a flat surface... Read
Resident Evil 6 To be Released 20-11-2012Recently, Capcom officially announced Resident Evil 6 to be released coming winter. A trailer can be found here. From what we can see in the video, it is looking to be an action packed sequel, much in the line set earlier for the series by Resident Evil 4 and 5. The game once again features Chris Redfield, and Resident Evil 4 favorite Leon Kennedy will also return. Most remarkable... Read
Zelda Marathon FundraisingSo what is this Zelda Marathon all about than? Zelda Marathon A fan run fundraiser for the Dutch Heart Cause by playing videogames, a unique concept in the Netherlands. From wednesday the 14th of december 20:00 CET until sunday the 18th of december 23:59 CET, you can follow our 100 hour long marathon live trough this stream and trough an iPad application. We’ll be streaming... Read
Shigeru Miyamoto ‘starts working with young developers’ at Nintendo, stepping down from main development.If there’s one person who you could point to who has had the most influential hand in shaping the modern video game industry,than that person very well could Shigeru Miyamoto from Nintendo. And the 59-year-old game design icon makes any major... Read
According to, The Sun Newspaper Reports: Gamers caught in Xbox cyber fraudONLINE crooks have hacked into thousands of Xbox Live accounts to steal millions of pounds. The average loss to gamers in the UK is around £100 — but many have had more than £200 stolen. Bosses at Xbox Live operator Microsoft were last night probing the cyber thefts. In one “phishing” con, crooks sent emails to players directing them to bogus websites offering free... Read
Nintendo Europe Releases a Pink and Ice White 3DS. (Updated)The 2 new Nintendo 3DS bundles (one being coral pink and one being ice white) Will hit the stores November 18 December 2 The ice white one comes along with SUPER MARIO 3D LAND™ And the coral pink version will be bundled with nintendogs™ + cats November 18. The bundles can be seen below: Read
