Category Archives: Videogames

Tomb of the Snake King

Posted on April 12, 2021 by AJ

My kids and I made a game for a Game Jam this weekend, which had a theme of “It Never Ends”. My youngest daughter (age 12) created all the art and music for the game, while my son (age 15) … Continue reading →

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Regency Royale

Posted on February 10, 2021 by matt

In late 2019, just before the Covid thing, I was working on a game design document for a real time tactics video game with the working title of “Regency Royale”. A quasi-historical world designed to evoke some great narrative inspired … Continue reading →

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Games Development Seminar – Belfast, 14th Sept

Posted on September 12, 2011 by matt

Last chance to register for a games technology development seminar here in Belfast. Wed, 14 September from 10:00 to 12:00 at Radisson Blu, Gasworks, Belfast The speaker is Paul Durrant, Abertay University’s Director of Business Development. He has been instrumental … Continue reading →

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Game Prototype development quote needed

Posted on August 30, 2011 by matt

I’m looking for a prototype of a RTS game on iOS developed. Just a single level, basic graphics. 2D sprites on 3D isometric plane. Happy for it to be done in Unity and/or another rapid development environment. Would be nice … Continue reading →

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Indies on the Mac

Posted on August 22, 2011 by matt

From the Oddlabs blog: Many game developers, indie or not, view the Mac as a freak that no one cares for or wants to be associated with. They look at statistics that show only 5% of desktop machines are Macs … Continue reading →

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Although they are developed in software, games are not software

Posted on August 22, 2011 by matt

The title of this post is from this article: You Need $100,000. Users relate to them differently. Immersion matters. Balance matters. Drawing people into the world of the game in a way that doesn’t break their attention every few seconds … Continue reading →

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Skirmish MP

Posted on August 21, 2011 by matt

Following on from my last post, I would posit that there is something missing from MP RTS (Multi Player Real Time Strategy) games and that would be the lack of a feeling that success has an impact. Left 4 Dead … Continue reading →

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Most RTS single player modes suck…

Posted on August 21, 2011 by matt

Josh Bycer writes: Honestly, most RTS single player modes… suck. The reason is that designers try to use it to teach the player about multiplayer which doesn’t work, as an AI is not a good substitute for a player … … Continue reading →

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Anomaly Warzone Earth

Posted on April 9, 2011 by matt

Great videos from the launch team here. Described as a Tower Offense game, it certainly adds a different flavour to the stock re-runs of tower defense games (like Plants vs Zombies) which have been so popular recently. And certainly distracts … Continue reading →

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Digital Games can be Social Experiences

Posted on October 22, 2010 by matt

Professor Mark Durkin from the University of Ulster suggested: “For customers, the constant and often simultaneous use of laptop, MP3 player, smart phone and TV, especially by our young people, has serious implications in terms of attention and focus, he … Continue reading →

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NO, HUMAN

Posted on September 4, 2010 by matt

Simple premise. 50 levels of fun. (iTunes link)

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SyncNI: Exclusive on Galactic Racer by WeeMan Studios

Posted on September 3, 2010 by matt

NI-based game development studio, Wee Man Studios just gave SyncNI an exclusive on Galactic Racer! Click through the graphic for the exclusive. Due for release, later this quarter.

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Once, Twice, Three Times a Detective

Posted on September 3, 2010 by matt

Dolgion Chuluunbaatar of Gamasutra writes about non-linear adventure games: As I was on vacation, I picked up my sister’s copy of Sherlock Holmes stories, and quickly I got caught up in the really really beautifully narrated and well thought-out plots. … Continue reading →

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Games in Education

Posted on August 26, 2010 by matt

I believe that my playing of games has contributed positively to my development as an individual. Traditionally advocacy for gaming has included the development of teamwork and leadership skills, understanding of competition, resource management and also a greater appreciation of … Continue reading →

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BLOC54 – GameStorming

Posted on August 24, 2010 by matt

Equally useful for the development of tabletop game ideas, this method was used tonight to brainstorm some ideas for videogames in our local game development cluster.

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The Fun Theory

Posted on August 23, 2010 by matt

When designing games I tend to think about what will make the game more ‘sticky’. At the start, I can usually enthuse someone about a game by talking to them about it. You’re the consummate salesperson for your game and … Continue reading →

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