By IndieGames.com - The Weblog

Indie Games Summit Round-Ups: Day 2

Here's our link round-ups for articles about the second day of Indie Games Summit talks, happening at the Game Developers Conference in San Franscisco this entire week:

Gamasutra: Exploratory Development
"Game development is one of the highest-pressure, most anxiety-inducing careers there is. An exploratory development process can be a solution, but only if it's managed with confidence and honesty, say ThatGameCompany's Kellee Santiago and Robin Hunicke."

Gamasutra: Ninjabee's Top 10 Development Lessons
"Ninjabee's art director Brent Fox shared a top ten list of development lessons learned from releasing games on Xbox Live Arcade and other platforms, offering useful advice for other indie developers during his lecture at GDC's Independent Games Summit in San Francisco."

Gamasutra: A Brief Postmortem Of Today I Die
"In a short talk during the Indie Games Summit at GDC in San Francisco, Daniel Benmergui (I Wish I Were The Moon) discussed the process of making the game that put him on the map, and is an IGF Nuovo finalist this year, Today I Die."

Gamasutra: Refenes' and Saltsman's Baffling $350 App Store Success
"I absolutely hate the iPhone App Store,' declared indie developer Tommy Refenes during his segment of the Indie Game Makers Rant at Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week."

GameSpot: Indie developers spew rapid-fire rants
"The Indie Gamemaker Rant session was an orderly procession of five-minute spiels from a dozen people with an interest in the independent development community."

Edge Online: Semi Secret Talk Canabalt, Flixel
"Semi Secret Software's Eric Johnson gave a candid post-mortem of their hit game at GDC's iPhone Game Summit, closing out by revealing that Flixel, the flash game API used to create Canabalt, is being ported to iPhone for native development, including an Actionscript to Objective-C translator to accelerate Flash to iPhone ports."

Boing Boing: How The Indie Fund Could Change Game Dev Destiny
"Opening the 2010 Independent Games Summit, 2D Boy co-founder Ron Carmel took to the stage to explain why the fund was needed, with Braid artist David Hellman illustrating the strange over-complex steamwork behemoth of traditional business models that no longer serve the indies best." Continue reading

By Simon Carless

Game Developer March Issue Showcases Uncharted 2, Dirty Coding Tricks

[Here's info on the latest issue of the evergreen Game Developer magazine - and it's a bumper GDC-distributed issue, actually, which you'll get in your attendee bag at the show this week, if you didn't get a copy in the mail already!]

The March 2010 issue of Game Developer magazine, the sister print publication to Gamasutra and the leading U.S. trade publication for the video game industry, has shipped to print and digital subscribers and is available from the Game Developer Digital service in both subscription and single-issue formats.

The cover feature for the issue is an exclusive postmortem of Naughty Dog's cinematic action game Uncharted 2. The article, crafted by designer Richard Lemarchand, offers insight on the challenges and successes experienced by the Sony-owned studio. It is introduced as follows:

"Uncharted 2 is Naughty Dog's latest foray into what they call the cinematic action genre. The game released to nearly-universal acclaim, and here they discuss everything from multiplayer mechanics, to over-ambitious scope, to the power of playtesting."

Also featured in the issue is the second roundup of dirty coding tricks, straight from the programmers who have employed them:

"In our second installment of Dirty Coding Tricks, programmers share their last-minute kludges and hacks all in the name of getting a game out the door. Lessons abound for coders and the non-technical alike."

In addition, experienced producer Matthew Burns talks to numerous studios to get the lowdown on the various production methods employed throughout the industry:

"Production methodologies differ from company to company. Here, Matthew Burns explores the disparate tactics of Harmonix, Treyarch, and Valve, to determine some best practices."

Other notable features include Brent Friedman's proposal of a simple scripting language to power conversation systems, and an interview with Blade and Soul art director Hyung-Tae Kim.

And as usual, our regular columnists contribute detailed and important pieces on numerous areas of game development -- this issue, we include Bungie's Steve Theodore on the art job market, Jake Cannell on virtual textures, Maxis' Soren Johnson on theme versus meaning, LucasArts' Jesse Harlin on SoundSeed, Matthew Wasteland with his monthly humor column, the Good Job! column on industry career moves, and more.

Worldwide paper-based subscriptions to Game Developer magazine are currently available at the official magazine website, and the Game Developer Digital version of the issue is also now available, with the site offering six months' and a year's subscriptions, alongside access to back issues and PDF downloads of all issues, all for a reduced price. There is now also an opportunity to buy the digital version of March 2010's magazine as a single issue.

By Simon Carless

GameSetNetwork: Best Of The Week

As we compile larger stories from elsewhere on our network, here's the top full-length features of the past week on big sister 'art and business of gaming' site Gamasutra, plus our GameCareerGuide features for the week.

As GDC nears, there's still room to compile a bunch of neat pieces from last week, including good longform interviews with Capcom's Christian Svensson and the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 creators, as well as an overview of the Nordic dev scene, a look at how agile methods are being adapted in the game space, and some choice GCG features, including Game Developers Conference tips and tricks and more besides.

Cha cha cha:

Battlefield Logistics: A Bad Company 2 Interview
"EA DICE's console-targeted shooter makes its second foray into the market this week, and here senior producer Patrick Bach discusses the series' and the gaming audience's evolution -- and how that touches the game's design."

The State of Agile in the Game Industry
"Certified Scrum trainer and veteran developer Clinton Keith takes a look at the state of agile acceptance at gane studios, using survey data to identify common stumbling blocks, and presents here comments from developers on the process at their companies."

Persuasive Games: Shell Games
"Just what will the achievementization of the world mean? Author and game designer Ian Bogost ponders Jesse Schell's DICE talk and blends his interpretation with research. Will it work... and, more importantly, is it good?"

The State of the Nordic Development Scene
"We speak with Nordic developers about the current state of the region's game development scene, focusing on the struggles and strengths of a region known for top-notch games and business challenges."

Careful, Capcom: Christian Svensson Speaks
"Capcom's U.S. VP speaks candidly about the company's plans, its development strengths, business realities, and recent comments made by its Japanese management that the U.S. will no longer be a force for IP generation."

The Aesthetics of Play Control: The Role of User Interfaces Discussion of Games as Art
"Daniel Gronsky, adjunct professor of Media Studies at Pine Manor College, delivers this look at the connection between the aesthetics of a game and its play control -- refined from discussions originally taking place at PAX."

GCG: GDC Tips For Students
"Planning to attend next week's GDC as a student? Two-year veteran of the show and developer Grant Shonkwiler, who attended in 2008 as a student, shares his tips on how to maximize the show."

By Simon Carless

Round-Up: Gamasutra Network Jobs, Week Of March 5

In this round-up, Gamasutra highlights some of the notable jobs posted in its industry-leading game jobs section this week, including positions from Sledgehammer Games, Crystal Dynamics and more.

Each position posted by employers will appear on the main Gamasutra job board, and appear in the site's daily and weekly newsletters, reaching our readers directly.

It will also be cross-posted for free across its network of submarket sites, which includes content sites focused on online worlds, cellphone games, 'serious games', independent games and more.

Some of the notable jobs posted this week include:

Activision Minneapolis: Associate Producer
"Great games start with great people. Join Activision Minneapolis to help take some of the biggest brands in the business to the next level, our portfolio includes, Bakugan, Monster Jam, Cabela's, Rapala, iCarly and many more household names. We run a flat organization where innovation, passion, personal responsibility and individual contribution are valued and rewarded appropriately. If you are a success oriented, proven high achiever, we want to hear from you."

Monolith Productions: Staff Software Engineer, Engine
"As a Senior Engine generalist you will work closely with the Game Team leads and the rest of your peers on the Core Technology Team to develop state-of-the-art runtime technology for the PS3, XBOX 360 and PC. Your domain will span the entire engine and your responsibilities will include both optimizations of current-gen systems and design and implementation of pivotal new technology for the next generation of consoles."

Rockstar North: Graphics Programmer
"Rockstar North, one of the world's leading video game developers, is a community of creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds. We are based in Scotland out of modern, spacious, purpose-built studios at the heart of Edinburgh. We develop original game titles and are proud to be the developer of the phenomenally successful Grand Theft Auto series. Rockstar North has been part of the Rockstar family since 1999."

Sledgehammer Games: TEA - Concept Artist
"Check out our brand new studio, headed up by industry veterans Glen Schofield as Vice President and GM and Michael Condrey as Vice President and COO, the leaders of the Dead Space franchise. They are joined at Sledgehammer Games by many award winning developers from across the industry. Sledgehammer Games is actively recruiting top industry talent to join their development team. Our studio based in sunny Foster City and is walking distance to plenty of restaurants and shopping, or one of our two free gyms."

Crystal Dynamics: Environment Artist
"Crystal Dynamics is an award winning, leading game studio located in the heart of San Francisco’s Bay Area. Founded in 1992, Crystal Dynamics has grown into a world class development studio by developing key franchises. Crystal Dynamics is poised to lay the groundwork for the next generation of innovative and technologically stunning projects. Want to be on the front lines of these brand new projects? We're hiring across all disciplines, apply today!"

To browse hundreds of similar jobs, and for more information on searching, responding to, or posting game industry-relevant jobs to the top source for jobs in the business, please visit Gamasutra's job board now.

By IndieGames.com - The Weblog

Round-Up: Gamasutra Network Jobs, Week Of March 5

In this round-up, Gamasutra highlights some of the notable jobs posted in its industry-leading game jobs section this week, including positions from Sledgehammer Games, Crystal Dynamics and more.

Each position posted by employers will appear on the main Gamasutra job board, and appear in the site's daily and weekly newsletters, reaching our readers directly.

It will also be cross-posted for free across its network of submarket sites, which includes content sites focused on online worlds, cellphone games, 'serious games', independent games and more.

Some of the notable jobs posted this week include:

Activision Minneapolis: Associate Producer
"Great games start with great people. Join Activision Minneapolis to help take some of the biggest brands in the business to the next level, our portfolio includes, Bakugan, Monster Jam, Cabela's, Rapala, iCarly and many more household names. We run a flat organization where innovation, passion, personal responsibility and individual contribution are valued and rewarded appropriately. If you are a success oriented, proven high achiever, we want to hear from you." Continue reading

By Simon Carless

Round-Up: Gamasutra Network Jobs, Week Of March 5

In this round-up, Gamasutra highlights some of the notable jobs posted in its industry-leading game jobs section this week, including positions from Sledgehammer Games, Crystal Dynamics and more.

Each position posted by employers will appear on the main Gamasutra job board, and appear in the site's daily and weekly newsletters, reaching our readers directly.

It will also be cross-posted for free across its network of submarket sites, which includes content sites focused on online worlds, cellphone games, 'serious games', independent games and more.

Some of the notable jobs posted this week include:

Activision Minneapolis: Associate Producer
"Great games start with great people. Join Activision Minneapolis to help take some of the biggest brands in the business to the next level, our portfolio includes, Bakugan, Monster Jam, Cabela's, Rapala, iCarly and many more household names. We run a flat organization where innovation, passion, personal responsibility and individual contribution are valued and rewarded appropriately. If you are a success oriented, proven high achiever, we want to hear from you."

Monolith Productions: Staff Software Engineer, Engine
"As a Senior Engine generalist you will work closely with the Game Team leads and the rest of your peers on the Core Technology Team to develop state-of-the-art runtime technology for the PS3, XBOX 360 and PC. Your domain will span the entire engine and your responsibilities will include both optimizations of current-gen systems and design and implementation of pivotal new technology for the next generation of consoles."

Rockstar North: Graphics Programmer
"Rockstar North, one of the world's leading video game developers, is a community of creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds. We are based in Scotland out of modern, spacious, purpose-built studios at the heart of Edinburgh. We develop original game titles and are proud to be the developer of the phenomenally successful Grand Theft Auto series. Rockstar North has been part of the Rockstar family since 1999."

Sledgehammer Games: TEA - Concept Artist
"Check out our brand new studio, headed up by industry veterans Glen Schofield as Vice President and GM and Michael Condrey as Vice President and COO, the leaders of the Dead Space franchise. They are joined at Sledgehammer Games by many award winning developers from across the industry. Sledgehammer Games is actively recruiting top industry talent to join their development team. Our studio based in sunny Foster City and is walking distance to plenty of restaurants and shopping, or one of our two free gyms."

Crystal Dynamics: Environment Artist
"Crystal Dynamics is an award winning, leading game studio located in the heart of San Francisco’s Bay Area. Founded in 1992, Crystal Dynamics has grown into a world class development studio by developing key franchises. Crystal Dynamics is poised to lay the groundwork for the next generation of innovative and technologically stunning projects. Want to be on the front lines of these brand new projects? We're hiring across all disciplines, apply today!"

To browse hundreds of similar jobs, and for more information on searching, responding to, or posting game industry-relevant jobs to the top source for jobs in the business, please visit Gamasutra's job board now.

By IndieGames.com - The Weblog

Announcement: Shank Release Planned on XBLA, PSN and PC


The game is still some ways from being finished, but Klei CEO Jamie Cheng has today confirmed that the IGF-nominated Shank will be released on the Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network and PC when it is ready to ship.

EA Partners will serve as the publisher for Klei Entertainment's 2D brawler on all three platforms. Shank is currently competing for the Visual Art Excellence award in this year's IGF, and GDC attendees can get to play a special preview build of the game at the IGF Pavilion next week.

Shank: Klei signs with EA Partners for Shank
Gamasutra: EA Partners Signs Shank

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