30
Jan/100
Jan/100
Violence in video games
Someone posted a link to a documentary on twitter last night, and I’ve just finished watching it. I thought I was a fair and balanced look at the subject and I would recommend anyone who is considering a career in the games industry watch it, even if it’s just so you know what the arguments are about.
The description of the video on Babelgum :-
Moral Kombat takes a look into the controversial subject of violence in video games. Director Spencer Halpin shows the constant conflict between the game creators’ first amendment right to make a violent game and the eminent threat that violence poses on the next generation. In addition, the film is full of the latest green screen and high-definition technology that allow watchers to actually envision the world of gaming. Filled with interviews from lead game designers, politicians, parents, and psychologists, this film provides a candid take on the influence games have on youth today.
Embedded after the jump…
22
Nov/090
Nov/090
New tutorial – XNA 104
Yeah! I finally made it past the difficult second album…well tutorial #4(XNA 104 – Input from Keyboard), but it’s the reason someone said that they wouldn’t link to your sites tutorials until you hit #3 but that just meant that I now have a problem with #4 the first three being very quick and easy(LOL).
Any who that’s why it took me so long to get to #4… again not much but you now have something that moves and you can finally exit the game by pressing the “Esc” key.
Well I’m hoping to get the next one out befor the end of the month year but we’ll see…
26
Oct/090
Oct/090
XNA 7 Day Challenge
That nice Mr Gravelyn made a suggestion last week about a quick and dirty challenge for the XNA community make a game prototype based on a theme and low the seven day challenge was born!
Challenge #1 is under way but you should still have time to enter, and if not then check out what got submitted after 1st of November over at the site. I’m hoping to have my own entry and after it’s in I’ll post my development log success or fail.
Challenge rules and times >> Challenge #1 – Dual Buttons // XNA 7 Day
10
Oct/090
Oct/090
Oh the embarrassment…
Last night, after reading Nick Gravelyn’s “Pixel Man Post Mortem #1” I thought I’d get his opinion on Dodge to see if he thought I could publish it to Xbox Live Indie Games.
I sent him a tweet that read :-
@nickgravelyn Hello, I have only finished one game http://bit.ly/idSTQ I just wanted your advice, worth publishing or what’s left to do?
I was surprised to say the least when my site stats showed an increase in traffic to the Dodge page, I was happy that others were having a look at the ONLY game I’ve completed, that was until nick replied :-
@mort8088 Game doesn’t run for me. Double clicked it and it just gives me the “Dodge has stopped working” error box.
9
Oct/091
Oct/091
RE:- 1UP Whiteboard Episode 01
I saw this from @clingermangw yesterday
RT @debreuil: hilarious description of XBox indie games (#XNA) – love it! [url-snip]
and I loved it as well… (more after the jump)
19
Sep/090
Sep/090
Sorry I’m late here’s some buttons…
I haven’t posted in a month so for that I’m sorry. To make up for it I give you an link to @sinnix’s Xbox 360 Button Pack
Click to download
Apparently there is a pack two due out soon that looks very promising so far.
18
Aug/091
Aug/091
Why Indie Game Rating is a good thing.
I’m worried because I don’t think people really get the whole point of the rating system.
22
Jul/091
Jul/091
Game Autopsy : bloc
Welcome to the first Game Autopsy. In this feature my aim is to pick apart a game that is up on the Indie Game channel not in the sense of whether it’s a good game or not but to try and look at what it’s doing both from a developers point of view and that of a player. The first game that I’m going to look at is bloc written by Nick Gravelyn. Bloc is one of the first games to make it on the the channel and as such should be one you’re familiar with.
Game Concept
Bloc is a new twist on the top-down shooter. Destroy blocks by firing like-colored orbs while dodging a swarm of enemies.
You play a circle that can fire four coloured shots in four directions denoted by the coloured segments of your circle. You can rotate the player object so that you can fire your colored shots in any four directions.
Your aim is to destroy the colored blocks that travel across the screen with out being touched by them, you lose a coloured segment if you get touched by a block and die when all four of your segments are lost.
There are three power-ups in single player mode, a shield, a regenerate lost segment and a super shot that will destroy any color bloc. Also in co-op mode there is an extra power-up to revive a lost teammate.
19
Jul/090
Jul/090
XNA Roundup #27
This week in Xna Roundup nick’s on his own, but there is a new sponsor! yes! you hear me correctly NEW SPONSOR!!!!!
Anyway, games in review this week are :-
- Nebulon
Looks really good a nice idea but the controls a compleat arse. Not just in the game but in the menu as well. Not good. - Lotus – Stellar Conflict
This game is not my cup of tea at all the ship control could be so much better though I did like the inertia effect. The story mode could get you involved but seeing as the trial didn’t grab me enough to spend the 400 points to find out.
Recommendations
Screenshots Gallery
