I’m reading a book called Game Production & Development written by Erik Bethke. Bethke states on several occasions that crunch is a result of bad planning. I agree with that statement. Crunch IS a result of bad planning, in combination with feature creep and a lack of timely decisions. But crunch is also a result... Continue Reading →
Don’t Test Me
A thing that’s becoming more and more common in the games industry is design tests, especially for game designers and UX designers. I find there are several issues with this practice, so I’ll go over them, perhaps to my own detriment. I have a tendency to speak out when I perhaps shouldn’t. You - as... Continue Reading →
Hold on to people
A colleague and me went to lunch the other day and spoke about the attitude people have towards their jobs, but also about the attitude employers have against their employees. When I grew up it was much more common with workers who were very loyal to the company they worked for. 40 years in the... Continue Reading →
The Guilt
I carry this sense of guilt most everywhere I go. It’s about games - of course - and making games. I have this sense that I should be happy and grateful that I get to do what so no any others are hoping to be able to do. I’m in the thick of it! I... Continue Reading →
Ranting
My co-workers and former colleagues can attest to the fact that I often go on rants about the games industry. This is not because I dislike the industry or want to cancel games or because I have a feminist agenda with everything I do (although I do). I go on rants because I think we... Continue Reading →
Games as a Culture Carrier
I had reason to return to Gary Alan Fines book “Shared Fantasy” about the social aspects of role-playing games recently. I didn’t get very far until the first reference of rape was made. Frequently male nonplayer characters who have not hurt the party are executed and female nonplayer characters raped for sport. There are additional... Continue Reading →