Community Reading about games

[Blizniak]

I'm bad at expressing my thoughts on video games. Most of the time I find I don't really have anything specific to say, either I like something or I don't but that's about it.
I do like to read about games though. I don't mean just news and reviews but more in-depth stuff: design analyses, artistic interpretations, developer interviews outside of their pr cycle, post mortems etc.

• Gamasutra has cool articles like the series written by Chubigans on indie earnings
• Polygon does monthly cover pieces on a variety of usually historic topics like the current one about Ken Kutaragi
• Critical Distance does weekly roundups of all kinds of blog posts on video games
• Shmupulations is a fantastic library of translated old Japanese articles
• Heterotopias is a semi regular zine I recently learned about that marries interesting articles with photography of video games, it's a paid resource unlike the previous ones

Do you like to read about video games? If so, what sites do you frequent? Did you see anything interesting lately? Maybe some memorable articles stuck with you? I thought this could be a place for us to share them.

 

[lashman]

Do you like to read about video games?

we don't play games, we only read about them

 

[Eriugam]

Anywhere that's legitimate and lacks an agenda. Probably spend more time reading about games.

Main sources are here, ResetEra, Twitter and Reddit /games and individual gaming sub reddits such as Warframe, Yakuza, Subnautica etc.

 

[Panda Pedinte]

I also enjoy reading about games, specially post-mortem or developers explaining how they implemented certain features or bypassed some limitation.

As I don't have too much time nowadays I'm mostly sticking to forums instead going to specific sites.

 

[Eriugam]

I also enjoy reading about games, specially post-mortem or developers explaining how they implemented certain features or bypassed some limitation.

As I don't have too much time nowadays I'm mostly sticking to forums instead going to specific sites.

Have you read the book 'Blood, Seat and Pixels?

Might be right up your street..!

 

[Panda Pedinte]

Have you read the book 'Blood, Seat and Pixels?

Might be right up your street..!

Yes I've read it and it was an amazing job by Schreier. I can't wait for whatever book he puts up next.

 

[freshVeggie]

Great thread Blizniak

Hardcore Gaming 101 is a must. Quality articles and overlooked classics.

 

[Matimeo]

I dont really read about games like I did before getting in the industry as many times its speculation or opinions and I can usually find out firsthand if I want since the industry is so small.

BUT I do enjoy reading what people who are not getting paid to write opinions feel about games.
Probably why I fell into the user focused roles in game development.

 

[Panda Pedinte]

Great thread Blizniak

Hardcore Gaming 101 is a must. Quality articles and overlooked classics.

Nice recommendation, I did read some articles over HCG101 some time ago but I never followed the site closely.

I dont really read about games like I did before getting in the industry as many times its speculation or opinions and I can usually find out firsthand if I want since the industry is so small.

BUT I do enjoy reading what people who are not getting paid to write opinions feel about games.
Probably why I fell into the user focused roles in game development.

Did you follow Rami Ismail posting his moms experience with it?

 

[Blizniak]

I dont really read about games like I did before getting in the industry as many times its speculation or opinions and I can usually find out firsthand if I want since the industry is so small.

Yeah, I can see how having first-hand experience would change your perspective.

Did you follow Rami Ismail posting his moms experience with it?

That was such a wholesome story. Here's the link for everyone.

 

[MegaApple]

This is my kind of topic.

I mostly read individual topics and not follow a collective place, but I recently really found PlatinumParagon's blog on Psychology and Games.
Psychology and Video Games - PlatinumParagon

I'm unfortunately away from my PC where I stored a lot of great articles/threads. I'll link more later.

 

[Blizniak]

I mostly read individual topics and not follow a collective place, but I recently really found PlatinumParagon's blog on Psychology and Games.
Psychology and Video Games - PlatinumParagon

This is great already!

 

[MegaApple]

OK another one.
Electron Dance
Electron Dance - On Video Games Of The Personal Computer

The guy is a bit crazy, but my God is he thorough. Way, way in-depth with mechanics, how they function, how we interact with video games, what kind of video games...

To get a glimpse, try watching his video essays. His Witness video is the only essay that did the game justice.

 

[Eriugam]

OK another one.
Electron Dance
Electron Dance - On Video Games Of The Personal Computer

The guy is a bit crazy, but my God is he thorough. Way, way in-depth with mechanics, how they function, how we interact with video games, what kind of video games...

To get a glimpse, try watching his video essays. His Witness video is the only essay that did the game justice.

Will give this a watch, thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Blizniak]

How BioWare's Anthem Went Wrong

It wasn’t even supposed to be called Anthem. Just days before the annual E3 convention in June of 2017, when the storied studio BioWare would reveal its newest game, the plan had been to go with a different title: Beyond. They’d even printed out Beyond T-shirts for the staff.

kotaku.com

Amazing read about how big dreams failed to materialize at Bioware once more following Mass Effect: Andromeda. It seems that the dev is in a really sad state and I hope they can recover with Casey Hudson back at the helm, it should at least help with a singular vision for their next project.