http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ Jon Shafer's Blogs Sat, 18 May 2013 08:38:13 EDT en-us scarless@think-services.com (Simon Carless) http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130328/189522/Fairness_Discovery__Spelunky.php Design We examine the role of fairness and discovery with the help of the amazing platformer Spelunky. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130328/189522/Fairness_Discovery__Spelunky.php Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:11:00 EDT http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130306/187951/Facing_a_Design_Dead_End.php Design One of At the Gates' features that I was most excited about turned out to be a dud. Okay, what now? http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130306/187951/Facing_a_Design_Dead_End.php Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:01:00 EST http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130305/187886/Replacing_Rome.php Design The Romans aren't playable in AtG, but instead fill a more important role: providing pacing and structure. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130305/187886/Replacing_Rome.php Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:39:00 EST http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130304/187765/Growing_a_Game_Company.php Business/Marketing Ever wonder how a game company gets made? I tell the story of the ups and downs of Conifer's birth. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130304/187765/Growing_a_Game_Company.php Mon, 04 Mar 2013 02:59:00 EST http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130222/187180/At_The_Gates_A_Pacing_Design_Document.php Design I share a brainstorming doc I used to help establish pacing in my new strategy game, 'At the Gates'. http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130222/187180/At_The_Gates_A_Pacing_Design_Document.php Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:40:00 EST http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130218/186843/Revisiting_the_Design_of_Civ_5.php Design What lessons did I learn while designing Civ 5 - and how am I now applying them in my new game? http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JonShafer/20130218/186843/Revisiting_the_Design_of_Civ_5.php Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:23:00 EST