Free-to-play kids' games may be unlawful, says UK fair trade body 6
by Mike Rose [04.12.13]
The Office of Fair Trading, a government department in the UK focused on consumer protection, today announced that it plans to investigate free-to-play apps and games aimed at children.
Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Business/Marketing

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Flush with capital, Stardock to set up multi-million dollar investment fund 9
by Kris Graft [04.11.13]
Thanks to a presumably massive haul from Stardock's sale of its Impulse digital distribution platform, the company said today it intends to start an investment fund for software and game developers.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Business/Marketing

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Ubisoft invests in free-to-play, acquiring Anno developer 1
by Kris Graft [04.11.13]
Ubisoft is now full owner of one of Germany's best game developers, as it purchased the remaining stake in PC strategy game and free-to-play developer Related Designs.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Business/Marketing

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New, significant layoffs hit Electronic Arts 59
by Kris Graft [04.11.13]
UPDATED As Electronic Arts repositions itself to take on the changing video game landscape, the company has confirmed a fresh round of layoffs; sources claim hundreds affected.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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Player irrationality vs. game design 3
by Gamasutra Community [04.11.13]
We've observed that humans very often make irrational decisions. So how do you design a game, knowing that? Let's look at the research and find some answers.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Design

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How City of Heroes was almost saved 29
by Chris Morris [04.11.13]
The superhero MMO was shut down late last year -- but in this new story, Gamasutra reveals how it was almost acquired by its developers, only for the deal to fall apart at the last moments.
Social/Online, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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5 tips for making successful kids' games in 2013 11
by Mike Rose [04.11.13]
Some Disney veterans have founded a kids' games start-up which they will focus on creating experiences that will value compelling storytelling. Here, they discuss 5 tips for making successful children's games.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Audio, Design, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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HTML5 game development, from prototype to release 2
by Gamasutra Community [04.10.13]
A top-to-bottom look at the development of HTML5 puzzle game Animory, which takes in everything from prototyping to what platforms it was ultimately released for, and how.
Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Programming, Design, Production, Business/Marketing

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GDC China 2013 announced for Sept 15-17th: call for talks now open  
by GDC Staff [04.10.13]
The call for submissions in Mandarin and English to present talks is now open for the 2013 Game Developers Conference China, which has moved up to September this year.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Programming, Design, Production, Business/Marketing

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Game Developer magazine closing in July 2013 50
by Staff [04.09.13]
Gamasutra parent company UBM Tech is announcing that, as of July 2013, Game Developer magazine will stop printing its physical edition and transition to become a Gamasutra section - details within.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Serious, GD Mag, Programming, Art, Audio, Design, Production, Business/Marketing

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Flow and the player's journey 5
by Gamasutra Community [04.09.13]
The theory of flow has made its indelible mark on game design, but can be it married with other ways of looking at games? This blog marries it with the concept of player mastery.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Design

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Going Agile in 7 easy steps 23
by Gamasutra Community [04.09.13]
This guide takes you down the road to moving to Agile project management. While it might not get you fully there, it's a cheat sheet for what to expect when leaving waterfall behind.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Production

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Equity crowdfunding: When your players become actual investors 29
by Frank Cifaldi [04.09.13]
It's finally happened: We're seeing crowdfunded games backed not by traditional Kickstarter-like backers who only get rewards, but by small-scale investors who get a cut. Is this the future? Let's talk about it.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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IGDA outlines new stance on events 30
by Gamasutra Community [04.09.13]
In response to the controversy surrounding the GDC party her organization co-presented with YetiZen, IGDA executive director Kate Edwards outlines the organization's new policy for events.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Serious, Business/Marketing

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Time to speak more openly about game development 3
by Kris Graft [04.08.13]
Perhaps it's time to knock down some of the walls of secrecy, and share knowledge on a more regular basis for the betterment of the art and craft of video game development. BioWare designer Manveer Heir offers his take.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Design, Video

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7 must-read resources on player motivation 6
by Gamasutra Community [04.08.13]
If you want to better understand what motivates players, this helpful blog post rounds up seven essential works from Raph Koster, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and other experts.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Design

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Former Zynga manager sues social game company over shares lock-up 2
by Mike Rose [04.08.13]
According to a lawsuit from a former Zynga product manager, the company allegedly barred employees from selling their shares following the IPO in 2011, while some executives were able to cash out early.
Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Business/Marketing

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Leaving PopCap: Why this mobile exec is pinning hopes on indies 14
by Leigh Alexander [04.08.13]
There's massive opportunity in mobile for indies pursuing higher production values and more innovation, says former PopCap exec Giordano Contestabile, who's joined Tilting Point studios to support that trend.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Design, Production, Business/Marketing, Exclusive

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Twitter just became a video game platform 9
by Gamasutra Community [04.05.13]
On the surface, Twitter's recent update to Twitter Cards allows app developers to link directly to a download, but if you peek below the curtain you'll see that this presents all kinds of new opportunities for game developers.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Design, Production, Business/Marketing

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Gender, cloning and heartfelt goodbyes from the GDC 2013 showfloor  
by Staff [04.05.13]
Here's our last One Life Left vs. Gamasutra episode of GDC 2013, recorded on the show floor at lunchtime on Friday with a tremendous stream of guests, gently interrogated.
Console/PC, Social/Online, Smartphone/Tablet, Indie, Serious, Programming, Art, Audio, Design, Production, Business/Marketing, Podcast, Video, GDC

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