Gamasutra Member Blogs: From Towel Metaphors To Successful Villains

In highlights from Gamasutra's Member Blogs, our bloggers write about diverse topics, including towel metaphors, game design programs, and the traits of a successful villain. Member Blogs can be maintained by any registered Gamasutra user, while invitation-only Expert Blogs -- also highlighted weekly -- are written by selected development professionals. We hope that our blog sections can provide useful and interesting viewpoints on our industry. For more information, check out the official posting guidelines. Here are the top member blogs for the week: This Week's Standout Member Blogs - Towels And Their Misconceptions (Kimberly Unger) Metaphorically comparing games to towels, of all things, Kathy Unger explains why smaller games should tailor themselves to the local areas in which they are released. - Hit-and-Run Developer Agreements, Or Why You Should Get University Students To Use Your Developer Kits (Slade Villena) Slade Villena discusses the PS3 academic program at UC Santa Cruz, and why students should learn to create games using professional development kits. - Mission Control: Content Consumption in Red Dead Redemption (David Hughes) David Hughes explains why Red Dead Redemption encourages players to explore all facets of the game’s content. - The Pomodoro Technique (Cathy Trulson) Cathy Trulson offers an efficient method for improving time management, known as the Pomodoro technique. - Conscience Is But A Word: Why Videogames Need Better Villains. (Xander Markham) Villains are a key element of any drama; Xander Markham examines popular villains in games, and argues that the medium deserves more fully-developed antagonists.