Game Developer December Issue Showcases Drawn To Life, Microtransactions

Author: by Staff

The December 2007 issue of Game Developer magazine, the sister print publication to Gamasutra.com, and the leading U.S. trade publication for the video game industry, has shipped to subscribers and is available from the Game Developer Digital service in both subscription and single-issue formats. The cover feature for the September issue is 'Postmortem: 5th Cell’s Drawn to Life' by Joseph M. Tringali, and it's explained of the exclusive postmortem: "Beginning with the simple concept “Draw your character and play with them,” the THQ-published Drawn to Life brought 5th Cell to profitability as a developer, and cured the company’s licensed mobile game blues. But as is so often the case, the company wasn’t quite prepared for the logistics of a console game. Yes, to some developers 15 people working together on a game is still a lot." Another major feature for the new issue is 'Purchasing Power' by Taiyoung Ryu and Kyuhwan Oh, of which it's explained: "The microtransaction is at the forefront of a new wave of payment options in online games, but the concept comes with serious design concerns. Herein, two veterans of the Korean microtransaction-based game business share history and advice on this very subject." Finally, the December issue also looks at 'Textual Healing' by Stephanie Shaver, described as follows: "It would be too simple to say that graphical MMORPGs are simply text-based online MUDs with graphics slapped on, but the roots are certainly visible. Simutronics is the only large company still maintaining text-based MMOs, and is currently porting their ideas into a fully graphical game. Lead designer Stephanie Shaver shares with us some lessons that translate genetically from text games to graphical ones." The issue is rounded out by an interview with Konami composer Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill series), as well as the customary in-depth news, code, art, audio, and design columns from Game Developer's veteran correspondents, plus product reviews and editorial columns. Worldwide paper-based subscriptions to Game Developer magazine are currently available at the official magazine website, and the Game Developer Digital version of the issue is also now available, with the site offering six months and a year's subscriptions, alongside access to back issues and PDF downloads of all issues, all for a reduced price. There is now also an opportunity to buy the digital version of December 2007's magazine as a single issue.