Gamasutra Member Blogs: From Pre-Order Bonuses To Work And Play

Author: by Staff

Showcasing highlights from Gamasutra's Member Blogs, our weblog writers examine ludology, two approaches to character progression in games, and problematic pre-order bonus practices. Member Blogs can be maintained by any registered Gamasutra user, while invitation-only Expert Blogs -- also highlighted weekly -- are written by selected development professionals. Our favorite blog post of the week will earn its author a lifetime subscription to Gamasutra's sister publication, Game Developer magazine. (All magazine recipients outside of the United States or Canada will receive lifetime electronic subscriptions.) 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 - Ludology: An Introduction to Me (David Wipperfurth) In his first Gamasutra blog post, David Wipperfurth analyzes the differences between work and play, and how for different people, the definitions of both can vary widely. To Wipperfurth, it's all about perception… For his effort, David will receive a lifetime subscription to Gamasutra sister publication Game Developer magazine. - The Interrogator Problem (Adam Bishop) Adam Bishop examines what he calls "The Interrogator Problem" in games -- that is, when playing a game like Fallout 3 or Dragon Age, you as a player are often asking questions, and not driving the conversation with statements. In order to resolve the problem, there would have to be some fundamental changes in how such a game is designed, he says. - 10 Powerful Questions With Play Magazine's Heather A. Campbell" (Joshua Lin) Isaiah Taylor interviews Play Magazine editor Heather Campbell, who talks about comedy in games, Street Fighter, and writing for a print publication in an online-centric world. - Choose Wisely (David R) Certain in-game pre-order bonuses can be problematic for a game's balance, or can be completely pointless, reckons blogger "David R." And game makers are also releasing different pre-order bonuses at different retailers for the same game, which can be confusing and frustrating for the person willing to pay before play, he observes. - The Two Sides Of Progression (Josh Bycer) Regular Gamasutra member blogger Josh Bycer says there are two sides of progressing in games: one side involves skill, the other involves time spent in a game. The most memorable games are the ones that balance progression between the two sides, Bycer says.