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03-14-2006, 08:42 PM
A lot goes into the makings of a successful game. The gameplay needs to be perfect. The narrative needs to be sublime. Or can just one of those be true? Neither? The authors at The Escapist discuss the philosophy of game design in this week's issue of The Escapist: Ludo, Ergo Sum (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36). Articles include:
Dave Thomas: Secret Agent Candy Man (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/3)
"Trip Hawkins is deep in a secure underground vault, standing in a telephone booth, talking into his shoe." Dave Thomas talks to Trip Hawkins on Madden, 3DO, Digital Chocolate, and the future.
Mark Wallace: The Play's the Thing (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/13)
There's an academic debate raging about whether story or gameplay reign supreme. Mark Wallace takes a look at this debate, and concludes that it doesn't really matter. "With games, all the answers lie right at your fingertips. All you have to do is play."
Allen Varney: My Eyes Glaze Over (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/17)
"Are you a Gamist, a Narrativist or a Simulationist? Do you generally favor Actor, Author or Director stance?" Allen Varney condenses design philosophies surrounding tabletop role-playing games for those of us with short attention spans.
John Szczepaniak: Abandoning the past? (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/22)
"I advocate and praise classical games, because within them are wonderful genres, ideas and methods (not to mention aesthetic splendor) that have been left behind as the industry progresses." John Szczepaniak tells us why he often goes back to retro games.
Dave Thomas: Secret Agent Candy Man (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/3)
"Trip Hawkins is deep in a secure underground vault, standing in a telephone booth, talking into his shoe." Dave Thomas talks to Trip Hawkins on Madden, 3DO, Digital Chocolate, and the future.
Mark Wallace: The Play's the Thing (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/13)
There's an academic debate raging about whether story or gameplay reign supreme. Mark Wallace takes a look at this debate, and concludes that it doesn't really matter. "With games, all the answers lie right at your fingertips. All you have to do is play."
Allen Varney: My Eyes Glaze Over (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/17)
"Are you a Gamist, a Narrativist or a Simulationist? Do you generally favor Actor, Author or Director stance?" Allen Varney condenses design philosophies surrounding tabletop role-playing games for those of us with short attention spans.
John Szczepaniak: Abandoning the past? (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/36/22)
"I advocate and praise classical games, because within them are wonderful genres, ideas and methods (not to mention aesthetic splendor) that have been left behind as the industry progresses." John Szczepaniak tells us why he often goes back to retro games.