Game Design Tips and Trends

This article first appeared on the Game Developers Conference website, with questions posed by the conference staff. As faculty lead for Cogswell’s Game Writing Concentration, Evan Skolnick will be offering a workshop, “Storytelling Fundamentals in a Day” at the conference along with appearing on a panel geared towards new game writers called “It’s Not in the Writer’s […]

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Video game development has grown considerably since the birth of video games over 30 years ago, and finding the right game development software and tools to assist in the creation of titles has become a necessity. Given the complexity of today’s game design jobs and the limited amount of time that game developers have to […]

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Diving into video game design for the first time can be a nerve-wracking process. To beginners, industry-seasoned game design teams can sound like they’re speaking an entirely different language. Knowing game design terms and the names of development tools is one of the first critical steps to becoming a successful game designer — you’ve got […]

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There’s inspiration everywhere if you know how to look for it. This philosophy — that’s become my personal mantra — can be applied to all creative careers, including painters, sculptors, and yes, video game design professionals. If you’re hoping to call upon the artistry of the world around you in order to influence your game […]

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Game engines are key game development tools for professionals, making them a must-learn for beginners who are just starting out in game design and development. As the heroes of game development software, game engines manage multiple tasks, including rendering and lighting, artificial intelligence of non-player characters, audio and physics engines. Learning these game engines means […]

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Pulsing, multicolored neon lights illuminate faces gripped in dark concentration.  The staccato of keyboard presses punctuate the din while stunted phrases are spoken in urgent monotone.  Excitement crescendos as opposing teams dance frenetically in virtual combat. Opposing players flicker from existence as they anxiously wait to respawn while their compatriots claw towards the winning objective. […]

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With new media come creators offering new ways to experience America’s rich and sometimes brutal history. Former Wired Magazine “Angry Nerd” Chris Baker has plenty to say on the subject of how a video game narrative can help players experience a different America, evidenced by this video he recently created for COG’s game and literature […]

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We’ve already dispelled the myth that creative careers don’t make much money by looking at animation salary. It should be no surprise that video game design and development salary can be just as financially rewarding. As with any industry, pay in game design and development jobs runs a wide range from entry-level jobs at the […]

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This post originally appeared on VentureBeat. It’s an esports world, and we’re just living in it. It might have seemed liked hyperbole to say this a few years ago, but it’s become impossible to ignore the mammoth impact esports have left on gaming. Game developers can’t shrug about esports now that finals of last year’s […]

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To the casual observer, Jerome Solomon’s Game Studio class – a game design and development course – at Cogswell might present an unremarkable first impression. When walking into the class, one sees 25 students at their workstations. An alert visitor might first note how the room is quiet and yet active at the same time. […]

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