Tim Schafer on Happy Action Theatre
The Double Fine founder tells us why working with young children and hot lava results in fertile creative ground.
1Design
Opinion: The power of delight
Innovative game design is no longer enough to change the world, argues Tadhg Kelly.
Examining Zynga's tower defence
We examine Zynga CEO Mark Pincus' claims that Tiny Tower just builds on the foundations of its forebears.
Out There: Do we need more stealth games?
The pleasures of sneaking, the finality of videogame death and game designers' love for MacBook Pros.
3This week's opportunities on Edge Jobs
Find your future designing quests for WOW, building new social games with Wooga or overseeing Dice's Battlelog.
Dark Souls' grand vision
We talk art, design and masochism with the game’s creative director, Hidetaka Miyazaki.
2Opinion: Shining a light on interaction density
Randy Smith considers the delicate balance between realism and abstraction in game design.
Opinion: What makes a masterpiece?
If we can analyse songs to predict future hits, asks Graham McAllister, can you do the same for videogames?
This week's opportunities on Edge Jobs
Find your future at Codemasters, Crytek, Madrid-based Tequila Works or movie effects specialist Double Negative.
Julian Gollop on XCOM
The man who created X-COM on what he thinks of Firaxis' XCOM: Enemy Unknown remake and the future of turn-based strategy.
2Out There: Do MMOGs need death?
Pining for the loss and consequence of Ultima Online, plus the death of the games and art argument.
1Zach Gage on gaming for art's sake
The conceptual artist tells us what he's learnt from a life spent in games.
Opinion: Truly great games
Leigh Alexander on how personal context shapes our views of a game’s level of quality and importance.
2Out There: What do games mean?
Does meaning in games arise from the game rules, or the players? Plus, game maps drawn from memory and the magic cooldown period.
This week's opportunities on Edge Jobs
Find your future kickstarting others' at the University of York or creating the next generation of graphics hardware at ARM.
Out There: End game
How do you design a finale for an open-ended game? Plus the delight in Dark Souls' difficulty and more.
Opinion: Forward motion
Brian Howe offers a behind-the-curtain glimpse at Microsoft’s bid to bring hardcore gamers and Kinect together.
Rebuilding Syndicate
Starbreeze Studios’ take on the legendary Syndicate should be on the shelves by February. Will it be ready in time?
The humble block
One of gaming’s oldest tools is also one of its most important.
2Yoshinori Kitase on Final Fantasy XIII-2
The game's producer explains why it won't repeat XIII's mistakes.