Monthly Archive for January, 2009

LÖVEly

By Alex McLarty on January 30, 2009 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Mmm, soft, bright colours. Rainbows. And game development! All wrapped up and called Love LÖVE:

What is LÖVE?
LÖVE is a 2D game engine in which games can be made by using Lua scripts. Actually, it’s more like a framework or library, but “engine” sells much better. So we lie.
What makes LÖVE different?
LÖVE aims to be as easy to use as possible, but without the use of any graphical “game maker”. It has been compared with PyGame, but for Lua, and (hopefully) with a better distribution scheme.
Looks interesting. I’ll be downloading later to take a peek. And then probably freaking at the bazillion options - just like I do every time I play an RTS or look at a 3D graphics package.

Windows still a first-class gaming platform

By Alex McLarty on January 28, 2009 in Thoughts. 2 Comments Tags: , .

Bit tech report:

Microsoft may not have got Games for Windows Live right yet, but is still standing by PC gaming.

Although Microsoft has made some rather substantial cut-backs in their gaming divisions, terminating the entire Flight Simulator studio in the process, the company says that it still believes that Windows is a first-class gaming platform. 

The comments come at the same time as Microsoft appoints a new general manager for the controversial Games for Windows Live division which has been met with scorn from many gamers. Chris Early is apparently being replaced with Ron Pessner, who is being taken from Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, according to Kotaku.

“Moving ahead, Microsoft will continue to invest in Windows as a first–class gaming platform through great Windows out of box experiences, our online gaming services including Games for Windows – LIVE, MSN Games, and Messenger games, and through new games for Windows developed by Microsoft Games Studios,” an MS spokesperson said in a statement.

Imagine Windows and Mac gaming is cinema.

Now showing on the Mac would be the occasional indie classic with the odd blockbuster every six months. Going to the cinema is expensive on the Mac.

Imagine going to Windows and seeing hundreds of movie posters, critics, reviewers, countless creative studios, hype and of course, movies of every kind that are always released first and are IMAX, 9.1 surround sound. Oh, and it’s cheaper.

Which would you visit?

Caster for Mac

By Alex McLarty on January 27, 2009 in Reviews. 1 Comment Tags: , .
caster1.jpg

If I look at my games collection (BioShock, Stalker, the Fallout series, Mass Effect) it’s full of epic, involved titles, marinated in back story, that take countless hours to complete. I revel in their longevity. I look for titles that are thoroughly immersive and escapist. And so, I overlook smaller titles.

But there are times when I just can’t face an eight hour romp in a post apocalyptic world or in the depths of space and I need something lighter, something brighter. Something where your aim is to blow things up, make mountains and dodge all manner of glowing, flowing, energy spell thingys. 

And so, Caster!

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The Brainy Gamer: the invalidation game

By Alex McLarty on January 17, 2009 in News. 2 Comments Tags: , .

Super brain Michael Abbot at The Brainy Gamer posts an interesting observation on what he calls the invalidation game, specifically regarding Crayon Physics Deluxe:

 

The recent discussion of Crayon Physics Deluxe on the Escapist forums…features comments by L.B. Jeffries, Russ Pitts, Jordan Deam, and Susan Arendt - all writers whose opinions and observations are well-reasoned and respectful to other points of view. The willingness of the Escapist staff to jump into these conversations signals to readers that a posted review (in this case written by Deam) is really just the start of a broader conversation that will include the reviewer and gamers interested in pursuing issues raised by the game. The fact that you’re here reading this now means you’re probably keen on this whole “thoughtful conversation” thing too.

Not all discussion forums work like this, however (surprise!), and when they don’t it’s usually because people fall into the trap of playing the invalidation game. This pernicious little game has a way of stifling conversation and turning analysis into defensive posturing and personal attacks. Even a simple charming game like Crayon Physics Deluxe can become fodder for purveyors of the invalidation game. How? Like this: First, something or someone must be invalidated. In the case of CPD, the game itself becomes the target. “It’s not a game, it’s a *#% toy. Why should I waste my time playing with a toy that offers me no challenge?

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Interview with Chris Bentley from AMD

By Alex McLarty on January 17, 2009 in Interviews. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Whenever I call Chris Bentley, Mac 3D Manager from AMD, it’s always 10AM and the questions are heavy: Tell me secrets! Explain quantum mechanics! It’s either one or the other. And put it this way, I don’t know any secrets or understand quantum mechanics. Yet. But what I do know is that AMD are committed developers and they’ve got a great team working to make drivers for OS X better and faster. Score!

My latest my latest batch of questions for Chris are below, so take your seats and read all about drivers and cards for OS X, the challenges, the heart ache, and the history of 3D games on the platform.

I will pilfer all of AMD’s secrets from Chris. One day. Not sure about understanding quantum mechanics though…

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