Brittany Westlund, a third-year graduate student in the University of Montana’s online MFA in Game Design and Interactive Media, is emerging as an innovative game designer, educator, and community builder. Living in Kalispell, she balances coursework, teaching online classes, launching Charmlab Studio, and creating emotionally driven games.
Read MoreGreat game design is an art that blends psychology, creativity, and technical skill to create engaging player experiences. Captivating games rely on understanding player behavior, balancing challenge and reward, and fostering emotional connections through well-timed feedback and immersive worlds. Effective design uses simple mechanics that deepen over time...
Read MoreThe article explores how queerness and games intersect as forms of creativity, resistance, and representation. It highlights that queer and trans Australian game designers use games to express identity, challenge norms, and create safe, inclusive spaces.
Read MoreGame design criticism remains largely subjective, often tied to nostalgia and comparisons with past classics. The author argues that effective design analysis requires understanding developer intent, genre philosophy, and player engagement rather than labeling games as simply good or bad.
Read MoreGame designer Henk Rogers discovered Tetris in 1988 and played a pivotal role in bringing it to the world, navigating Soviet bureaucracy and KGB surveillance to secure its rights. Although the Apple TV+ film about his story took creative liberties, Rogers appreciated the recognition it brought.
Read MoreDeniz Gulay argues that the visual novel genre has untapped potential beyond its traditional Japanese roots, which often rely on linear storytelling and limited player choice. Western games like Suzerain and Disco Elysium demonstrate how immersive, choice-driven narratives can elevate the genre, offering more meaningful player experiences. Gulay calls for more experimentation in game design that blends deep storytelling with interactive mechanics, moving away from profit-driven, repetitive formulas.
Read MoreSvitlana Rumiantseva, head of mobile game development at Innovecs Games, emphasizes the importance of adapting game design for global audiences, considering cultural differences in narrative, art, technology, and community strategies.
Read MoreEducational, serious, learning, and transformational games each serve unique purposes in game design. Educational games focus on imparting knowledge, typically used in formal settings to reinforce curriculum content. Serious games address real-world issues, often for training or policy simulation.
Read MoreRoy, a seasoned game industry professional, emphasizes that learning game design requires hands-on experience and creative problem-solving. His background includes roles as a Production Artist, Art Director, and Development Manager on projects like Superman Returns and Madden NFL at EA.
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