What to learn to become a concept artists?


bittersiha asked via tumblr: hi!!! i saw your reply to bones!!! did you have any ideas for my questions?? what do concept ppls need to study really hard to make it in the industry in todays world? The job of a concept artists is to turn ideas into images. So,...

Full Metal Planet – Are High Moon’s Cybertron Games Anti-War?


Are High Moon Studios' Cybertron games anti-war? A close reading of conflict between talking robots and how two action games glorify combat but repudiate war. A week ago... I snatched two really competent action games in a sale on XboxLive. Transformers – War for Cybertron and Transformers – Fall of...

Nina Kiel – Gender In Games


Nina Kiel wrote her bachelor thesis tackling gender in games. And now it's a book. And I'm excited to be in it along with good company from other voices on the issue. Look at that damn near perfect cover for the whole thing and make sure to check out Nina's...

Let’s Get Real About Concept Art


The public perception of what concept art means is severely skewed. While I have to accept that people broadly label art created for games and films concept art, including promotional illustrations, it is necessary to get real about what concept art as a craft actually is. My students and other...

Bioshock & Tamara De Lempicka


Burial At Sea Announcements for the sequel to the popular Rapture-centric DLC to Bioshock Infinite are making the rounds again, including the key visual painting from the first instalment. I felt this is a good occasion to talk to you about Tamara de Lempicka and her influence on the Bioshock...

Kotobukiya – Mogwai Playing Donkey Kong


Check out this gorgeous figure by Kotobukiya. What makes this Gremlins collectible special is the unlicensed knock-off replica of a Donkey Kong machine. Hilarious copyright avoiding cabinet art ahead. Iconic Shot Kotobukiya focusses on giving us iconic shots from the 1984 Gremlins movie. Every figure gets a unique prop related...

Why Marketers Fear The Female Geek


So, there is this story making the rounds where Paul Dini on a podcast explains why execs do not want female viewers for their super hero shows. There's a link in the resources below. But the gist of it is basically "Girls do not buy our merchandise." Sounds horrible right?...

Amazingly Off-Model Super Mario Cufflinks


Did you ever dream of super ugly cufflinks made in slight resemblance to one of your favorite video game heroes? Nothing spices up a festive tuxedo, like these rubber abominations do. I have no clue,......where they are from. It was an ebay listing and the seller had no clue either....

Generating And Guiding Visual Interest


Visual interest – independent from what designers want to illustrate – is important to guide the viewers attention and is used in game design in a multitude of ways. It provides clarity and readability for gameplay situations, systems and storytelling. Let's explore how visual interest is generated. Interest in GamesWe...

The Autonomy Question


When it comes to criticism on matters of representation – gender representation or race representation or any other group – It's important and kinda tricky to make sure, we do not debate the real life people and their choices, but keep the focus on the representations of them in media....

You’re not getting it.


If you dismiss feminist game criticism by claiming that the critic fails to recognize satire/irony/parody, then YOU are the one not getting it. Why any attempt to silence criticism by using the satire defense is doomed to fail. GTA 5A professional game reviewer – a woman by the name of...

From Rapture to Dubai


I will make comparison of two on the surface very similar player journeys, with one key distinction at the core. Bioshock asks and answers all existential questions within its gameplay mechanics for you. While Spec Ops: The Line pushes you – the player in front of the screen – to...

Bioshock Infinite Privilege


Usually when I criticise games over social issues, it’s more that I think whoever was responsible kinda lacked a certain perspective or self-reflection to understand what their messages are implying. You know, I don’t need to call someone a sexist for example to point to sexism in what he does....

Gears Of War And Genocide


Intentionally or accidentally – the iconography, cultural references and the similarity between events in the trilogy and real life turn Gears of War into an allegory for the United States of America and its wars. Considering the political context, this – made in America – shooter title has a really...

Nintendo – Super Mario Hanafuda Cards


In 1889 Nintendo started to produce hand-made Hanafuda cards. These cards are similar to western card decks and are also used for various games, including illegal gambling. The cards I have here are a special Mario themed edition of the classic deck, distributed as a giveaway for Club Nintendo members....