Weekly Links #90
With my schedule messed up again by a death in the family and a fight
with bureaucracy, I almost forgot it was time for another newsletter.
The week's highlights are a couple of articles about the so-called
"indiepocalypse", and how it's way overblown: one relying on
statistical analysis, the other on a look at history,
and both drawing the same conclusion: good games still sell, bad games
still tank. Nothing to see here, move along.
In other news, Techdirt alerts of even more game-breaking DRM changes
on Windows. And for game developers, @gnomeslair points
at a dialogue editor based on Twine. I wrote about alternate
uses for Twine before; this is someone taking the same idea to
its logical conclusion. And via the same source, here's an article
about the best games based on books -- food for thought whether
you're a developer, writer or player.
Last but not least, I want to talk about a very personal writeup
titled Video Games Versus Disability. Mind you, I'm
able-bodied. But I've met blind people who play MUDs and interactive
fiction because hardly any other kind of game works for them, and it
pains me just to think of that. As for hearing... I remember playing
Blade Runner back when my English wasn't nearly this good (my spoken
English still lags behind), and wishing for subtitles to help me along
a little. Imagine being physically unable to hear the game at all.
Come to think of it, try playing your own game with the speakers
unplugged. Screen contrast turned way down. A metronome tick-tocking
in front of the screen. The language changed to one you don't speak
well. These will give you just a taste of how some people experience
not just games, but every waking moment of their lives. Can you make
something they can enjoy anyway?
Until next week, think about those who Are Not Like You™. Thanks.