Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 22h

This month, I’m dissecting some games from my book, Anatomy of Game Design. #centipede #gaming #gamedesign

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 1d

Once a player has lots of goals, it’s useful to organize them. I usually focus on layer-based organizations, but hierarchies can also be useful. #centipede #gaming #gamedesign

2

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 2d

Old gaming sales charts are fascinating. I wonder what the rights to Horace and the Spiders costs now.

Kevin Edwards ( Retro Videogame development ) @kevedwardsretro.bsky.social · 3d

Here are the computer hardware and software charts from November 1983 - PCN Magazine, UK. There were so many computers to choose from back then. Many disappeared without a trace, but the Spectrum, Commodore and BBC Micro sold really well. Great games available from Ultimate, Imagine, Bug Byte etc.

2 3 13

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 2d

Dissecting helps you see where games overlap, but not all overlaps are equal. #centipede #gaming #gamedesign

1

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 4d

Video games provide a way to understand the world around us.

Potato Jolson @thejolson.bsky.social · 4d

1 3

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 5d

October is my book’s birthday, so I’m going to be talking about Anatomy of Game Design more than normal. #candycrush #gaming #gamedesign

2

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 6d

I’m not in Hollywood, but I found it eerily familiar to managers I’ve had.

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 6d

Oh, no. No no. It’s Hollywood making fun of itself, which is better. Those are not admirable people.

1 5

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 6d

Board games have the same long-term gameplay issues that many mobile games have, so I’m interested in thinking about ways to steal ideas from mobile to make board gamers engage for longer. #candycrush #gaming #gamedesign

1

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 7d

When I worked on match-3, we definitely did that thing where the game adjusts the difficulty when we want to make the player happy. If you’re a returning player who hasn’t played in a while, we’re going to try hard to adjust randomness to make you happy. #candycrush #gaming #gamedesign

1

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 8d

The saga in Candy Crush Saga is a long-term goal that was layered on top of an existing game loop, creating a new goal and rocketing the game to success. #candycrush #gaming #gamedesign

3

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 9d

I worked on match-3 games for a bit (Crazy Cake Swap for life!) and the game design around them is much more thoughtful than you might expect. #candycrush #gaming #gamedesign

5

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 9d

…because it will never be as good as NetHack.

Michael Fitch @fitchgames.bsky.social · 9d

Having a career in game development is kind of like playing a Roguelike.

I will not be taking questions at this time.

1 3

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 12d

Quote with a game released the year you were born.

I’m proud to be born the same year as videogames.

1

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 12d

Balancing two things that are both necessary is the foundational interesting decision. #thronefall #gamedesign

5

Reposted by Tom Smith

Erik Robson @erikrobson.net · 13d

1. Work expands to fill the time.
2. Every task has a minimum time.
3. Creatives need room to explore and play.
4. Creatives need deadlines.

5 17 240

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 13d

I like games with strategic depth. I like games with strategic width. I don’t know what strategic length is, but I’m sure I’d like that, too. #thronefall #gamedesign

1

Reposted by Tom Smith

scott⚡️mccloud @scottmccloud.bsky.social · 14d

Sinclair has been gobbling up network affiliates and red-pilling their trusted local newscasts for years (see 2017 OTM story below).

Worse, it was under the radar. Most viewers had no idea they were being brainwashed, or even who Sinclair was before the Kimmel mess...

Maybe they will NOW. 🤞

Sinclair & the Growing Reach of Conservative Media | On the Media | WNYC Studios

If Sinclair Broadcast Group buys Tribune, it will become the largest TV broadcasting company in the country. Will the company use its access to spread a right-wing message?

www.wnycstudios.org

27 190 450

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 14d

(Not a lawyer; do not use me for legal advice)

1 1

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 14d

You only get to maintain copyright if you enforce it, right? So I can make a Pokémon game now?

Kotaku @kotakudotcom.bsky.social · 14d

Pokémon Responds To DHS' Video Using The Original Anime's Theme https://kotaku.com/pokemon-responds-to-dhs-video-using-the-original-animes-theme-2000628222

Pokémon Responds To DHS' Video Using The Original Anime's Theme - Kotaku

The Pokémon Company says 'permission was not granted' to use the song or clips from the show

kotaku.com

1 3

Reposted by Tom Smith

Rebecca R Helm @rebeccarhelm.bsky.social · 14d

I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA

10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)

730 10K 30K

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 14d

Juggling cognitive load doesn’t sound like it would be fun, but plenty of games show that humans thrive on this stuff even on their downtime. #thronefall #gamedesign

3

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 15d

The stories we tell in games matter. The verbs we give players matter. Think about it when you’re starting your next game. #thronefall #gamedesign

1

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 15d

If the don’t comply, could Newsom declare it an emergency and send the national guard after them?

Tom Smith @thegamedesigndad.bsky.social · 16d

Apparently this game has been out for a few years and I hadn’t even heard of it. And this is exactly the sort of game I love. Game discovery is so hard these days. #thronefall #gamedesign

4