Category: News

In this GDC 2015 talk, Kristen Quebe and Bryan Higa discuss the customizable movement system created for Sunset Overdrive, and how an audio system was developed to match the many different kinds of movement in the game.

Quebe and Higa explain how they designed a modular limb based system that was extremely scalable, and go over a detailed footstep system that supported 9 behaviors across many material types, and supported six different shoe types as well.

They also share the importance of audio when trying to support feedback around player progression, how they kept audio performance in line, and how that looked up against last generation games.

It was informative talk that’s still definitely worth watching, so developers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to do so now that it’s freely available on the official GDC YouTube channel!

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its accompanying YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.

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–  Glitch executive director Evva Kraikul speaking to Polygon about their not-for-profit ideology. 

Not-for-profit game developers creating games with the noble goal of taking earnings from their labor and using it to grow an organization and support its mission seems too good to be true– and to big publishing companies, it is. 

In an interview with Polygon, Glitch executive director Evva Kraikul discusses the hurdles that not-for-profit organizations face when negotiating with platform holders like Sony, Nintendo, Valve and Microsoft to publish their games. 

Glitch, a Minnesota-based not-for-profit, provides residencies, grants and support for emerging game developers. Publishing games that are produced from the organization however (and sticking to its not-for-profit ideal), has been a challenge. 

“Realizing that our [not-for-profit] situation was unique, we reached out to Sony first to ask questions while setting up a developer account,” Kraikul explains.

“After a bit of email run-around, we were told that they would only accept for-profit organizations as publishers and urged us to create a LLC, LLP, or Inc. We emailed to clarify but stopped receiving responses from their developer relations team shortly after.”

Kraikul went to seek a solution that would allow for not-for-profit publishing, but it’s been difficult. While other entertainment industries have developed policies in place for not-for-profits (legally defined as “501(c)(3)” organizations) the games industry doesn’t really have one.

“It definitely soured our experience when it came to setting up developer accounts on all the platforms,” Kraikul says. “If we didn’t see 501(c)(3) listed as an option then we figured it would also be an uphill battle similar to our experience with Sony.”

“Since it was so uncommon to even see publishing as a 501(c)(3) listed, we figured we could either try to change policies and practices amongst all platforms we’re targeting, or develop a solution that would include a for-profit arm within our organization.”

And the solution? Establish a benefit corporation as a subsidiary organization, which is a for-profit business driven by social impact missions. 

The interview was part of a longer discussion surrounding the challenges not-for-profits face in the industry, so be sure to read that over at Polygon. 

Newsbrief: YoYo Games has launched an open beta for its 2D game dev engine GameMaker Studio 2 that makes it possible to export games to the Nintendo Switch from within the engine itself.

Developers can check out the open beta for the GameMaker Studio 2 Nintendo Switch license edition on the YoYo Games site, but take note that enrollment also requires devs to sign up as a Nintendo Switch developer ahead of time. 

The beta still comes with a price tag as well and requires developers to either pick up a Nintendo Switch license for GameMaker Studio 2 for $799 a year or the all-encompassing GameMaker Studio 2 Ultimate license for $1,500 a year. The full release of the engine’s official Switch support is due out this September.