Becker Video Game Design

First master's level game design program in NYC area

Web based game Phylo designed by McGill comp sci professor enables players to manipulate sequences involved in genetic diseases

Criteria for IGDA Scholarships 2012, to three industry related events, dealine Jan 20, 2012, (GDC 2012, SXSW, PAX East,) full time college students in game programs and members of IGDA

39 students awarded total prizes of $90,000

"pay what you want ... DRM free... cross platform"

Designing a sport kids may want to play employing game design principles

(Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit,15th annual Interactive Achievement Awards on February 9, 2012,

Game Developers Conference, prizes to be awarded March 2012

From Berklee College of Music, not only a video game music orchestra, but a video game music choir

Intersection of online games with geolocation services

Application of political economics to the study of video game industry business models

Blogs used in game design courses

Presents results of a gamer questionnaire as well as analysis of effective games and their producers

Reviews positive learning outcomes associated with video games as well as good design principles for educational games

"what makes a video game replayable and why exactly the replayability of a game should matter to the companies producing the games and the consumers buying them. Information on replayability is very important to both the companies producing games and the consumers purchasing them. It is necessary for companies to achieve a balance in the amount of replayability a video game possesses. In other words, companies should aim for a certain ―value‖ of game play per dollar. If a game is not replayable, consumers will quickly tire 7 of the game and discard it, as it does not have high replay value. This takes away from the popularity of the game and possible sales from future games in the same series. On the other hand, if the game is too replayable, the consumer may not feel a need to buy any more games and video game companies will be unable to generate a profit. For companies, the value of the game requires a delicate balance to produce a game which will keep players interested long enough for the company to develop a new game before they tire of the game they have, but not too long so that when the company release the new game the buyers are in line waiting for it."

Introduces RTSenv, "configure and manage the main aspects of RTS games, such as maps, computer-controlled units, and game scenarios"

Automating game content generation

Software design and platform to help with game design for mobility-disabled users

Examines how people with disabilities encounter difficulties playing video games and design principles to counteract these problems are suggested

Considers two mutliplayer games in the context of political economy and social science, arguing at the same time the relevance of video games for academic studies