Gamasutra member blogs: From long games to the scientific method

[In highlights from Gamasutra's Member Blogs, our bloggers write about diverse topics, such as why people love games that seem to never end, the science of games, optimizing sound effects for mobile/web, and more.] Member Blogs can be maintained by any registered Gamasutra user, while invitation-only Expert Blogs -- also highlighted weekly -- are written by selected development professionals. We hope that our blog sections can provide useful and interesting viewpoints on our industry. For more information, check out the official posting guidelines. This Week's Standout Member Blogs Skyrim - This is going to take a while (Glen Cooney ) Why do people love games that seem to never end? Glen Cooney examines this question and compares the many ways games have taken measures to extend their longevity. The scientific method (Douglas Lynn) The question of "The Art of Games" keeps coming up in discussions. Always present but oft overlooked, however, is the Science of Games. Douglas Lynn says that, Art or not, these two hypothetical situations demonstrate how many, many games are products and promoters of science. Homeostasis and the "asshole" (Jorge Albor) Jorge Albor believes this alternative perception of players as a hostile agent illuminates the value of looking at games as homeostatic systems in which players are primarily external and chaotic forces. What is your game about? (Eric Schwarz) Branding, image, aesthetics, story, and genre define our perception of games, but they rarely touch on what makes them work. Eric Schwarz says gamers and game creators need to start thinking in different terms when discussing the medium. A DIY guide to optimizing SFX for mobile and web (for non-audio nerds) (Daniel Gooding) Daniel Gooding covers optimizing file space, while still maintaining quality, plus Other fun Stuff. Includes links for a free audio editor, and a SFX file to follow along with.