Gamasutra Member Blogs: From Political Commentary To Games Affecting Reality

In highlights from Gamasutra's Member Blogs, our bloggers write about diverse topics, including political commentary in games, independent development, and how games can alter our perception of the world. 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. Here are the top member blogs for the week: This Week's Standout Member Blogs - Manufacturing Meaning: The Fed In iBailout!! (Nick Marroni) Nick Marroni discusses how developers can incorporate meaning into their games using his own game, iBailout!!, as an example of political commentary executed through gameplay mechanics and visual metaphors. - Thoughts On Independent Game Development (Andreas Heldt) Hoping to provide some tips for independent developers, Andreas Heldt discusses the pros and cons of independent development versus publisher driven development, using his own experiences as a reference. - Making An Indie Game In Your Spare Time (James Bowling) Developing games as a hobby can be arduous work. James Bowling provides several ways to maintain motivation and inspiration for hobbyist game developers. - The Undoing Of Canabalt (Robert Solomon) Robert Solomon explains why Canabalt’s simple mechanics and distinct visual design work together to create an game that can be appreciated on several levels, though it’s recent updates have hindered the cohesiveness of the experience. - Virtual Reality: Does Gaming Change Our Perspectives On Real Life. (Xander Markham) As games become a larger part of our culture, can they influence the way in which we perceive the world? Xander Markham examines this question by comparing the growth of games to other media that affect our lives.