Gamasutra Member Blogs: From Suspension Of Disbelief To In-Game Advertising

In highlights from Gamasutra's Member Blogs, our bloggers write about diverse topics, including the suspension of disbelief, the basics of Scrum development, and the pros and cons of in-game advertising. 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 - The Human Magnet - How Game Designers Are Sticking It To The Man (Anjin Anhut) Third person action games often allow characters to carry numerous weapons on their back, though only a handful implement this in a believable way; Anjin Anhut points out which games do and don't encourage players to suspend their disbelief. - Similarities Between Games Genres And Other Media Formats (Jonathan Lawn) While games are often compared to film, Jonathan Lawn examines the medium and draws comparisons between a variety of game genres and media types. - Introduction To Agile And Scrum Development (Matt Christian) Scrum development has become increasingly popular in the industry, and Matt Christian explains the style and how it can change the way a team approaches development. - Are Young Designers Getting Less Creative? (Andrew Calhoun) Based on his anecdotal evidence, Andrew Calhoun wonders if young artists suffer from an overabundance of homogenized media, and are thus less able to think creatively. - This Game's Immersion Is Sponsored By... (Aaron & Alex Leach) Aaron and Alex Leach take a look at in-game advertising, citing the most effective and intrusive examples of the practice, and suggest ways in which the ads could be used more effectively.