The NYU Game Center is an anchor for Brooklyn game development culture, creativity and community, and last weekend’s PRACTICE event was indisputable evidence of that.
Developers, designers, artists and creators of all kinds flocked to the Brooklyn campus to share what they’ve learned with aspiring game professionals — and to simply have a good time discussing games of all kinds.
There were too many great speakers at the three-day event to cover it all, but here are a few highlights:
1. Chris Avellone
Avellone was a designer for the massively popular Fallout 2, and he talked about what could have been with the originally scheduled Fallout 3 — before development was canceled.
.@ChrisAvellone — "Fallout: Van Buren" #practice15 pic.twitter.com/8eCeAlDor7
— George Landon (@GeorgeVLandon) November 14, 2015
2. Leslie Scott
Scott is the inventor of the world-famous Jenga, and she discussed the aspects that make great games in her mind: Having few rules, being highly sociable, and being strategic, yet simple.
This was a talk everyone was excited for. I mean, who doesn’t love Jenga?
https://twitter.com/metasynthie/status/665940412545265664
3. Ben Ruiz
Ruiz is the cofounder of Team Colorblind, a game development studio based in Phoenix, Ariz.
Ruiz is a noted artist and combat designer, and he gave the PRACTICE audience a lesson in designing great “beat ’em ups,” with the use of attacks, weapons and combos.
Great advice from @BenRuiz on brawlers and viscerality – "they bleed, therefore I am winning" #practice15 pic.twitter.com/nSQ5QYVClM
— cs wallace (@Hengde) November 14, 2015
4. Mare Sheppard
Sheppard is one-half of Metanet Software Inc., an indie game development studio based in Toronto.
Sheppard talked about her game, N++, and the design process behind it.
.@MareSheppard talks through the level design process for N++. #practice15 pic.twitter.com/ppDghUTOs2
— ✨ Dr. Mitu (মিতু) Khandaker (@MituK) November 15, 2015
Take a look at the N++ trailer to get a glimpse of the stunningly simple design of the game:
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