Recent content by Max Steele

Zero Punctuation: Achieving the Cross-media Transformation of Ludological Hermeneutics Remember those overly verbose criticisms that you were forced to read in college, written by intellectuals who used 10 cent words just because they could? Max Steele has taken that style and applied it to...

Three Under 30 "Like film and television, gaming has its wunderkinds, young stars that shatter expectations of accomplishment. I've assembled profiles of three of the best and brightest of these gamemakers, our industry's future game gods. One is an independent publisher, the second a...

Medieval II: Total War Review Harold Godwinson could have been the ruler of England. The designated heir of Edward the Confessor, he defeated the Viking king Harold Hardrada at Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066, then marched south to engage the invading William of Normandy at Hastings, on...

Don't Roleplay the Bugs Trying to design a computer game that plays like a tabletop RPG just makes for a broken computer game. It seems obvious now, but like so many designers before me, I had to learn it for myself. Max Steele relateshis Neverwinter Nights adventure. Permalink

Anywhere, Anytime, Any Phone "I'm sipping a latte at Starbucks when an instant message arrives on my mobile phone. There's a mobile game tournament starting soon with a $30 prize, and I'm invited to play." Max Steele looks at how a band of rebels from Sega.com transformed Nokia's N-Gage from a...

A Marginal Business Used game sales and digital distribution are pushing towards a dramatic change in the way that the game industry does business. Max Steele tells us why, and gives his prediction of the eventual outcome. Permalink

The New Mainstream Games are now cool because middle class teenagers are emulating hip hop moguls who are adopting the trappings of wealth which are defined by Silicon Valley millionaires who like games and tech. Max Steele discusses how hip hop and geek culture are revolutionizing America's...

A Conversation with Chris Crawford A Conversation with Chris Crawford Permalink

The Greatest Generation of Games Modern gaming was born from the ashes of the Golden Age, with products from upstart companies like Nintendo, Sega, and Electronic Arts. To the games of 1983 to 1993, we owe an industry. They are our Greatest Generation. Permalink

It's All Real To Me Why are movies based on video games almost universally bad? Max Steele takes a look at this reliable phenomenon, and spreads the blame around liberally. Permalink

Don't Roleplay the Bugs Trying to design a computer game that plays like a tabletop RPG just makes for a broken computer game. It seems obvious now, but like so many designers before me, I had to learn it for myself. Max Steele relates his Neverwinter Nights adventure. Permalink

Save the Roleplayers! Under the fierce evolutionary pressure of a massively multiplayer game, the roleplayer species cannot survive. Max Steele relates the tragic loss of one of D&D's finest. Permalink

The War at Hand Mobile warrior Max Steele takes a brash and humorous look at the mobile battle just commencing. In a battle between innovation, familiarity, and convenience, which platform will remain supreme? Permalink