A Shared Language
Much like designing and building a skyscraper, making games requires an incredible amount of communication to ensure everyone is building the same thing.
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The Complexity of Games & The Simplicity of Christ
In an industry of ever-increasing complexity, the good news is God’s plan for us is refreshingly simple. In John 15, Jesus explains it this way, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”
Video Games: A Medium After God’s Own Heart
Video games are a tutor to help us understand an aspect of God’s character that has been hard for us to comprehend.
Connecting Minecraft With Christ
Whether consciously or intuitively, Notch designed a low-fi sandbox that resonates with God’s creation in ways that helped catapult it to the best-selling game of all time.
Generous Authority
“A gathering run on generous authority is run with a strong, confident hand, but it is run selflessly, for the sake of others.” For game designers, I think this means being advocates for and protectors of our players.
Game Designer As Host
I like thinking about the role of a game designer as a host because it naturally shifts me into a place of empathy and generosity. When I am planning a gathering, I am focused on my guests.
Seeing Games Differently
In the past, when someone asked me what I did, I would proudly exclaim that I was a game developer. These days, I tell them that I’m interested in helping people create communities, and I do that by making games.
Honoring Your Audience
The idea of honoring your audience may sound a little strange in the games industry. A lot of time and energy goes into writing articles, giving talks, and creating online courses dedicated to extracting value from players.
Our Contentious Relationship With Constraints
Humanity, now maybe more than ever, seems to be hyper-focused on the pursuit of freedom and choice. We chafe at the thought of being restricted, and we are suspicious of a loving God who places boundaries in our lives.
Game Design Requires Humility
Pride seems to always get in the way, like a little yappy dog jumping at your feet. It trips you up and hinders your progress. Worst of all, it prevents you from doing your best work.
Trophies in the Trash
I used to think that honors and awards would fill me up, but it turns out that they just left me hollow. Living with me used to be a rollercoaster ride. I would go through these highs and lows based on the successes or failures of my projects. If a game were featured on the […]
A Prayer for the Joyful Programmer
Programmers have a reputation for being grumpy. It might just be a misconception, and a little PR help could clear it up. However, as a programmer and a follower of Jesus, the existence of this reputation creates tension in me. Being grumpy is at odds with the joy Jesus said should fill us.