Electronic Arts seems to have a reputation for buying successful gaming companies and eventually closing them. This appears to be what has happened with Maxis Emeryville, the developer of SimCity.
Simcity 4 Downtown Rail Junction by haljackey, on Flickr
The games created at Maxis will still be around and they remain the property of EA. But, the development process of those games is being folded into EA’s other development studios. Continue reading
Microsoft® has just put a new game development platform out in Beta version: SPARK®. This is a game developer’s free form design tool and game engine. The results can be played on Xbox One, Win 8 and soon other platforms.
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You can read more at TechCrunch: Microsoft’s Project Spark DIY Game Creation Software Beta Begins Today.
Unfortunately this is a Windows 8 app only. As yet it does not even run on RT. It also is more of a novice game maker’s tool. While free form it is still within a set world, a pre-made world that one can modify.
I think The Verge’s article better describes SPARK: Microsoft’s ‘Project Spark’ beta arrives on Windows 8.1, lets you create an Xbox One game.
It is not Second Life™, but it is interesting. US$100k is always interesting…
World of Tanks Contest
You can get additional information at: GeForce eSports | World of Tanks $100k Open.
You can watch the broadcast of the competition at: http://www.twitch.tv/worldoftanks September 1 at 7PM PDT.
Or on demand at: YouTube WoT. Continue reading