Analyzing the market of HTML5 games
Guest Post What the are the best HTML5 game engines? The most popular HTML5 games to date? The best libraries for HTML5 games? Clay.io used a spider to find out.
stories by Rob Savillo
Heart of the Swarm brings lack of imagination to a well-designed StarCraft II (review)
March 18, 2013 11:10 AM
Rob Savillo
Even with a new Zerg campaign and seven additional units for multiplayer, this expansion feels like retreading similar -- albeit well-designed -- ground.
Aliens: Colonial Marines isn’t the Aliens sequel you wanted (review)
February 12, 2013 1:00 AM
Rob Savillo
Developer Gearbox has focused too much on providing fan service than including any original or creative ideas of its own.
Omerta: City of Gangsters brings an authentic yet rough mobster experience (review)
January 31, 2013 6:00 AM
Rob Savillo
For all the great amount of detail put into the game, the lack of real, permanent consequences and a fully simulated opponent is a huge letdown.
Hawken developer doesn’t want to exploit you with its free-to-play
January 21, 2013 11:00 AM
Rob Savillo
Producer Jason Hughes explains how Adhesive Games is figuring out how to apply free-to-play to a traditionally niche genre.
Hawken’s open beta shows a thoughtfully designed mech combat game (preview)
December 21, 2012 5:48 AM
Rob Savillo
But can Hawken's amazing attention to detail, capturing the weighty power of a multi-ton war machine, carry it through the pitfalls of free-to-play game design?
Middle Manager of Justice is all business, no gameplay (review)
December 17, 2012 12:00 PM
Rob Savillo
Double Fine's foray into free-to-play is just the latest example of a business model taking precedence over good game design.
Analyzing XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s soldier progression with producer Garth DeAngelis
November 9, 2012 9:00 AM
Rob Savillo
XCOM: Enemy Unknown producer Garth DeAngelis discusses soldier progression as writer Rob Savillo deconstructs how the game approaches the player's attachment to his squad as compared to past entries in the X-Com series.
8 tips for saving the world in XCOM: Enemy Unknown
October 17, 2012 7:00 PM
Rob Savillo
Covering how to use Satellites, which alien abduction missions to prioritize, how to design your main base, and more, this guide to Enemy Unknown's strategy layer will have you beating back the alien invasion in no time at all.
The XCOM field commander’s tactical guide to Enemy Unknown
October 16, 2012 10:00 AM
Rob Savillo
Explore possible skill progressions for your soldiers and learn how to better enact your Earthly vengeance against the alien menace on the battlefield.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is peerless in modern game design (review)
October 8, 2012 5:00 AM
Rob Savillo
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is unlike any game you've ever played before, melding real-time resource management with turn-based, squad-level tactics.
The top 10 games of ‘Pitch us in one Tweet’ (#6: Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion)
September 28, 2012 2:35 PM
Rob Savillo
We asked indie developers to pitch us a game in one Tweet. Here is the sixth submission, Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion from Witching Hour Studios.
Destroy all humans in XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s multiplayer (hands-on preview)
September 26, 2012 12:00 PM
Rob Savillo
If you've ever wanted to lead an alien invasion of Earth, XCOM: Enemy Unknown's new multiplayer mode will let you command extraterrestrial ground forces against other players in turn-based, tactical battles.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s hits and misses (hands-on preview)
September 24, 2012 9:34 AM
Rob Savillo
Firaxis' update to the classic X-Com: UFO Defense brings new innovations -- including mission variety, the two-action system, and sticky-cover indicators -- to the series while unfortunately leaving at least three others at the door.
MAGFest: A long weekend of games, music, and heavy drinking (interview)
July 31, 2012 8:30 AM
Rob Savillo
Nick "the newibe" Marinelli talks MAGFest: a long weekend of playing the Atari 2600 all the way through the PlayStation 3, listening to bands like Minibosses and Earthbound Papas, cosplaying, attempting game challenges, watching discussion panels featuring Sid Meier and Chris Hazard, and drinking with abandon.
Local developers and students look beyond the stars at Baltimore’s Gamescape 2012
July 26, 2012 12:46 PM
Rob Savillo
Baltimore's Gamescape showcased talent with a passion for galaxies, black holes, and exploding stars...and everything they represent.
Civilization V: Gods and Kings can’t fix what is fundamentally flawed (review)
June 18, 2012 5:00 AM
Rob Savillo
While this expansion improves diplomacy with the addition of espionage and religion, it proves unable to correct the major issues of the original release.
Lone Survivor delivers story better than big-name games (review)
May 7, 2012 1:00 PM
Rob Savillo
Even with its "simplistic" aesthetic and presentation, Lone Survivor manages to surpass many high-profile games by way of its narrative strengths. Drawing clear influence from Silent Hill, Lone Survivor successfully builds upon the psychological thriller.
The Art of XCOM: Enemy Unknown — Firaxis’ second developer diary emphasizes terror
May 2, 2012 7:20 AM
Rob Savillo
Firaxis has released its second developer diary for the upcoming XCOM: Enemy Unknown. In this episode, the studio focuses on the game's art direction, emphasizing the influence of "the sheer terror" of the original, X-Com: UFO Defense.
Naval War: Arctic Circle gives fun the cold shoulder (review)
April 30, 2012 8:33 AM
Rob Savillo
Naval War: Arctic Circle is a dull grey warship riding atop a dull blue ocean underneath a dull grey, overcast sky. Boredom permeates so much of the experience that GamesBeat can't even recommend this to the most ardent grognards.
