TouchDevelop is a new tool that is being tested by Microsoft Research.  It isn’t JavaScript, it isn’t C#, nor is it C++ or Visual Basic, it is something completely different. Initially developed for the Windows Phone, it now works in iPads, Safari...

Scirra.com is an amazing tool to create your game ideas quickly.  Scirra.com’s tool called Construct 2 is a quick and free download, the free download has a few limits, but not so many that you can't create a multi-level game for Christmas or Halloween...

If you need to brush up on your HTML: HTML5 & CSS3 Fundamentals This is a nice way to brush up on your HTML 5 Download the source code at: http://media.ch9.ms/ch9/code/C9HTMLCode.zip Couple of tips that save a great deal of time...

If you are just starting with JavaScript, then you will need to work through the 21 short videos on Channel 9: JavaScript Fundamentals: Development for Absolute Beginners If you need to review JavaScript you should view the videos, it is a worthwhile...

One of my fellow technology evangelists has written a little library of javascript for use in designing simple games with touch, music and sound effects.  The nice thing is that it is a small set of code and Dave Isbitski has carefully documented...

IE 10 Preview, wow, this is a great way to learn more about Modern Design and get into the right mind set for Windows 8 Store Apps.  No kidding. Let’s say you are using one of the trailing edge operating systems like Mountain Lion, and you want to...

Please click on the links and check out these offers, they cost you nothing and might help you make money! Azure 90-day Free Trial: Get started or learn how to build cloud apps! http://aka.ms/socalacademic_90day_azure VS Express 2012 RC for Windows 8...

So in my previous blog I mentioned Box2D and WinRT.  David mentioned that there was Box2D for JavaScript, which is a great way to add physics to your project: http://box2d-js.sourceforge.net/index2.html This won’t be your final library to build your...

Get signed up at http://www.imaginecup.com NOW.  And it’s THREE, that’s right 3 $50,000 first prizes for Game, Innovation and the World Citizenship.  You don’t get to read the rules till you register, but if you are a real software person, you...

Hey sign up for this free Hackathon, win prizes (as described in the link): Free Online Hackathon! Build that Windows 8 application and make big money! But I like this process, no spending long hours on Saturday in a room away from home.  You can...

Oh what a great day it is when you see that C++ can work directly with XAML or through WinRT with JavaScript.  Amazing! XAML he best example of a XAML based game with C++ and DirectX is the one found at: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps...

If you read no other free tutorial this summer then this is the one you need to work through.  Do not stop for that morning expresso, go directly to the 21 part series on HTML5 CSS: HTML5 & CSS3 Fundamentals: Development for Absolute Beginners...

In the current environment of game design you can get away with flash and dash game design, that is rapidly put together your game post it and make your money then move on to another project. Many technologies go this way from time to time and then they...

If you are reading this blog, good, if you aren’t, then how did you get to this part of the sentence?  Ok, haha. The is a problem here, games have randomness right?  Sort of like that annoying opening sentence.  In a movie for example,...

Usually one doesn’t encounter the use of the product PowerPoint and TFS in the same sentence.  But there you just did.  What if you could use storyboards directly for your game design and then set up work items in Team Foundation Services (either...

One of the problems with working  with free tools is that they are limited, unless you know how to add all of the extra tools that are useful.  And that can be said about Visual studio as well, but the integration with LightSwitch, XAML and...

You have a lot of choices for your database design.  You could use Access to front end a SQL or sharepoint site, doing this you optimize your security situation, but some people view Access as an out of date product.  Too bad for them, Access...

Ok that’s it, plus this video, could be a great idea.  Avoid the issue with the fact that mom would kill and eat you in a heartbeat or less, focus on the cubs and their collaborative interaction with the natural world.  Also, if you are a seal...

Nothing new with that, except is it easier to build multiplayer games with Windows 8 and Azure?  Not sure but I am continuing to work on this. Short blog.  Working on more.

First rule of Fight Club: Don’t talk about fight club.  Corollary: In any group of men the most annoying person will use that line during a period of silence. But what about your game?  How do you teach it to fight?  What is the philosophy...

In the paper: Learning to Solve Game Trees , it isn’t about you learning how to solve game trees but rather if the person playing the game will be able to reach the final goal in your game.  This paper is pretty much readable by someone with an AP...

How do you set your skill levels of players of your game? Now normally you would just use the actual score and let it go at that. But that is sort of a common way to do it. What if you stepped up your game (no pun intended) and instead used a Bayesian...

You built the memory game, and you want to add some controls, not navigational controls, never add navigation to the app bar in any language. Make sure to review the following, if you were around during the paper documentation days, you get the manual...

First, you will need to follow a lengthy and somewhat boring tutorial, keep in mind that boredom is part of learning. It is hard, historically, to learn during times of panic, battle or in fear of your life, during those times you should be applying what...

Three problems: Snap and Fill Pause the game Restarting the game Snap and Fill can be done using CSS or programmatically.  Either way you will need to pause the game and then restore the state, you then have to show the either a smaller image of...