In a recent guest blog post for Game Tycoon game designer Chris Avellone offered his unique insight into the process of researching a new computer game. With equal doses of humor and stick figures, Avellone encouraged those seeking a job in the game industry to immerse themselves in comics, movies, and games.

So my advice for any aspiring members of game development is pretty simple. If you’re a nerd, keep being a nerd.

Watch trashy sci-fi movies. Read comics. Watch the entire run of Stargate. Be able to quote lines from Doctor Who until your friends want to murder you. Immerse yourself in the book and movie versions of Lord of the Rings. Study the Matrix. James Bond. The whole range of John Woo movies. Be able to explain the mathematical underpinnings of gun-kata in Equilibrium.

Have fun as your eyes take it all in, but in the storage bin in the back of your brain, record all the details of the construction and history of those franchises. Because chances are, one day you’ll be called upon to use it. Maybe even get paid for it.

The next part is probably going to make mothers across the world cringe, but for future game developers - watching TV is good for you. So are movies. Watch a lot of those. Watch the making-of sections, too. Argue about it with your friends if you want - you may learn even more.

Follow the link below to read the rest of his thoughts.

Game Tycoon: Game Design Research, ala Avellone

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