“Now, by sharing in-game advertising revenue, we’re allowing a more diversified business model that gives our partners more resources to create new, innovative titles for the 13 million people we see every month on MSN Games.”

Better money means better games.

Casual Money via DailyTech

• Game programming is tough.
• C++ is still a useful language.
• Creativity is important!
• Good game programmers are hard to come by.
• If you are one of the elite programmers, please be humble.
• Big Bucks are waiting for game programmers.
• Game companies have to treasure talent.

No doubt that many youngsters are aspiring to be game programmers but the path to become a good programmer is definitely not easy.

A behavioural research firm in UK called Bunnyfoot (I like this cute name) has proven that in-game ads don’t score in sports games.

Results showed a failure to capture the attention of the player in sports game which followed a real-world model of advertising, with the firm noting that, “current methods are not optimising consumer engagement and are failing to influence the consumer in any significant way.”

Advertisers who are going to have their ads feature in video games can look for Bunnyfoot for solutions as dumping money into games is easy, delivering a punch or two to gamers is not.

In-game Ads have a long way to go via gamesindustry.biz

When I tell people in Germany what I do for a living, they usually react with a mixture of pity and disgust, like I had admitted to them I was a male prostitute.

They (riot police) even raided the nearby private residences, with one of our programmers forced to lay down naked on the floor with a gun to his head after he discovered armed police in his room after finishing his shower.

With a majority of Germans thinking you are evil and the press and politicians baying for you to be thrown in jail, it can make life uncomfortable.

Count yourself lucky that you are not in Tim’s shoes.

Read more {Quarter To Three forums}

Via Neowin.net

Areae, Inc. is a company dedicated to taking the tired old virtual world and making it into something fresh and new. Something anyone can jump into. Something where anyone can find something fun to do or a game to play. Something where anyone can build their own place on the virtual frontier.

The other guy in the company’s team is John Donham, VP of Production, who has many years of working on massively multiplayer games. In my opinion, Raph and John form the Dynamic Duo and I’m sure they will churn out something that is different from Second Life.

By the way, the studio is currently looking for a lead programmer, senior server programmer, artist and many others.

No more boring virtual crap via GamesIndustry.biz

Folllow the links and check them out:

Looking at XNA Part One

Looking at XNA Part Two

XNA via Gamedev.net

Buena Vista Games group, a Walt Disney Company, is set to open a new software division called ‘Fall Line Studio’ to make exclusive Disney titles for the Nintendo Wii and both portable DS models.

Distendo via GameSHOUT

AGDS provides education, networking and business opportunities and serves as a forum for programmers, artist, producers, game designers, audio professionals and others involved in the development of games to gather to exchange ideas, network and shape the future of the industry.

AGDS 2006 features lectures, round-table discussions on game development topics such as design, technology, arts and animation, business, production and mobile presented by industry professionals around the region and internationally. Our regional speakers come from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Even if you are not a pro or biz whiz (maybe you are a student?), you will definitely benefit from this once-in-a-year industry conference and get some pointers from big names such as Ian Livingstone.

Pricing info is here and if you want to try your luck for a chance to get free lodging and attend this event altogether, here’s the HP contest.

Official AGDS site

If you are not into shooting and throwing grenades like mad, the other way is to use DarkBASIC Professional to create the dream game of yours (with the exception of adult-themed games I suppose). You won’t get a deal in this category but you can get a complete PC system nevertheless.

The competiton is open to anyone worldwide.

Deadline for both competitons is 16th Jan 2007.

Before you get any excited, do check the official site.

Good Luck!

Conquer the world w ur FPS game via Gameplanet

The 72 Hour Game Development competition is an event to inspire rapid game development with an emphasis on design and fun. The general premise is this: At the start of the 72 hour period, a pre-determined theme is revealed. Teams collaborate to make the best game they can following that theme with only 72 hours to release something.

If you were game, the next 72-hour competition will be held in November.

Check the official website for details.