Update

2026 update

I like to do an update of this site before the start of each year.

The site is getting popular, with around 30 visitors per day. Fans of the site have been promoting it. As such, I've taken the time to put some work into this year's update.

During the year, I've collected a lot of notes. Whenever I think of anything, at any time, I make a note of it. These thoughts are inspired by games I've worked on or played that year, and things I've read/listened to. At the end of the year, those notes are integrated into the site, or deleted. I read through the whole site, editing as I go.

I've added a few new pages, but most of the work has been within the articles: adding content, and and improving the quality of the article. I've removed and consolidated a lot of marginal content, but there's probably more to be done in future updates. After all this, the site has about 15% more text.

Breaking down my advice into discrete articles has always been extremely difficult, as so many things overlap. Drawing the borders between subjects is a huge puzzle. On a large subject, how many articles should I break it down into, and what are the identities of each of those articles? Which two articles should really be merged?

I always like to update the design. This year, I decided I want to make the site look more official, and less fun, like a manual or document. The content is the design, and I don't think any design is necessary.

Legendary industrial designer Dieter Rams says that the best design is the least design possible.

Future updates will likely be much smaller. Eventually, of course, there will be no updates. The site will never be perfect, but it is always complete.

If you're a fan of the site, please take this opportunity to share the site again, wherever you talk about game design.