Essay
The Game Design of Everyday Things: To Shape the Future
Our design columnist Tom Armitage on why landscape gardening is a better analogy than architecture for videogames—a discipline about guiding the player without access to a rulebook.
Tom Armitage
Article
The Game Design of Everyday Things: Everyday Gaming
The little things that make up our daily routine became so because of good design. And we love them because they’re simple, inobstrusive and convenient. Likewise, the rise of social and mobile gaming have made videogames more accessible, despite the design drawbacks which still plague the genres. To
Article
The Game Design of Everyday Things: Buttons Redux
How can your Rock Band guitar teach you to appreciate arcade button design? Tom Armitage describes what it is about the humble arcade button that has inspired both musicians and the fighting game community alike, and how average gamers can deepen their relationship with their interfaces.
Article
The Game Design of Everyday Things: Buttons
What’s on a button? In this new column, Tom Armitage takes a look at the things we press—whether on a city bus, a podium, or a Nintendo controller.