Video Game Design and Development

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About Dustin Tyler

Initially focused on web dev, Dustin was introduced to game design by a friend after college and was immediately attracted to the combination of technical skill and creativity required to make an awesome game.

He’s utilized his web dev skills and desire to help others by creating a resource where expert game designers can share what they’ve learned with the next generation of aspiring game makers.

5 Popular Game Design Twitch Channels

top twitch channels for game designers

A great way to learn is to watch. You can pick up all kinds of new skills just from watching the free video tutorials spread wide across the internet. Youtube has some great options, but what happens if you get stuck? You might be able to find some help in the comments section under the […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on March 10, 2025

New Gaming Trends You Should Know

game design trends

Augmented Reality Let’s get augmented reality out of the way first…with Pokemon Go! It’ a huge hit with millions and millions of people. For a while, anyway. Ultimately, the gameplay was not compelling enough to retain the high numbers that Niantic nabbed right out of the gate. Despite the steep dropoff, Pokemon Go showed us […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on October 4, 2023

The Importance of Game Localization

Game Localization

If you’re located in the US, you might have noticed that an interesting thing happens with the video game release dates. A US-based game studio typically releases to the US several weeks earlier than it releases to other parts of the world. Maybe you never thought much about that, but there’s a good reason why. Enter: […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on June 18, 2023

Got A New Video Game To Promote? Here Are Budget-Friendly Tips To Market Your Game

Promoting Your New Game

Games are everywhere. They’re on your phone, they’re on your tablet, they’re on your computer, they’re on your tv, they’re on your kitchen table. They’re everywhere. In a market with so much great content, how do you get your game out in front of the people who want to play it? If you’re a AAA […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on June 18, 2023

Strong Cities for Gaming Careers

best cities for game developers

You thought you had solved the hardest question when you decided what you wanted to do — design games. Now you’re here because you’re realizing that deciding what to do wasn’t the hardest part…instead, it’s where to do it. We hear from you. Ask five different people and they will each have different parameters they […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on July 28, 2023

7 Video Game Conventions To Look Forward To Every Year

Game Development Conferences

Game conventions have only been growing in popularity as games have become a ubiquitous feature on our media landscape. Gathering in a shared location with other superfans of a particular game or genre of game can be a rewarding and valuable experience for many. There are a ton of video game conventions out there. Here […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on July 28, 2023

Excellent Java Game Development Tutorials

Java Game Development Tutorials

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. Java is a widely used game development programming language because of its versatility. It is one of the go-to options for developers to create apps and games on mobile and desktop. In fact, some of the top mobile […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on March 1, 2025

Video Game Translator: Why Games Need Translators and How To Become One

video game translators

If you have ever played a very old video game and had an extremely hard time trying to figure out where to go next or what is going on in the scene because the words are jumbled or don’t make sense, you’ve experienced video game translation in its infancy. The industry has changed exponentially over […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on July 4, 2023

What Makes a Good Game so Much Fun?

how to make a great game

The question on every game designer’s mind is the same: How do I make a game that people will find fun, will become popular, and make a lot of money? While there’s no simple answer, it never hurts to see what some of the best games have in common. Below you’ll find a few things […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on October 10, 2023

Level Design: How to Engage & Motivate Players

game level design guide

You could own a restaurant and have the best food in the entire world. If the interior looks like crap and you filled the place to bursting with chairs and tables, no one is going to come to eat at your restaurant! Excellent food or not! Much in the way that creating an entire experience […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on March 6, 2025

Meet The Best Gamers in the World

eSport Pro Gamers

Most gamers have spent at least a few minutes entertaining the idea of becoming a professional gaming athlete. Fame, money, recognition, accolades, respect — all for playing video games for a living (and kicking butt, too)! If you spend any time searching the internet, you’ll see that thousands of people pursue this dream. Not everyone […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on October 1, 2023

Excellent Canadian Game Studios

canada game design companies

If you’re familiar with game design, you know there are great design studios all over the world. If you’re an American that enjoys playing games, it’s easy to forget that not every game is made in the United States! Further north is a beautiful place known as Canada. Within Canada are some brilliant, talented people […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on October 9, 2023

The 50 Most Popular Video Game Characters of All Time

Certain iconic video game characters stand out from the rest. You might have seen their adaptations or merchandise with their faces, even if you don’t play the games they’re in. Many factors make a video game character intriguing, from their backstory and character arc to their physical features and evolution within their games. While some […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on March 1, 2025

Flash Game Development & The Best Flash Games

flash game tutorials

In 2017, Adobe released a statement that shook many veteran Internet users to their cores. More or less, Adobe was cutting the cord to its cornerstone program, Flash. Since 1996, Flash had been a dominant and memorable computer program in use by people of all ages. The games provided by talented contributors were time-killers, sure, […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on August 12, 2023

The Most Popular Game Development Software

Essential Software for game designers

What software is used to develop games? There are so many tools and pieces of software for robust game design right at your fingertips! We’re living in truly amazing times; the internet is host to all kinds of excellent software to help game designers of all calibers make their very own games. Well, which platform […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on August 16, 2025

How Hard is Video Game Design to Learn?

how hard is it

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. While game design might seem like an easy profession … We all picture game designers sitting around on bean bags bouncing ideas off each other. It’s actually difficult to get into and even more difficult to remain at the […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on March 1, 2025

Is Indie Game Development A Good Career Choice?

indie game development

Indie Game Definition Indie, which is short for “independent”, refers to a game made by one person or a small team, especially one without financial support from a publisher. This means that unlike the big-budget titles made by the top developers, indie games are made by people working on their own dime. While some of […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on September 8, 2023

10 Awesome Facts About Video Game Designers

video game designer benefits

While being a game designer often requires hard work, long hours, and plenty of creativity, there are also plenty of advantages. After all, there’s a reason why the position of video game designer is one that most aspiring game developers dream of finding themselves in someday. If you’re considering a career in game design, here are […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on July 24, 2023

The Beginners Guide to Twitch

twitch guide for beginners

Twitch.tv made national headlines in 2014 when it was bought by Amazon.com for nearly $1 billion. This move left many people wondering “What is Twitch?” and why would Amazon shell out so much dough for a service that was relatively unknown to the general public? However, an in-depth examination of the numbers would show that […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on July 24, 2023

The Secret to Awesome Game Ideas

video game ideas and tips

We are reader-supported. Purchases made through links on our site may earn us a commission. Learn More. Time to start your first game! Let’s go! You need good ideas for a video game. What? Don’t you know where to start? Hmm… 10 Ways to Find New Game Ideas Trying to design your first game can […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on August 8, 2025

East vs. West Game Design Styles: Visual, RPG Stories & Protagonists, Linearity vs. Choice

different gaming genres

Developers all over the world are working hard at this very moment to deliver their own unique, exciting experiences. Just like movies, television shows, and any other form of entertainment, creative content often reflects the people who made it. That is why when it comes to Japan (east) and the West, the games they make […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on June 24, 2021

Women and Their Impact on the Video Game Industry

women game developers

In 2014, the International Game Developer’s Association released a report detailing the prevalence of women in the gaming industry. While the presence of female developers has doubled since 2009, there was still a significant male dominance in the field. A History of Male Dominance in Gaming For a long time, games have traditionally been developed […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on July 4, 2023

When Is The Right Time To Ask For Gamers’ Feedback?

how to use player feedback in game designing

When you make a game, you want to like it. You need to like it. It’s like a baby to you. We get it. The thing about games is…well…it isn’t enough for you to like it. You need other people to like it too. That’s the point, right? Designing games is all about executing on […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on July 4, 2023

Recommended Graphic Design Colleges

us graphic design schools

Aspiring graphic designers seeking an outstanding post-high school education have plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re looking to stay close to home, save some money, or target an Ivy-League superstar, you should be able to find a great school for your particular situation. Using the following criteria, we’ve put together an updated list […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on March 1, 2025

Explore 10 Georgia Graphic Design Schools

best graphic design colleges in georgia

Looking to go to school in Georgia? Alright! And you want to go to school for graphic design? Double alright! It’s a good thing you’re here, then! We put together a list of ten of the best graphic design universities in good ol’ Georgia. What’s great about Georgia is you get a little bit of […]

Written by Dustin Tyler - Updated on September 7, 2023

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