Welcome to this corner of the web, a space dedicated to exploring games from the ground up — their design, their systems, and the way people engage with them. Whether you're a curious player, an aspiring developer, or someone interested in the theory behind play, this site is for you.

Focus

Games are complex, ambitious media. They combine storytelling, mechanics, systems, and technology in ways few other creative forms can match. Here, we try to unpack those layers, offering insights into:

• Game Design & Development: Mechanics, systems, level design, tutorialisation, onboarding, and the practicalities of making games work.
• Player Study: Behaviour, motivation, pedagogy, and how design choices affect the player experience.
• Theory & Reflection: Academic and practical perspectives on play, learning, and interactive systems.

Your Author

There's no suave way to do this. My name is Ryan Callard. I'm a lecturer in game design and esports at the University of West London, and a game developer for the UK indie company Arrogant Pixel. I’ve been fortunate to work on multiple game releases, and now find myself extending this industry experience into my own academic career.

But my bread and butter is the craft of designing and developing games. This site is a place to explore interesting ideas, and document the patterns and systems that shape engaging experiences in video game development.

What You’ll Find Here

• Articles & Analyses: Breakdowns of game systems, mechanics, and design philosophies.
• Guides & Tutorials: Practical advice for developers at various levels, from beginner to advanced.
• Case Studies & Examples: Insights drawn from commercial, indie, and experimental games.

Games are more than entertainment. They’re cutting edge experimentation, learning, and creative expression. Studying and designing them is challenging but rewarding. If I can share knowledge, reflect on experiences, and encourage others to think critically about games without claiming to have all the answers, then I've at least achieved something.

Curious? Dive into the articles, explore the tags, and see what’s here. Games are vast and ever-changing, and there’s always something new to learn.