IGDA Japan VP and Fukushima Game Jam organizer Toshifumi Nakabayashi speaks to how developers can use game jams as a way to encourage philanthropy as part of an Advocacy track talk at GDC 2014. ...

The high-profile organization has revealed its 2014 awards shortlist, including the award for best game writing, for which folks from the likes of Italic Pig and The Chinese Room are nominated. ...

"I had a thought the other today, watching two people playing two tablet games. Wouldn't it be great if the players could help each other out, even though they were playing two different games?" ...

"The idea of branching out paths and keeping players separate had a really positive effect on making the game more about out-platforming and out-racing." ...

Armed with figures from the last two Steam sales, Lars Doucet (Defender's Quest) is back with a peek inside the revamped ecosystem, this time with info direct from Valve. ...

"In the end, what's truly unique about the decision-making contest and provides it with 'evergreen' potential is the systemic learning it allows for." ...

"Leaf talks about his original vision for itch.io and what it has since become, how the website and is operated and how much it costs to run, and he also picks out a few games that he thinks deserve more attention." ...

World of Goo's Ron Carmel: "An invitation from a friend to come play a game with them for a week, even if it costs $10, is an excellent value proposition for anyone who can afford to pay for a game." ...

World of Goo's Ron Carmel: "An invitation from a friend to come play a game with them for a week, even if it costs $10, is an excellent value proposition for anyone who can afford to pay for a game." ...

Don't miss QWOP creator Bennett Foddy's talk on bending physics engines to your will; it's just one of many insightful talks from experts in the GDC 2015 Independent Games Summit. ...