Core Coding Standard
Coding practices are a source of a lot of arguments among programmers. Coding standards, to some degree, help us to put certain questions to bed and resolve stylistic debates. No coding standard makes everyone happy. (And even their existence is sure to make some unhappy.) What follows are the standards we put together on the Core team, which have become the general coding standard for all programming teams on new code development. We’ve tried to balance the need for creating a common, recognizable and readable code base with not unduly burdening the programmer with minor code formatting concerns. More
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Guidelines for Creating Good Design Materials
Before you explain your design, state what it is that your aiming to achieve. Whether it be a design problem you’re aiming to solve or a new twitch mechanic you have an idea for, tell the audience what is at the heart of the matter. Then they can think on the subject in the same way that you are and have a grounding point for their ideas and feedback. This is a core part of our ‘state the problem, not just the solution’ philosophy. More
Navigation #GDC11
Navigation of the level is increasingly becoming one of the necessary components for an immersive and fun AI. In this presentation given at GDC this year Reddy Sambavaram shares how Insomniac's AI navigation evolved while satisfying our needs in the … Read More
New generation of @insomniacgames tools as webapp
This year at the Sony GameTechConference (GTC11) I spoke about the next-generation of Insomniac Engine and Tools development. One of the biggest changes we shared was our move to develop our new suite of tools as a web application.
Applying Usability Lessons from Resistance to Engine
Over the last 18 months or so, we have been making major changes on the Core team on our approach to usability with our Tools and Engine. We now conduct regular (both formal and ad hoc) usability tests on every … Read More
Creating Satisfying Combat Experiences #GDC11
It was really awesome to see hundreds of developers interested in Insomniac’s combat experience! I was a bit nervous with the technical difficulties at the outset, but cheers to the AV team for coming through!
One important thing to
s(elf) exploitation
How Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2) hacked in patching using a common security exploit.
(5 Minute Show and Tell) Rotoscoping
Scott Michalek (Engine Support Technician) recently did his own 5 minute show and tell for the team. He shared a bit about the the history of rotoscoping. A classic, brutally and mind-numbingly tedious animation technique. (Which can largely be automated
(5 Minute Show and Tell) 5 Minutes to a Better Bowler
Giac Veltri (Engine Programmer and expert bowler) shared his experience with the team in a recent 5 Minute Show and Tell.
