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The Story of Playism, Part 1: The Slow Rise of Indies in Japan
COVER STORY: Playism's rise reflects a changing tide in Japan.
The Hype Dissected: What VR Really Means For Gaming
COVER STORY: What drives the hype behind VR? We talked to people at every level of the industry to find out.
True Tales from Localization Hell
COVER STORY: Three veterans of video game translation recount their most harrowing projects.
The Final Fantasist: A Conversation With Yoshitaka Amano
COVER STORY: The artist who has given life to so many Final Fantasy games speaks about his inspirations, the difference between fine and commercial art, and his current projects.
My Most Compelling VR Experiences So Far
COVER STORY: These VR experiences have (almost) made Kat a believer.
Day of the Tentacle Composer Peter McConnell on Communicating Cartooniness
COVER STORY: One of DoTT's trio of musicians talks about the challenges of selling its zany atmosphere with some relatively primitive tools.
Behind the Art of Day of the Tentacle
COVER STORY: LucasArts alumni Peter Chan and Larry Ahern chat about the challenges of making a "cartoon adventure" under the constraints of early '90s technology.
The Race to Become the Next Big eSport
COVER STORY: From Halo to Rocket League, seemingly every developer wants their game to be a big-time eSport, and the stakes are even higher than you realize.
Which Game Will be the Next Great eSport? Assessing the Contenders
COVER STORY: From Call of Duty to Smite, Kat takes stock of the games vying to become the next great eSport.
Manami Matsumae, the Maestro of Mega Man
COVER STORY: We wrap up our Brave Wave profile with this conversation with one of the label's biggest draws: Mega Man and Shovel Knight composer Manami Matsumae.
Keiji Yamagishi on His Past and Future in Game Music
COVER STORY: The artist behind Ninja Gaiden's NES soundtrack opens up about returning to composing, and his future plans.
Game Music's New Canon: The How and Why of Brave Wave
COVER STORY: A small, fan-driven music label is bringing newfound respect to game music by offering veteran composers a safe haven for the classic tunes they love making.
The State of Early Access: What it Means for Gaming, and How to do it Right
From the success stories to the fiascos, we go in-depth on one of gaming's most controversial business models.
NES Creator Masayuki Uemura on the Birth of Nintendo's First Console
The man who designed Nintendo's revolutionary console recounts the system's birth and the challenges of building an international business.
Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of the Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Why an old technology is getting a new lease on life.
Slasher Spotlight: A Horror Genre Tries To Make Its Mark on Games
Mike takes a look at the slasher genre and a few of the titles in a growing wave of upcoming horror games. [Warning: Blood and stuff.]
In Their Own Words: An Oral History of Diablo II With David Brevik, Max Schaefer, and Erich Schaefer
Fifteen years after its original release, the creators of Diablo II recount the battles with Blizzard, the year of crunch, and the shower ideas that became some of roleplaying's most enduring pillars.
Companions Through Life and Death: The Story of Inti Creates and Mega Man
The Mega Man franchise may be on ice these days, but long-time developer Inti Creates has a deep and abiding love for the series that continues to live on — even if the character himself doesn't.
Inside Musterbrand: How One Company Crafts High-End Clothing for Gamers
The past, present, and future of one company's attempts to carve a niche by making stylish premium clothing based on video games.
Cover Story: 30 Years of NES, 30 Interesting NES Facts
Big historic developer interviews a little tl;dr for your caffeine-addled mind? Try these 30 easy, bite-sized tidbits about the NES instead.
Player's Choice: How to Play Classic Games in the Modern Era
Keeping up with the classics is no longer as simple as plug-and-play. Here's your guide to recreating the highest-quality retro game experience with current equipment.
Making the Connection: A Guide to Essential Gaming Cables and Tech
It's not enough to simply own classic consoles and a huge library — you need to know how to get them hooked up as well.
Welcome to the Jam: The Making of Super Street Harassment RPG
Critic becomes creator as USgamer's Bob Mackey puts his skills to the test throughout a grueling, game-making weekend.
Killed at the Conference Table: Gaming's Balancing Act Between Art & Product
Games live in that hazy area between works of art and products to be sold. What happens to creativity in that gray area?
Nintendo's Quest for Inclusivity
Nintendo's Animal Crossing team speaks about the drive for diversity in its games — even if the company falls short of its goals from time to time.
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