Självutnämnd som Sveriges - kanske världens - första kulturtidskrift om spel. Det första numret, med sina 116 proppfulla sidor, är här. Säga vad man vill om deras inramning, om upphovsmännen som "fiender", "krigsförklaringar" och andra svulstiga ordval - i Fiendens kärna existerar någonting fundamentalt viktigt för spelmediets kulturella framtid. Deras inledande devis är enkel: De ställer sig bortom snack om senaste FPS-spelets kulturella existensberättigande vid sidan av teaterkonsten, bortom "maskiner och explosioner", men bakom spelmediets potential att "ge oss större upplevelser än något annat". Redan där skaffar Fienden sig med största sannolikhet en hel del vänner.

Vad vore ett budskap utan innehåll? Ingenting. Fienden är lyckligtvis knökfull med sådant: Personporträtt, observationer, reportage och en stundtals brinnande avsky.

• Tidningen inleds med ett rörande reportage om en för de flesta okänd individ från spelkulturens mörkaste vrår. Man imponeras framför allt av den research som krävts för arbetet. Jag känner mig kluven till att exploatera en uppenbart sjuk människa på det här viset. Samtidigt är det kanske en välgärning i längden.

• En del av den känslan återkommer under läsning av övriga texter. Även fast man tycker om eller tvärtom hart svårt för en del innehåll så lyckas Fienden ändå att påverka. Man funderar, drar slutsatser och engagerar sig.

• Debatten om hur politik i ett flertal länder omöjliggör spelens roll i kulturlivet vidrörs. Politiker som inte rört vid ett spel med tång, än mindre spelat dem, är snabba på att svartmåla titlar som närmar sig prekära ämnen.

• Artikeln om de nyskapande, men tragiskt nog relativt...  Read more

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Love it or hate it, the issue of morality and like minded conundrums are a growing staple of modern gaming. However, as a parent always on the lookout for ways to double up the joys of gaming with life lessons to my little boy, the reality is games that pose serious life lessons are alarmingly thin on the ground.

I'm currently playing through L.A Noire which whilst a thoroughly engrossing creation of fictional events, is still very much grounded in reality - one of many features of modern gaming elements I adore.

Watching the little one immerse himself in Adventure Quest (a very fantasy online MMORPG) it's quickly apparent it lacks that added feature that has him question his motivations. Why does he need that new shiny armour and what are the consequences of wiping out an entire oasis of blood thirsty camels and their prickly death squad of prickly cacti?

With that in mind it's a genuine cause for joy to learn that there are developers on the case. The good folks at Schell Games (a talented bunch following their work with Disney IP that includes Toontown Online - a former fave of the boyo), are teaming up with Yale University's Play2Prevent initiative to educate teenagers on the perils of unprotected sex. It's a task that comes with a lot of responsibility, but if anyone can, Schell Games can.

The company is helmed by Jesse Schell who only last year said in the past, and even today, game makers obsess over creating fantasy, an escape from the real world, a disconnect. But these days, value of "realness" is rising. "We live in a bubble of fake bullshit, and we'll do anything to get to what is real."

In short, while gaming may be a form of...  Read more

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It is easy to lose the sense of wonder and objective view point we once had as new recruits to the industry. This may be down to time constraints or habit, which is why when Jacob Kroon (intern) made his first attendance at this year's Nordic Game Conference, it seemed a perfect fit to have him share his thoughts and views.

The following words are his thoughts and summary of the event.

Nordic Game Conference 2011 - där begränsningar skapar kreativitet.

Ed Fries sätter tonen för årets inkarnation av Nordic Game Conference. Essensen i den före detta Microsoft-arbetarens keynote lyder "constraint creates creativity". Att ha mycket, mer eller mest av någonting leder sällan till originalitet. Moderna AAA-titlar har kommit att likna varandra i allt större utsträckning. Fries drar bland annat paralleller mellan dataspelens utveckling och det antika Greklands vaser. Han visar bilder på vaser han beskriver som bland det vackraste som skapats av människohand. De är i sig beprydda av intrikata, tvådimensionella konstverk. När människorna som skapade dessa verk sålunda fick tillgång till färger och började implementera tredimensionella perspektiv förändrades krukorna till någonting blekt och karaktärslöst. En salig röra där all finkänslighet tycktes ha gått förlorad. Han liknar de här företeelserna med spel av oberoende utvecklare. De har stora begränsningar med budget, utrustning och teknik. Skapelserna själva kan däremot slå vilket storspel som helst vad gäller kreativitet och skönhet, menar han. Tillfällesvis rådde det heller ingen brist på indieutvecklare som besökt mässan.

Slutsater av första keynoten:

•     Det...  Read more

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The Supreme Court has decided to hear oral argument on November 2nd about a 2005 California law that would regulate the sale and rental of computer and video games. This law would treat games, which are First Amendment protected works, differently than movies, books, and music. Numerous District and Federal Courts agree that games are expressive works of art and are entitled to the same First Amendment protections. This would effect us in Europe with game developers forced to adapt their creative freedom according to the law. We want to show our support for the Entertainment Software Association, respondents in the case, by reprinting the game developer Warren Spector's letter:

Dear Friends,

Computer and video games are art, a form of artistic expression deserving of and, currently, protected by the First Amendment.

That hasn't stopped states though from trying to restrict the rights of our medium's artists, storytellers, and technical innovators. On November 2, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of a California law that would restrict the sale of video games. This is a case of great significance to you and me -- to all people who play or create games and believe in the First Amendment.

Let's not beat around the bush -- if the Court's ruling goes against us, this law could lead to the future censorship of games, could irrevocably harm developers and would validate the absurd notion that video games are somehow a lesser form of creative expression.

We must act now. On October 19, I'm asking you to join me in urging all of your friends and co-workers, real-world or virtual, to stand up for video...  Read more

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Tokyo Game Show was quite an experience. Smaller than I imagined, but very well organized and great games such as Ni No Kune and El Shaddai. I also experienced a lot of innovation in Japan Game Awards' amateur division with Sand Crush and Rhytmic Gymnastics. Other odd games that showed that Japan is still on the forefront were a massage game for the Wii which uses the Wii Fit balance board and a cat stacking game for the iPhone/iPad. I boiled everything down into this two minute video:

Besides the convention Tokyo was lovely. I visited Akihabara and browsed stores such as Trader and Super Potato. The latter had their wall by the stairs plastered with pages out of the Swedish magazine Nintendo Magasinet from the early 90's, quite an odd experience. But it seems as Tobias Bjarneby and the early Swedish pioneers made their mark in Tokyo. When visiting the excellent bar 16 shots, the bartender recognized that we spoke Swedish and even said some phrases "Tack så mycket!" and "Hej då!".

Proud to see Swedish developed Battlefield Bad Company 2 on the billboards in Akihabara!

In the restroom of 16 shots the wall is plastered with business cards, found some Swedes and put up my own card.

It was also funny to see the thriving arcade culture in Japan. A mish mash of music games, fighting games and horse racing simulators. My personal favorites were without a shadow of a doubt the angry dad flips the table. I leave you to enjoy the video of the game. Only in Japan...