OpenGl 3.1

The Khronos™ Group announced today it has publicly released the OpenGL® 3.1 specification that modernizes and streamlines the cross-platform, royalty-free API for 3D graphics. OpenGL 3.1 includes GLSL™ 1.40, a new version of the OpenGL shading language, and provides enhanced access to the latest generation of programmable graphics hardware through improved programmability, more efficient vertex processing, expanded texturing functionality and increased buffer management flexibility.
Read the full press release for new features.

7 ways to make AI smarter

This is the ideal article to complement the previous one from Gamasutra. But this one goes to the point givig you tips about how to implement in the real life the issues mentioned. Found in that invaluable site named GameDevAI.

Game contest with interesting prices

2BeeGames is hosting an indie game contest with very interesting prizes: $10000 and a publishing deal to a major console, $5000 for community favorite and $2500 for the runner up. Also, all submitted games have chance to get publishing deals, even with port to a major console. The submit date ends on April 15. Don't worry if you still can't participate! There is a chance to have more competitions like this in the future.

Combat systems and user preferences

Today I visited Obsidian Entertainment website to follow the progress of Alpha Protocol. I noticed a poll in the main page: What kind of combat system do you prefer for an RPG to have?
But even more interesting are the results. Seems that a large number of users (47%) still prefers old style, isometric turn based combat! Which, I have to say, is becoming more and more scarce, as the new graphics technologies lets developers exploit face to face view of fights.

Artificial Intelligence with Artificial Stupidity?

There is a nice article in Gamasutra covering a topic I didn't expected to see explained: how to introduce errors in your AI. Take a look at it, it really worth the read. Not because it explicitly details the methods, but instead because brings to our attention the issue and discovers some of the tricks going under the hood in well known products.

Long absence

Well, a little problem with my Internet connection kept me away for almost 15 days. Im back now, although there is nothing important to say until I get up to date. So, c u later!

Want to make an MMORPG?

JWalsh, a veteran from Gamedev.net has posted a quite interesting thread in the forums. Take a lok at it, it will save you a lot of troubles when ou arrive to the phase of "I want to make a MMORPG".