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Something we've had to deal with a lot recently - finding new motivation. This is one of the RSA's 'Vision Videos' - Daniel Pink on the 'secret truth about what motivates us'. Some great stuff in this video.

Irrational Games have made a selection of pages from the original BioShock pitch document available for public consumption. For me, presentation is everything... especially when it comes to winning the support of publishers on a multi-million dollar title for an unproven IP.

Check out the pages here

Can games change the world? Jane McGonigal believes they can, and her latest Alternate Reality Game (ARG)  'EVOKE: A Crash Course in Saving the World' aims to do just that. 

In her recent TED talk, McGonigal discusses the concept of using regular gaming time for a greater purpose - rather than decreasing our online gameplay, we should actually be playing more. but rather than slogging it out to 'level up' or obtain an item that has no real world use, the concept is that we use this time as a tool to solve real world issues. People I know scoffed at this talk, believing that she lives in some fantasy world where this could never realistically work.

I'm not so sure. 

I play online games almost everyday. It's mixed in between reading news, talking to friends and writing for this blog - but I would estimate I play for around an hour on average. I am compelled to play, even though there is no tangible reward, and in some instances it even costs me real money.

So to put the concept to the test, I've decided to actively participate in EVOKE - a game designed to get people thinking about real world change and real world issues - using game mechanics and online tools to give players a sense of achievement.

I imagine we have some way to go before this type of gaming rivals the traffic of WoW or Second Life, but its always fun to be part of something new.

You can follow my progress, or better still, you can play too.

Now I'm not one for a 'scary' game, but I'm certainly looking forward to the opportunity to play 2D platformer LIMBO coming to Xbox Live Arcade later this year. The game is created by Denmark company PLAYDEAD, and won this years 12th Annual IGF Awards for Technical Excellence and Excellence in Visual Art.

LIMBO appears to be the only major title in the works for PLAYDEAD, but it has already left lasting impressions on those able to play it. The entire palette is black & white, and the concept art has an eerie and haunting feel to it. 

The reception so far indicates LIMBO could be a runaway success.

Watch the trailer

Due to open in February 2010, this new dedicated next gen gaming bar could be a very awesome or totally scary experience. I am very excited to test the waters, and looking forward to a night out in what is slated to be one of Brisbane's most 'funky drinking venues'.

With a maximum capacity of only 50 people, I'd imagine the pricing will be through the roof, but this is the Valley, so no surprises expected there... stay tuned for first impressions.

Visit the Mana Bar Website

Great article on how two guys managed to create the iPhone app Stuck? in just one weekend, and have it ready for sale by Tuesday.

Includes some great tips and suggestions for making it happen.

Read the full article here

Probably one of the more insightful post mortem articles I have read lately, despite it being written for a casual title conducted in between 'major' developments.

The internal 'Greenlight Chart' sounds like a really interesting concept, something that could inspire and motivate a wider team to take a stake in an internal concept. Would be really interesting to see how it works and what the process looks like.

Read the full article on Gamasutra

Robbie Bach has announced the Game Room title for the Xbox coming in Spring 2010. Included in the keynote, players will be able to create customised arcade rooms, challenge their friends to an array of retro games, and relive the authentic arcade gaming experience of the 70's and 80's.

More on Joystiq...
Full Microsoft Keynote...

Christopher Hyde writing for Critical Distance has done the leg work here - generating an extensive list of the 99 Free games which he deems to be noteworthy in 2009. After wading through a bunch of them that I hadn't tried before, I've got my picks so far below.

Not included in the list were a couple which I would put up there: Obechi - a pretty, quick-click game involving rings and dots; and Every Day the Same Dream - another Molle Industria specialty dealing with "alienation and the refusal of labour". Honorable mention also goes to Canabalt.

The picks:

Gretel and Hansel
Artistically beautiful, pleasing on the ear, and darkly humorous, I am looking forward to the next installment. Outside of a few navigational judder bars this would have to be one of my favourite casual games ever.

Plants vs. Zombies (Flash Version)
What can I say, I'm addicted to this game anyway so I couldn't leave it out. Having clocked it (various times) already, I still couldn't resist a wee dabble... just one more level... I swear. Thank god for limited demos is all I can say.

Effing Hail
This game I enjoyed more for its meaningful play element than anything else (however small), but it is still great fun to blow houses up with massive hail storms.

Use Boxmen
Great game despite my wanting to strangle it by level 7, the art is neato and the difficulty ramps like nobody's business. A very well executed puzzle game.

Cursor Chaos
Channelling WarioWare only with less introduction and more cohesive art style, this is a well executed gem of a game that will have you challenging your friends.