Welcome to the Critical Hit! Blog

If you've reached this site, odds are you're interested in game design or game publishing—or else, hopelessly lost on the internet. In any case, welcome!

I've had a longstanding obsession with games and have always loved the idea of designing my own, but until recently it all seemed out of reach—I didn't know what tools to use, or how to make a game that was more than just my own doodles on notebook paper. After years in the (non-game)  publishing industry and a lot of trial and error, I've come to realize a couple of things:
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1. The elements one needs to build an actual, professional game aren't nearly as inaccessible as I once imagined, and thanks to a proliferation of online resources are becoming easier to find and use all the time. 
2. Game designers and aspiring game designers make up a much larger community than I imagined. I once thought I was the only person on the planet with dreams of making my own games, as I scribbled away in a notebook as a kid. As it turns out, there are thousands of like-minded people out there who love games and wish to bring their own ideas into reality—enough to fill whole convention centers multiple times a year! 

In the coming months, I'll be posting information about some of the kinds of resources I wish I knew about five years ago. There are some excellent game design books, online tools, and other resources that make creating games more accessible than ever, whether you're a hobbyist or looking to make some money from your efforts. I'll also discuss some interesting game design theories and mechanics that you can incorporate into your games or, better yet, build or improve upon using your imagination to make your game uniquely yours.

​I want to hear from you! What questions do you have about designing, building, and publishing games? What topics do you want to hear more about? Please leave your comments and suggestions below.

Game on!
Jim Cirigliano