A nervous "Hi" is how Valve's Lead Designer Robin Walker began his presentation. How the heck is one supposed to go after Miyamoto, let alone before? Next up, Hideo Kojima.

Dressed in a black polo shirt that read "Valve," Mr. Walker explained how his company uses "play-testing" during FPS development. Basically, outside "testers" (gamers) are brought in and monitored as they play the developing software. Their reactions are taken into account by Valve, who then makes the appropriate changes.

"We can tell how good our game is and how it's getting better each week," he said in a quivering voice. Interesting stuff, I thought as the two reporters next to me closed their eyes and went to sleep, their notepads blank.

More Here [Ritsumeikan University]

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