Minecraft! Minecraft! Minecraft!

Video games are meant to be fun, but making video games can be anything but. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, video game journalist Jason Schreier gives a rare look into the inner workings of the video game industry and the harsh reality of being a game developer: long hours, enormous pressure to meet deadlines, and an unpredictable, constantly changing work environment. Schreier discusses the development cycles of 10 games, ranging from indie darlings to AAA flops, as told by developers whom Schreier interviewed.

This guide organizes the themes and key ideas from the case studies in Blood, Sweat, and Pixels into four challenges that video game developers face: accounting for games’ interactivity, constantly evolving technology, the impossibility of making and adhering to a schedule during development, and interference from people outside of the development studio. Our commentary adds background information for readers less familiar with the gaming industry and further explores the human impact of industry practices.

When Satya Nadella took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014, the company was in decline. Once the wealthiest corporation in the world, it found itself lagging behind other tech giants like Apple and Google. Hit Refresh describes how Nadella brought new life to Microsoft by rediscovering its “soul”: He articulated the company’s mission, transformed the corporate culture, and formed strategic partnerships with Microsoft’s fiercest competitors.

In this guide, we discuss the principles and practices that helped Nadella “hit refresh” on Microsoft, which he connects to his experiences of growing up in India, immigrating to the US, and being a father to a child with special needs. We include actionable advice based on Nadella’s principles that can help you reinvigorate your own organization or career. We also explore his thoughts about the future and how we can—and must—ensure that technology isn’t just a means for economic growth but, above all, a force for good that is grounded on empathy.

Elon Musk is one of the modern age’s most controversial figures. He’s made commercial spaceflight a viable business and brought electric cars into public awareness, but the way that Musk presents himself has led many to see him as disruptive toward society. His drive and lack of empathy have stirred up chaos in the companies he owns, and his need for absolute control of his businesses silenced criticism that he may have found useful.

Renowned biographer Walter Isaacson shadowed Musk for two years, gaining access to his thoughts and those of the people closest to him. In this guide, we’ll follow Isaacson on Musk’s journey from a traumatic South African childhood to his founding of SpaceX and Tesla, as well as his takeover of Twitter. We’ll compare the views of Musk’s supporters and detractors while giving context to his innovations and decisions that have shaped the path of technological progress.

Humans play a wide variety of games, from basketball and chess to video games and poker. Why are we so enthralled with these games, even when they don’t really have an impact on our lives outside the game?

Theory of Fun for Game Design, by veteran game designer Raph Koster (lead designer of Ultima Online), discusses why games are fun, what games teach their players, and ultimately how to make a meaningful game.

Video games are meant to be fun, but making video games can be anything but. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, video game journalist Jason Schreier gives a rare look into the inner workings of the video game industry and the harsh reality of being a game developer: long hours, enormous pressure to meet deadlines, and an unpredictable, constantly changing work environment. Schreier discusses the development cycles of 10 games, ranging from indie darlings to AAA flops, as told by developers whom Schreier interviewed.

This guide organizes the themes and key ideas from the case studies in Blood, Sweat, and Pixels into four challenges that video game developers face: accounting for games’ interactivity, constantly evolving technology, the impossibility of making and adhering to a schedule during development, and interference from people outside of the development studio. Our commentary adds background information for readers less familiar with the gaming industry and further explores the human impact of industry practices.

Humans play a wide variety of games, from basketball and chess to video games and poker. Why are we so enthralled with these games, even when they don’t really have an impact on our lives outside the game?

Theory of Fun for Game Design, by veteran game designer Raph Koster (lead designer of Ultima Online), discusses why games are fun, what games teach their players, and ultimately how to make a meaningful game.

Games have the power to unlock deep reserves of human motivation that drive customer and employee behavior. However, many businesses that try to incorporate game elements into their business strategy end up failing. Yu-kai Chou can explain why. As a professional gamification consultant, he explains the most effective ways to incorporate game elements into your business strategy.

His book, Actionable Gamification, is a strategy guide for business gamification. It explores why some gamification systems are addictive while others are tedious, and why some inspire long-term devotion as others fizzle. Our guide will walk you through Chou's strategies, exploring the motivations that keep players engaged, how to balance them, and how to incorporate them into your business. You'll learn how games tell compelling stories, why so many games use "mystery rewards," and how gamification can grow your business. Our guide adds insight by further exploring the psychology behind game mechanics and comparing Chou's strategies to other theories of game design.

Are you spending too much time on your devices? Psychologist and marketing expert Adam Alter suggests that excessive technology use is common and can lead to behavioral addiction. In Irresistible (2017), he explains how smartphones, social media, and video games are designed to keep users hooked—and how you can regain control of your technology use.

In our guide, we discuss the rise of technology addiction and how you can identify it. Next, we examine the techniques technology developers implement to keep users hooked. Finally, we explore Alter's suggestions for combating technology addiction and fostering a healthier relationship with digital devices. Our commentary explores other experts’ perspectives on addiction, insights into the potential harms and benefits of technology use, and tips for managing your technology use in a healthy way.