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A few indie game studios have been forthcoming with data, although as he points out not a lot apart from the real blockbusters or bankrupt ones. One I'm familiar with, though, Chronic Logic, has released some numbers.

One of their more high-profile games was the platformer Gish, since it won the 2005 IGF grand prize (an indie-game award); it sold 4,500 copies at $20 apiece, netting about $121,000 after expenses. Slightly under half of those were in the first year out, a bit over a quarter the second year, and the rest trailing in in subsequent years. The puzzle game Triptych (2002), sold 1,000 copies at $15 apiece, netting about $25,000 after expenses. Again about half were in the first year out, but sales straggled in more slowly but consistently after that, with about 15% of the total in each of the following 3 years.

I haven't been able to find sales stats for probably their best-known game, Bridge Builder, though; pointers would be interesting.

Fun, but not original.

I mean, unless watching a few blocks representing a train plummet into a river counts as violent.

These games really are addictive, and a lot more fun than they might sound. Also, the Bridge Builder site runs regular contests where you can win other Chronic Logic games, the next one should be starting anytime now...

Pocket Tanks was rather popular where I work, and before that it was BridgeBuilder, both quite fun until they stopped letting us play games.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

Want something really original? Try building bridges in Pontifex II. Works under Windows and Linux now (and I believe they're working on MacOS support).

(Screenshots, since the official site's screenshots fail to capture what you can do with it: 1, 2, 3.) I've been a fan of the two previous versions (the regrettably non-Linux friendly Bridge Builder and Pontifex), and I'm pleased to no end that I can play under Linux. The game is alot of fun, like a really geeky Lego set. You get a large number of materials to work with, iron, steel, heavy steel, cables, suspension cables, and hydralics. The game starts a bit slowly with simple levels (probably to help introduce you), but advances to some real tricky problems. Can I span 800 meters? Can I build a drawbridge that allows two boats to pass side by side? Can I build a 200 meter long bridge with no underwater anchor points using only iron beams (the weakest beams). And once you've successfully completed a level, it's fun to see how low you can drive the price down without dunking the train or cars in the river. Or try something radical like a bridge that swings to the side out of the way of the boat or other tortured designs. Or just stick to more conventional designs.

I purchased Pontifex II and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the same day and it's a hard choice for which to play each night.

The game comes with a level editor and has a healthy community that discusses designs, runs contests, and develops extra levels.

I'm glad I purchased a copy and highly recommend it to fans of building stuff and simulations.

OMG-far too fun and addictive! Replay value forever! I can't recommend them enough, and they'll fit on a floppy. Windows only tho... :(

I think a lot of the problems people have is that too often, proponents of educational digital games aren't really clear about what it means "to learn" or "to teach." We know that cross-words and other classic game types can be used for drill and practice. And, we know that people can develop skills from hi - fidelity simulations. And, a game like Carmen Sandiego did a nice job at getting kids to do learn some basic facts -- by using a context to get kids to look up information and then reinforcing it through game structures. Supply and demand is pretty easily done through games, as are other things like population dynamics. In general, I think that letting kids experiment with systems that are defined by known rules is something we can do. Basically, you're taking a system simulation -- and then wrapping it around a narrative context to let users' develop goals, but then constraining their actions through a game mechanic, such as limited resources, health, access to space etc.

I find the Civilization comments particularly interesting, as my dissertation is looking at how playing Civ3 affects players' and students' understanding of history. I agree that there are several excellent learning opportunities in the game -- particularly around geography -- but there are several other unanswered challenges as well. A game like SimCity or Civilization has all kinds of opportunities for players to learn misconceptions about history -- like that the Pyramids allow free government changes, or whatever the rule is. Having used SimCity in both schools and after-school settings, I've found that the whole thing is pretty complex. Most students realize pretty quickly that cranking up the taxes for a few months isn't really realistic -- or they start asking why that doesn't happen more often, creating a teachable moment for a teacher. Any time you talk about a game "teaching" something, you're opening up a can of worms because learning is a much more active process of interpreting experience and constructing understandings than it is passively receiving the values or biases of a game.

In fact, most educational research shows that when looking at games as an instructional strategy, the reflection, debriefing, and extension activities surrounding gameplay are at least as important as the gameplay itself. You can imagine the difference between playing Civilization just for fun, versus playing the game and comparing it to historical timelines, or deconstructing its simulation biases. Generally speaking, games can get factual knowledge relatively easy -- and I think playing Civilization on a realistic map provides interesting geographical lessons. However, I agree with the skeptics here that we shouldn't assume that people are necessarily developing valuable academic skills through playing the game. But, the same can be said for lectures and problem sets, as well.

For anyone that's curious, I'll be taking up this issue on an E3 panel this year with Doug Church (Looking Glass), Will Wright, Brenda Laurel, Henry Jenkins, and a few others.

On a related note, I'm working on the games-to-teach project at MIT, where we've been developing prototypes of what next-generation educational software might look like.

I don't know much about the actual building of bridges but the Bridge Builder game gave me a much deeper appreciation of the physics behind bridges. Plus, it was a fun way to fritter away a few hours on a rainy afternoon. Check it out.

There are also *NO* Bridge Builders or Elastomanias for the N64, and there will never be. Because it's too risky to bet the up-front cost of console development on an unusual concept.

The best game I've played in a month was Bridgebuilder. You can find it at http://www.bridgebuilder-game.com/. It's not overly educational in and of itself, (unless you want to build bridges in a two dimentional universe for a living,) but it developes skills which are transfurable to real engineering, math, programming, etc. A real gem, in my humble opinion.

It only runs on windows unfortunately, but its educational and addicting. The other downside is while the game has no violence, it led me to violence acts :)

Bridge builder

I've recently been consumed by the non-violent fun found in Bridge Builder (fulfill all your secret engineering fantasies), as well as the cartoon physics motorcycle puzzle game. Bridge Builder is Free (as in Beer), and the motorcycle game has an 18 level shareware version.

Quit whining - garage games are alive and well, it's not even hard to find them. Check out this or this for great examples of PC garage development

There are also a lot of low-production-value, simple, fun games for consoles - not done by two guys in their garage, but with a definite substance-over-style design ethic. Try Bangaioh on the DC or Kuru Kuru Kururin on the GBA to see what I mean.