Title: Professional Techniques for Video Game WritingAuthor(s): Sande Chenm Richard Dansky, Wendy Despain (Editor), Beth A, Dillon, John Feil, Alice Henderson, Erin Hoffman, Chris Klug, Jay Posey, Rhianna Pratchett, Haris Orkin, Evan Skolnick, Anne Toole, Maurice Suckling and Andre S. Walsh.Price: $39.00 (paperback, 250 pages)Release Date: May 19, 2008Publisher: A.K. PetersFormat: PaperbackPros: Written in easy-to-digest chunks and includes a few useful examples. Great text book for an upper-level high school course or lower-level college course.Cons: Not quite as in-depth as a true professional guide. Should have more real-word examples with notes.Overall Score: One thumb up, one sideways; 85/100; B; * * * 1/2 out of five.

Pro Techniques is not the in-depth guide that will satisfy skilled, professional writers. It is, however, an excellent primer for beginning writers and would make a decent text book for either an upper level high school course or lower level college course.

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The past year hasn’t been too kind for the Bratz franchise. It was just last summer (2007) that Bratz made its debut on the big screen and was widely reviled by critics nationwide as one of the year’s worst films and failed to break $10 million dollars. Now, word comes that Ubisoft, the third-largest game publisher in the industry has won a $13 million payoff from MGA Entertainment, the makers of the popular Bratz line of toys.

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