Read Blood, Sweat, and Pixels

Carmack and Romero build id Software and Doom; the video-game industry's origin story.

Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes and the blood test that never worked; Carreyrou's reporting.

Tracy Kidder inside Data General building a computer in 1979; the first great tech book.

Change somebody else’s game: a balance patch, a total conversion, a Skyrim follower who talks back. Half-Life became Counter-Strike this way.

One map, start to finish - blockout, lighting, playtesting - in a level editor or a game that ships one, from Doom to Mario Maker.

A 3D model, a sprite sheet, an animation or a sound effect, made to the size and format a real engine wants and dropped into one.

Build a whole game in a weekend to somebody else’s theme: Ludum Dare, the GMTK jam, or a jam in a room with other people.

Put something finished in front of strangers, with a page, a price of your choosing and a download counter that is honest.