The Game Design Round Table

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#58: Death in Games Dec 15, 2013

Show notes

Jon, Dirk and David discuss the role of death in games. What is it for? How does it interact with narrative? What games has it been represented well and poorly in? And how can it be improved?---------------------------Contact InformationJon Shafer - @JonShaferDesign, www.JonShaferOnDesign.com, Jon.Shafer@ConiferGames.comDirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.comDavid Heron - @DavidVHeron---------------------------Episode Outline0:01:58 - Why has death changed in design history?0:06:00 - What should death's role be?0:21:16 - Death in persistent games0:27:10 - Permanent loss0:34:05 - Death done well and poorly0:45:00 - Can death help players?0:52:55 - Ideas for improving death

#57: Stepping Back, Goals & Pacing Dec 09, 2013

Show notes

Jon and Dirk discuss general design topics relating to their recent work, including playtesting, extending the development of projects, providing players with goals, instilling a game with good pacing and ensuring there are always interesting strategic options to choose from.---------------------------Contact InformationJon Shafer - @JonShaferDesign, www.JonShaferOnDesign.com, Jon.Shafer@ConiferGames.comDirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com---------------------------Episode Outline0:01:10 - Playtesting0:06:55 - Extending Development0:15:17 - Goals & Structure0:22:08 - Pacing0:47:01 - Strategic Variance

#56: 'SeaFall' & Legacy Design. With Rob Daviau Dec 02, 2013

Show notes

Jon and Dirk are paid a return visit by first-ever TGDRT guest Rob Daviau to talk about 'SeaFall', his new exploration legacy tabletop game, Rob's company 'IronWall Games', and his hopes for further innovation in the genre he helped create.--------------------------Contact InformationJon Shafer - @JonShaferDesign, www.JonShaferOnDesign.com, Jon.Shafer@ConiferGames.comDirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.comRob Daviau - @RobDaviauGamer, Rob.Daviau@IronWallGames.com--------------------------Episode Outline0:01:00 - Balancing Risk: Legacy0:06:06 - SeaFall0:11:44 - Core mechanics0:15:30 - Victory & legacy0:27:24 - Balancing legacy VS individual playthroughs0:35:19 - Exploration0:40:36 - How do you design a legacy game?0:52:55 - Inspirations behind SeaFall1:03:50 - Rob's company: IronWall Games

#55: Sharing Game Design Ideas Nov 25, 2013

Show notes

Jon, Dirk and David share design concepts they find interesting and hope to incorporate into future (or simply hypothetical) projects. The group also digs into why developers are sometimes reluctant to share and discuss design ideas.--------------------------Contact InformationJon Shafer - @JonShaferDesign, www.JonShaferOnDesign.com, Jon.Shafer@ConiferGames.comDirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.comDavid Heron - @DavidVHeron--------------------------Episode Outline0:00:57 - Tabletop game physicality0:10:18 - Pitching game design ideas0:14:20 - Legacy and variable tabletop games0:17:20 - Riffing off of other ideas0:24:17 - Licensed games0:29:15 - Living worlds0:34:25 - Making magic interesting0:39:50 - Procedural content0:45:16 - Design pipe dreams0:53:30 - Secrecy in game design

#54: Ploy, Race for the Galaxy & Hansa Teutonica Nov 17, 2013

Show notes

Jon and Dirk meet up to play several tabletop games and discuss what works and what doesn't. Included in the discussion are Ploy, Race for the Galaxy, and Hansa Teutonica.---------------------------Contact InformationJon Shafer - @JonShaferDesign, www.JonShaferOnDesign.com, Jon.Shafer@ConiferGames.comDirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com---------------------------Episode Outline0:00:30 - Ploy0:18:58 - Race for the Galaxy0:36:04 - Hansa Teutonica

#53: Mohawks & Martians. With Soren Johnson Nov 11, 2013

Show notes

Jon and Dirk are paid a visit by regular guest Soren Johnson, who stops by to talk about his brand-new studio 'Mohawk Games' and their first project, 'Mars', an economic RTS built out of the legacy of Dani Bunten's venerable M.U.L.E. They discuss the challenges of and goals behind Soren setting up his own shop, and what he hopes the unique game will achieve. Soren also reveals the first game to ever make him cry. And trust us, it's fitting.---------------------------Contact InformationJon Shafer - @JonShaferDesign, www.JonShaferOnDesign.com, Jon.Shafer@ConiferGames.comDirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.comSoren Johnson - @SorenJohnson, www.Designer-Notes.com, www.MohawkGames.com---------------------------Episode Outline0:01:00 - The story behind Mohawk0:08:12 - 'Core' strategy games0:14:50 - Kickstarter & Steam Early Access0:35:44 - Mohawk's first game: 'Mars'0:48:40 - The ups and downs of economic competition0:54:22 - Real-time VS turn-based1:02:48 - M.U.L.E.1:14:50 - The tech behind strategy games1:22:20 - Past lessons applied1:27:05 - The first game to make Soren cry

#52: Meet the TGDRT Crew Nov 04, 2013

Show notes

Jon and Dirk are joined by David for the special 1-year anniversary show. They point the magnifying glass back at themselves in this episode and share their design processes, challenges they've overcome, the tools they use and how to build a good team. They wrap things up by talking about ways the show has given back and made them better game designers and developers.Contact InformationJon Shafer - @JonShaferDesign, www.JonShaferOnDesign.com, Jon.Shafer@ConiferGames.comDirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.comDavid Heron - @DavidVHeronEpisode Outline0:03:57 - Serial VS parallel design0:13:15 - Life as a designer/producer0:17:20 - Dirk's crazy schedule0:23:40 - Google Docs & Software0:38:10 - Playtesting0:45:10 - Building a good team0:56:24 - How has the podcast changed our hosts?

#51: Alpha Centauri & Evolving as a Designer. With Brian Reynolds Oct 28, 2013

Show notes

Jon and Dirk are joined by Brian Reynolds, designer of 'Civilization 2', 'Alpha Centauri', 'Rise of Nations' and more. They discuss Brian's career as a designer, his approach and what makes 'Alpha Centauri' stand up so many years later.

#50: Kickstarter & Stonemaier Games. With Jamey Stegmaier Oct 23, 2013

Show notes

Jon and Dirk are joined by Jamey Stegmaier, co-founder of Stonemaier Games and designer of 'Viticulture' and 'Euphoria'. They discuss Stonemaier's first two titles, giving back to the development community and have a lengthy conversation on the state and future of Kickstarter.

#49: How to Teach Games Oct 14, 2013

Show notes

Jon, Dirk and David delve into the most effective ways of teaching both tabletop and digital games. What role do out-of-game video tutorials have to play? Can quick, throw-away demo games work? When is it okay NOT to teach features? And what is the perfect (possibly unattainable) approach for digital games?

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