The Game Design Round Table

In this episode, Cole, Dirk and Kathryn name some admired designers, some unlikely games that they enjoy and answer some listener questions.

In this episode, Dirk and Harrison chat with game designer Alex Roberts. They discuss her recent experience with The Star Crossed Kickstarter as well differences between live action and table top game design.

In this episode, David, Dirk and Rob get together for a discussion recapping a Kickstarter campaign for Restoration Games' Fireball Island. They also take a couple listener questions and discuss the idea of replayability.

In this episode, Dirk has a great conversation with video game designer Kellee Santiago. They discuss the game Cloud, the state of VR games and this history of game design.

In this episode, Dirk and Harrison welcome Aljernon Bolden to the show. They discuss game design from an engineering approach.

In this episode, David, Dirk, and Rob get together to answer some listener questions, which turn into a good discussion and a deep dive into a single question about promotion. Also, Rob announces a Kickstarter for Fireball Island.

In this episode, Cole, David, and Dirk get together to answer some listener questions.

In this episode, Dirk and Cole have a conversation with Jeremiah McCall who uses games in the classroom to help in teaching history.

In this episode, Dirk, Kathryn and Rob get together to answer listener questions around playtesting and professional backgrounds in design.

Description In this episode, David, Dirk and Harrison get together to answer listener questions. Lots of acronyms and great insights in this episode! JRPG, MUD, MMO ... David Heron - @DavidVHeron Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, artana.com, [email protected] Harrison Pink - @gilespink, [email protected]

In this final episode of 2017, David, Dirk and Kathryn get together to review 2017 and look forward to 2018.

In this episode, David and Dirk speak with game designer Cole Wehrle. They discuss Cole's work and how to find balance designing games with deep historical and cultural context.

In this episode, Harrison and Dirk speak with Edwin McRae, a narrative designer. They discuss the importance of the narrative line in game design and how it can keep game players engaged throughout a game with immersive details. --------------------- Edwin McRae - www.edmcrae.com, [email protected] Harrison Pink - @gilespink, [email protected] Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, [email protected], www.artana.com --------------------- Episode Outline 00:14 Welcome Edwin 00:17 Edwin's background 03:34 What is a narrative designer? 05:48 What processes or tools does Edwin use? 07:04 What is jigsaw storytelling? 08:26 What is Harrison's background in narrative storytelling? 10:54 Information on Edwin's work on Path of Exile 13:40 Edwin's background in school and professionally 17:01 Edwin's book writing on narrative design for indies 20:07 Advice to indies on hiring a narrative designer 23:09 What if someone is part way through developing and feels like the narrative is not right 27:27 How would a young writer get exp

In this episode, David, Dirk and Rob finally get back together to catch up on each other's projects and answer listener questions. --------------------- David Heron - @DavidVHeron Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, artana.com, [email protected] Rob Daviau - @robdaviau --------------------- Episode Outline 00:11 The group is back together again - it's been a while. David, Dirk and Rob catch up with what they've all been up to. 07:55 Listener Questions 08:12 Opinions on the rise of game engine marketplaces. 11:49 What is the ideal listener profile where a game engine would be useful? 13:48 Any particular game design books that are recommended? 20:34 David takes the question back to design, in general, and think of philosophy of design. 23:19 Math models and how they are created. Let me know if you have any questions.

In this episode, Dirk and Harrison have a chat with Mike Bithell, designer of games such as Thomas Was Alone, Volume, EarthShape, and Subsurface Circular. They discuss Mike’s path to success and how he’s been able to make such a variety of games. --------------------- Mike Bithell – @mikebithell, mikebithellgames.com Harrison Pink – @GilesPink, harrisonpink.com, [email protected] Dirk Knemeyer – @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, [email protected] --------------------- Episode Outline 0:17 Background on Mike 1:23 How did Mike get into games? 3:43 To what does Mike attribute his success? 5:55 Was it really all luck? How about the marketing side? – How Mike ended up on Steam 7:49 For the game, Thomas is Alone, how did narration get added to the game? 11:54 What about games more recent than Thomas is Alone and their great reviews? 15:24 What makes a game, an Bithell company game? 18:46 What’s next? 21:11 Did lack of marketing actually help? 22:59 How do you balance making customers happy against sales volume? 25:01

Description David and Dirk answer listener questions surrounding game design, board production, 3d printing and play testing. --------------------- David Heron - @DavidVHeron Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, artana.com, [email protected] --------------------- Episode Outline 0:13 Listener Questions 0:33 What are the most common mistakes new designers make with blind playtesting? 6:55 What is the current state in board game printing? 8:44 How does it work with games with lots of mini's? 10:56 Will 3D printing change how mini's are handled? 11:46 When you start designing a game, how much research do you do in the genre? 15:00 What are the pros and cons of physical cards vs digital? 21:21 Any advice on identifying broken strategies before taking a game to external testers? 27:03 On a desert island, what games do David and Dirk pick?

In this episode, Dirk is joined by John Schulter, Sarah Graybill and Randy Hoyt to discuss their work on their new game, Spy Club from Foxtrot Games. They describe how their collaboration works and how Foxtrot Games and Black Straw Games fit into this relationship. --------------------- John Schulter & Sarah Graybill - @BlackStrawGames, blackstrawgames.com Randy Hoyt - @Randyhoyt, @foxtrotgames, foxtrotgames.com Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, artana.com, [email protected] --------------------- Episode Outline 0:11 Welcome John, Sarah and Randy - Background 0:35 Discuss the new game, Spy Club, and how they all started on the team 1:18 It is based on another game by Jason D. Kingsley 2:18 These games have a long and intensive development process 3:05 How did it get from Jason to Foxtrot Games 3:53 How did playtesting turn into participation in the dev process? 6:34 Spy Club - what type of game is it? 7:58 John and Sarah have experience in designing games for children 9:54 Is Foxtrot Games making a directed effor

Description In this episode, Elizabeth LaPensée joins Kathryn and Dirk and they discuss indigenous self-determination in game development and how a destructive pattern of colonialism is being addressed. --------------------- Elizabeth LaPensée - [email protected], elizabethlapensee.com Kathryn Hymes - @chicalashaw, thornygames.com Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, artana.com, [email protected] --------------------- Episode Outline 0:11 Welcome Elizabeth - Background 1:35 Elizabeth's voice and perspective as a game designer 3:07 Themes of culture; How does this impact Elizabeth's making of games 7:46 In the game Invaders, can a player win? Or is it inevitable that they will die? 9:09 How do Grandmother-mechanics fit into a game like Invaders with indigenous game mechanics? 11:42 Is there a larger message that is being told with these games? 12:36 Why might the holocaust in WWII Europe be see differently than the holocaust that was perpetuated on the native American peoples? 17:45 While there a lot of pattern

In this episode, Niki Crisci calls in from Germany and chats with David and Dirk about his recently release game, Will Glow the Wisp. They discuss his inspiration for the game and how he's found the time to work on it. --------------------- Niki Crisci - @KeyboardSamuray , parttimeindie.com, store.steampowered.com/app/640890/Will_Glow_the_Wisp/ David Heron - @DavidVHeron Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, artana.com, [email protected] --------------------- Episode Outline 0:16 Welcome Niki- Background 0:50 Overview of Niki's new game, Will Glow the Wisp 2:59 Niki's day-job 3:26 Nike's art background and his relationship to making games 6:57 When did Niki get started on Will Glow the Wisp? 14:13 What is the indie game scene like in Germany? 15:58 How has Niki dealt with a smaller supporting community during development? 19:09 Working alone vs working with a team 22:24 What is the hope for this or future games for Niki? 24:02 Advice for beginners

In this episode, Tomer Perry, political theorists, avid board and table gamer from Harvard University joins David and Dirk. They discuss how games are used to teach ethics and political theory. --------------------- Tomer Perry - @Perrytom6, ethics.harvard.edu, politicalgamer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, artana.com, [email protected] --------------------- Episode Outline 0:14 Welcome Tomer - Background 2:45 What impact, is what you're doing, having for people who are teaching? 3:53 Are great opportunity to also explore questions of ethics 7:44 Book: The Art of Losing 10:37 What can be learned from traditional game design? 12:13 What is the innovation that is breaking new ground? 15:31 Are there other fields besides IR that could benefit? 16:52 Tabletop games are easier to reproduce 19:37 Where does this all go moving forward?