Think Like A Game Designer
By Justin Gary
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Subscribers: 109
Reviews: 2
Episodes: 112
Dec 10, 2024
Doug
Feb 15, 2019
Loving this series so far. Hoping to see it do well and continue past the initial planned run of 6 episodes. incredibly insightful.
Description
In Think Like a Game Designer, award-winning designer and Stone Blade Entertainment CEO Justin Gary speaks with world-class game designers and creative experts from various industries. Each episode deconstructs the creative process, offering insights into the art of game design and the broader cultural, technological, and business influences shaping a myriad of creative mediums. Join us for actionable advice and unique perspectives that will enrich your understanding of what it means to be creative in and out of the gaming world.
justingarydesign.substack.com
justingarydesign.substack.com
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Mark Rosewater — Designing for Emotion, Embracing Complexity, and 28 Years of Iteration (#103)
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May 07, 2026 |
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Ross Thompson—Real-World Marketing, Influencer Strategy, and Building Community That Lasts (#102)
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Apr 23, 2026 |
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Drew Corkill — Design Solo Game Systems, Speed, and Shipping at Scale (#101)
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Apr 02, 2026 |
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50 Episodes of Game Design Wisdom
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Mar 18, 2026 |
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Eric Lang — Designing for Payoff, Ritual Play, and Returning to Your Roots (#100)
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Feb 17, 2026 |
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Theresa Duringer — UI as Game Design, Onboarding Without Friction, and the Ethics of AI (#99)
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Jan 29, 2026 |
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Jaimie Wolanski — Tough Truths, Retail Realities, and How Games Create Connection (#98)
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Jan 15, 2026 |
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Vlaada Chvátil — Designing for Joy, Building Great Games, and Letting Quality Do the Marketing (#97)
|
Dec 18, 2025 |
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Carly McGinnis — Startup Scrappiness, Trusting Your Team, and the Rhythm of Leadership (#96)
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Dec 04, 2025 |
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Kyle Thiermann — Deadlines, Mentors, Curiosity, and the Craft of Connection (#95)
|
Nov 18, 2025 |
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Touko Tahkokallio — Curiosity, Physics, and the Power of Mental Playtesting (#94)
|
Nov 06, 2025 |
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Jordan Weisman — From Battletech to Shadowrun: The Power of Curiosity and Collaboration (#93)
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Oct 16, 2025 |
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Jonathan Grant — Critics, Experiments, Secrets, and the Business of Play (#92)
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Sep 23, 2025 |
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Elan Lee — Building Exploding Kittens, Marketing as Design, Retail Pitches, and Playing to Sell (#91)
|
Sep 09, 2025 |
|
Justin Gary — 5 Lessons From 15 Years (#90)
|
Aug 21, 2025 |
|
Tim Ferriss — Designing Coyote, Playing to Learn, Publishing Truths, and Saying "No" (#89)
|
Aug 07, 2025 |
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Cole Wehrle — Cute Creatures, Brutal Games, Asymmetric Design, and Subverting Expectations (#88)
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Jul 24, 2025 |
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Amy Lowe — Finding Your X Factor, Marketing with Heart, and Serving the Right Players (#87)
|
Jul 10, 2025 |
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Derek Sivers — Embracing Simplicity, Owning Your Weirdness, and Designing a Life with Intent (#86)
|
Jun 24, 2025 |
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Dominic Crapuchettes — Designing for Constraints, Rebuilding After Failure, and Finding the Magic in Games (#85)
|
Jun 12, 2025 |
|
SolForge Fusion Shadows Over Solis
|
May 27, 2025 |
|
Kohji Nagata — Building Parallel, Designing with Obsession, and Falling in Love with Your Creations (#84)
|
May 15, 2025 |
|
Dafna Pleban — Editing Underwater, Building Creative Teams, and the Economics of Storytelling (#83)
|
May 01, 2025 |
|
Justin Ziran — Digital Magic: Fear and Success, Leading with Bold Decisions, and Redefining Innovation (#82)
|
Apr 08, 2025 |
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James Introcaso — Game Masters, the Rise of Indie RPGs and Showing Up for Luck (#81)
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Mar 27, 2025 |
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Jesse Alexander — Mastering the Creative Hustle, Fighting for Bold Ideas, and Thriving in a Changing Industry (#80)
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Feb 27, 2025 |
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Ryan Soave — Embracing Discomfort, Overcoming Mental Blocks, and Unlocking Creative Growth (#79)
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Feb 11, 2025 |
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Matt Forbeck — From Warhammer to Marvel: Bold Risks, Creative Freedom, and Collaboration (#78)
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Jan 16, 2025 |
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Alliestrasza — From Hearthstone Streaming to Web3 Gaming: Building Communities and Crafting New Worlds (#77)
|
Jan 02, 2025 |
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Eric Dieulangard — Altered: Marketing the most successful TCG Kickstarter of all time (#75)
|
Dec 12, 2024 |
|
Travis George — From League of Legends to Vela Games: Prioritization, Leadership, and the Power of Constraints (#75)
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Nov 21, 2024 |
|
Alexander Seropian — From Halo to Fortnite: Mastering Team Dynamics, Entrepreneurial Resilience, and User Generated Content (#74)
|
Nov 07, 2024 |
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Richard Bartle & Nigel Roberts — The Power of ‘What If,’ Building Communities, and Navigating Decentralization in Game Design (#73)
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Oct 24, 2024 |
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Alex Yeager — Mastering Game Pitches, Reviving Evergreen Titles, and Creating Social Experiences in Game Design (#72)
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Oct 08, 2024 |
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Scott Morris — Building a Brand, Navigating Contracts, and the Power of Relationships in Game Design (#71)
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Sep 19, 2024 |
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LIVE at Gen Con 2024 (Special Episode)
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Aug 23, 2024 |
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Ethan Mollick — Navigating AI in Game Design, Ethical Integration, and Supporting Artists (#70)
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Aug 08, 2024 |
|
Justin Gary — C.O.R.E. Attributes (Special)
|
Jul 16, 2024 |
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Jonathan Tweet — Pioneering RPG Design, Innovating Dungeons & Dragons, and Crafting Educational Stories (#69)
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Jul 09, 2024 |
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Geoff Engelstein — Game Design Wisdom, Educational Insights, and Industry Advocacy (#68)
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Jun 20, 2024 |
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Stephan Brissaud — Industry Leadership, Game Development, and Retail Strategies (#67)
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May 29, 2024 |
|
Eric Price — Uniting VTubers and Players, Designing Oshi Push and the Importance of GAMA (#66)
|
May 15, 2024 |
|
Neeraj Kashyap — Web3 Game Design, Navigating Scams, Success Stories, and Pioneering the Path for Gaming in Emerging Tech (#65)
|
Apr 24, 2024 |
|
Ben Robbins — World Building in Microscope, Gaming with Strangers and Writing Effective Rules (#64)
|
Apr 09, 2024 |
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Jason Morningstar — Designing Fiasco, Emotional Risks of Creative Projects, and a Culture of Learning and Play (#63)
|
Mar 26, 2024 |
|
Jane Chung Hoffacker — From League of Legends to animating Arcane, Rhythms of Guitar Hero, and Mastering IP Creation (#62)
|
Mar 12, 2024 |
|
C. Thi Nguyen — Game Design as Art, Fish Taco Adventures, and Exploring Game Design Principles in Daily Life (#61)
|
Feb 27, 2024 |
|
Maxine "MJ" Newman — Leading Arkham Horror into New Realms, Unveiling Cooperative Game Magic, and Navigating Career Crossroads (#60)
|
Feb 13, 2024 |
|
Anthony Giovannetti — Crafting Slay the Spire, Nurturing Team Dynamics, Balancing Life and Launches, and Embracing the Magic of Mods (#59)
|
Jan 30, 2024 |
|
Casey Yano — Designing with Detail in Slay the Spire, Mastering the Gaming Grind, Marketing dos and donts, and Building a High Trust Company Culture (#58)
|
Jan 16, 2024 |
|
Steven Pressfield — Conquering Creative Resistance, The Craft of Historical Fiction, and the Interplay of Games and the Muse (#57)
|
Jan 02, 2024 |
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Tim Hutchings — Thousand-Year-Old Vampire, Blending Fine Arts with Game Design, Crafting Emotional RPG Experiences, and Teaching Design Through Philosophy (#56)
|
Dec 19, 2023 |
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Michael Borys — The Art of Immersive Gaming Experiences, Blending Storytelling with Interactive Design, and Crafting Alternate Realities (#55)
|
Dec 05, 2023 |
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Morgan Page — Finding the Shared Rhythms of Music and Game Design, Maximizing Creative Collaborations, and the Importance of the Fundamentals (#54)
|
Nov 13, 2023 |
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Mark Otero — The Artistry of Game Development, Navigating the Crossroads of Engagement and Economics, Reimagining In-Game Asset Strategies, and Cultivating Community Through Gaming (#53)
|
Oct 24, 2023 |
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Reiner Knizia — Systems for Publishing 700+ Games, Crafting Profound Gameplay from Simple Rules, Innovations in Scoring and Auction Systems, and The Joy of Tabletop Gaming (#52)
|
Sep 26, 2023 |
|
Stefan Engblom — Designing games for millions of people and billions of dollars, Secrets of building game communities, The 2AM Party Principle, Reacting to player feedback (#51)
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
|
Soren Johnson (Part II) — Innovating 4X Strategy Games, Insights from Civilization IV, and Designing the Future of Gaming. (#50)
|
Jul 24, 2023 |
|
Think Like a Game Designer: Shards of Infinity Kickstarter Special
|
Jul 11, 2023 |
|
Soren Johnson (Part I) — Building Civilization Through 4X Design, Bridging Digital and Physical Gaming, Navigating the Evolving TCG Landscape, and Crafting Games for Varied Playtimes (#49)
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Jun 12, 2023 |
|
Jon Barry — Mastering Game Accessories with Forged Gaming: From Community Insights to Crowdfunding Masterpieces, and the Role of AI in Future Gaming (#48)
|
May 24, 2023 |
|
Gary Arant — Ascending the Ranks at Stone Blade: From Intern to COO, Designing Iconic Card Games, and Challenging Assumptions in Game Development (#47)
|
May 08, 2023 |
|
Jamey Stegmaier — Kickstarter Beginnings, Revolutionizing Rulebooks, Mastering Solo Gameplay, and Balancing Game Design with Time Management (#46)
|
Mar 28, 2023 |
|
Matt Fantastic — The Indy Game Ethos, Punk Rock Designs, Navigating Success Beyond Sales, Collaborative Dynamics, and the Power of Empathy in Game Design (#45)
|
Mar 01, 2023 |
|
Think Like a Game Designer: Ascension Tactics Inferno Special
|
Feb 15, 2023 |
|
Isaac Vega — From Humble Prototypes to Bioshock Tables, Navigating Unexpected Successes, and the Freedom of Forging One’s Path in Game Design (#44)
|
Jan 30, 2023 |
|
Sean K. Reynolds — Crafting Legendary RPGs, Building Worlds & Teams, Valuing Writer Voices, and the Anatomy of Game Design (#43)
|
Jan 09, 2023 |
|
Ben Brode — From Pizza Delivery to Hearthstone's Helm: Crafting Digital Card Games, the Essence of Decision-Making, Building Trust in the Gaming Industry, Innovating with Marvel Snap (#42)
|
Dec 06, 2022 |
|
Alex Watkins — From Evolutions in Mechanics to Shaping the Future of Organized Play, The Journey of Crafting a New Gaming Experience in Soulforge Fusion (#41)
|
Oct 31, 2022 |
|
John D. Clair — Crafting Award-Winning Games, Navigating Legal Pitfalls, Lessons from Downfall, and Innovating with Kinetic Design (#40)
|
Sep 26, 2022 |
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Luke Peterschmidt — From Dungeons & Dragons to Bakugan: Leveraging Game Design in Marketing, Teaching, and Global Phenomenons (#39)
|
Jul 26, 2022 |
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Phil Walker-Harding — Crafting Accessible Games, The Journey from Self-Publishing to Global Success with Sushi Go!, and Mastering the Art of Core Game Mechanics. (#31)
|
Jun 30, 2022 |
|
Think Like a Game Designer: Level Up!
|
May 09, 2022 |
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Alan Phan — Charting New Territory: From First-time Game Ideas to Million-Dollar Kickstarters and The Power of Nostalgia in The Grand Archive (#37)
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Mar 28, 2022 |
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Richard Bartle — Pioneering Virtual Worlds: From M.U.D. to MMOs, Understanding Player Motivations, and Navigating the Ethical Maze of Online Interactions (#36)
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Feb 28, 2022 |
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Alan Gerding — From Core Principles to Kickstarter Success: The Psychology and Strategy Behind Crafting Mothership: Sci-Fi Horror RPG (#35)
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Jan 21, 2022 |
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Think Like a Game Designer #34: Mike Turian
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Dec 27, 2021 |
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Brotherwise Games — From Sibling Bets to Publishing Success: Navigating Collaboration, Fostering Relationships with Influencers, and Championing Local Game Stores (#33)
|
Nov 19, 2021 |
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JT Smith — Crafting the Game Design Journey: From Prototyping with Game Crafter to Navigating Digital Playtesting and Harnessing the Power of Audacity (#32)
|
Oct 30, 2021 |
|
Richard Garfield — Crafting Game Legacies: The Evolution of Unique Deck Games, Innovating SolForge Fusion, and Deep Dives into Procedural Generation (#31)
|
Sep 07, 2021 |
|
Peter Adkison — Building Gen Con, Empowering Game Designers, and the Thrill of Gathering the Gaming Tribe (#30)
|
Sep 06, 2021 |
|
Elizabeth Hargrave — Breaking the Mold with Wingspan, Lessons In Successful Game Pitches, Embracing Unique Genres, and Championing Inclusivity in Game Design (#29)
|
Jul 27, 2021 |
|
Jason Charles Miller — From Rockstar Stages to Voiceover Booths, Navigating the Entertainment Labyrinth, Time with Ozzy, Breathing Life into Characters, and The Magic of Live Streaming RPGs (#28)
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Jun 14, 2021 |
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Bruno Faidutti — Merging Game Mechanics, Simplifying Design, The Art of Drafting, and Unraveling the Myth of Unicorns (#27)
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May 10, 2021 |
|
Rodney Thompson — Designing Across Platforms, Crafting Worker Placement Games, Delving into RPGs, and Transitioning from Tabletop to Destiny (#26)
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Mar 19, 2021 |
|
John Zinser — From Pizzas to Publishing, Pioneering CCGs, Community Management, and Trusting the Strength of a Team (#25)
|
Feb 15, 2021 |
|
Think Like a Game Designer Mastery Course
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Feb 13, 2021 |
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Monte Cook — Crafting Immersive RPGs, Mastering Game Narratives, Refining Dungeons & Dragons, and the Nuances of Effective Playtesting (#24)
|
Jan 28, 2021 |
|
Rob Daviau — Innovating Legacy Gameplay, Revitalizing Classics, Unpacking the 'Elevator Pitch', and Balancing Game Aesthetics with Mechanics (#23)
|
Dec 18, 2020 |
|
Matt Place — From Pro Magic Player to Digital TCG Innovator, Embracing Randomness, Teaching the Fun, and Mastering the Autobattler Genre (#22)
|
Nov 30, 2020 |
|
Michael Gnade — From Indie Game Journalism to Board Game Creation, Embracing Feedback, Navigating Kickstarter, and The Cost of Game Marketing (#21)
|
Oct 21, 2020 |
|
Elan Lee — From Star Wars Intern to Kickstarter Triumph, Embracing Risk in Game Design, The Power of Storytelling, and Crafting Games that Build Communities. (#20)
|
Sep 10, 2020 |
|
Scott Gaeta — From Comics to Card Games, The Art of Forecasting, Driving Growth Through Organized Play, and Lessons from Decades in Game Industry (#19)
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Aug 04, 2020 |
|
Isaac Childres — Crafting the Gloomhaven Legacy, The Power of Audience, Daring Game Design Choices, and Ascending to BoardGameGeek’s #1 Spot (#18)
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Jul 21, 2020 |
|
Think Like a Game Designer: Ascension Tactics Special
|
Jul 07, 2020 |
|
Eric Lang — Crafting Immersive Game Experiences, From Sugar Packet Prototypes to Epic Viking Sagas, Navigating Kickstarter Successes, and Fostering Empathetic Design Teams (#17)
|
Jun 09, 2020 |
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Tom Lehmann — From Economics to Game Mechanics, Crafting Strategic Choices, and The Nuances of Cooperative Play (#16)
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May 27, 2020 |
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Keith Baker — Crafting Worlds and Weaving Tales: From Ebberon's Origins to Phoenix Dawn Command's Innovations (#15)
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Apr 30, 2020 |
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Satine Phoenix — Mastering the Art of Storytelling, Building Gaming Communities, The Power of Streaming in Game Design, and The Journey from Passion to Profession in the World of Role-Playing (#14)
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Mar 26, 2020 |
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Devin Low — From Magic to Marvel: Game Narratives, Corporate Design Insights, and the Power of Effective Communication (#13)
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Feb 18, 2020 |
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Wright Bagwell — From Quake Mods to Game Streaming: Bridging Neuroscience and Game Design, Entrepreneurial Journeys, and Crafting Player-Centric Experiences (#12)
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Jan 20, 2020 |
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Richard Garfield — Delving into Game Narratives, The Essence of Memorable Gameplay, and Building Bridges with Fellow Designers (#11)
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Dec 30, 2019 |
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Ryan Sutherland — From Instinct to Innovation: Balancing Mechanics and Theme in Game Design at Stone Blade (#10)
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Dec 12, 2019 |
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Jordan Weisman — Crafting Iconic Worlds, The Interplay of Story and Mechanics, Lessons from Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Virtual Reality (#9)
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Nov 15, 2019 |
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Liz Spain — From Fashion to Fantasy: Crafting Emotive Gameplay, the Psychology Behind Game Mechanics, and Embracing Adaptability in Game Design (#8)
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Oct 08, 2019 |
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Tim Fowers — Navigating the World of Indie Board Game Design, Direct Sales Success, and the Craft of Game Development (#7)
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Jul 02, 2019 |
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Paul Peterson — Unveiling Smash Up's Ingenious Mechanics, Game Design Evolution, and the Creative Challenges of Shuffle Building (#6)
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May 21, 2019 |
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Raph Koster — Game Design Insights: Iteration, Constraints, and Real-World Inspiration (#5)
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Apr 23, 2019 |
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James Ernest — Mastering Game Design, Navigating Bias Randomness, and Unconventional Pathways in the World of Gaming (#4)
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Mar 19, 2019 |
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Jesse Schell — Mastering Game Design, Unveiling the Secrets of Fun, and Exploring the Gamification of Life (#3)
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Feb 19, 2019 |
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Mark Rosewater — Decoding Game Design Principles, The Essence of Interaction, Minecraft's Dual Identity, and Pioneering Magic: The Gathering (#2)
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Jan 23, 2019 |
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Mike Selinker — Pioneering Puzzle Design, Crafting Immersive Game Narratives, Collaborating with Titans, and The Philosophy Behind Game Tension (#1)
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Jan 22, 2019 |