Game Design Zen

Game Design Zen : Episode 013

I’ve been struggling to tell a story. Weeks of nights staring at the ceiling with ideas swirling in my head. It demanded to be told. Until finally, today, I did the whole thing in one take. This special episode is the story of being a Make-A-Wish father. Happy Thanksgiving!

The sideways glance, with wave, is for the entire auditorium, who is on their feet.

• The Story Demanded To Be Told (00:35)
• 19 Years Ago – Kayla is Born (03:38)
• The Children’s Hospital of King’s Daughters (CHKD) (04:55)
• The Most Important Night of my Life (11:00)
• When I Was Wrong (17:50)
• To Be A Nurse (24:25)
• The Power of Will (33:45)
• Kayla’s Voice (35:20)
• Make-A-Wish – Kayla Bear (37:35)
• A Thanksgiving Wish of Gratitude (40:25)

Kayla’s ballerina wish was selected by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to become the Kayla Bear.

The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

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Game Design Zen : Episode 011

Who will win? We’re just days away from seeing if SKT will once away be crowned champs as they take on new comers, Koo Tigers. So with eyes turned toward Korea, let’s have our own battle - League of Legends versus Heroes of the Storm.

• A Surprise Visit to Korea (00:40)
  
• League of Legends Versus Heroes of the Storm (05:40)
• Why? (10:00)
• Quality – AAA (11:05)
  • Mechashark Versus MegaShark
  • Graphics, Marketing, Technology
• Design (13:30)
  • Flow, Paradox of Choice, Habit Loops
• Differentiators (15:45)
  • Frustration (17:20)
  • Last Hitting, Skill, Game Length (21:00)
  • Social! (24:00)
  • The Intrinsic Experience (29:30)
• Zen Moment (31:15)
  • Build What The Customer Wants

The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

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Game Design Zen : Episode 010

It never fails. I’m chatting with friends when I stumble across the Newbie Letter. It’s full of wild ideas, crazy ambitions, and most telling, the 5-year plan for a game that is ‘truly unique’. This episode is an open response.

• Something Different
• The Letter (01:45)
• Truly Unique (05:30)
  • Ira Glass – My Taste Is Killer
• We Know What Good Is (08:00)
• 5 Years of Motivation (09:15)
• Making Progress (17:35)
• Once We’re Done (18:45)
  • Don’t Tell
• People Can Say What They Want (21:10)
  • Confirmation Bias
  • Blink (Malcolm Gladwell)
  • Think Fast, Think Slow (Daniel Kahneman)
  • Shut Up and Watch
• Zen Moment (25:30)
  • Anything Can Be Accomplished

Game Design Zen is the intersection of game design, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of better games. Level up to zen.

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Game Design Zen : Episode 009

What Now? I’ve got a great story, set in a far-distant future. Not sure what to do next. As crazy as it sounds, this happens sometimes. This episode explores what a game is to help us all improve our designs.

• Kenzai’s Request – More Conversational (0:40)
• League of Legends World Championships (05:15)
• “How do I fill this with something exciting?” (06:10)
• What is a Game? (08:40)
  • Ted Brown’s Idea (13:10)
  • Goals + Mechanics + Feedback
  • Why We Care – The Definition In Our Head (18:20)
• What is a Mechanic? (20:45)
  • What’s the Player Doing? (22:20)
  • The Core Mechanic! World of Warcraft + GTAV
• Start With One (27:00)
• Zen Moment (28:00)
  • The One Line Elevator Pitch

Game Design Zen is the intersection of game design, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of better games. Level up to zen.

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