18 : Becoming Indie – On Starting A Business

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Gigi

What about the business? Kenzai asked what it meant to start a business. So, this episode goes zen – covering everything from becoming an indie, to money, to products. It even discusses why you need a Purple Cow.

NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

  • Kenzai’s Challenge (00:35)
  • My Journey To Indie
  • Topic – Start Your Business (04:50)
  • Topic – Money (7:50)
    • Costs
    • Cashflow
    • Write Offs
  • Topic – Products (15:00)
    • Makes The Business
  • Zen Moment (20:00)

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!

Will you forget this? It's a Purple Cow

Will you forget this? It’s a Purple Cow

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017 : Three Things You Need To Know!

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Gigi

What must you know? At a recent game challenge, I met Matt Trobbiani, the creator of HackNet. After I got to know him, I thought it’d be fun to invite him on as a guest. To ensure that Game Design Zen stays zen, I recorded this for him. It’s three things we should all know.

  • Games Competition (00:35)
  • Matt Trobbiani – Creator of HackNet (01:45)
  • Guests vs Interviews (03:00)
  • A Connection – Like a New Hire (05:00)
  • Yes … And (7:00)
    • A Knife In the Back
    • No Buts!
    • Working Together in Everything
  • Interest Curve (13:45)
  • Story (18:00)
    • “How Come You Never Talk About Story?” (20:20)
    • Tell To Win – Peter Guber
      • Question/Challenge
      • Emotional Struggle
      • Galvanizing Conclusion (with a Twist)
  • Zen Moment (26:10)
    • This means you!

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!

The interest curve - initial spike, rising spikes, and a climax (ending immediately afterwards)

The interest curve – initial spike, rising spikes, and a climax (ending immediately afterwards)

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16 : Season 2 – Battle Royale – Jonathan Blow vs Brett Victor

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Gigi

Ready for SEASON TWO?!? It’s a new year, with exciting changes in the works. To kick it off, let’s start with two giants!

They’re at odds. The Indie giant, Jonathan Blow, argues that simpler is better, in almost all cases. Design guru, Brett Victor, argues for sophisticated real-time design tools. This episode digs deep, to find a winner.

  • Check Out My Code! (00:35)
    • What Is An Amateur?
  • Brett Victor vs Jonathan Blow
  • Brett Victor (08:00)
  • Jonathan Blow (13:45)
    • Maximizing Resources
  • Zen Moment (26:10)
    • The winner is – The customer!

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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015 : Failure, Taste, and the Closet Star Wars Geek – the Season 1 Finale

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Gigi

What about failure? Your greatest ideas don’t live up to your expectations. You haven’t conquered the world. And yet, as Ira Glass says, your taste is killer. This is the season one finale of Game Design Zen – you won’t want to miss it. Happy Holidays!

  • Andrew’s Story – Frustration, Feedback Friday, and Freaking Out (00:35)
  • Season Finale (04:00)
  • Failure (7:00)
    • Freaking Out
    • “If you’re not falling down, you’re not improving”
    • The Fiery Crucible
  • Platforms are Different (14:45)
    • iOS vs Android vs Steam
    • Good Sex, Great Marriage
  • Challenge Yourself (22:05)
  • Zen Moment (25:20)
    • The Journey
    • Star Wars – Pucumir Thryss – Anagram of me!
    • Try, Improve, and Repeat
I'm part of the Star Wars universe!

I’m part of the Star Wars universe!

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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014 : Because … Fallout 4!

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Gigi

Game Design Zen : Episode 014

Fallout 4?! Some predicted – game of the century. Some predicted – not my cup of tea. And for some, like me, it was our first exposure to the Fallout franchise. I didn’t know what to expect. Now, fifty hours in – let’s get zen!

  • Because … Fallout 4! (00:35)
  • My First Fallout (02:45)
  • Flow (4:45)
    • The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
  • Choice (14:20)
    • The Good (16:00)
    • The Bad (18:05)
  • Interest Curve – AHA! (25:00)
    • Character Selection, Power Suits, and Companions
    • Weather, Plot, and Story
  • Da Shiznit! (28:30)
  • Zen Moment (31:00)
    • The Clear Vision
    • Mystery Box

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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