Game, Develop, Repeat

In this episode, we discuss... Growth as a developer Exploration and discovery Calm but fast paced gameplay Calm, passionate game development. Game: Too much that I love Peaceful or stressful, you decide Connect with others Explore and discover new things Develop: Stardew as an analogy for game development Developing a game without freaking out Consistent growth, gradual progress. Enjoy the proces...

In this episode, we discuss... Player Immersion UI  Maintaining the illusion Quality of Life Develop: UI is absolutely essential Position the player correctly to maintain illusions Sut: Hit a brick wall with save/load system Figuring out JSON Need to study for a bit after completing this project. Repeat questions: Is UI an essential part of your game? What QoL improvements could you make? What ski...

In this episode, we discuss... Suffering in games Emotional spectrums in gaming Games with intentional messages Game: Homeless survival simulator Ties to reality Games with intentional messages Develop: Be genuine Making suffering into gameplay Devlog: Suddenly feels finished (put in all SFX & multiple songs) Individual level bugs Time management + learning Art drawabox.com Repeat questions: D...

In this episode, we discuss... Designing Decisions Character motivation Scope of consequences Game: Characters with powerful motivations Interpersonal stakes Exploration & multiple solutions Black and white vs grey Develop: Establish character backstory/motivation Limit scope Limit consequences Repeat questions: What part of your game is likely to blow up in scope? How can you lock the scope d...

If you cannot tell, I am currently obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons. I blame Baldur's Gate 3 The Journey: Journey, not destination Everything changes. Improvise like a Dungeon Master Even if you fail your main quest, your character has grown massively, and you've had fun. Imagine being at the table and ONLY wanting to get to the final fight.  Risk and Reward: Take worthwhile risks, don...

In this episode, we discuss... Core game mechanics Exploiting one idea The purpose behind visuals and I rant intensely about the importance of execution over just having "good idea" Game: Single mechanic gameplay Fully exploiting one idea Basic humor Minimum visuals Develop: How much fun can one mechanic provide? What actually makes visuals matter? Repeat: What are the core mechanics of...

Game: Comfort Anxiety and Nature Forced Disconnection Empathy Exploration Develop: How can we instill the urge to explore? Is tension a requirement of good game design? How do we make short experiences satisfying? Repeat: Does your game instill a specific mood? Are there any clever ways you can reuse your game space? Do you want the player to explore? Step away from the phone/Disconnect My first g...

In this episode, we discuss... Hedonistic Adaptation Dark humor Efficiency as gameplay Polish Weird game ideas Game: Cookie scares me/Hedonistic adaptation Sense of humor Fully committing to a goofy idea Efficiency as gameplay Polish/Juice Creative game design Develop: Any idea can be fun Explore a human experience Be shameless, your idea is cool. Questions for your own projects: Does this game re...

In this episode, we discuss... Completionism Choices Raising the stakes World building Analysis Paralysis Dynamic Difficulty Game: Choose your own adventure novel Genuinely impactful choices No right choices Player choice and difficulty Immersive world building The illusion of infinite possibilities Develop: How can you make the world feel worth exploring? How can you add stakes to smaller decisio...

In this episode, we discuss... Commitment and Variety Control schemes Mini games Charming characters Communication Game: In a word - charming Fishing, management, and an tiny bit of farming Commitment and variety Continues introducing mechanics and mini games throughout the game Incredible, short animated videos that add depth to characters Develop: When trying to map controls efficiently, what wo...

In this episode, we discuss... Fatal flaws Planning Character personalities FF9's item skill system Game: The futility of planning Music makes the game A few fatal flaws Item skill system Character design/art style Exaggerated character personalities "Steinering" Develop: Are exaggerated character personalities applicable to a smaller scale game? Is it necessary to set an overarchin...

In this episode, we discuss... Simple but deep mechanics Playful game design Types of play Combinatorial explosions Satisfying realism Getting stuck Game: "realistic" elemental skills Extremely simple yet innovative magic system Shows how much you can do by focusing on combinations Humor and lighthearted dialogue Feels genuinely playful, rather than emotional, serious, or high-stakes Dev...

In this episode, we discuss... Pacing Addictive gameplay Color pallets Rewarding players Level Design Game: Addictive gameplay Slot Machine feeling Every moment an MMO level-up Fast paced Highly saturated color pallet Total and complete absorption in the gameplay loop, but oddly high stress Develop: How does this game hook me so hard? Would this game have the same impact with a less saturated colo...

AIn this episode, we discuss... Level scaling Efficiency as a game-play mechanic Discovery based crafting Ethics in game design the feedback I got on my first ever game demo Game: Loot & Grinding Speed as a core game-play mechanic Beating the system Discovery based crafting Rare items Unique builds & Synergy Permanent build decisions Develop: How to balance player power Feeling of gaining...

In this episode, we discuss... Unrelenting Optimism Making players care about the game world Well refined turn based combat Respecting the player's time Game: Well refined classic turn based combat Avoiding the grind Abilities that feel unique to each character  Unrelenting Optimism and Cozy Vibes A beautiful art style Goofy but great voice acting Simple but rewarding crafting minigame Has bo...

In this episode, we discuss... Blending Genres Easy to hate characters Encouraging specific playstyles Small twists on classic tropes Game:  Sacrifice's unique take on the real time strategy genre  Unique, interesting, bizarre lore  The power of emotionally engaging characters  God I want to play this game again  Using combat to collect resources Develop: How does Sacrifice succeed at it&apos...

I have uploaded a free demo of my game!! https://mistergrr.itch.io/sut In this episode, we discuss... Enjoyable Stress Cheerful Post-apocalyptic world building Customizable Difficulty Perfectionism Game: Addictive gameplay loop Highly customizable difficulty Encouraging perfectionism Bizarre world building Skill development and Memorization A brief note about Cook Serve Forever  Develop: Why does...

Game:  - Bringing the player into a specific state of mind  - Deeply empathetic gameplay  - Difficulty as an emotional journey  - Resting points for the character help the player rest  - Relatable Characters Develop:  - How can we connect gameplay elements to the player's emotions (other than frustration)?  - Could you make a game have an emotional story arc through nothing but mechanics and...

In this episode, we discuss open world game design, the idea of "tourist attraction exploration" vs "wilderness exploration," and also player customization. Game: Character Customization Inviting exploration "Old school" open world design Allowing players to "break" the game Develop:  What different ways are there to invite exploration?  What elements of Mor...

Game: General summary of series Removing tiny annoyances UI Scouting Hero Level-ups City Management/sectors Building Roads Develop: How can I notice the tiny annoyances in my game's design? What makes for a smooth user experience? Repeat: Don't sweat the small stuff My first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2638880/Sut/ Email me: anxiousbuddhagames(this se...

Questions:  How can we make it easier to design incredibly detailed worlds?  How important is it that the player experience everything in a game?  What lessons can I actually apply to my own projects, as a fledgling indie game developer? Links: Stanley Parable GDC talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLbmZT70rtA Building Blocks: https://www.audiblegenius.com/buildingblocks My first game, "Su...

Questions I ask this episode: What is the core flaw of FF8? How do you invite players to enjoy your game? Are design risks worth taking?  How can I take design risks effectively? My first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2638880/Sut/ Email me: anxiousbuddhagames(this sentence is to confuse bots@)gmail.com Join our discord: https://discord.gg/GvYRtTQM9m Send me any f...

Questions I ask in this episode:   What controller schemes haven't been explored?   What parts of full body gaming interest me?    Assuming I always develop for gamepad/keyboard, what can DDR teach me? Feel free to stop by our discord and share anything you're working on! My first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2638880/Sut/ Email me: anxiousbuddhagames(t...

What we discuss in today's episode: Why you should play Tales of Maj Eyal The power of building hidden parts of the world Making death/failure into a learning experience Satisfying skill trees and Character investment Roguelikes and Power of Iteration/repeatedly failing Link to official Tales of Maj'Eyal website: https://te4.org/ My first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.steam...

Questions: What's up with the AI in black and white? How is this game so good, despite being so janky? My Development: Quit by Annie Duke (Audiobook on Libby, check your library) Menus and Fundamental game features Game Releases I'm following: Age of Wonders 4 Last Epoch Diablo IV My first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2638880/Sut/ Email me: anxiousbudd...