Make That Game! A Game Design Podcast

In a rare turn of events, Isaac pitches the first game and it's a very simple strategy game! Then Claire pitches an idea for a game where you randomly transform between forms! For our discussion we talk about our top 3 "draws" for games - what are we looking for? What makes us want to play new games we see/hear about? Find out! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and...

Claire pitches a game about drawing weapons! You know, with a pencil? What did YOU think I meant by "drawing weapons"? Isaac's game is about reversing the fishing game. Then we discuss Claire replaying Life Is Strange in. What has she learned as a gamer since her first time playing!? This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever...

Claire pitches her game named "Age of Umpires", if that gives you any hints as to what it could be about, and Isaac's pitch is for a tower defense themed after exploiting tourists! Then we talk about the psychological need to use the bonuses you have, even if that's not really the best idea. This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video...

Claire pitches a game idea about escaping a house, and Isaac brews up an idea about… brewing! And learns that a distillery and a brewery are different things! For the discussion, Isaac removes a system from The Witcher 3, and Claire removes a mechanic from Kirby games! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to g...

We read a listener's game idea about cryptids, Claire pitches a non-cryptid-based game about playing out TV Trops, and Isaac brings us back to cryptids (thankfully!) with a bigfoot hunting ImmSim (immersive simulator) that forces you to mix plaster in the rain! The discussion topic is... GOOD and EVIL! What's it good for, anyways!? This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about th...

Claire's idea this week revolves around remaking and improving a childhood favorite, and Isaac pitches a game about controlling a tank and making miniscule adjustments! Our discussion revolves around taking a game and "improving it" by adding a mechanic or system to it! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't...

Claire's pitches an idea about marketing pets for adoption, and Isaac's game pitch is... a little early? It's August, what's he doing pitching a Halloween game!? We talk about games in maps, immersion, and ease of play! Do you like diegetic directions, or do you NEED a marker to navigate? This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video game...

For episode 101 we try a NEW FORMAT! Claire brings the vibe, and Isaac brings the mechanics, and we make a game idea together! Tell us how you think it worked out! The discussion topic today is bait n' switch in games! How do you feel when you think a game is going to be one thing, but then turns out to be a completely different thing? How about when it becomes that completely different thing...

It's episode 100! We made it! Let's celebrate with another episode of Make That Game! We talk about the SAG-AFTRA strike and its impact on the gaming industry. Then Claire pitches a hidden cat game! And Isaac does a roguelike about becoming crab. This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pit...

Claire enters your dreams and fights a demon in her game pitch, and Isaac has two half ideas that we make into a full idea with some back and forth! Then we talk about inventory management as a progression system. And also, at some point, monster breeding in games. There's kinda three discussion topics in one episode this time, whoa!! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the...

Isaac pitches a game named Long Tooom which he has apparently been holding on to for a while. Was it worth the wait?? Claire's idea is about a doctor who cures ailments with their fists! Then Claire and Isaac talk a little bit too much about tabletop wargaming when they discuss game updates and the burden of an update on onboarding new players. This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk...

Isaac pitches a game about exploring... and that's it! No experience, no treasure. Just, the thrill of exploring! Claire's idea puts you in the role of a live streamer! And for a discussion we talk about systemic games/systemic game design AKA designing your game around the emergent interplay of ~systems~! Sounds exciting! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest...

Claire's pitch this week is for a game where you collect pride flags, and Isaac pitches a fantasy game about using the stars for power! Claire talks about game design elements of Kirby and the Forgotten Land that help or hinder her speedrun attempts. Don't forget we're going LIVE for a pre-GDQ stream on July 30 2024 1130am EST! Claire will be running Kirby Go Home and Sleep and we'...

Claire pitches an light-bending idea, and Isaac's game idea is about exploring space and terraforming planets - do you think he's been playing No Man's Sky a lot again?? We talk about the games we uninstalled from our Switch and why we uninstalled them! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get m...

Isaac went to a nerd convention for nerds who play tabletop wargames like Warhammer 40k and such, so his idea is a nerd game for nerds who like wargames! Claire uses a flashback to explain how she did, actually, give a game idea to us, and that game idea was based on Blades In the Dark, the tabletop roleplaying game! Then we leverage that to talk about adaptations in general and things to keep in...

Claire pitches a game that a certain famous pop star may be interested in??? And Isaac wants to hunt dinosaurs in Fallout: New Vegas, we guess? Then we talk about Another Crab's Treasure by Aggro Crab, and recap our livestream of it from the past weekend! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. W...

Isaac offers a bad, dumb, pointless game idea to start the podcast off strong! And then Claire's really good idea is about being a ghost that cleans a child's room at night! The discussion topic of the day is "returning to games after a long time" and how a game can be designed to make that easy for returning players! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the la...

Claire's game racers humanoid trains... with RHYTHM! Isaac's game is about holding limes, and also racing, coincidentally. Then we talk about the Fallout TV Show. Not much game design chatter there, but it's a fun show! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make &#...

Isaac gets super excited about a dragon-taming simulation game that he forgot to design flying mechanics for! Claire's game idea is a game you can play forever! And ever... and ever... Then we talk about The Pokemon Problem! What happens when your one character/attack/whatever is TOO POWERFUL and you just do the same boring thing over and over!? What kind of design leads to this, what can you...

This week Claire pitches a run 'em up game about business reviews, and Isaac makes a time-stopped mission-planning warrior assassin game! And he asks a small question about limited tries in games. This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody'...

This week Claire pitches a visual novel city builder roguelite where you play across generations with each choice impacting the future for generations! Isaac's idea is "edgy Kirby". That's it. That's the game. It's Kirby and edgy. Isaac asks Claire: "Well, what WOULD you read, in a game, if not instructions!?" and she answers! This is Make That Game, the podcast...

Isaac pitches an auto-scroller to the chagrin of every speedrunner, and Claire pitches a Percy Jackson themed rogueLITE! Then she Honks and Bonks Kirby: Return to Dreamland Deluxe! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I gues...

Claire wants to play games that follow a growing career, so she pitches an idea for being a pyschic medium on tour! Isaac's pitch is a Fire Department management sim game! We discuss how games inform the player of what's going on and what the player should be doing. The user experience! That's the term we never use in our discussion! Look at us. This is Make That Game, the podcast wher...

Claire pitches a game about spending large sums of cash as fast as possible! Isaac decides it's like a Legend of Zelda randomizer but with money instead of fighting! Isaac pitches a game that, yet again, tries to bring tabletop wargames to the computer. This time, as a tower defense! Claire learns, through discussion, that dry land can exist below sea level. Folks! This is Make That Game, the...

Isaac pitches a puzzle game about navigating traffic (is he worried about a commute or something?) and Claire wants to put players in charge of running a craft fair booth! We talk about our recent livestream ROGUE-A-THON where we tried to help Claire understand what Roguelike/Roguelites were through FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE! Does she have a better idea now, or is she still lost in the dungeon!? This...