game design quickie

Scratching an Itch

Leisure EN ↓ 30 episodes

This podcast is for those who seek to play new games and those who look for new ideas to use in their own games. I collect game design lessons from games on itch--ranging from mechanics to narrative to theme--and capture it in a 10-ish minute episode. zivanovic.substack.com

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game design quickie

Episodes

A game used AI the right way??? 27.10.2025 10:12

nubitoad’s Bomb or Kill puts you on the spot by demanding jokes. You play a comedian in front of an audience who needs to get laughs to get money. I found it interesting that the comments were so amazed by the technology, they forgot their pitchforks! This game definitely KILLED. My takeaways: * Each mini-loop works toward making you feel the emotional core of the game. * A perfect theme to use AI...

Ball go fast! 06.05.2025 9:23

Break the Tower A chaotic but addictive arcade game by torcado . The Ludum Dare entry’s core loop is a twist on Breakout ( I keep saying brick because there was a Color Switch mode with that title [those who nose]): you bounce a ball off a platform to break through layers of bricks, collect coins, and unlock upgrades like faster dash recharge. The unique twist mechanic is charging and redirecting...

Would you like to relive the same over and over again? 27.04.2025 5:37

Voices in Static - the.sus This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

Cyberqueen - porpentine 26.02.2025 6:57

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

howling dogs - porpentine 18.02.2025 13:08

I played howling dogs, an award-winning interactive fiction game, by porpentine. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com