The Corner of Story and Game

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we explore the captivating realm of narrative digital games, exploring the intricate art and science of pacing. Our guest, Nessa Cannon, a seasoned game writer and narrative designer, shares her wealth of experience and insights. From indie projects to collaborations with industry giants like Ubisoft, Nessa's expertise spans a broad spectrum, making her the perfe...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 11 Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we embark on another insightful journey through game design. Joining us once again is Will Shen, Lead Content Designer at Something Wicked Games and former Design Director at Bethesda Game Studios. Will has contributed to iconic titles such as Starfield, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout: 76. Today, we'll delve...

Welcome back, wanderer. Join us on an exhilarating journey through the wild and immersive world of survival gaming as we delve into the depths of environmental storytelling with industry veteran Bill Roper. With a legendary career spanning decades, Bill has made his mark on gaming history with iconic titles such as Warcraft, Diablo, and Starcraft. Now, as the CEO of Lunacy Games, he leads the char...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 10 Welcome back, wanderer. It's been a couple weeks since our last peek into the lenses from The Art of Game Design , so let's jump into four more. This time Crowe Whitney returns to sit down and examine the Lens of Action, the Lens of Goals, the Lens of Rules, and the Lens of Skill. These lenses can be used to examine the mechanics that shape various gaming...

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we set sail on a journey through the realms of imagination with the esteemed Chris A. Jackson. A master of the written word, Chris has regaled us with tales of high seas and daring adventures in his acclaimed Pathfinder Tales novels and captivating readers with his vivid depictions of pirate lore and nautical escapades. But his literary prowess extends far beyond the...

Welcome back, wanderer. In game design, where creativity meets strategy, one name shines brightly: Alexander Brazie. A luminary figure in the industry, Brazie's journey is as legendary as the worlds he's helped create. From the hallowed halls of Blizzard Entertainment, where he left his thumbprint on titles like World of Warcraft, to his pioneering work at Riot Games, Brazie has been a gui...

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we return to the table with the illustrious Erik Scott de Bie. A master of the written word, Erik has graced our tavern not once, but twice before - each time weaving tales that linger long after the final word is spoken. Erik's creative journey has led him down countless literary paths as a novelist, fiction writer, editor, game designer, and devoted gamer. Howe...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 09 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Today, we embark on a journey into the realms of imagination and storytelling, guided by the insightful mind of Katelynn Kenney. As a seasoned podcast writer, playwright, actor, and game writer - Katelynn provides a wealth of experience from the world of theatre,...

Welcome back, wanderer. In today’s episode, we will explore the realm of board game design with the ingenious James Hudson. As a board game publisher and designer, James is the creative force behind Druid City Games, where he orchestrates memorable gaming experiences that prioritize authentic connections and shared enjoyment. With acclaimed titles like Tidal Blades - Heroes of the Reef and Sorcere...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 08 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Today, we have the pleasure of diving into the captivating world of game design and storytelling with the incredibly talented TJ Mota. TJ brings experience as a game writer and narrative designer, with an impressive portfolio spanning various genres, from horror t...

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we're diving into the depths of storytelling across media within established IPs, and who better to guide us through this fascinating terrain than the esteemed Richard Dansky? With a storied career spanning narrative direction, fiction writing, game design, and game writing, Richard's insights will illuminate our discussion on 'What We Learned In The Dark...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 07 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Today, we're diving deep into the heart of game design with the talented Cameron Daxon. A multifaceted writer, producer, and marketer, Cameron's passion for video games fuels his quest to master the art of narrative design and game writing. With his recent...

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we're embarking on an exhilarating journey through the vast realms of sci-fi storytelling and video game narratives with the extraordinary Justin Sloan. A seasoned creative passionate about all things sci-fi and fantasy, Justin's illustrious career spans over a decade, leaving an indelible mark on the literary and gaming landscapes. He has contributed to icon...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 06 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Today, we have the pleasure of diving into the world of narrative design and lore creation with the incredibly talented Liv Peelan. As a Narrative Designer, Writer, and Lore Master for video games, Liv brings a wealth of expertise and creativity to the table. Curr...

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we have the pleasure of delving into the art of weaving story into live-action spaces with the multitalented Vince Caso. You may recognize Vince from his iconic role as Bladezz in the beloved web series 'The Guild,' but his talents span a variety of media! As an actor, writer, streamer, voice actor, and seasoned game master, Vince brings a wealth of experienc...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 05 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Today, we have the pleasure of embarking on a journey through more of the game design lenses with the dynamic Zachary Roush. A seasoned writer with nearly a decade of experience spanning various industries, Zach's adventurous spirit and creative fervour have p...

Welcome back, wanderer. Dr. Diana Leonard, Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology at Lewis & Clark College, is joining us today. Dr. Leonard's research expertise lies at the intersection of psychology and gaming, where she applies classic models of group dynamics to study conflict and change in live-action role-playing (LARP) groups. Her current scholarship specifically delves into th...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 04 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Today, we have the pleasure of delving into the fascinating world of game design lenses—this time with the multitalented Najmah Salam. A marketing alchemist with over a decade of experience across diverse industries, Naj brings a unique blend of creativity and tec...

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we have the immense pleasure of delving into the world of storytelling techniques in Action Roleplaying Games (ARPGs) with the incredibly talented Rebecca Harwick. With over fifteen years of experience in narrative design and game writing, Rebecca brings a wealth of expertise from her work with renowned studios like Wooga, ZeniMax Online Studios, and Bioware Austin....

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 03 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Today, we have the pleasure of delving into the fascinating world of game design lenses with the exceptionally talented Philip Balli. As a freelance game writer and narrative designer, Philip brings a wealth of experience from his work at OrionGames and his involv...

Welcome back, wanderer. Today, we're embarking on a thrilling journey through the intricacies of game design, from epic video game battles to the nuanced mechanics of tabletop experiences. And who would guide us through this adventure better than the esteemed Scott Rogers? With a rich background spanning video games, board games, VR, and even theme park experiences, Scott's insights will s...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 02 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to peer through four more lenses from The Art of Game Design . Our guide this time is narrative design virtuoso Bárbara Framil. With a distinguished career in the entertainment industry, Bárbara's expertise in immersive worldbuilding and player-centric storytelling has left an indelible mark on critically acclaimed projec...

Welcome back, wanderer. This time around, we dive into the dynamic world of cross-platform narratives and multi-media execution with Ryan Omega. With a diverse background as a show and event host, producer, interactive game designer, and experienced game master, Ryan brings a wealth of creativity and expertise to our discussion. From immersive live-action roleplaying experiences to interactive Twi...

The Lenses of Game Design: Part 01 Welcome back, wanderer. It's time to really dive into examining the lenses from The Art of Game Design . To help us get started, we are joined by Jessica Sliwinksi! Currently serving as the Lead Narrative Designer at Something Wicked Games, Jessica's illustrious career spans a myriad of prestigious studios and renowned titles. With lead narrative design p...

Welcome back, wanderer. One of the best things I have discovered about having a podcast where I talk to people passionate about writing is that the conversations can often become just friendly explorations of shared interests and similar life paths. This is certainly the case when I sat down with my buddy Mario Mergola and compared notes on writing, video games, and life. We may also end up gushin...