The Game Design Round Table

Roleplaying game and novel writer Robin D. Laws joins Dirk and David to share his experience as a designer and writer in the gaming industry. Robin shares his methodology, how writing for the two media compares, and his upcoming work.---------------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @...

Soren is back with forum member and early Offworld Trading Company playtester Scott Hamden to talk with Dirk about the current state of the game. Offworld Trading Company is taking form as it prepares for early access on Steam and a wider user base for even more feedback.--------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com Soren Johnson - @sorenjohnson, d...

Dirk and David are joined this week by Chelsea Howe, game design veteran and current employee at EA. Chelsea brings her experience to the show after working in a wide range of environments from large publishers to small game jams and independent projects.---------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHer...

Dirk, David, and Rob are back to answer more of your questions! This week's questions cover digital integration, international design decisions, and the role of 3D printing.-----------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Rob Daviau -@RobDaviauGamer, rob.daviau@ironwallgames...

Dirk and David are at the helm this week to talk about all things Star Trek. David's upcoming game uses the Star Trek universe to tell a wide variety of stories with a wide cast of characters. But with a fan base as enthusiastic and demanding as Trekkies (or Trekkers), how do you respect the source material while making a game fun?------------------------------------------------------Contact infor...

Dirk, David, and Rob look back at 2014. Rob's Kickstarter leads the way with a great success story and a view into just how crazy his life became this year. Dirk and David share their big moves from the year and look ahead to what's coming. Finally, Dirk says some nice things about Michael Hermes, who may or may not be writing these show notes (and sounds like a swell guy).------------------------...

Dirk and David sit down with game designer and writer Erin Hoffman to talk about her extensive background in game design for education,interacting with the users, and some deep talks on the role of art in games.----------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Erin Hoffman - erin@makingwonder.com, @gryphoness---------------...

Is there a formula for fun? Nicole Lazzaro joins Dirk and David to talk about what makes games fun, deliver a brief dive into neuroscience, and compare the concept of fun and gaming addiction.----------------------------------Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Nicole Lazzaro - @nicolelazzaro, www.4k2f.com----------------------------------------...

Dirk and David are joined by game designer Susan McKinley Ross, creator of Qwirkle and other well-received board games. Susan shares her expertise in color and tactile game design, the process of writing rules, and how she came to be an award-winning designer.------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVH...

Dirk, David, and Rob are on hand to talk about two topics this week. First, the progress of Rob's current Kickstarter: Funemployed 2nd Edition. He reviews how the Kickstarter is going as well as steps he took on the front end. Next, Dirk and Rob talk about their time at Boardgamegeekcon, a convention put on by the website of the same name. Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana...

Amy Jo Kim joins Dirk and David to talk about cooperative gaming and the move away from zero-sum game mechanics. Social and online gaming have shown time and again that players want to cooperate and work together rather than kill each other and constantly compete. Amy Jo offers her experience and insight into what makes cooperative fun, and how designers can make it compelling.--------------------...

This week it's a regular-sized show about micro-sized games when designer Chris Handy comes on to talk about his foray into the micro games market.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Chris Handy - @ChrisHandy, packogame.com----------------------...

Dirk, David, and Rob Daviau are answering questions this week on topics about board game design, publishing, translations, and more!-------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Rob Daviau -@RobDaviauGamer, rob.daviau@ironwallgames.com-----------------------------Episode Outline 0:00:43 - What existing game do you wi...

Dirk and Soren are joined by strategy games enthusiasts Julian Murdoch and Dr. Bruce Geryk to talk about the current state of Offworld Trading Company. Julian, Bruce, and Dirk have all had time with the game and offer Soren feedback, ask a few questions, and figure out just what that robot voice is saying.-------------------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information...

It's just Dirk and David today as the hosts catch up on each of their own projects. David has made some big changes and moved on to a new company in a new town, and Dirk details all of the different irons he has in the fire. Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Episode Outline 0:00:25 - David's big changes 0:09:35 - Future pla...

Dirk, David, and Rob get together to talk about things that bug them. Whether is the interplay of turns, the depth of a game, or the wine served at a chain restaurant, some things just aren't fun.------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Rob Daviau -@RobDaviauGamer, rob.daviau@ironwallgames.com--...

Dirk and David are joined by Kristín Guðmundsdóttir of Kvasir Games to talk about board and digital game development. Kvasir is a team of developers based in Denmark but pulled together from across Europe to build unique games designed in a game jam-style environment.----------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @DavidVHeron Kristín...

Alexis Kennedy and Liam Welton from Failbetter games join Dirk to talk about their dark games set in the world of Fallen London. With a background that goes from free-to-play web games to more traditional PC games, Failbetter has learned many lessons on design and business on their way to their latest game, Sunless Sea.-------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer -...

Sometimes a game design just goes off the rails. Scope creep, overly-ambitious ideas, a loss of focus… these can be devastating to any project. Dirk, David, and Rob Daviau talk about how a game can get off the right path and what can be done to get it back on track.----------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron - @Dav...

The title of "writer" can span from creating conceptual direction to creating dozens of iterations of the same lines of character dialog. Guest developer Harrison Pink joins Dirk and David to talk about the role in the gaming world.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemey...

Dirk and David are joined by Karla Zimonja of the Fullbright Company to talk about Gone Home, the challenges and benefits of working on a small team, and the transition of going from AAA game development to a small, independent studio.--------------------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Her...

Dirk, David, and Rob get together to talk about conventions. Gen Con is the star of the show as the trio talk about tips for both gamers and game designers. Everything is covered from talking with publishers to packing your bags the smart way.-------------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David He...

This show is all about the listeners! The mail bag is full and it's time for Dirk and David to answer your questions on game design, the industry, and the types of games they love the most.------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com David Heron @DavidVHeron--Episode Outline 0:00:46 - Do you see Eurocentric themes as a...

Jon and Dirk talk to game designer and TGDRT regular Soren Johnson about his upcoming game, Offworld Trading Company. His real time strategy economic game is currently in beta. Soren talks about the state of the game and the challenges he has in front of him.--------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com Soren Johnson - @sorenjohns...

Ananda Gupta joins Dirk and Soren to talk about Dynamic campaigns. Series like Total War and XCOM merge tactical battles with larger strategic campaigns - what do these games do well, and what challenges seem to be omnipresent?------------------------------------------------------------------------------Contact Information Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer, www.artana.com, Dirk@Knemeyer.com Soren Johnson...