Patrick Doyle

The Great Game

Leisure EN ↓ 58 episodes

Jack and Patrick talk about Megagames in the Australian environment - how it all started, how we do things down under, and how our players and designers find the world of megagaming. The Great Game Theme: Balrog Boogie, Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo by Jack McNamee using Earth Vectors by Vecteezy .

Author

Patrick Doyle

Category

Leisure

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Jun 30, 2026

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Episodes

58: Small Megagames with LJ 30.06.2026

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We got to speak with LJ from the Megagame Coalition about her game Gathering Darkness, a triple threat in the megagame world - it's a prequel, it's a mini-megagame, and it's made for beginners! Note: LJ was cursed with allergies this recording, bu...

57: Trenton (Background Briefing) 31.05.2026

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Trenton takes us through his 3 arcs of megagaming, from his love of media/news teams (and giving copious feedback to megagame makers) to playing the role of secret-designer in his own game years later. Episode links: Megagame Coalition Midwest Megagames The Great...

56: Social Deduction with Justin and Ben 29.04.2026

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We speak with Justin (Adelaide Megagames) and Ben (BK Game Design) about social deduction, traitors and hidden roles in the megagame world. Check out the referenced blog post by Tony , Sydney Megagamers, at the Megagame Assembly. The Great Game theme is ⁠...

55: What is a megagame, again? 30.03.2026

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Warning: this episode uses a lot of generalisations and specifcially the words 'generally' and 'in general'. Listener discretion is advised. We revisit our very first episode, 5 years on, to understand what a megagame actually is. Come with us on this journey...

54: Vroom with Carl 27.02.2026

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We spoke with Carl from Sydney Megagamers about the megagame of F1 racing that came to the wasteland. Learn about the art of broken economies, pizzazz and mad max style racing in Vroom . The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diabl...

53: Rob (Background Briefing) 30.01.2026

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make friends before you need them. People are on the same team, not necessarily the same side. Want more wisdom? Listen along! The second in our background briefing series, a long meandering discussion with Rob Grayston, of East Midlands Megagames, about megagame log...

52: Megagame Initiative with Peter and Liam 31.12.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We connected with Peter and Liam from the Megagame Initiative (check them out online ) to talk about about megagames have developed in Cape Town over the last few years. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Ga...

51: The Company Archives with NB 25.10.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack sat down with Non-Breaking Space games to talk about the John Company inspired megagame, The Company Archives. Read a player's experience of the game here . You can find more of NBS' work online at www.nbsp1618.games and check out the latest release, Cross Bronx Expressw...

50: Raising Spirits with James 04.10.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack and Pat talk with James (Sydney Megagamers) on how he came to designing Raising Spirits , a mini-megagame based on the renowned social deduction game Blood on the Clock Tower. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Gam...

49: Ciaran (Background Briefing) 20.09.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ An experiment with the rambling, longer form, Patrick sits down with Ciaran (of The Generalissimo is Dead fame) to talk about what makes a megagame designer. This is the first 'background briefing' and looks at getting a deeper understanding of the people behind the megagame worl...

48: Crossovers with Trenton and Scott 06.09.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack talks with Trenton (Megagame Coalition) and Scott (West Coast Megagames, certified 'megagame crazy') to talk about the crossover event of their Gencon 2025 Megagames Deephaven and Goblin City . The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra T...

47: The Lighthouse with Dave 23.08.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack talks with Dave, Sydney Megagamers, about his 2025 Megagame The Lighthouse . Check out the game (and buy it to run yourself) here: https://littlemegagames.itch.io/the-lighthouse The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was...

46: Last Turn Madness with Justin and Sam 19.05.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We finally got to sit down with some passionate Megagame aficionados (Justin from Adelaide Megagames and Sam from Basenti Games ) and get to the bottom of Last Turn Madness - the good, the bad and the ugly! The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The G...

45: This City Sucks with Chris 22.02.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The gang talks to Chris from Melbourne Megagames about This City Sucks - a game about vampires, turf wars, real estate and auctions... and figuring out what the hell happened to the mayor! The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made...

44: Tales from the Scrapheap 08.02.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack and Pat delve into the dire archives for designs and concepts that landed in their scrapheap - not gone, not forgotten, but long-abandoned ideas that just didn't make it. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jack McNam...

43: Bound by Desire with Ben 25.01.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠ We regroup with the Architect of Megagames, Ben of BKGameDesign, to tackle the romance-inspired megagame Bound by Desire. We talk about the secret to getting megagamers to a megagame, why Lady McStuffin' Face is so insidious, and just how dangerous romantic polyhedrons can be. Episode Links: Connect wit...

42: Team Time - Councils 11.01.2025

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For the inaugural session of Team Time, Jack, Pat, Trenton and Ciaran hash out what's going on with councils in megagames and ask the question - do we really need 'em? Find Ciaran and Trenton over at the Megagame Coalition and True North megagame servers (and of course, at the Great Game server )...

41: Our 10 Years of Megagaming 30.12.2024

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Just in time for the New Year, it's our self-indulgent, parasocial, bottle episode. Jack and Pat talk about what 10 years of megagaming has done to them. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

40: Megagame Bugbears 20.12.2024

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠ Are you down for some Agency Death? A bit of Player Lock? Maybe a journey into the Three Table Trap? Or do you just want to hear Jack further his vendetta against the English and their tea? Whatever you're here for, we've got it. We round out 40 episodes with a conversation about megagame bugbears and p...

39: Touched by Darkness with Ben 12.10.2024

Keep in touch: ⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠ The Architect of Megagames, Ben of BKGameDesign, has arrived. We touched on Touched By Darkness (...) during the GenCon episodes, but now we get a full deep dive into the game, where it came from, and what makes it a perfect 'control's first megagame'. Episode Links: Buy Touched by Darkness Read more about...

38: The (Second) Gencon Episode with Forrest, Trenton, Scott and Tony 09.10.2024

Keep in touch: ⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠ Tony, the Duke of Highland, takes us to Gencon 2024... again! Part 2 of 2. Make sure you check out episode 37 of the Great Game to hear the first 5 interviews. 01:20 - Forrest, Gods of the Ancient World 18:50 - Trenton, Grimvale Ventures 30:05 - Scott, Goblin City 55:15 - Tony, It Belongs in a Museum Want to know more about Scott's CANDI? Check out the PBEM...

37: The Gencon Episode with Ben, Pinto, Tony, Riley and Josh 06.10.2024

Keep in touch: linktr.ee/greatgamepod Tony, the Duke of Highland, takes us to Gencon 2024. Part 1 of 2, in which we hear from a bunch of interesting people about their megagames! 01:47 - Ben, Touched by Darkness 11:28 - Pinto, Pantheon 22:00 - Tony, It Came From the Skies 39:20 - Riley, Jungle ( Philly Megagames ) 57:46 - Josh, Crucible of Nations You can find all of these amazing people over on D...

36: The Megagame Coalition with Riley and Trenton 28.09.2024

Do you know what the opposite of a piggyback is? Neither do we. We spoke to Riley and Trenton from the Megagame Coalition about... the Megagame Coalition! Established as an umbrella organisation that connects and supports megagame groups all across North America, we spoke about how the Coalition game to be and how GenCon has been such a driving force for the American megagame scene. EPISODE LINKS:...

35: Megagames Argentina with Pedro and Yaguaretè 14.09.2024

We venture south again, chatting with the Megagames Argentina gang about what their experience in the megagame world has been and how they're bringing megagame design to the homeland, its culture and its history. EPISODE LINKS: - Learn more about Megagames Argentina - Open Veins of Latin America , an important book and inspiration for Aceleración Constante - The Great Game logo by Jack McNamee usi...

34: Megagame Re-Runs with Paddy 31.08.2024

Diving into some listener requested subjects, we regrouped with Paddy (of Running Hot fame - see episode 13 back in 2020) to talk about the art of running the same megagame over and over and over... EPISODE LINKS: - Paddy is from ⁠Pennine Megagames⁠ - You can read more about Running Hot ⁠here⁠ - The Great Game logo by ⁠⁠Jack McNamee⁠⁠ using Logo designed by ⁠⁠Jack McNamee⁠⁠ using ⁠⁠Earth Vectors b...

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