Episodes

  • 054: The Designers of Thirst

    054: The Designers of Thirst
    Jul 14 2024
    Listen now (26min) | In their fourth season finale, our heroes reflect on the complexities and achievements of their journey in game design. They discuss their experiences making 'Thirst,' and share their insights and aspirations. What happens next changes everything. Read the transcript. Things discussed on this episode: 00:15 - Reflecting on Our Game Design Journey 01:32 - Thirst Game Development Updates 03:25 - Future Plans and Strategic Goals 10:08 - The Never Ending Story 16:01 - What we've been playing Support the show on Patreon! Follow us on TikTok @designthinkinggames. Subscribe on Twitch at DesignThinkingGames. Send us stuff, contact us, get merch, news, and more at https://designthinkinggames.com/
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    27 mins
  • 053: Rose Gauntlet

    053: Rose Gauntlet
    Jul 7 2024
    Listen now (42min) | Our heroes in the final interview of the season clamber before Isaac Vega of the Rose Gauntlet Foundation, who shares his 13-year journey in the board game industry, transitioning from a game designer to a publisher. The Rose Gauntlet Foundation's mission is to foster diversity and inclusivity within the gaming community. He offers insights into the financial and strategic aspects of game publishing and emphasizes the importance of passion and message in game design.
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    43 mins
  • 052: Sailor Moon Sabrina Culyba • Ludoliminal

    052: Sailor Moon Sabrina Culyba • Ludoliminal
    Jun 30 2024
    Listen now (50min) | Our heroes encounter Sabrina Culyba, a seasoned game designer and founder of the studio Ludoliminal. Culyba shares her journey from designing digital games to creating board games, emphasizing her passion for experience design. She speaks about her first published game, Diatoms, and imparts a crucial lesson: the importance of crafting memorable experiences, whether digital or analog. Culyba's narrative includes nostalgic moments of her early gaming influences, such as Sailor Moon and the societal fears surrounding D&D, underlining the diverse paths and inspirations that shape a game designer’s career. Read the transcript. Things discussed on this episode: 00:00 - Introduction to Sabrina Solba 00:15 - Starting Ludoliminal 00:37 - Collaborations and Team 00:57 - Passion for UX and Playtesting 01:35 - Early Gaming Memories 02:32 - Journey into Game Design 03:10 - Influence of Sailor Moon 03:40 - Learning Programming and Web Development 03:59 - Choosing a Univ
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    51 mins
  • 051: Archduke John De Campos, Death to Videodrome

    051: Archduke John De Campos, Death to Videodrome
    Jun 23 2024
    Listen now (34 min) | John De Campos, founder of Terrible Games, shares his journey from a comic book-obsessed child to an independent board game publisher, designer, and illustrator. Our heroes glean insights on the comparisons between self-publishing and traditional publishing, and the creative collaborations involved, into building a brand, maintaining a small business, and the importance of community and collaboration in creative ventures. Read the transcript. Things discussed on this episode: 00:00 - Introduction to John De Campos and Terrible Games 00:56 - Early Life and Inspirations 01:33 - Journey into Board Game Design 02:48 - Building the Terrible Games Team 04:34 - Challenges and Successes in Game Publishing 06:36 - Insights on Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing 08:25 - Creative Collaborations and Game Development 20:49 - The Influence of Magic: The Gathering 28:01 - "Death to videodrome." Support the show on Patreon! Follow us on TikTok @designthinkinggam
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    35 mins
  • 050: Luis Alejandro Martinez Flores, Creator of Fluffy Dragons

    050: Luis Alejandro Martinez Flores, Creator of Fluffy Dragons
    Jun 16 2024
    Listen now (31 min) | Midway on their journey, our heroes are reality-checked by Luis Alejandro Martinez Flores (LAMF Games), the creator of Fluffy Dragons. He recounts his pivot to a simpler, more accessible, easier-to-produce game after industry research. Read the transcript. Things discussed on this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:07 The Birth of Fluffy Dragons 00:25 From Heavy to Light: Game Design Journey 01:52 Early Inspirations and Gaming Background 02:58 Kickstarter and Playtesting Insights 03:41 Advice and Reflections on Game Design 09:01 Challenges and Future Plans 14:44 Personal Gaming Preferences and Memories 24:58 Final Thoughts and Farewell Support the show on Patreon! Follow us on TikTok @designthinkinggames. Subscribe on Twitch at DesignThinkingGames. Send us stuff, contact us, get merch, news, and more at https://designthinkinggames.com/
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    32 mins
  • 049: The Story of “Serial Killer” with Jack Malacat

    049: The Story of “Serial Killer” with Jack Malacat
    Jun 9 2024
    Listen now (35 min) | TIn this episode, our heroes embark on a creative odyssey, gleaning insights from Jack Malacat’s unconventional journey into game design. They unravel the tapestry of Malacat’s experiences, from hosting lively parties to crafting the darkly engaging ‘Serial Killer’ game, navigating the realms of business and imagination. Read the transcript. Things discussed on this episode: 00:00 - Introduction to Jack Malacat and the game Serial Killer 00:34 - Jack’s background and the inception of Serial Killer 01:51 - Venom Haus, the game studio behind Serial Killer 05:00 - Kickstarter campaign and community engagement 09:00 - Iterative game design and manufacturing challenges 15:00 - Future plans for Serial Killer and community expansions 15:17 - Connecting with Jack Malacat and Serial Killer resources 17:58 - Gameplay mechanics and player attributes 18:42 - Jack’s UX title and favorite games 19:28 - Jack’s earliest gaming memories and current favorites 20:22 - The c
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    35 mins
  • 048: The Man, The Brand, the Gay Edge Lord – Daddy Chaddy

    048: The Man, The Brand, the Gay Edge Lord – Daddy Chaddy
    Jun 2 2024
    Listen now (41 min) | This fork in the road takes our heroes before an aspiring professional gamer to understand the core element of the player experience: the player. Read the transcript. Things discussed on this episode: 00:00 - The Man, the Brand, the Gay Edgelord 01:10 - Baby Chad’s Exposure to Games 02:02 - Zelda Left the Right Impression 02:50 - The Physicality of Early Video Games 04:20 - How the Dynamic of Chad’s Gaming Experience Changed 06:00 - The Cultural Zeitgeist of Elden Ring 08:48 - The Nostalgia Weapon 18:09 - Choosing Which Games to Stream 21:00 - The Catalyst for Doubling Down on Streaming 23:00 - The Trade-Off of Turning Streaming into a Job 25:50 - Dealing with Envy or Impostor Syndrome Stoked by Other People’s Success 27:00 - How to Connect with Daddy Chaddy 28:00 - D12 Support the show on Patreon! Follow us on TikTok @designthinkinggames. Subscribe on Twitch at DesignThinkingGames. Send us stuff, contact us, get merch, news, and more at https://design
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    42 mins
  • 047: Providing Value, Building Community with Kervin from For Why Games

    047: Providing Value, Building Community with Kervin from For Why Games
    May 26 2024
    Listen now (34:50 min) | For Why Games' founder advises our heroes to endeavor to provide real value to one's community so that the community will turn out. Read the transcript. Things discussed on this episode: 00:37 - Kervin discusses his journey into TikTok and board game design 01:31 - Inspiration for creating a Allow Me to Mansplain 04:52 - Why "For Why Games"? 06:21 - Marsh Hallow 09:07 - Explanation of roll-and-write mechanics and their unique approach 12:48 - Kervin's approach to playtesting and community building 16:48 - How to connect with Kervin and For Why Games 18:08 - We play D12 Support the show on Patreon! Follow us on TikTok @designthinkinggames. Subscribe on Twitch at DesignThinkingGames. Send us stuff, contact us, get merch, news, and more at https://designthinkinggames.com/
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    35 mins