Think Like A Game Designer

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Think Like A Game Designer

In Think Like a Game Designer, award-winning designer and Stone Blade Entertainment CEO Justin Gary speaks with world-class game designers and creative experts from various industries. Each episode deconstructs the creative process, offering insights into the art of game design and the broader cultural, technological, and business influences shaping a myriad of creative mediums. Join us for actionable advice and unique perspectives that will enrich your understanding of what it means to be creative in and out of the gaming world. justingarydesign.substack.com

101 episodes transcribed

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Tim Hutchings — Thousand-Year-Old Vampire, Blending Fine Arts with Game Design, Crafting Emotional RPG Experiences, and Teaching Design Through Philosophy (#56)

Episode Date: December 19, 2023

Tim Hutchings is a unique voice in the world of game design, known for his innovative approach that blends his rich background in fine arts with inter...

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Michael Borys — The Art of Immersive Gaming Experiences, Blending Storytelling with Interactive Design, and Crafting Alternate Realities (#55)

Episode Date: December 5, 2023

Michael Borys stands out in the game design landscape for his exceptional blend of interactive design expertise and storytelling prowess. He has worke...

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Morgan Page — Finding the Shared Rhythms of Music and Game Design, Maximizing Creative Collaborations, and the Importance of the Fundamentals (#54)

Episode Date: November 13, 2023

Morgan Page, the renowned DJ and music producer, has etched his mark in the world of electronic music with hits like "The Longest Road" and "In the Ai...

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Mark Otero — The Artistry of Game Development, Navigating the Crossroads of Engagement and Economics, Reimagining In-Game Asset Strategies, and Cultivating Community Through Gaming (#53)

Episode Date: October 24, 2023

About Mark OteroIn this episode, join us for an insightful discussion with Mark Otero, a true innovator in the gaming sphere. Starting with his humble...

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Reiner Knizia — Systems for Publishing 700+ Games, Crafting Profound Gameplay from Simple Rules, Innovations in Scoring and Auction Systems, and The Joy of Tabletop Gaming (#52)

Episode Date: September 26, 2023

Join us in this episode as we chat with the legendary Reiner Knizia, the mastermind behind over 700 games. With a Ph.D. in mathematics, Reiner transit...

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Stefan Engblom — Designing games for millions of people and billions of dollars, Secrets of building game communities, The 2AM Party Principle, Reacting to player feedback (#51)

Episode Date: September 4, 2023

Stefan’s journey in game design has been nothing short of exceptional. Hailing from Supercell, the creative force behind hits like Hay Day and Clash o...

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Soren Johnson (Part II) — Innovating 4X Strategy Games, Insights from Civilization IV, and Designing the Future of Gaming. (#50)

Episode Date: July 24, 2023

Soren Johnson is a legend in the gaming industry. He was one of the designers on Civilization III and the lead designer for Civilization IV at Firaxis...

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Think Like a Game Designer: Shards of Infinity Kickstarter Special

Episode Date: July 11, 2023

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/s...

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Soren Johnson (Part I) — Building Civilization Through 4X Design, Bridging Digital and Physical Gaming, Navigating the Evolving TCG Landscape, and Crafting Games for Varied Playtimes (#49)

Episode Date: June 12, 2023

Soren Johnson is a legend in the gaming industry. He was one of the designers on Civilization III and the lead designer for Civilization IV at Firaxis...

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Jon Barry — Mastering Game Accessories with Forged Gaming: From Community Insights to Crowdfunding Masterpieces, and the Role of AI in Future Gaming (#48)

Episode Date: May 24, 2023

Jon Barry is the founder of Forged Gaming, a renowned game accessories company. Jon has dedicated himself to creating a plethora of products that enha...

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Gary Arant — Ascending the Ranks at Stone Blade: From Intern to COO, Designing Iconic Card Games, and Challenging Assumptions in Game Development (#47)

Episode Date: May 8, 2023

As a member of the Stone Blade team, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Gary Arant since the company’s earliest days. Gary has played a crucia...

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Jamey Stegmaier — Kickstarter Beginnings, Revolutionizing Rulebooks, Mastering Solo Gameplay, and Balancing Game Design with Time Management (#46)

Episode Date: March 28, 2023

Jamey Stegmaier is the CEO of Stonemaier Games and the creator of games such as Scythe and Viticulture. He is a prolific content creator and thought l...

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Matt Fantastic — The Indy Game Ethos, Punk Rock Designs, Navigating Success Beyond Sales, Collaborative Dynamics, and the Power of Empathy in Game Design (#45)

Episode Date: March 1, 2023

Matt is easily the most punk rock game designer I’ve ever interviewed, and it’s no wonder because their professional life is rooted in collectivism, a...

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Think Like a Game Designer: Ascension Tactics Inferno Special

Episode Date: February 15, 2023

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/s...

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Isaac Vega — From Humble Prototypes to Bioshock Tables, Navigating Unexpected Successes, and the Freedom of Forging One’s Path in Game Design (#44)

Episode Date: January 30, 2023

Isaac Vega has been designing board games for over a decade. Isaac has sold over 500,000 copies of his games worldwide and is an award-winning designe...

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Sean K. Reynolds — Crafting Legendary RPGs, Building Worlds & Teams, Valuing Writer Voices, and the Anatomy of Game Design (#43)

Episode Date: January 9, 2023

Sean K. Reynolds is a prolific writer and game designer who’s worked on hundreds of supplements for various RPGs, including Dungeons & Dragons. Sean a...

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Ben Brode — From Pizza Delivery to Hearthstone's Helm: Crafting Digital Card Games, the Essence of Decision-Making, Building Trust in the Gaming Industry, Innovating with Marvel Snap (#42)

Episode Date: December 6, 2022

Ben Brode worked for Blizzard for 15 years, working his way up from a low-level position to become one of the lead designers of the monstrously succes...

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Alex Watkins — From Evolutions in Mechanics to Shaping the Future of Organized Play, The Journey of Crafting a New Gaming Experience in Soulforge Fusion (#41)

Episode Date: October 31, 2022

Alex Watkins is the head of organized play for SolForge Fusion, but before joining our team, he had years of experience running organized play for gam...

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John D. Clair — Crafting Award-Winning Games, Navigating Legal Pitfalls, Lessons from Downfall, and Innovating with Kinetic Design (#40)

Episode Date: September 26, 2022

John D. Clair is the designer of Mystic Vale, which was awarded the ORIGINS Award and Gamer’s Choice award in 2017. His other titles include Downfall,...

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Luke Peterschmidt — From Dungeons & Dragons to Bakugan: Leveraging Game Design in Marketing, Teaching, and Global Phenomenons (#39)

Episode Date: July 26, 2022

Luke has done a lot of incredible work as a game designer, working on indie games like Miskatonic School for Girls all the way up to massive games lik...

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