PODCAST · leisure
Game Design Zen
by Game Design Zen
Games, Life, and Pursuit of Excellence
Episodes
-
021 : To Purple Cow or Not to Purple Cow? That is the Question
(Some information was lost. Someone keeps hacking the site. Apologies, I think) So he asked, “Are you still a fan of the Purple Cow?†Game dev students were asking the same question, from Virginia to Detroit. It’s a simple question, without a simple answer. This episode gets zen on Purple…
more -
020 : How Do You Do It? Three Tips for Getting Things Done
(Why do people hack educational podcasts? I cannot imagine) Years ago, my boss asked, “How do you get all that stuff done?” Then, last week, my friend asked a similar question. And I realized, I didn’t have an answer. So I thought about it – podcasts, an indie business, and a family, on top of a...
-
19 : Breaking My Own Rule! On Steam, Greenlight, and Overcoming Fear
I broke my own rule! A few weeks ago, I shared a project I was working on, before it was really ready. And after that, I kept putting off creating the video that I needed to get my project on Steam. Week after week, I did nothing, because I was afraid. This episode is about overcoming fear. NOWÂ...
-
18 : Becoming Indie – On Starting A Business
What about the business? Kenzai asked what it meant to start a business. So, this episode goes zen – covering everything from becoming an indie, to money, to products. It even discusses why you need a Purple Cow. NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube! Kenzai’s Challenge (00:35) My Journey To Indie…
more -
017 : Three Things You Need To Know!
What must you know? At a recent game challenge, I met Matt Trobbiani, the creator of HackNet. After I got to know him, I thought itâ€d be fun to invite him on as a guest. To ensure that Game Design Zen stays zen, I recorded this for him. Itâ€s three things we should all know. Games Competition...
-
16 : Season 2 – Battle Royale – Jonathan Blow vs Brett Victor
Ready for SEASON TWO?!? It’s a new year, with exciting changes in the works. To kick it off, let’s start with two giants! Theyâ€re at odds. The Indie giant, Jonathan Blow, argues that simpler is better, in almost all cases. Design guru, Brett Victor, argues for sophisticated real-time design...
-
015 : Failure, Taste, and the Closet Star Wars Geek – the Season 1 Finale
What about failure? Your greatest ideas donâ€t live up to your expectations. You havenâ€t conquered the world. And yet, as Ira Glass says, your taste is killer. This is the season one finale of Game Design Zen – you wonâ€t want to miss it. Happy Holidays! Andrew’s Story – Frustration, Feedback...
-
014 : Because … Fallout 4!
Game Design Zen : Episode 014 Fallout 4?! Some predicted – game of the century. Some predicted – not my cup of tea. And for some, like me, it was our first exposure to the Fallout franchise. I didnâ€t know what to expect. Now, fifty hours in – let’s get zen! Because … Fallout 4! (00:35)…
more -
013 : Her Unexpected Gift! A Father’s Path To Gratitude – Happy Thanksgiving!
Game Design Zen : Episode 013 Iâ€ve been struggling to tell a story. Weeks of nights staring at the ceiling with ideas swirling in my head. It demanded to be told. Until finally, today, I did the whole thing in one take. This special episode is the story of being a Make-A-Wish father. Happy...
-
012 : A Recipe for Simplicity? Rock Band 4, Civilization, and Bushnell’s Law
Game Design Zen : Episode 012 I’d waited months for Rock Band 4 to arrive. And when it did, the guitar didn’t work! Find out what happens as we explore the recipe for Simplicity in games. Rock Band 4 (01:00) Ikea Effect – Dan Ariely (07:00) A Recipe For Simplicity (09:10) “100 ways to simplify...
-
011 : League of Legends vs Heroes of the Storm!
Game Design Zen : Episode 011 Who will win? We’re just days away from seeing if SKT will once away be crowned champs as they take on new comers, Koo Tigers. So with eyes turned toward Korea, let’s have our own battle - League of Legends versus Heroes of the Storm. A Surprise Visit to Korea...
-
010 : “Truly Unique” – An Open Response to a Crazy Letter
Game Design Zen : Episode 010 It never fails. Iâ€m chatting with friends when I stumble across the Newbie Letter. Itâ€s full of wild ideas, crazy ambitions, and most telling, the 5-year plan for a game that is ‘truly unique’. This episode is an open response. Something Different The Letter…
more -
009 : What Is A Game? I’ve Got The Story – Not Sure What’s Next
Game Design Zen : Episode 009 What Now? I’ve got a great story, set in a far-distant future. Not sure what to do next. As crazy as it sounds, this happens sometimes. This episode explores what a game is to help us all improve our designs. Kenzai’s Request – More Conversational (0:40) League of...
-
008 : Total Biscuit, Motivation, and the Indiepocalypse – The Experience
Game Design Zen : Episode 008 What do Total Biscuit, Motivation, and the Indiepocalypse have in common? Even after 2 years, I hadnâ€t picked up a next gen console. Until this one, specific game was announced. $750 later it was all about the experience! Va Tech Hokies, Rock Band, and the PS4…
more -
007 : Not Your Average Joe – Difficulty, Engagement, and Cookie Clicker
Game Design Zen : Episode 007 Joe challenged me, “balanced difficulty is missing the mark.†And then, he pointed to games like Farmville, city simulators, and Cookie Clicker. He had some good points. He is not your average Joe. Joe’s Challenge – “Balanced Difficulty is missing the mark”…
more -
006 : Dropping The Gauntlet! Build Your First Game
Game Design Zen : Episode 006 My wife dropped the gauntlet – “6 episodes by Christmas!†This episode explore the gauntlet that leads to building your first game, with some inspiration, practical advice, and real life stories. My Wife Threw the Gauntlet (02:10) How To Build Your First…
more -
005 : By Request! The Game Design of Squares, Circles, and Triangles
Game Design Zen : Episode 005 What should I talk about? When I asked my friend, there was no hesitation – “Squares, Circles, and Triangles.†I asked, “Really?†And he answered, “It was my favorite! You said it would change the way I saw the world, and it did.†Definitely – Squares,...
-
GDZ 004 : The Most Important Skill? The Rocket Surgery of Story, Yes And, and Charisma
Game Design Zen : Episode 004 What is our most important skill? Though we need creativity, logic, and business, the path to excellence is the rocket surgery of Story, Yes And, and Charisma. This episode tackles practical ways to communicate better. Building Games is the new Rocket Surgery…
more -
GDZ 003 : Level Up! Portfolios, Finishing, and Next Steps
Game Design Zen : Episode 003 How can you level up? Whether breaking in, or looking for the next opportunity, we pursue excellence through deliberate practice – building a portfolio of finished projects. Stand apart, improve, and level up. The Hiring Perspective (02:30) Joel on Software – Smart...
-
GDZ 002 : Flow – The one design idea you must know
Game Design Zen : Episode 002 What is the one thing you must know? When we play games, we become so involved in the activity that nothing else seems to matter. Minutes can be so intense they feel like an hour, and yet, hours can fly by in minutes. That experience is flow, and itâ€s the reason we...
-
GDZ 001 : How much is enough? The Paradox of Choice for Game Design
Game Design Zen : Episode 001 How much is enough? With Sid Meier defining games as a series of interesting and meaningful choices, we often stuff in as many choices as possible! In this episode we explore World of Warcraft and Rift, to show WHY the Paradox of Choice matters. We discuss how to...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Games, Life, and Pursuit of Excellence
HOSTED BY
Game Design Zen
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Game Design Zen have?
Game Design Zen currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Game Design Zen about?
Games, Life, and Pursuit of Excellence
How often does Game Design Zen release new episodes?
Game Design Zen has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Game Design Zen?
You can listen to Game Design Zen on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Game Design Zen?
Game Design Zen is created and hosted by Game Design Zen.
URL copied to clipboard!