Episodes
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021 : To Purple Cow or Not to Purple Cow - That is the question
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 Cows, via three of my heroes: Will Wright, Jonathan Blow, and Ira Glass.
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20 : How Do You Do It? Three Tips for Getting Things Done
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 full-time job. This episode is the answer - three tips for...
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19 : Overcoming Fear! On Porting to Steam
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 it 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.
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018 : 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.
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016 : Three Things You Need To Know!
What must you know? At a recent game challenge, I met Matt Trobbiani of NetHack. After I got to know him, I thought it'd be fun to have him as a guest. To keep the Game Design Zen vibe, I recorded this for him. It's three things we should all know.
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16 : Season 2 - Battle Royale - Jonathan Blow vs Brett Victor
Ready for Season 2? Exciting new changes coming. To kick off the season, we start with a battle royale between the Indie giant, Jonathan Blow, and the design guru, Brett Victor.
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015 : Failure, Taste, and the Closet Star Wars Geek - the Season 1 Finale
What about failure? Your greatest ideas don’t live up to your expectations. You haven’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 won’t want to miss it. Happy Holidays!
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014 : Because ... Fallout 4!
Fallout 4?! Some said - game of the century. Some said - not my cup of tea. And for some, like me, it's our first exposure to the Fallout franchise. I didn’t know what to expect. Fifty hours in - let's get zen!
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013 : Thanksgiving Zen – Love, Loss, and Gratitude
I’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 Thanksgiving!
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012 : Rock Band 4, Civilization, and a Recipe for Simplicity
I'd waited months for Rockband to arrive. And when it did, the guitar didn't work! This episode explores a simple recipe for Simplicity in our games.
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011 : League of Legends vs Heroes of the Storm!
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.
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010 : "Truly Unique" – An Open Response To A Crazy Letter
It never fails. I’m chatting with friends when I stumble across the Newbie Letter. It’s full of wild ideas, crazy ambitions, and most telling, the ‘5-year plan’. This episode is an open response.
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009 : What Is A Game? I've Got The Story – Not Sure What's Next
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.
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008 : What Total Biscuit, Motivation, and the Indiepocalypse Have In Common
What do Total Biscuit, Motivation, and the Indiepocalypse have in common? Even after 2 years, I hadn’t picked up a next gen console. Until this one, specific game was announced. $750 later it was all about the experience!
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007 : Not Your Average Joe - Difficulty, Engagement, and Cookie Clicker
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.
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006 : The Gauntlet! Building Your First Game
My wife threw the gauntlet – “6 episodes by Christmas!” In this episode, we explore the gauntlet that leads to building your first game, with a bit of inspiration, real life, and practical advice.
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005 : By Request! The Game Design of Squares, Circles, and Triangles
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."
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004 : The Most Important Skill? The Rocket Surgery of Story, Yes And, and Charisma
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.
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003 : Level Up! Portfolios, Finishing, and The Next Step
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.
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002 : The one design idea you must know - Flow
What happens at the intersection of game design, life, and the pursuit of excellence? Game Design Zen is your #1 resource for the science, art, and business of developing better games. Whether you are just getting started in this crazy business, or have the wisdom that comes from weathering the...
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001 : How much is enough? The Paradox of Choice for Game Design
What happens at the intersection of game design, life, and the pursuit of excellence? Game Design Zen is your #1 resource for the science, art, and business of developing better games. Whether you are just getting started in this crazy business, or have the wisdom that comes from weathering the...
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