Designer Notes

Idle Thumbs

Why do we make games? Every designer has a different and very personal answer to that question. Soren Johnson, founder of Mohawk Games, sits down with noted designers to find out by examining their careers as a whole.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

96 episodes
Updated July 6

Episodes96

Newest first

Feb 15, 2016 · 1 hr 14 min
Designer Notes 16: Tyriq Plummer
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews Tyriq Plummer, who is the artist, designer, and programmer behind the roguelike platformer Catacomb Kids. They discuss why a game should let you eat your severed arm, how items can be adjectives instead of verbs,
Jan 19, 2016 · 1 hr 31 min
Designer Notes 15: Nels Anderson
In this episode, Soren interviews Nels Anderson, who was the lead designer of the critically acclaimed Mark of the Ninja and is currently a designer/programmer at Campo Santo working on the upcoming game Firewatch. They discuss how he almost went into law
Dec 21, 2015 · 2 hr 12 min
Designer Notes 14: Mark Herman
In this episode, Bruce Geryk interviews veteran wargame designer Mark Herman, former CEO of Victory Games and best known for pioneering card-driven wargames with We The People. They discuss designing games for less than $100 per week, why he couldn't rele
Nov 13, 2015 · 2 hr 20 min
Designer Notes 13: Jamie Cheng
In this episode, Soren interviews Jamie Cheng, founder of Klei Entertainment which is known for the Shank series, Mark of the Ninja, Don't Starve, and Invisible, Inc. They discuss paying back the Canadian government, why Mark of the Ninja's AI needs to be
Oct 15, 2015 · 2 hr
Designer Notes 12: Davey Wreden
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews indie game developer Davey Wreden, who is best known for his work on The Stanley Parable and The Beginner's Guide. They discuss why he worked as a bartender while making The Stanley Parable, how they fit the "gnaw
Sep 9, 2015 · 1 hr 38 min
Designer Notes 11: Chris Avellone
In this episode, Soren interviews game designer Chris Avellone, who is best known for his work on Fallout 2, Planescape: Torment, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, Fallout: New Vegas, and Wasteland 2. He is currently working at inXile Entertainmen
Aug 5, 2015 · 1 hr 12 min
Designer Notes 10: Nina Freeman
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews indie game developer Nina Freeman, who is best known for her personal vignette games How Do You Do It?, Freshman Year, and the upcoming Cibele. She is currently working at Fullbright as a level designer on the upc
Jun 26, 2015 · 2 hr 3 min
Designer Notes 9: Bruce Shelley
In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Bruce Shelley, who is best known for his work on Railroad Tycoon, Civilization, and the Age of Empires series. He is currently working at Bonus XP on Servo, a new RTS. They discuss what the two Sids
Jun 8, 2015 · 1 hr 45 min
Designer Notes 8: Daniel Benmergui
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews independent game developer Daniel Benmergui, who is best known for experimental story games like Today I Die, I Wish I Were The Moon, and the IGF-winning Storyteller. He is currently working on the Indie Fund-back
May 4, 2015 · 2 hr 55 min
Designer Notes 7: Brad Muir
In this episode, Soren interviews Brad Muir, who is a designer/programmer at Double Fine. He was a programmer on Psychonauts, the lead designer of Brutal Legend, and the project leader on Iron Brigade. Brad is currently leading the development of Massive
Apr 20, 2015 · 1 hr 39 min
Designer Notes 6: Chelsea Howe
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews Chelsea Howe, who is a Creative Director at EA Mobile. She is best known for her work at TinyCo, where she led the design of Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, and for her community efforts organizing the Queerness
Mar 9, 2015 · 2 hr 14 min
Designer Notes 5: Daniel Cook
In this episode, Soren interviews Daniel Cook, who is the Chief Creative Officer at Spry Fox. He is best known for his design work on games such as Triple Town, Realm of the Mad God, and Steambirds as well as for his writing on game design at lostgarden.c
Feb 10, 2015 · 1 hr 36 min
Designer Notes 4: Henrik Fahraeus
In this episode, Soren interviews Henrik Fahraeus, who is a Game Director at Paradox Interactive, where he has worked on the Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, and Hearts of Iron series. Also sitting in on the interview is Jon Shafer, lead designer of Ci
Jan 12, 2015 · 1 hr 41 min
Designer Notes 3: Frank Lantz
In this episode, Soren interviews Frank Lantz, currently Director of the NYU Game Center. Frantz was also the co-founder of Area/Code where he led the design of Drop7. We discuss how to make sure your game gets written up in Boing Boing, why most people w
Dec 11, 2014 · 2 hr 6 min
Designer Notes 2: Rob Pardo - Part 2
Soren is not done with Rob yet! In the second half of the interview, they discuss the MMO that shocked everyone (including Blizzard), how to hire game designers, why they didn't make DOTA2, removing the auction house from Diablo 3, and what might come nex
Oct 30, 2014 · 2 hr 4 min
Designer Notes 1: Rob Pardo - Part 1
Welcome to Designer Notes, a podcast about why we make games, hosted by Soren Johnson of Mohawk Games. In our first episode, Soren sits down with Rob Pardo, formerly the Chief Creative Officer at Blizzard Entertainment, to discuss his game design career,