Game Design Zen

(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 Cows, via three of my heroes: Will Wright, Jonathan Blow, and Ira Glass.

NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

Purple Cow

What about Not Original?

Originality is Hard

The Bubble – New Ideas

The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

(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 full-time job. This episode is the answer – three tips for getting things done.

NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

Focus (3:00)

Quality of Work (7:15)

Habits (19:40)

The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

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.

NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

Breaking My Own Rule (00:35)

Getting onto Steam Greenlight

Overcoming Fear!

Topic – Start With Something Small (05:30)

From A to B, via Z

The Path – Little Steps

The Power of Community

Topic – Set A Hard Deadline (14:20)

Let’s Ride Bikes

From Closet to Bedroom

Zen Moment (21:10)

Success Begets Success

The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

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

Topic – Start Your Business (04:50)

The Legal Stuff

Going Solo

Topic – Money (7:50)

Costs

Cashflow

Write Offs

Topic – Products (15:00)

Makes The Business

Zen Moment (20:00)

The Purple Cow

The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

Will you forget this? It’s a Purple Cow

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 (00:35)

Matt Trobbiani – Creator of HackNet (01:45)

Guests vs Interviews (03:00)

A Connection – Like a New Hire (05:00)

Yes … And (7:00)

A Knife In the Back

No Buts!

Working Together in Everything

Interest Curve (13:45)

Series of Spikes – image below (15:30)

Jesse Schell – Art of Game Design (17:00)

Story (18:00)

“How Come You Never Talk About Story?” (20:20)

Tell To Win – Peter Guber

Question/Challenge

Emotional Struggle

Galvanizing Conclusion (with a Twist)

Zen Moment (26:10)

This means you!

The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

The interest curve – initial spike, rising spikes, and a climax (ending immediately afterwards)