Episode 26: Jeff Petriello, a game producer at the New York Times and a game design educator at NYU Game Center, shares his unique journey from producing movies to producing games played by millions of people.
Go behind the scenes at the New York Times, learn what it's like to shepherd hits like Wordle, and create games from scratch like Strands.
Working closely with the New Games Squad and the Gameplay Squad, Jeff shares what inspires him, his teaching experiences, and the significant role of games in building social connections.
This episode is filled with valuable insights for aspiring game designers and enthusiasts alike.
Check out Jeff's Social and Resources:
https://www.thebeff.com/
https://www.thepastatarot.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffpetriello/
https://gamecenter.nyu.edu/faculty/jeff-petriello/
https://thebeff.itch.io/self-portrait
https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords
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- (00:00) - Introduction to the Hey, Good Game Podcast
- (01:39) - Jeff Petriello's Journey to Game Production
- (02:43) - Jeff's Current Gaming Favorites and Insights
- (05:44) - The Personal Impact of Games on Jeff's Life
- (10:44) - Transitioning from Philosophy to Game Design
- (24:33) - The Evolution of Teaching Game Design
- (30:32) - Jeff's Path to the New York Times
- (35:35) - The Evolution of NYT Games: From Crosswords to Wordle
- (35:56) - Joining the NYT Games Team and Developing New Hits
- (36:36) - The Creative Process Behind NYT's Newest Game, Strands
- (39:04) - The Art of Puzzle Creation: A Blend of Technology and Creativity
- (40:19) - The Impact of Games on NYT's Subscription Model
- (46:43) - Exploring the Buy vs. Build Strategy in Game Development
- (56:53) - The Personal Journey: Career Advice and Side Hustles
- (01:01:47) - A Tarot Reading to Close: Insights and Reflections
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Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com