Geoff Engelstein — Game Design Wisdom, Educational Insights, and Industry Advocacy (#68)
Jun 20, 2024
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Award-winning tabletop game designer Geoff Engelstein discusses his journey in game design, psychology's influence on gameplay, and evolving design tools. Topics include passion and perseverance in game design, empowering the next generation of designers, bridging theory and practicality in game design, and creating specific player experiences.
Jeff Engelstein emphasizes the importance of free programming tools for game designers, like Unity and Unreal Engine, promoting creativity with minimal cost barriers.
Jeff Engelstein advocates for professionalizing game design terminology to enhance communication and standardize practices within the industry, fostering collaboration and understanding.
The Tabletop Game Designer Association supports designers by providing resources, contract reviews, and advocacy to address industry challenges and protect designers' rights.
Deep dives
Learning to Program and Designing Computer Games
Starting in high school, Jeff self-taught programming in assembly language using a book with basic computer game listings. Working with a friend, they designed and published computer games for the Apple II, which proved successful. Jeff's early exposure to programming honed his problem-solving skills, leading to a pivotal moment when choosing between a job at Burger King and pursuing a career in game development.
Accessibility of Programming Tools Today
Jeff emphasizes the abundance of free and powerful programming tools available today for aspiring game designers, like Unity, Godot, and Unreal Engine, enabling creativity without significant cost barriers. He highlights the vast resources, tutorials, and intuitive interfaces that make learning programming and game development more accessible, fostering a new era of innovation and game creation across different skill levels.
Teaching Game Design and Critical Analysis
Through initiatives like his Ludology podcast and teaching at NYU, Jeff aims to elevate game design to a critical field of study akin to other disciplines. His focus on fostering a common language and progression in game design education highlights the importance of analyzing and understanding various game mechanics and genres. Jeff's work reflects a commitment to nurturing the next generation of game designers while advancing the academic and practical aspects of game development.
Professionalizing Game Design Terminology and Processes
The podcast features a discussion on the importance of professionalizing game design terminology and processes to enhance communication and standardize practices within the industry. By developing a common language and terms, designers can efficiently convey concepts and improve collaboration. For example, introducing terms like 'progressive turn order' and 'input and output randomness' aids in clarifying design elements and fosters a shared understanding among professionals, mirroring the common terminology used in other fields like programming.
Establishing the Tabletop Game Designer Association
The episode highlights the inception of the Tabletop Game Designer Association, aimed at supporting game designers in navigating industry challenges and ensuring fair treatment. By providing resources, contract reviews, and representing designers in disputes with publishers, the association seeks to empower designers and protect their rights. Through membership tiers offering access to educational materials and advocacy services, designers can benefit from organized support to address common issues such as delayed royalties and contractual discrepancies.
Jeff Engelstein joins us today to share his expansive journey in the gaming world. An award-winning tabletop game designer, Jeff has crafted acclaimed titles such as Space Cadets, The Fog of War, Pit Crew, and Super Skill Pinball. Beyond game design, Jeff is an adjunct professor at the NYU Game Center, where he imparts his deep knowledge of game mechanics and theory. He has contributed extensively to the Dice Tower podcast series on the math, science, and psychology of games and has hosted the Ludology podcast, diving into the intricacies of game design. With a degree in physics and electrical engineering from MIT and leadership roles at companies like Mars International, Mind Bullet Games, and Navar Engelstein Associates, Jeff brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and creative insight to his work. In this episode, Jeff discusses his origin story, the impact of psychology on gameplay, and the evolving tools and techniques that shape game design today. Tune in to uncover the depth of Jeff Engelstein’s expertise and his contributions to the games industry.
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