Building Games at the NY Times: Interview With Jeff Petriello

Jun 4, 2024

Game producer Jeff Petriello discusses his journey to the New York Times, the evolution of NYT games like Wordle and Strands, and the significant role of games in building social connections. He also shares insights on teaching game design, transitioning careers, and the creative process behind game development.

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Introduction

00:00 • 5min

Exploring the Speaker's Personal Journey and Emotional Connection with Games

05:03 • 6min

Transition from Creative to Engineering Fields

10:59 • 8min

Exploring Parallels Between Gaming Experiences and the Significance of Play

18:51 • 2min

Exploring Production Challenges Across Different Creative Sectors

20:46 • 15min

Evolution of Games at the New York Times

35:35 • 28min

Exploring the Ace of Loona and Professional Connection Preferences

01:03:08 • 3min

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

(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

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