Wookash Podcast Tim Bekkers | You Should Push These Buttons
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Sep 20, 2025 Tim Bekkers, an indie game developer and the creative mind behind The Button Effect, shares his fascinating journey from building engineering to game design. He discusses the inspiration he drew from modern art and games like The Witness, leading to his minimalist puzzle concept focused on buttons. Tim explains his rigorous prototyping process, where he explores hundreds of designs to balance challenge and enjoyment. He also provides insights into his solo art workflow using Blender and outlines his marketing strategies for reaching wider audiences.
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Museum Visit Sparked The Core Idea
- Tim found the idea for Button Effect at a modern art museum where a LED panel and cables sparked the concept.
- He prototyped a button in Unreal to power panels and later focused solely on buttons as the core mechanic.
Minimal Mechanics Force Visual Learning
- Tim combined his love for puzzle games like The Witness with a desire to challenge his level design skills.
- He used minimal mechanics to force players to observe and learn without text instructions.
Architecture Training Shaped Game Spaces
- Tim applied architecture school exercises to game design by treating rooms as experiential spaces.
- He used ten-week themed projects to learn how to design entrances and mysterious spatial experiences for players.