Wookash Podcast Patrick Traynor | The Hidden Structure of Puzzles
Oct 4, 2025
Patrick Traynor, an innovative independent game developer, shares his journey from creating fan games to developing acclaimed puzzles like Parabox. He discusses the importance of crafting small games to enhance skills and streamline iteration. Traynor dives into the creative depth of classic puzzles like Sokoban and offers insights into designing effective puzzles, emphasizing accessibility and player experience. His collaborative project 'I Want to Try a Collab' showcases community creativity, while he reflects on balancing gameplay structure and artistic clarity.
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Programmer-First Craftsman
- Patrick describes himself as primarily a programmer and crafts person rather than a designer.
- He values making many small games to learn prioritization and iteration skills.
Community Templates Accelerated Learning
- Patrick explains how I Wanna Be The Guy fan games used shared GameMaker project files with example objects and rooms.
- That community template lowered the barrier to entry and encouraged rapid creation and learning.
Pick Tools That Match Your Goal
- Pick the right tool for the job: use high-constraint engines like PuzzleScript for fast results and prototyping.
- Keep a diverse toolbox so you can choose tools that match project constraints and goals.