Decision Space Cooperation, Communication, and Vantage with Jamey Stegmaier
Apr 30, 2025
Jamey Stegmaier, the President/CEO of Stonemaier Games and a board game innovator, shares insights on communication in cooperative games. He delves into the challenges of player dynamics and the phenomenon of 'quarterbacking' that can dominate gameplay. The conversation shifts to his upcoming game, Vantage, focusing on its design mechanics that emphasize limited communication and teamwork. Listeners will enjoy anecdotes highlighting how these dynamics foster deeper connections and enhance the overall gaming experience.
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Episode notes
Power of Limited Communication
- Cooperative games with limited communication avoid quarterbacking and create meaningful player interaction.
- This limited communication allows players to sync mentally and feel understood by others.
Alpha Player Confession
- Pete admits to being an alpha player who guides others to win in co-op games.
- He prefers limited communication games to avoid the urge to over-direct and enhance enjoyment.
Syncing Players through Game Flow
- Feeling in sync through timing and flow is a highlight of cooperative limited communication games like The Mind.
- This connection mimics real-life nonverbal communication and deepens cooperative gameplay experience.
