Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman The Game Designers Workbook with Bobby Lockhart
Oct 16, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Bobby Lockhart, game designer and coauthor of The Game Designer's Workbook, dives into the art of educational game design. He explores the concept that all games teach something, making subject matter engaging with memorable mechanics. Bobby shares insights on successful games like Code Combat and how context enhances learning. He emphasizes the importance of reflection for game designers and advocates for creativity within constraints, encouraging both aspiring and experienced designers to find their unique voice.
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Every Game Teaches Something
- All games teach players something, even if it's only how to play the game.
- Educational design should make the subject itself the core mechanic, not an interruption.
Embed The Subject In The Core Mechanic
- Make the fun part of an educational game the subject you want to teach.
- Avoid
Code Combat Made Coding Tangible
- Bobby worked on Code Combat and related products, letting players type real code and encounter syntax and logic errors.
- The game succeeded by making coding concepts tangible in familiar gameplay contexts.
