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Hey, Good Game

Think Like a Game Designer: Justin Gary on AI, Community, and Creative Iteration

Mar 18, 2025
Justin Gary, CEO of Stoneblade Entertainment and author of 'Think Like a Game Designer,' shares his insights on game design and community building. He discusses how AI can revolutionize the game development process, from brainstorming to prototyping. Gary highlights the deep connections games forge among players and the importance of adding consistent value to communities. He also reveals effective marketing strategies and touches on the parallels between game design and business. Lastly, he gives a sneak peek into upcoming projects and his remote team's diverse culture.
51:28

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Justin Gary emphasizes that AI can significantly enhance each step of the core design loop in game development, from brainstorming to prototyping.
  • Understanding player emotions is crucial in game design, as it helps to create engaging experiences that capture excitement and loyalty.

Deep dives

The Core Design Loop and AI Integration

The framework of the core design loop consists of six key steps: inspiring, framing, brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and iterating. AI significantly enhances each stage of this framework by simplifying and speeding up the process. For instance, AI can generate numerous game design ideas based on specific themes or concepts, aiding inspiration and brainstorming effectively. Furthermore, it facilitates prototyping through tools that enable designers to create quick digital versions of their game concepts using natural language, thereby enhancing overall productivity.

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