How to Design Obsessive Games by Breaking the Rules
Jul 9, 2024
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Guest Zach Gage, a renowned game designer, discusses creating unique digital puzzles like Good Sudoku and Really Bad Chess. He shares insights into his creative process, challenges in game design, and building Puzzmo.com. Exploring his artistic family background, innovative game examples, and balancing business with creativity.
Innovative game design involves breaking traditional rules for fresh experiences.
Effective tutorialization guides player discovery without revealing all solutions.
Building a game platform around audience preferences fosters community engagement and intellectual challenges.
Deep dives
Zach Gage's Journey into Game Creation and First Game Creation Process
Zach Gage reminisces about his early gaming experiences, starting with creating hand-drawn games and progressing to using programs like Hyper Studio. He highlights his unique approach to game creation, focusing on captivating gameplay elements and innovative design choices.
Innovative Game Design and Tutorialization Approach
Gage discusses his creative process and the rationale behind his game design choices. He emphasizes building games that provide fresh and engaging experiences for players, such as introducing unconventional rules in chess to enhance gameplay. His tutorialization strategy focuses on guiding players effectively through games without revealing all the solutions, promoting player discovery and enjoyment.
Development of Puzmo and Business Strategy
The conversation shifts to the creation of Puzmo, a platform aimed at revolutionizing daily game experiences. Gage explains the strategic shift towards building a games platform centered around crossword puzzles, aligning with the audience's preference for intellectual challenges and interactive gameplay.
Community Building and Distribution Challenges
Gage delves into the complexities of game distribution and community building, highlighting the audience's passive engagement with games and their reliance on recommendations. He discusses the importance of social cues in game discovery and the strategies employed to foster community engagement around games.
Approach to Game Retention and Platform Expansion
Gage shares insights on game retention strategies within the newspaper division, contrasting it with his approach to game development. He emphasizes separating game design from business metrics, allowing for creative freedom and player-centric game experiences. Gage directs the audience towards Mastodon and Puzmo Discord for direct engagement.
Promising Game Recommendation: Flip Art
For a captivating gaming experience, Gage recommends trying out 'Flip Art' on Puzmo. This game embodies his innovative design approach and offers players a unique and creative gameplay experience.
