Justin Gary, award-winning designer, discusses his journey from Magic: The Gathering champion to game designer. Topics include the competitive world of Magic, the importance of teamwork and resilience, choosing the right career path, the art of prototyping, pricing strategies, and the benefits of giving autonomy to others.

Soren Johnson is a legend in the gaming industry. He was one of the designers on Civilization III and the lead designer for Civilization IV at Firaxis Games. He co-founded his own company called Mohawk Games. As the studio’s founder and lead designer, he aimed to create strategy games emphasizing player agency, complexity, and meaningful decision-making. We discuss 4x game design, player interaction, and how modding affects the digital gaming world. The two of us had so much fun discussing games that the episode needed to be broken into two parts. So, enjoy part one of Think Like A Game Designer with Soren Johnson. Get full access to Think Like A Game Designer at justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe

In this engaging discussion, Justin Gary, co-founder of the innovative crypto card game Sol Forge Fusion and a former U.S. National Champion in Magic: The Gathering, shares his insights into the future of gaming. He dives into the blending of traditional gameplay with Web3 technology, emphasizing player empowerment and community engagement. Justin also explores the unique economics of the SFG token and the evolution of game mechanics, along with the challenges and strategies for maintaining community involvement amid changing crypto landscapes.