Justin Gary

Justin Gary, an award-winning game designer and CEO of Stone Blade Entertainment, shares his journey from Magic: The Gathering champion to thriving entrepreneur. He discusses the transformative power of embracing uncertainty and the importance of teamwork over individualism. Gary also delves into the creative processes behind game design, emphasizing the role of iterative testing and community support in success. His stories highlight the balance between artistic integrity and financial realities in the gaming industry, making for an insightful and engaging conversation.

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.

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. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 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.

Emma and Gil are joined by Justin Gary, a renowned designer of Ascension and Shards of Infinity and former Magic: The Gathering champion. They dive into the unique world of card-based strategy games, discussing the delicate balance of gameplay and the excitement of expansions. Justin shares insights into player dynamics, the challenges of game design, and the joys of community in pursuing passion projects. Amusingly, they even touch on in-game marriage proposals—revealing just how personal gaming experiences can be!