Keith Burgun

Game designer Keith Burgun joins the discussion, diving into the nostalgic impact of the Diablo series on gamers. They explore action RPG mechanics, contrasting Diablo with modern titles like Torchlight. The conversation highlights hardcore mode's allure and the tactical challenges of kiting mechanics. Potion farming receives a playful critique, revealing the tension between resource accumulation and strategic depth. They also examine the nature of memorable gaming experiences, reflecting on the addictive qualities that keep players engaged.

In this podcast, Darren Grey, Keith Burgun, and John Harris discuss score systems in Roguelikes. They explore issues with global leaderboards, scoring exploits in NetHack, adaptations from other games, scoring systems in video games, scoring in Crawl, and the concept of scoring systems in games.

David Ploog, former lead designer of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup and a mathematician-turned-game-designer, leads a fascinating discussion about game design philosophy. Alongside fellow experts Keith Burgun and Jeff Lait, they dive into the significance of design documents and the culture of removal in game development. Topics include the challenges of team communication, balancing innovation with tradition, and the delicate interplay between storytelling and replayability. Discover the dynamics of creating unique experiences in roguelikes as they share their insights.