Hey, Good Game

David Workman, aka "Half-Baked Lunatic," is a Microsoft veteran turned puzzle setter who crafts incredibly challenging Sudoku puzzles. He shares his fascinating journey, from inventing TiVo's core technology, which got lost in corporate red tape, to creating a gambling simulation that showcases why casinos always win. David humorously explains the paradox of puzzle creation versus solving and recounts the highs and lows of licensing—like nearly spending millions over a cockroach photo. His expertise has captivated audiences, earning him a spot among elite puzzlers.

In this episode, we talk with Jason Todd—aka Timberlake—the faceless creator behind the YouTube channel Smart Hobbies. Jason shares how he turned Sudoku from a personal pastime into a thriving YouTube channel with over 900K views on a single video. We dive into the strategy behind his growth, why he stays off-camera, how he connects with an older audience, and the surprising power of Sudoku games in a fast-paced creator economy.Check out Timberlake's Resources:https://www.youtube.com/@SmartHobbieshttps://buymeacoffee.com/timberlakebhttps://www.instagram.com/timberlakesmarthobbiesGames Mentioned:Sudoku - Timberlake's favorite game to playWingspanScrabbleChess--(00:00) - Introduction and Top Videos Overview (00:20) - Welcome to the Hey, Good Game Podcast (01:12) - Meet Jason Todd, AKA Timberlake (01:51) - Jason's Favorite Games (02:22) - The Birth of Smart Hobbies (04:04) - The Faceless Channel Strategy (06:25) - Jason's Background and Career (08:33) - The Journey to YouTube Success (10:35) - Content Creation and Audience Engagement (23:44) - Revenue Streams and Future Plans (29:30) - Balancing Work and Personal Life (29:49) - Overcoming Regret and Embracing Routine (30:18) - Collaborating in the Sudoku Community (33:35) - Growing Your YouTube Channel (34:14) - Choosing the Right Platform for Courses (39:15) - Understanding Your Audience (41:51) - The Importance of Quality Content (45:36) - Exploring the Benefits of Sudoku (52:07) - Future of Sudoku and Community Building (54:55) - Connecting with Timberlake --Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Kevin Glikmann is an accomplished actor and game creator, renowned for voicing Seth Breyers in Red Dead Redemption and developing the unique word game WordGlyph. He discusses his journey from childhood inventing to game development, blending coding with creativity. Kevin reveals the challenges of creating an unconventional game and shares how he used AI to streamline the coding process without sacrificing artistry. He also reflects on the challenges of marketing WordGlyph and the emotional vulnerabilities faced in both acting and game design. A delightful mix of inspiration and experience!

Samuel Johnston, co-founder of Bleppo and co-creator of Word Salad, joins us to share how a daily word game turned into a viral hit with over 50 million views. We talk about designing for TikTok, teaching new users game mechanics, building games that are fun (not addictive), and what it’s like growing a studio by betting on the right kind of sharing.Check out Samuel's Resources:https://bleppo.co.uk/https://wordsalad.onlinehttps://numbersalad.com/https://steks.net/Game MentionsMorrowindRimWorldDiablo IIDay of the TentacleRed AlertNYT StrandsNYT Connections--(00:29) - Meet Samuel Johnston: Founder of Bleppo (01:14) - Samuel's Favorite Games (02:07) - Nostalgic Gaming Moments (04:12) - Creating Non-Addictive Games (07:48) - The Birth of Bleppo (10:12) - Developing Word Salad (11:52) - The Art of Cryptic Crosswords (14:50) - Setting Puzzles: A Creative Process (23:34) - Reaching the First Thousand Players (24:21) - Challenges in Marketing and Monetization (24:48) - Pivoting to a New Strategy (25:07) - Leveraging Social Media for Growth (26:58) - Collaborating with Small Content Creators (27:31) - Unexpected Success Stories (36:12) - Refining the Onboarding Process (45:31) - Future Plans and Reflections --Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

David Steinberg went from submitting crosswords to the New York Times at age 12 to becoming the editorial manager at Andrews McMeel. In this episode, he shares how puzzles captured his imagination, what makes a great daily game, and why accessibility, surprise, and player-first design are key to long-term success. We also dive into how AI, onboarding, and syndication are shaping the future of games for indie developers and solvers alike.Check out David's Resources:https://syndication.andrewsmcmeel.com/puzzles/category/puzzleshttps://www.gocomics.comFind David Online:http://www.customcrossword.comhttps://www.xwordinfo.com/Thumbs/?author=David+Steinberg60 Seconds With David SteinbergGame Mentionshttps://beekeeperlabs.com/crossfire/https://www.playbalatro.com/https://store.steampowered.com/app/2400510/Dungeons__Degenerate_Gamblers/https://playthebazaar.com/https://imsqueezy.com/https://crosswordfiend.com/--(00:59) - David's Favorite Game Right Now (02:13) - Discovering Crosswords and Early Inspirations (03:54) - First Attempts and Early Rejections (04:46) - Getting Published and Shifting Focus (06:27) - The Appeal and Evolution of Crosswords (09:14) - Creating Crosswords: Tools and Tips (12:56) - Solving Strategies and Tournament Insights (14:58) - Crossword Tournaments and Competitions (18:49) - The Future of Crosswords and Puzzle Games (21:49) - Easy Mode for Friday Crosswords (22:03) - Evolution of Puzzle Creation (23:20) - Criteria for Syndicating Puzzles (25:12) - Measuring Puzzle Success (27:23) - Surprising Aspects of Syndication (28:28) - Trends in the Puzzle and Gaming Industry (33:04) - Merging Comics and Puzzles (35:42) - AI in Puzzle Creation (37:29) - Onboarding Players in Puzzle Games --Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Jeff Doka, the creative director and co-founder of World Seekers, brings a wealth of experience in tech and narrative writing. He dives into the fascinating interplay between AI and game design, sharing insights on its advantages and challenges. Doka emphasizes designing games that promote mental and physical well-being, discussing his innovative GPS-based game. The conversation highlights storytelling techniques, community feedback, and the importance of collaboration in game development, while also addressing the balance between AI assistance and human creativity.

Elyot Grant, CEO and Game Director at Lunar Studios. Elyot shares his prolific journey from academia to game development, highlighting his expertise in creating engaging puzzles and successful indie games like Prisma. He discusses his favorite classic games, including Tetris and StarCraft, and provides deep insights into the intricacies of game design and puzzle creation. Elyot also recounts compelling stories about their Kickstarter campaign for Prisma and using Reddit to build an early audience. Additionally, he sheds light on the making and scaling of 'Islands of Insight,' a puzzle game known for its vast number of handcrafted puzzles, emphasizing the blend of artistry and algorithmic generation in game design. This episode is filled with valuable tips for indie developers and puzzle enthusiasts alike.Check out Elyot's Resources:http://lunarchstudios.com/https://user-74792.artstation.com/Socials:http://twitter.com/lunarchstudioshttps://www.facebook.com/Prismata/https://www.youtube.com/lunarchstudios--(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (02:17) - Elyot Grant's Gaming Preferences (04:41) - Deep Dive into Tetris (16:09) - Challenges and Weaknesses in Gaming (19:43) - Kickstarter and Game Development Journey (30:58) - Building a Community at Expos (31:55) - Building a Community Around a Game (32:49) - Challenges of Collecting Emails at Conventions (35:28) - The Reddit Story: Turning a Failure into Success (42:09) - Kickstarter Campaign: Seizing the Momentum (45:49) - Islands of Insight: Crafting 10,000 Handcrafted Puzzles (53:56) - The Value of Handmade Puzzles vs. Generated Puzzles (01:00:04) - Conclusion and Future Projects --Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Gabriel Stürmer, CEO of Clap Clap Games, transitioned from e-commerce at Dell to the gaming world after being fired from Cupcake Entertainment. He shares his riveting journey of self-educating game development and launching successful games like 'Submarine Jump' and 'Snow Patrol.' Gabriel discusses the intricacies of game testing and the evolution of hyper-casual games, emphasizing the importance of player retention in a competitive landscape. He also sheds light on the dynamics of running a small team and the challenges of resource limitations in mobile game development.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of video game music composition with John Robert Matz, the talented composer behind scores for games like For the King, Tchia, and Gunpoint. John Robert shares his journey from classically trained musician to award-winning game composer, offering insights into his creative process and how he approaches each unique project.John Robert discusses how he creates authentic musical experiences by incorporating period-appropriate instruments and techniques, from medieval fantasy scores to French Revolution-era compositions. He explains the importance of bringing composers into game development early, revealing how music can shape and enhance the player experience beyond just background ambiance.With his studio filled with dozens of instruments he plays himself—from French horns and trumpets to ukuleles and medieval wind instruments—John Robert demonstrates his commitment to incorporating live performances in his work. Whether discussing his research into New Caledonian music for Tchia or explaining how UI sounds interact with background scores, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the art and craft of creating memorable gaming soundscapes.Check out John's Resources:http://johnrobertmatz.bandcamp.com/https://johnrobertmatz.com/index.htmlhttps://soundcloud.com/John-Robert-MatzSocials:https://x.com/JohnRobertMatzhttps://www.youtube.com/viper50bmghttps://www.instagram.com/johnrobertmatz/https://www.facebook.com/JohnRobertMatz/https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-robert-matz-a40b8a60/--(00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest (01:07) - John's Favorite Games (03:05) - The Composer's Perspective on Game Music (05:50) - John's Studio Setup and Instrument Collection (09:24) - John's Musical Journey and Career Path (15:05) - Approach to Game Music Composition (18:39) - Budget Considerations in Game Music (23:05) - The Role of Music in Indie Games (25:49) - Enhancing Player Immersion with Music and Sound Design (26:11) - UI Sound Design and Its Challenges (30:12) - Inspiration from Fellow Composers (33:32) - Exploring Historical Music for Modern Compositions (42:23) - Creating Authentic Soundscapes for Video Games (47:11) - Common Misconceptions About Hiring Composers (51:16) - Current and Upcoming Projects (52:29) - Where to Find More About John Robert Matz --Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Áron Csatlós, a Hungarian software engineer and creator of the cryptography puzzle game DeCodex, shares his journey from Nokia to indie game development. He discusses his inspirations for DeCodex and the importance of building in public to engage players. Áron delves into his innovative project Ground Kids, a tool that combines fitness and gaming for children. He highlights effective marketing strategies and the rise of community collaboration in indie games. Áron also reflects on the gaming culture in Hungary and his exciting future projects.