The Game Design Round Table

Dirk and David are joined this week by Justin Gary, founder of Stone Blade Entertainment and co-designer of Solforge Fusion. They discuss the life, death, and rebirth of Solforge, as well as its unique approach to content generation. Topics include the history of Solforge, how the usage of the Blockchain affects monetization, the community of Solforge, and how the game successfully incorporates procedural generation into its card design.

This week, Dirk and David are joined by Kathryn Hymes, co-owner of Thorny Games and former co-host of the show. Together, they discuss Kathryn’s new game Xenolanguage, a roleplaying game where players take the role of humans tasked with deciphering an alien language. They give their thoughts on designing GMless games, especially focusing on how to facilitate interesting experiences within the rules. Topics include an in-depth look at Xenolanguage’s design, the breadth in experience of GMless games, approaching the business side of GMless games, and what future games may look like in the field of language.  

This episode, Dirk and David are joined by Ellie Dix, owner of The Dark Imp and author of The Board Game Family. They discuss Ellie’s career and path into game design, as well as the intricacies of how she manages to design so many games. Topics include managing small projects, how to choose which designs to focus on, the importance of managing a playtest group, and the worth of games as educational tools.  

Dirk and David dive into the challenges and delights of Ara: History Untold by Oxide Games. They critique the game's marketing and its clunky crafting systems. Expectations and frustrations emerge with game mechanics, resource management, and the complexities of city-building. The discussion highlights underwhelming elements of religion and diplomacy while comparing Ara to the broader Civilization series. They reflect on the innovation potential in the genre and the ongoing battle between player hopes and game realities.

David is at the helm this week, joined by Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan, Mariposas) and Mark Wooton (Legend of the Five Rings, Mariposas). The trio discuss Elizabeth and Mark’s new game Undergrove, a resource management and tile placement game about building a mycelial and arboreal network. Topics include how Undergrove was developed, designing for the mushroom theme, Mark and Elizabeth’s relationship with nature, and how a competitive game can be developed without encouraging antagonistic relationships between players.  

Dirk is joined by Daniel Hand, therapeutic counselor and author of “Role-playing Games in Psychotherapy: A Practitioners Guide”. Together, the pair discusses Daniel’s journey into TTRPGs and his process of introducing them into his practice, and eventually designing his own game for therapeutic purposes. Topics include adjusting crunch, the benefits and difficulties of using games in therapy, what kinds of issues they can help with, and what the future of this treatment modality might look like.

Join digital game designer Jon Shafer, co-founder of the show and veteran of Civilization V, as he dives into the buzz around Civilization VII. He discusses innovative elements like contextual nested menus and the evolution of gameplay mechanics. Jon shares insights on balancing accessibility for new players while keeping deep strategies for veterans. He also highlights the impact of visuals in the gaming landscape, and the unique challenges small developers face, all while maintaining optimism for future innovations in strategy games.

Civilization 7 has been unveiled, sparking excitement with new mechanics and the potential addition of RPG elements. The hosts dive into multiplayer challenges and counterpicking strategies, all while analyzing city mechanics in the new hex-based system. Historical influences on urban planning create a rich backdrop for strategic depth. They also discuss how innovations in trade and diplomacy could redefine gameplay dynamics, leaving fans buzzing about the future of the series.

Dirk is joined this week by Andrew Shouldice, creator of isometric action-exploration game Tunic. They discuss the journey of developing Tunic, and the lessons learned from a lengthy production. Topics include Andrew’s attitude toward storytelling, how to manage a project long-term, how to focus on what’s important, and knowing when you need help.

In this episode, Dirk and David welcome Rob Daviau, known for creating legacy board games. They discuss what Rob has been working on, the process of designing legacy games, staying true to the original, and the future of the company's vision.