The Game Design Round Table

Dirk and Kathryn Hymes meet this episode to talk with Anna Anthropy, digital and tabletop designer known for her prolific work with non-traditional themes. They discuss Anna’s career in game design, and her path into becoming an educator. Topics include why violence is an attractive game element, dealing with releasing art and it no longer being one’s own, one page games, and the absence of sex as a theme or topic.

Discussion on differences between mobile and desktop games, brokenness in game design, approaching licensing partnerships, game genealogies, and balancing innovation and familiarity in game design.

Dirk and David are joined by Tanya X. Short, Captain of Kitfox Games. They discuss the balance between appealing to market sensibilities and following one’s own interests, and how to make them work together. They also discuss the difficulty in funding projects with non-normative themes, barriers toward funding indie games, and the unique problems and solutions created while making Loose Leaf.

Emily Short, legendary interactive fiction writer and creative director of Failbetter Games, discusses modeling relationships in games, player psychology and information sharing, and the use of game AI in non-combat experiences.

Dirk and David are joined by Soren Johnson, friend of the show and founder of Mohawk Games. The trio answers questions and design problems from the community, and follow up on recent episodes. Topics include achievements and collectables, the importance of having an art style, when to innovate and when to fall back on convention, and how to integrate community involvement in the design process.

Dirk and David are joined by Jon Ingold, narrative designer and co-founder of Inkle Studios. They discuss Inkle’s newly released video game A Highland Song, centered around exploration, discovery, and engaging the human form within nature. They discuss the mechanics around rewarding and incentivizing players in an exploration game, ways to hide the quantum ogre, and how to utilize elements of randomness within a story-driven experience.

Dirk and David are joined by Chandana Ekanayake, Game Director of Outerloop Games and long-time designer. They discuss Eka’s newly released Thirsty Suitors, a turn-based adventure game centering around culture, relationships, family, and self-expression. They discuss Eka’s career,  Outerloop’s titles, and what makes Thirsty Suitors so special. Topics include designing in VR, designing the game only you can make, the game’s strengths and weaknesses, and working within budget. 

Listener questions are discussed, including player taxonomies, game jams, and creating expansions. The use of AI-generated art in game design and the benefits and limitations of participating in game jams for full releases are explored. The hosts also debate standalone expansions and taking lessons from mainstream gaming for niche genre games. The challenge of attracting mainstream gamers to hobby niche genre gaming is discussed.

Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman, cofounders of Red Hook Studios, discuss their upcoming game Darkest Dungeon 2. They talk about the risks involved in making a sequel, the use and pitfalls of early access, the importance of balancing strategic and moment-to-moment aspects of a game, creating memorable moments and balancing content, and the future of Red Hook Studios and Darkest Dungeon 2.

Nate Austin, co-creator of tactical RPG Wildermyth, discusses the origins of the game and its mechanics. They talk about character-focused storytelling, different styles of game writing, and the balance between market appeal and complex mechanics. They also explore the journey of turning a side project into a full-fledged game, the impact of narrative direction on game design, and the mechanics behind hero transformations. The speakers touch on balancing player feedback, character-driven stories, and provide valuable game design advice.