Game Design w/ Joe Method

Actor Samm Levine and I talk about acting, how he got his break in show business and what kind of movies we like. Before the interview, I talk about my upcoming kickstarter project and how it expands on my fun theory. I also give my opinion on why I think figuring out what “fun” is, is such an important endeavor.Check out Samm on the Kevin Pollak Chat Show! : Kevin Pollak's Chat Show!

Jim Walls is coming out of retirement to design one more game, the spiritual successor to the legendary  Police Quest series. Fellow Sierra alum Robert Lindsley is the executive producer of this game which is currently undergoing funding via Kickstarter. Jim and Robert talk about working at Sierra, how they got their start in the game industry, advice on how to get YOUR start in the industry, and they talk about their latest game Precinct.Support the spiritual successor to Police Quest! : Precinct KickstarterI released a kids book I co-wrote with my brother, check it out! My Fish FartedI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE!

Jonny talks about starting out in the game industry as a game tester, going to school for game art and design, his time working at Machinima and about his new Kickstarter campaign. Before that I give a couple of tips on game development and how to balance slow and fast gameplay as well give tips on building tension versus boring your audience.Check out and support Jonny Rice’s Kickstarter campaign: Lovecraft KickstarterScott Rogers just released a brand new comic, check it out here: Mighty BedbugI released a kids book I co-wrote with my brother, check it out! My Fish FartedI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE!

Lauren and I talk about the creative and development challenges of producing a stage/movie project and how they correlate to video game development. We touch on almost every topic possible from gamification, to creating and finishing ideas to why some people’s careers take off and others’ don’t. It’s a really fun and interesting interview. Before the interview I talk a little about beginner game design decisions and how to make a good design choice. Here is the official site of Lauren Ludwig: Lauren Ludwig's siteHere is the site of the comedy show she regularly directs: Lost Moon RadioI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE!!!!

This entire episode is dedicated to my Fun Theory and where I’m at with it. My Friend Dr. Eric Garcia and I discuss how much engagement is too much, how safety is important in an experience and we try and narrow done what fun is. In a related subject, we also dive into the subject of what happiness is.Here is the official site of the psychotherapist that I referenced in the interview: Richard Carlson's websiteHere is an example of a nice amount of polish/feedback: Marvel VS Capcom 3 polishHere is a android app I released recently, check it out: Jungle Jackpot SlotsI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE!

I talk a little about my updated fun theory and then I interview Rick Bassman who is writing a book about his life and experiences. Rick was the owner of the wrestling school I went to, he was also an NFL agent, movie producer, and lots more. It’s a very inspirational and motivating story about taking risks, and he’s got a Kickstarter out there to help tell it.Check out his Kickstarter page here: Been There, Done That, KickstarterCheck out his website here: Rickbassman.comI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE!

Teamwork! This episode is all about creatively working on a team and how to facilitate said creativity. Awesome interview with Sean Monahan who is the Creative Director at Westside Corporate Creativity and who is an 18 year, veteran improviser. Check out the Westside Corporate Creativity website here: Westside Corporate CreativityFollow them on twitter: WSide Corporate on TwitterI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE! I BEG OF YOU!

I talk about “yes and-ing” during creative development and how it helps facilitate collaboration, I also talk a little bit about the rule of 3 and my theory on why it exists. Then I interview improviser James Heaney about what makes a comedy improv scene fun and how it can relate to video game design.Check out his regular series on Game Front: James VS GamesSubscribe to his youtube channel or else: James Heaney on YoutubeCheck out his latest shows if you’re in the Santa Monica area: Westside Comedy TheaterCheck out the channel of his latest guest, Epic Lloyd (who also performs at the Westside Comedy Theater) who is the co-creator of Epic Rap Battles of History: Epic Rap Battles of HistoryI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE!

I go over a few game design tips I posted on twitter, I also talk about Indie Game the Movie. Then I have an interview with Senior Artist/Industry Veteran, Scott Butler. Scott talks about his experience in the game industry and gives advice on how to get your start as an artist doing art for games.Check out his site here: Scott Butler Site I started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! Donate Here!

In this episode I compile all the advice from various guests on how to get your start in the game industry, including a guest that was never posted before as well as my own advice on how to get your start. Also, the quote I mentioned at the end of the podcast was from James Allen, and I paraphrased it, the actual quote is “We do not attract that which we want, we attract that which we are”. It’s semantics, but this actual quote is better for the point I was making. I started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

David and I talk about the difference between designing table top games and video games. We also talk about our favorite games and give advice on how to get your start in the game industry. Before all that I talk about a game design technique I use that I never talked about before for some reason. Check out EVERYTHING he’s working on here: Sirlin.netI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! Child's Play Charity :)

This episode is mostly a post mortem for a game Wellington and I worked on called Booga Booga! For Facebook. I talk about what worked, what didn’t work and what I learned developing this game. Wellington talks about making all assets from characters and environments to user interface and particle effects.I started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

Jason and I talk about game design techniques and our favorite games. I also go on a rant about how much I love the newest Double Dragon remake. Check out a couple of the games Jason worked on here: XCOM: ENEMY UNKNOWNAnd here: Playstation All Star Battle RoyaleCheck out the New Double Dragon game I was raving about here: Double Dragon NeonI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

Chris and I talk about how he got his start in game development, going to school for game design and we discuss best practices on getting your foot in the door of the industry. This really is the “Making games is not all fun and games” episode, some good reality checks for young students who think they have what it takes to be game developers.I started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

Jesse and I talk about his latest project, Puzzle Clubhouse, which is a crowd design and supported video game development project (launching August 30th). We also talk about favorite games, what a game designer does, and give advice on how to get your foot in the door of the game industry.Check out Puzzle Clubhouse here: Puzzle ClubhouseBuy his book here: The Art of Game DesignCheck out his site for his book, talks, and social media here: Jesse SchellI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! Donate Here!

Technical Designer Ben Vaccaro talks about his role in the game industry and his time working at Machinima. We also talk about our favorite games and give advice on how to get your start in the game industry.I started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

Pro wrestler/stuntman/reality show star/crazy man Leroy Patterson and I talk about the similarities about what makes something fun in a wrestling match and in a video game. We also talk about the dark side of being a game tester. He is currently performing at Freakshow Wrestling, check it out here: Freakshow WrestlingHere is the music video that we were talking about that his stunt crew was in: Against Me! Music VideoHere is his most famous clip seen on G4TV, The Soup, The Tonight Show and others: Roof Slam!Also check out his stunt group here for all his stunt craziness: No Mercy VideoHere is his personal Facebook page, add him! Leroy's FacebookI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast!  DONATE HERE!

I talk to a former student of mine, Robert Fauver. Robert is transitioning from student to peer, so he has a unique view on going to school for game design. We talk about engagement and tension in games, a game designers’ role, and we give advice for new game design students. EDIT: The indie game he was working on is called "VICTIM" not "VINDICTUS".I started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast!  DONATE HERE!

Tom (of Tiny Build Games) and I talk about humor in games, and what it’s like being an indie game developer. Check out his latest game, which is really funny and I highly recommend checking out to see how humor in games is properly done, “No Time to Explain” here: TINY BUILD GAMESI also talk about getting my copy of Swipe This! Definitely worth every penny, check it out here: SWIPE THIS!I started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

I talk to legendary Game Designer, Scott Rogers. We talk about what a game designer does, our favorite games, and give advice on getting your start in the game industry. We also talk about the two books he released on game design, I highly recommend them. Check out Level Up! Here: Level Up! Check out Swipe This! Here: Swipe This!Check out his personal blog here, he gives out really good game design advice as well: Mr. BossIn the beginning of this episode I talk about Dolph Ziggler putting polish on a wrestling move by selling it like crazy and making the other person look good and creating a memory. Here is the video of what I was talking about. Ziggler SellingI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

Sean McNamara and I talk about game development stories, favorite games and tips on getting your start in the game industry. I also talk about engagement strategies for your game. Check out Sean’s latest game here:  Survival Run with Bear GryllsI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

I pontificate about a few engagement tools for video games. Also, I’m a huge geek, so every once in a while I need to geek out and GeekyGlamorous knows all about the latest in Geek culture. We talk about our favorite games, game development, and the Mass Effect 3 ending (SPOILER ALERT). Check out her site GeekyGlamorousI started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity. Donate anything you can give if you feel inclined to do so. I give all donators a shout out on my podcast! DONATE HERE!

Game Designer Calix and I pontificate on the principals of good (and bad) game design and try to answer the question, can you have fun without progression? We also give out tips on how to be a game designer. Also, I just started a firstgiving page for Child’s Play Charity, which you can check out here: Child's Play Charity

I talk about how I write my game design documents and the importance of even having one. Then I interview the founders of indie game developer, Adversary Games. They talk about the pros and cons of going Indie, their favorite game moments and give advice on developing your own indie game.Check out their site here Adversary Games

I interview Senior Artist, Hugo Beyer. We talk about what makes a game fun, how he broke into the game industry as an artist and a little about developing his own indie title in which he did all the 2d/3d/ui art for. Check it out here: Holy Moly Dragons