Hey, Good Game Nate Kadlac, Aaron Kardell, Joseph Rueter

Episode 22: This conversation features a deep and insightful discussion with Frank Lantz, the director of the New York University Game Center and an award-winning game designer. Throughout the interview, Lantz explores the intricate relationship between games, culture, and education, highlighting how games can serve as a potent medium for both artistic expression and intellectual challenge.
Check out Frank's Games and Resources:“The Beauty of Games” - A book by Frank LantzUniversal Paperclips - A game by Frank Lantzhttps://twitter.com/flantzhttps://www.franklantz.net/https://www.franklantz.net/workhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/franklantz/
Resources Mentioned:Balatro - Mentioned as a current favorite game of Frank Lantz.Portal - Highlighted as possibly the funniest and one of the greatest games, with contributions from Eric Wolpaw.Disco Elysium - Cited as an example of excellent narrative in games.Kentucky Route Zero - Mentioned for its narrative focus.The Stanley Parable and The Beginner's GuideGeoGuessr
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(00:00) - Exploring Comedy's Influence in Game Design

(00:31) - Welcome to Hey, Good Game Podcast

(00:54) - Post-Interview Reflections and Takeaways

(02:09) - Deep Dive with Frank Lantz: A Gaming Luminary

(03:36) - The Art and Challenge of Comedy in Games

(05:14) - Navigating the Addictive Nature of Games

(07:40) - Universal Paperclips: Designing for Disengagement

(26:18) - The Role of Narrative and Writing in Games

(31:12) - Games as Social and Cultural Artifacts

(33:53) - Exploring the Social Impact of Gaming

(34:21) - The Art of Taste and Social Connections in Cooking vs. Gaming

(34:39) - The Evolution of Gaming Communities and Cultural Shifts

(36:06) - The Founding and Philosophy of the NYU Game Center

(37:53) - Teaching Game Design as a Creative Discipline

(39:16) - Games as Cultural Forms and Their Deep Connection to Computer Science

(39:49) - The Intricacies of Game Design and Its Historical Significance

(40:51) - Finding Joy and Social Exchange in Sports and Games

(42:30) - Bridging Generational Gaps in Gaming Understanding

(46:47) - The Fascination with Watching Games and eSports

(51:41) - The Intellectual Depth of Bridge and Its Cultural Phenomenon

(57:42) - Envisioning the Future of Games and Their Role in Society

(01:05:28) - The Journey of Games Towards a Richer Cultural Spectrum

(01:06:01) - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find More
--Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.comKakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Episode 21: David Turner created Semantle.com, a unique word-guessing game focusing on semantic relationships. Turner shares insights on his journey from ideation to acquisition, his creative process, and upcoming projects like a graphical adventure game. We also chat about game design challenges, user testing, creativity in game development, and effective marketing strategies.
Check out David's games and links:https://semantle.com/https://twitter.com/SemantleGamehttps://games.novalis.org/https://middlesgame.com/novalis@novalis.org--

(00:00) - Kicking Off with a Creative Idea

(00:16) - Welcome to the Hey, Good Game Podcast

(01:33) - Deep Dive with David Turner: The Mind Behind Semantle

(02:15) - Exploring David's Favorite Games and Creative Hobbies

(04:38) - The Genesis of Semantle: From Concept to Viral Sensation

(05:36) - David's Unique Game Design Process and Programming Journey

(18:13) - Navigating the Complexities of Game Difficulty and Player Engagement

(21:12) - Exploring Game Design and Puzzle Complexity

(21:52) - The Art of Puzzle Testing and Design Insights

(24:28) - Challenges and Strategies in Game Difficulty

(28:38) - Monetization and the Decision to Sell a Game

(31:21) - Creative Process and Future Projects

(33:08) - Advice for Aspiring Game Developers

(39:46) - Launching New Games and Marketing Strategies

(43:07) - Reflections and Future Plans
--Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.comKakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Episode 20: Grant Warman, the creator of Polygonle and Quadragonal word games, discussing the game mechanics, user feedback, collaboration with other games, and plans for future projects.
Check out Grant's games and links:https://polygonle.com/https://quadragonle.com/https://www.reddit.com/r/polygonle/https://discord.gg/https://www.facebook.com/people/Polygonlehttps://twitter.com/PolygonleGame--

(00:00) - Words of Wisdom for New Game Creators

(01:43) - Deep Dive into Polygonle with Grant Warman

(02:42) - The Competitive World of Super Smash Brothers

(06:08) - Exploring the Mechanics of Chess and Smash

(09:59) - The Genesis of Polygonle: From Idea to Game

(12:58) - Mastering Polygonle: Strategies and Game Modes

(15:31) - Evolving Game Design: Feedback and Iterations

(16:46) - Collaboration and Community in Game Development

(18:22) - Monetizing Your Game: Ads and Premium Offerings

(19:06) - Transitioning from Corporate to Game Development

(20:06) - The Genesis of Polygonle and Its Growth

(22:19) - Advice for Aspiring Game Developers

(24:34) - Navigating the Fine Line Between Inspiration and Imitation

(30:38) - Introducing Quadragonle: A New Puzzle Challenge

(34:08) - Engaging with the Gaming Community for Feedback

(36:36) - Behind the Scenes: Game Development Insights

(38:04) - Exploring User Engagement and Game Mechanics

(39:58) - Final Thoughts and Where to Find Grant Online
--Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.comKakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Episode 19: James Robinson runs the ever-popular game, Wafflegame.net. In his first-ever podcast, he shares the history of Waffle, where it is headed, and how it has reached 500,000 daily players.
James discusses the game's design, user feedback, and the human-centric approach to game creation. Themes include his accidental success, and the future plans for Waffle Studio.
Check out James's games and links:https://wafflegame.net https://www.facebook.com/wafflegamehttps://www.threads.net/@thatwafflegamehttps://twitter.com/thatwafflegame--

(00:00) - Opening Remarks and Podcast Introduction

(00:25) - Reflections on Interview with James Robinson

(01:46) - Introducing James Robinson and Waffle Studio

(02:40) - James Robinson's Gaming Favorites and Influences

(03:50) - Early Programming Experiences and Creative Beginnings

(05:59) - The Journey from Hobbyist to Game Developer

(07:45) - Design Philosophy Behind Waffle

(10:59) - Curating Puzzles: The Blend of Algorithm and Creativity

(16:24) - Player Engagement and Feedback Insights

(19:06) - Exploring New Game Ideas and Future Plans

(22:41) - Reflecting on Offers to Sell Waffle and Future Aspirations

(30:26) - Engaging with the Gaming Community and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

(33:03) - Exploring Game Crossovers and Collaborations

(34:40) - The Genesis of Collaborative Projects

(36:24) - The Viral Journey of Waffle: From Launch to Popularity

(42:38) - Navigating Trademarks and Copycats in Game Development

(45:18) - Monetization Strategies and the Shift to Ads

(48:28) - Expanding into Mobile Apps and Future Plans

(54:02) - Building a Game Studio and Community Engagement

(01:00:05) - Advice for Aspiring Game Developers

(01:02:50) - Embracing AI in Game Development
--Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.comKakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Episode 18: Today's episode join me and lets explore the fascinating journey of Minesweeper through an interview with Damien Moore, the visionary behind MinesweeperGame.com. Delve into the origins of Minesweeper, the celebrities who played this game, its evolution, strategic gameplay, online community, and the intricate mathematics that define this beloved game.
Check out Damien's games and links:https://minesweepergame.com/https://minesweepergame.com/forum/--

(00:00) - Introduction to the Hey, Good Game Podcast

(01:43) - Diving Deep into Minesweeper's History and Community

(02:46) - Damien Moore: The Finer Miner's Journey

(04:55) - The Evolution of Minesweeper and Its Competitive Scene

(13:00) - The Technical Side of Competitive Minesweeper

(21:43) - Minesweeper's Cultural Impact and Future Directions

(25:57) - The Evolution of Minesweeper: From Mainframes to Microsoft

(28:45) - A Personal Journey into the World of Minesweeper

(28:59) - Microsoft's Strategic Move with Minesweeper and the Windows Entertainment Pack

(29:45) - The Creative Process and Legal Challenges Behind Minesweeper

(38:24) - The Cultural Impact and Mathematical Intrigue of Minesweeper

(48:09) - The Future of Minesweeper: Archiving History and Embracing Community

(48:51) - The Dream Board Phenomenon and Its Impact on Minesweeper Rankings

(54:14) - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find More on Minesweeper
--Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.comKakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com

Hey, Good Game podcast hosts Nate Kadlac and Aaron Kardell attend the GDC conference in San Francisco for the first time. They share their experiences at the event, interactions with different booths, and their plans for potential future participation.
Check out Hey GG's games and links:https://www.hey.gg/https://lilsnack.co/https://poki.com/https://www.coolmathgames.com/
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(00:00) - Welcome to the Hey, Good Game Podcast!

(00:27) - First Impressions of GDC: Diving into the Deep End

(00:48) - The Vibrant Community and Networking Opportunities

(01:19) - Exploring the Magnitude of GDC and Casual Gaming Conversations

(02:56) - Discovering Niche Interests: Braining Games at GDC

(05:39) - Innovative Game Testing with Poki.com

(08:24) - Highlights from the Show Floor: Epic, Discord, and Retro Gaming

(10:47) - The Growing Influence of GDC and Future Plans

(12:51) - Wrapping Up: Reflections and Looking Ahead
--Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.comKakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com