Make That Game! A Game Design Podcast

Claire and Isaac Caldwell
  • 5.0 (1)
  • LEISURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Come hear pitches for the latest, greatest new video games, that will never be made! Listen as Isaac and Claire share their own vide game ideas (that of course, they will never make), discuss games that they love (and maybe don't), and rapid-fire come up with ideas live on tape! Start anywhere (we recommend after episode 60 or so for the best listening experience). Not only do we design games but we also break down popular games and the designs behind them. Sometimes we ask the big game design questions, like tackling replay-ability, difficulty and other things!

  1. 16H AGO

    143: I'm Just a Guy Burying Bodies

    Welcome to Make That Game, the podcast for indie game developers, design enthusiasts, and creative minds in gaming! This episode's theme is "Renaissance Faire"! Isaac pitches a game about a portal overtaking a RenFaire and Claire's game idea has you dressing up princesses and... jousting!? This week we discuss a quote from Fumito Ueda (game designer of Shadow of the Colossus, Ico). Are game mechanics DEAD!???Each episode of Make That Game includes: - Original game design pitches from our hosts - Breakdowns of popular and indie games we've played or discussion of game design topics - Rapid-fire game creation using three random words Whether you're exploring game mechanics, level design, or just love the chaos of creative brainstorming, this podcast will entertain and hopefully get those juices flowing!03:14 Isaac pitches his ren fair portal rpg 08:39 Claire pitches Barbie Renaissance Festival 12:16 Discussion: are game mechanics DEAD???? 31:03 Rapid fire round! Link to article: https://www.cbr.com/shadow-of-the-colossus-director-game-mechanics-era-over/

    47 min

  2. OCT 7

    142: Four Quarters

    Welcome to Make That Game, the podcast for indie game developers, design enthusiasts, and creative minds in gaming! This episode's theme is "Crate"! Claire pitches a game about building a tower of milk crates, and Isaac asks gamers to get space forklift certified and hunt aliens!Claire honks and bonks Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Watch out for spoilers! Each episode of Make That Game includes: - Original game design pitches from our hosts - Breakdowns of popular and indie games we've played or discussion of game design topics - Rapid-fire game creation using three random words Whether you're exploring game mechanics, level design, AI in gaming, or just love the chaos of creative brainstorming, this podcast is your backstage pass to the world of game development. 01:53 Claire pitches Crate Tower Simulator 06:24 Isaac pitches space crates: forklift certified 11:00 Claire honks and bonks Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! 32:51 Claire Spoils the end of e33! 39:42 (Spoiler Free Zone) Rapid Fire round!

    53 min

  3. SEP 23

    141: That's Not My Grandma!

    Welcome to Make That Game, the podcast for indie game developers, design enthusiasts, and creative minds in gaming! In this episode, themed around "Wire", Isaac pitches a thrilling tightrope-balancing platformer, while Claire imagines a quirky mobile game powered by potato energy. We also launch a brand-new segment: "Guess That Game Term!"—where Claire takes on a rapid quiz of common game development jargon. Will she know them or hilariously guess her way through? Each episode of Make That Game includes: Original game design pitches from our hostsBreakdowns of popular and indie games we've played or discussion of game design topicsRapid-fire game creation using three random wordsWhether you're exploring game mechanics, level design, AI in gaming, or just love the chaos of creative brainstorming, this podcast is your backstage pass to the world of game development. 01:14 Isaac shares his tightrope platformer 05:05 Claire pitches her potato mobile game 15:40 Isaac and Claire present a new segment! 41:36 Rapid Fire Round!

    58 min

  4. SEP 16

    140: Santasfactory

    Read the controversial Nintendo Patent here! https://archive.org/details/12403397/page/n40/mode/1up Welcome to Make That Game, the video game design podcast where wild ideas bloom! In this week’s episode, we explore the theme “Flower.” Isaac pitches an eco-samurai game where petals fight blight, and Claire reimagines the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast as a gameplay mechanic. In our discussion we dive into the controversial Nintendo gameplay patent making waves in the dev community. Each episode features original game pitches, design breakdowns of games we've played, and a rapid-fire round where we invent a game using three random words. If you're into game development, indie creativity, and design theory with a dash of chaos, you’ve found your next favorite podcast! 02:35 Isaac pitches his floral sword-fighting game 07:29 Claire pitches beauty and beast 14:26 We discussed the Nintendo Patent! 32:19 Rapid Fire Round!

    47 min

  5. SEP 9

    139: Survival Time!

    This week's game idea pitch theme is: "Paint"! Claire imagines a game where you mix magical pigments while you paint for a patron and Isaac spends a lot of time describing drawing "under" rather than "over" with his Real Time Strategy game idea. Then Isaac RANTS about the new edition of The Horus Heresy, a tabletop wargame. Trust me, he brings it around to general game design... eventually. He really gets there! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. To close out the show we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot! If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you! 01:15 Claire pitches her paint water potion game 06:51 Isaac pitches a painting RTS 14:32 Isaac discusses The Horus Heresy! 35:49 Rapid fire round!

    53 min

  6. AUG 26

    138: Learn 'em Up Kids: Behind the Lens

    This week's game idea pitch theme is: "Telephone"! Claire imagines a game where you investigate the mysteries of a haunted telephone museum and Isaac rips off War of the Worlds (2025). The movie! With Ice Cube! Then Claire talks about the most recent game she finished, Nancy Drew, Midnight in Salem! How does it stack up to the Curse of Blackmoor Manor? This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. To close out the show we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot! If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you! 02:34 Claire pitches Haunted Telephone Museum 09:03 Isaac pitches his War of the Worlds spinoff 19:18 Claire discusses Nancy Drew, Midnight in Salem 40:40 Rapid fire round!

    55 min

  7. AUG 12

    137: Jellicles: The Heaviside Layer

    This week's game idea pitch theme is: "Ball"! Claire gives us an idea for a rogue-lite long-term multi-masquerade mystery mission! Isaac pitches what might be the best idea he'll ever have: Footfootballball! What is that? You'll just have to listen to find out! Then Isaac and Claire discuss: EDUTAINMENT games! Did Oregon Trail have important lessons to teach? Can cartoon kids teach you chemistry? Find out! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. To close out the show we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot! If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you! 01:02 Claire pitches a game unrelated to Jacob Elordi 10:07 Isaac pitches - no wait kicks? his sports game 14:30 Claire and Isaac discuss edutainment and propaganda! 37:24 Rapid Fire Round!

    52 min

  8. AUG 5

    136: Learn 'em Up Kids Jr! Everyone's Got a Job

    This week's game idea pitch theme is: "Well"! Isaac rips off Helldivers (Helldivers 2, specifically) with a fantasy themed "co-op horde shooter" (I think that's what he called it) and Claire comes up with a city builder! Then Claire dives deep into Blue Prince! This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. To close out the show we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot! If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you! 00:49 Isaac Pitches Well Divers 2 07:04 Claire pitches, well, a city builder 10:28 Discussion: Blue Prince Design Breakdown 37:20 Rapid Fire Round!

    56 min
See All (151)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

About

Come hear pitches for the latest, greatest new video games, that will never be made! Listen as Isaac and Claire share their own vide game ideas (that of course, they will never make), discuss games that they love (and maybe don't), and rapid-fire come up with ideas live on tape! Start anywhere (we recommend after episode 60 or so for the best listening experience). Not only do we design games but we also break down popular games and the designs behind them. Sometimes we ask the big game design questions, like tackling replay-ability, difficulty and other things!

Information