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Nice Games Club - a gamedev podcast!

Lydia, Stephen, and Mark
Game Development
Game Design
Unity
Video Games
Playtesting
Game Mechanics
Roboston
Scoring Systems
Creativity
Tabletop Games
Optimization
Dragon's Dogma 2
Indie Game Development
Digital Escape Rooms
Video Game Development
Ladder Game
Theming
Aesthetics
Future Club
Game Developers Conference

The podcast where nice gamedevs talk gaming and game development. Nice!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes514Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesVideo GamesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Nice Games Club

Latest Episodes

In this episode Mark talks about an awesome Game Jam he is planning in association with Global Game Jam - Listeners in the Midwest or the UK (or have the ability to get there) can make a game on a train in Junction Jam.

Mark rants about his new apar... more

In this week's episode, the Nice Hosts want to make this year's IDGATC summer picnic the very best, like no picnic ever was. Lydia brings to the table a game that relies on knowing nothing about Pokémon, Mark accuses her of knowing too much about Pok... more

In addition to the topics of this episode, we also revisit Lydia's bachelorette party game made in a previous episode! Listen to find out how it went, as well as the fascinating conversations your hosts talk through.

We talked through Lydia's bachel... more

This week's guest has good advice, harsh truths, hard numbers, and a big smile. Amir Satvat, tireless advocate and resource-provider for game developers looking for work via his organization ASGC (Always Supporting the Games Community), enters the cl... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Amir Satvat
Founder of ASGC, Always Supporting the Game Community
ASGC
Episode: The Job Market (with Amir Satvat)
Kris Roberts
Game designer and vehicle specialist
Independent contractor
Episode: Vehicle Design (with Kris Roberts)
Sam Liberty
Applied Game Design Consultant and Gamification Expert
Engagement Lab, Emerson College; Sidekick Health
Episode: Dark Patterns (with Sam Liberty)
Yuri Lowenthal
Prolific actor of film, television, and games
Episode: Working with Voice Actors (with Yuri Lowenthal)
Andrew Plotkin
Writer and designer of interactive fiction
Independent / Interactive Fiction Community
Episode: "Look who's old now!" Exhibiting Your Game; Design Investigations
August Brown
Platform producer at iRacing
iRacing
Episode: Healthy Criticism (with August Brown)
Sam Baseman
jammer and board member IGDA Twin Cities / Nice Games Alliance
Jam a Jam, IGDA Twin Cities, Nice Games Alliance
Episode: Nice Games Jam: "Evil Games Jam 2: Cat Comms"
Freya Holmér
Developer of Half Edge, a 3D modeling tool for indie developers
Half Edge
Episode: 3D Workflows for Indie Devs (with Freya Holmér) [Nice Replay]
Mark DeLoura
Executive Director for Innovation and Growth at GDC
Game Developers Conference
Episode: Reinventing GDC (with Mark DeLoura)

Hosts

Lydia Simcich
Co-host focused on learning games and game development with a strong community focus.
Steve McGregor
Host with a broad perspective on game development and industry dynamics.
Mark LeCroy
Co-host with industry experience and leadership in community-based projects.
Stephen McGregor
Host/Co-host with emphasis on accessible, friendly discourse and design topics.
Arthur Croy
Guest/Co-host with background in game development and community-focused topics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 90 ratings
  • positive, inclusive, helpful

    and a joy to have on the car speakers

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    multivoxmuse
    United States3 years ago
  • A podcast for everyone

    Great insight into game development on a deeper level than most developers podcasts. Lots of real and action advice for all skill levels

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LeftistTechBro
    United States4 years ago
  • 10/10 recommend!

    I made it through the first half of one episode before I realized I was hooked. Halfway through the catalogue and I gotta say, this is one of the best. If you like game development, you should most definitely check this out!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KnightRune8388
    United States4 years ago
  • Thoughtful Game Design

    Taking on well designed games from a games dev perspective, Nice Game Clubs digs deeper than most.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MatWBT
    United States4 years ago
  • Ellen is the best.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Ludonaut
    4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging hosts with practical game-dev insights.
Great hosts who balance critique with kindness and humor.
Guests bring strong expertise and real-world experience.
Deep dives into topics beyond surface-level game dev talk.
The show feels welcoming to newcomers while still being valuable for seasoned developers.
Strong emphasis on culture and collaboration in the industry.
Solid production quality and thoughtful pacing.
High-quality conversations and actionable tips for makers.
Inclusive, friendly vibe with deep craft discussions.
Consistently positive and community-oriented feedback.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#168
Spain/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#173
Finland/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#192
Norway/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#204
Israel/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#246
China/Leisure/Video Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reinventing GDC (with Mark DeLoura) [Nice Replay]
Q: What motivated the change to a Festival of Gaming concept and the renaming of GDC?
The goal was to signal a real shift toward a more integrated, festival-like experience that better serves a diverse community of developers by combining talks, shows, and networking in a cohesive, accessible way.
"I saw a Beatle." Being Honest With Your Work; The Critical Eye
Q: How do you trust that there will be a next time?
It's natural to worry about that in a specific situation, but you probably don't have to worry about it too much. Sometimes when a project doesn't go well, it feels like you've lost your chance to create again, but that's not always true.
Serious Play Conference 2025
Q: What is a game that has made a difference in your life and why?
Probably Spyro the Dragon when I was four or five. It was the first video game I had beat, and that inspired me to become a game developer.
Serious Play Conference 2025
Q: What is something that you've learned this week at the conference?
I have learned the breadth of the different ways that people are using narrative and role playing based games to communicate health topics.
Video Game IP Law (with Haley MacLeon)
Q: What are the sorts of areas that you cover and what confuses people?
MacLean highlights the confusion between different forms of IP, specifically copyright, trademark, and patents, and how developers often misunderstand their rights.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Nice Games Club

What is Nice Games Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, practitioner-focused show where three kind, knowledgeable hosts explore game development from hands-on perspectives. Episodes span voice acting, interactive fiction communities, design investigations, healthy critique, character through mechanics, lighting, and conference culture, often featuring guests with deep industry or craft expertise. The tone is collaborative, optimistic, and community-minded, with lots of practical tips for makers and a strong emphasis on inclusivity and mentorship. Notable strengths include in-depth discussions that balance technical craft with process and culture, plus a recurring focus on building supportive dev communities and accessible entry points for newcomers. Potential listeners who want act... more

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How many subscribers and views does Nice Games Club have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Nice Games Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Nice Games Club:

1. My Brother, My Brother And Me
2. Post Games
3. Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast
4. Noclip Crewcast
5. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

How many episodes of Nice Games Club are there?

Nice Games Club launched 10 years ago and published 514 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Nice Games Club?

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What guests have appeared on Nice Games Club?

Recent guests on Nice Games Club include:

1. Amir Satvat
2. Kris Roberts
3. Sam Liberty
4. Yuri Lowenthal
5. Andrew Plotkin
6. August Brown
7. Sam Baseman
8. Freya Holmér

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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