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Artwork for Nice Games Club

Nice Games Club - a gamedev podcast!

Lydia, Stephen, and Mark
Game Development
Game Design
Unity
Playtesting
Game Mechanics
Roboston
Video Games
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!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes502Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesVideo GamesLeisure

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Artwork for Nice Games Club

Latest Episodes

How is it April? The episodes have been so long lately it feels like it should be more than two months since the hiatus ended. As a countermeasure, the Nice Hosts have another set of roundtable topics to break up your week and retune the time dilatio... more

All of your regular hosts finally make it into the clubhouse again to present to you a roundtable! After a fairly lengthy meta (it's been a long time y'all, but all interesting stuff!), we expose elements of 3D lighting and discuss an internet meme t... more

WARNING: This episode is even longer than last week's! Settle into the back half of GDC 2026 with tales from your nice hosts about interesting talks, the "new" Festival Hall, what it feels like to be up for multiple major industry awards, running int... more

This year's GDC Special is a big one. So big that this episode is over 2 hours long... and it's only part 1 (but your nice hosts don't know that yet)!

0:15:49

GDC 2026 - Monday

GDC Encounters: Speed Networking Day 1

Game Developer Conference

The... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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"
Mark DeLoura
Executive Director for Innovation and Growth at GDC
Game Developers Conference
Episode: Reinventing GDC (with Mark DeLoura)
Sam Baeseman
Freelance 3D artist and Nice Games Alliance board member
Nice Games Alliance
Episode: Creative Peer Communities (with Sam Baeseman)
Mike Lasch
Game developer known for Hypnospace Outlaw
Episode: Nice Thinking: "Ladder Game"
Steven Schottenfeld
Local teacher at the University of Rochester, author of a novel about an aspiring indie developer.
University of Rochester
Episode: Serious Play Conference 2025
Joseph Amodi
Game maker, creative technologist, theater designer, and public health researcher.
Episode: Serious Play Conference 2025
Valentina Miller
Game designer and production lead working on interactive games for museums.
Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Serious Play Conference 2025
Kyle Mulvey
Technical designer.
Episode: Serious Play Conference 2025
Freya Holmér
Developer of the modeling tool Half Edge
Episode: 3D Workflows for Indie Devs (with Freya Holmér)

Hosts

Lydia Simchich
Host involved in game design and storytelling, promoting creativity and inclusivity in gaming.
Mark LaCroix
Host and game developer contributing to discussions around game design and development.
Stephen McGregor
Host with experience in game development, sharing insights and stories about the industry.
Dale
Co-host discussing various aspects of game development with a focus on collaboration.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 89 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.

Listeners appreciate the positive and inclusive approach to gaming discussions.
The hosts are noted for their entertaining and informative conversations about game development.
Many find the episodes both educational and enjoyable, highlighting the blend of expertise and friendliness.
Fans enjoy the camaraderie among the hosts and their relatable anecdotes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
Norway/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#169
Ukraine/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#176
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
Interests
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?

Discussions center around game development while promoting a positive and inclusive atmosphere within the gaming community. Episodes feature a range of topics such as game design processes, personal anecdotes from the hosts, practical insights into development tools, and the emotional aspects of creating games. There's an emphasis on exploring the intersection of creativity and industry challenges, including legal considerations and community engagement. Unique episodes focus on educational aspects of gaming, like how game jam experiences can foster learning and creativity.

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How many listeners does Nice Games Club get?

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How many subscribers and views does Nice Games Club have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Nice Games Club has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Nice Games Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Nice Games Club:

1. Triple Click
2. Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast
3. Post Games
4. Remap Radio
5. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

How many episodes of Nice Games Club are there?

Nice Games Club launched 9 years ago and published 502 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. Sam Baseman
2. Mark DeLoura
3. Sam Baeseman
4. Mike Lasch
5. Steven Schottenfeld
6. Joseph Amodi
7. Valentina Miller
8. Kyle Mulvey

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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