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Artwork for Think Like A Game Designer

Think Like A Game Designer

Justin Gary
Game Design
Slay the Spire
Game Development
Playtesting
Mega Crit Studios
Game Monetization
Soulforge Fusion
Community Engagement
Creativity
Storytelling
Burnout
Philosophy
Arcane
League Of Legends
Fiasco
Microscope
Oshie Push
Thousand Year Old Vampire
Creative Resistance
Guitar Hero

In Think Like a Game Designer, award-winning designer and Stone Blade Entertainment CEO Justin Gary speaks with world-class game designers and creative experts from various industries. Each episode deconstructs the creative process, offering insights into the art of game design and the broader cultural, technological, and business influences shaping a myriad of creative mediums. Join us for action... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes105Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureArtsDesign

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Artwork for Think Like A Game Designer

Latest Episodes

About Vlaada

Vlaada Chvátil is one of the most influential game designers of the modern era. As the creative force behind classics like Through the Ages, Codenames, and Galaxy Trucker, and a co-founder of Czech Games Edition (CGE), he’s built a care... more

About Carly

Carly McGinnis is the driving force behind one of the fastest-growing tabletop companies in history. As CEO of Exploding Kittens, she’s helped lead the company to over 25 million games sold and dozens of successful launches, all while ke... more

About Kyle

Kyle Thiermann is a professional big-wave surfer, journalist, and creative director whose career bridges storytelling, advertising, and adventure. He’s written for Men’s Health, Surfer, and Outside Magazine, and helped shape campaigns for... more

Touko Tahkokallio is one of the rare designers who has mastered both tabletop and digital worlds. Starting out as a theoretical physicist, Touko shifted careers to follow his passion for play. First by designing acclaimed board games like Eclipse, th... more

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Recent Guests

Vlaada Chvátil
Acclaimed board and video game designer, known for games such as Codenames and Through the Ages.
Czech Games Edition
Episode: Vlaada Chvátil — Designing for Joy, Building Great Games, and Letting Quality Do the Marketing (#97)
Kyle Thiermann
Professional big wave surfer, journalist, and creative director
Author and copywriter for brands like Patagonia and Yeti
Episode: Kyle Thiermann — Deadlines, Mentors, Curiosity, and the Craft of Connection (#95)
Touko Tahkokallio
Self-proclaimed Finnish game designer, professional video game developer, and theoretical physicist.
Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at Stellar Core
Episode: Touko Tahkokallio — Curiosity, Physics, and the Power of Mental Playtesting (#94)
Jordan Weisman
Creator of Battletech and Shadowrun, and founder of WizKids
Episode: Jordan Weisman — From Battletech to Shadowrun: The Power of Curiosity and Collaboration (#93)
Jonathan Grant
Creative director at Zynga, founder of Orbital Games, and co-host of the podcast We Thought It Would Be Easy.
Zynga
Episode: Jonathan Grant — Critics, Experiments, Secrets, and the Business of Play (#92)
Elan Lee
Co-founder of Exploding Kittens and veteran game designer
Exploding Kittens
Episode: Elan Lee — Building Exploding Kittens, Marketing as Design, Retail Pitches, and Playing to Sell (#91)
Tim Ferriss
Author, podcaster, and game designer
Tim Ferriss Show
Episode: Tim Ferriss — Designing Coyote, Playing to Learn, Publishing Truths, and Saying "No" (#89)
Cole Wehrle
Creative Director at Leder Games, known for his work on Root and Oath
Leder Games
Episode: Cole Wehrle — Cute Creatures, Brutal Games, Asymmetric Design, and Subverting Expectations (#88)
Amy Lowe
Marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience helping brands connect with audiences.
Game Manufacturers Association
Episode: Amy Lowe — Finding Your X Factor, Marketing with Heart, and Serving the Right Players (#87)

Host

Justin Gary
Host of "Think Like A Game Designer" and CEO of Stone Blade Entertainment. An award-winning game designer with a passion for promoting creativity and innovation within the gaming industry.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 244 ratings
  • Tim Ferris for the boardgame industry

    Justin thoughts and comments alone are worth listening but when you pair him with game industry titans, you get a fascinating conversation, always. Inspiring, thoughts provoking, I always walk away with something to think about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LafayetteSB
    United States7 months ago
  • Awesome

    I’m now sure if this review gets attached to the episode or the show but either way. There are few podcast series that I have joined 40 episodes in and felt compelled to listen to every episode of the back catalogue. I love how Justin thinks, presents topics and engages with his guests. This episode was stand out though. As a game design nerd it’s great to listen to some next level ideas on the ways games and play can be viewed in the context of society and the individual. Great stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Henna.bob
    Australia2 years ago
  • Justin does a great job, amazing guests, really great insight, and a joy to listen to. If you are a game designer this is a must listen.

    Podchaser
    5
    George
    2 years ago
  • Inspiring!!

    Thank You, Justin Gary, for making this available to the public! This information is so valuable and important to any level of game designer, whether first year or fifteenth. I cannot recommend it enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    East Atlanta Game Lab
    United States3 years ago
  • 3 episodes in and they've all been really great! Insightful and a different take than other game design podcasts.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Rizz
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the inspiring and insightful conversations, often leaving feeling motivated and equipped with practical advice.
Some feedback mentions occasional self-referencing from the host, but overall, the insights shared are viewed as high-quality and enriching for those interested in game design.
The host's ability to bring out unique perspectives from guests is frequently noted as a highlight, making the show engaging and valuable.
Audiences value the blend of personal storytelling with professional insights, likening it to a masterclass in creativity and game design.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#106
Colombia/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Vlaada Chvátil — Designing for Joy, Building Great Games, and Letting Quality Do the Marketing (#97)
Q: What do you find to be the most effective tools to promote your games?
Making the game great is the most effective way; our games often grow in popularity over the years, focusing on development and honesty with our audience.
Vlaada Chvátil — Designing for Joy, Building Great Games, and Letting Quality Do the Marketing (#97)
Q: How do you pick projects or create games?
My passion for games drives me; I need to have a good idea of how the game will be played and what will be enjoyable for players before I start working on it.
Carly McGinnis — Startup Scrappiness, Trusting Your Team, and the Rhythm of Leadership (#96)
Q: What advice would you have for someone that might be just starting?
Focus on one thing that you're passionate about, play test it, and learn as much as you can along the way.
Carly McGinnis — Startup Scrappiness, Trusting Your Team, and the Rhythm of Leadership (#96)
Q: What got you into this field?
Carly McGinnis shares that she started in Hollywood, working as an assistant and learned resilience and resourcefulness, ultimately leading her to the gaming industry.
Tim Ferriss — Designing Coyote, Playing to Learn, Publishing Truths, and Saying "No" (#89)
Q: What is the significance of the cooperative vs. competitive mode in games?
Tim believes that cooperative modes allow players to bond while competitive modes can be entertaining if managed correctly.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Think Like A Game Designer

What is Think Like A Game Designer about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on the journey and experiences of various game designers and creative professionals, highlighting their insights into game design and broader cultural topics. Listeners can expect in-depth discussions around themes such as creativity, resilience, leadership, and the evolving nature of the gaming industry, including insights on marketing strategies, playtesting, and the importance of community engagement. This podcast stands out for its approach to blending game design with personal storytelling and actionable advice, making it appealing not only to game designers but also to anyone interested in creativity across different fields.

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Which podcasts are similar to Think Like A Game Designer?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Think Like A Game Designer:

1. The Game Design Round Table
2. Fun Problems
3. Game Scoop!
4. Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast
5. Giant Bombcast

How many episodes of Think Like A Game Designer are there?

Think Like A Game Designer launched 7 years ago and published 105 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Think Like A Game Designer?

Recent guests on Think Like A Game Designer include:

1. Vlaada Chvátil
2. Kyle Thiermann
3. Touko Tahkokallio
4. Jordan Weisman
5. Jonathan Grant
6. Elan Lee
7. Tim Ferriss
8. Cole Wehrle

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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