The monthly game design podcast you haven't been waiting for

quickplay

Quickplay - Valeria: Card Kingdoms

We're back, and we're trying something a little different this time! It turns out that some design topics don't necessarily justify a full hour-plus episode all on their own, but are still worth talking about! To that end, we're introducing PGI Quickplays -- shorter, more frequent episode that deliver bite-sized chunks of game design bullshit to you on the weeks where we don't have a full-sized episode for you.

In this, our inaugural Quickplay, we dig into Valeria: Card Kingdoms, a dice-rolling and tableau building game that is suspiciously similar to Machi Koro, and yet somehow a lot more fun to play...

Questions? Comments? Thoughts about the new format? Contact us on Twitter or email mailbox@pgipodcast.com. And if you liked the show, please review us on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend!

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Header image from Valeria: Card Kingdoms by Daily Magic Games

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Finding Your Game's Identity (Kyle Pulver)

How do you turn an idea into a game, and how do you make sure that game maintains the spirit of that idea as you develop it? We're joined by Meat Boy level design maven, TowerFall world champion, and all-round charmer Kyle Pulver to solve these problems once and for all! Along the way, we discuss the value of applying constraints to your design, how to define your game by 'pivoting' through your design space, and how making a game is kind of like navigating a canoe. Or blowing up a flour mill. If you like strained metaphors, this is definitely the episode for you.

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Questions? Comments? Want to challenge Kyle to a round of Towerfall (bad idea)? Contact us on Twitter or email mailbox@pgipodcast.com. And if you liked the show, please review us on Apple Podcasts!

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Header image from Meat Boy Forever by Team Meat

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Reading List 4

It's been a little while since we got everyone together in front of the mic, so we're taking it easy this episode to catch up and talk about some games we've been playing! Rob's been exploring Fantasy Flight's line of Arkham Horror tabletop games, Jon's got lost in Hollow Knight, and Ryan took a relaxing vacation in Super Mario Odyssey.

Join us as we talk through what we like and dislike about each of these games... except Super Mario Odyssey. There's basically nothing bad we can say about that game.

Questions? Comments? Want to share you own favorite Mario Odyssey level? Contact us on Twitter or email mailbox@pgipodcast.com. And if you liked the show, please review us on Apple Podcasts!

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Header image from Hollow Knight by Team Cherry

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Back to the Grind

The classic trio is back on the mics, and we're celebrating by diving into that most classic of game mechanics — grinding! Join us as we debate grinding's definition, discuss why it has such a bad reputation, and explain how it can help players get more from your game and make your life as a game designer easier, then marvel as we do all of this without any relevant credentials or experience to back up our convictions. With no guest to guide us, we're loud, we're sassy, and we're just as pretentious as ever.

Questions? Comments? Want to show off how much better you are at bowling than us? Contact us on Twitter or email mailbox@pgipodcast.com. And if you liked the show, please review us on Apple Podcasts!

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Header image from Torchlight II by Runic Games

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Catch-Up Mechanics (Joseph Chen)

How do you make games that feel competitive for players of all skill levels, while still feeling fair to the players with the most experience? Catch-up mechanics!

Joseph Chen joins us to chat through different kinds of catch-up mechanics, how overpowered catch-up mechanics can take over your game, and that dark cousin of the catch-up mechanic: the runaway leader.

Additional reading

Questions? Comments? Got your own favorite catch-up mechanic? Contact us on Twitter or email mailbox@pgipodcast.com. And if you liked the show, please review us on Apple Podcasts!

Subscribe: iTunes | Google Play | Android | RSS

Header image from Fantastic Factories by Joseph Chen

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