See my game design blog for recent (and older) comments about game design.

 

Designing for Cause versus Effect.  Published in Against the Odds magazine #30 in early 2011.

What makes a game epic?  Published in Against the Odds magazine in June 2009.

Ways to reflect for of war in boardgames.  This was published in Against the Odds magazine #18 in late 2007.

Podcast (26 MB).  This is a recording (via MP3 player) of a talk at Origins 2007 "Getting Started in Game Design". Matt Forbeck, one of the Guests of Honor, volunteered a few days before the talk to participate, but he was further from the recorder. (He had to leave after the first hour.) The recording method limited the quality. Moreover, questions from the audience are not audible, though my answers are. A set of slides that I used (though I didn't pass out, too much expense!) is available at http://pulsiphergames.com/teaching1.htm.

Podcast (23 MB).  This is a recording (via MP3 player) of my talk at Origins 2007 "The Process of Designing a Game". The recording method limited the quality. Also, I missed the first couple minutes before I remember to turn on the recorder! Finally, questions from the audience are not audible, though my answers are. A set of slides that I used (though I didn't pass out, too much expense!) is available at http://pulsiphergames.com/teaching1.htm. I also used a diagram of the process that is available below.

Diagram, Process of game design and development.  13 Dec 06

"Something in it" (playtesting) 12 Dec 2006

Brief Advice for Would-be Game Designers 27 April 2006

Brief Note about how I Organize Game Designing  27 April 2006

Designing vs. Development  April 2, 2006

The Essence of Eurostyle Games: Another attempt at definition.  Recent work, February 06.

Simulation, Representation, Semblance/Theme, Abstraction: comparative types of historical (and not-so-historical) boardgames (2005)

An attempt in one page to summarize what's important when designing a game.  Recent work, December 05.

The Nine Fundamental Structures of Games (Video or non-video).  Recent work, Nov 05

Game playing styles (Classical and Romantic)  Originally from Dragon 65. Last revised Jan 05.  January version published in Games Journal, Feb 05.

How Developers and Publishers Change Games (Sometimes not for the Better).  Recent work, last revised 31 Oct 04

Small Games (Microgames).  Recent work.  Last revised 27 May 04

The Gyp Factor.  Originally from Games and Puzzles 81.  Last revised 10 April 04

The Essence of a Good Wargame.  Originally from Dungeoneer 25.  Last revised 1 May 04.

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