Gerg and Muxl: A Podcast on Video Game Theory

Why add comeback mechanics and feedback loops to boost the performance of losing players? Many games seem fair and balanced without the addition of these extra mechanics so what is their purpose in game design? Gerg and Muxl discuss how these mechanics can be used to improve the gaming experience... or ruin it.

The genre of real time strategy games is surprisingly diverse as Muxl discovered playing Startcraft 1 for the first time. Join Gerg and Muxl as they discuss what makes a game "strategic" and how that effects gameplay.

Apex Legends, Fornite, Anthem, Destiny 2, what can looking at these games tell us about the audiences and demand for multiplayer shooters and why do some have such a hard time even getting off the grounds? Gerg and Muxl discuss.

Some games require focused, dedicated practice while others you can improve at almost without noticing. What sorts of game fall into each category and how does the introduction of multiplayer elements factor in? Gerg and Muxl discuss this and more.

Fighting games can be a tough nut to crack for those interested in watching and appreciating their complexities. Gerg and Muxl discuss some of the nuances and levels of understanding when it comes to these matches of "high speed chess."

We spent the last several weeks playing a came called "They Are Billions" which is an interesting combination of elements from RTS and city-planning genres. We talk about how different elements of the game work together, why this game is so spoiler sensitive, and why we loved it along with some things we missed from other RTS titles.

The UI of a game ranges from you standard screen sprites and menus into the level design itself. This week Gerg and Muxl are discussing measurements and how numerical information is conveyed to the player in the context of various game genres.

Momentum and movement seems to be a recurring theme lately on this show as Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 got chosen for our random game stream (unfortunately Envirobear 2000 didn't work out). Tune in to find out what we thought after spending a couple of hours revisiting this skating masterpiece.

As games get more detailed we are seeing so many more detailed environments and specific actions that players can take. How should designers tackle the increasing complexity of the game world and wield the incredible graphical power of modern titles? Join Gerg and Muxl as they discuss!

We're jumping into the world-renown platformer Super Mario Galaxy 2 in our journey through highly (and very lowly) rated games. After 2 hours with the game this was our take on this highly praised game. Check out the playthrough at https://youtu.be/nwa-L_SBhN4

What is it about collecting things that makes it fun? How can finding all the moons in Mario Odyssey be super fun while other collections feel tedious, holding you back from the good parts of the game? Greg and Muxl dive into these questions to understand the relationship between collections and games.

This week we played Perfect Dark. The last of a now-extinct breed of single-joystick shooters with fast-pace action and fun multi-player. Looking back on this game with fresh eyes it's hard to imagine how it must have felt back in 2000.

We have a special announcement about Gerg and Muxl going forward this episode! We are going to start streaming games biweekly! Also stick around for some clips from a lost recording we did on horror presentation. Unfortunately tech ate our podcast and you really don't want to sit through the distortion for the second half so we just cut that out.

What makes a good monster? Gerg and Muxl go over some of our favorites and how they uniquely embody the environment that they are a part of. Join us for this Halloween themed break down.

How can the creators of horror games use the absence of stimulation to provoke a scary moment and what role does absence play in the development of fear. Gerg and Muxl discuss on the first October Horror Cast!

The latest WoW expansion has ruffled some feathers for a number of understandable reasons. Gerg and Muxl take a look at the subjective experience of players under different progression systems as well as the difficulty of maintaining freshness and quality in the design of complex games.

Characters in video games are often more powerful than the average bear (let alone human) but something strange starts to happen as heroes approach deity levels of control. Join Mark and Greg and we discuss super hero games; what works and what doesn't when it comes to these beloved icons.

We wrap up Gaming Mechanics season 1 with this analysis of the way three different games organize their pacing into cycles and discuss the impact that has on the player's experience. Find out what kind of games lend themselves well to periodic time to slow down.

Gamification is becoming increasingly popular. Taking an everyday task and distilling it down to its most basic, measurable and rewardable elements is making its way into education, the work place and scheduling. This week we're discussing our experience with Overcooked and how it has managed to make players feel like they were managing a kitchen while still having them only press three buttons.

Over the last decade in gaming it's becoming increasingly popular to add network and multiplayer modes to games. Even games which don't really need it... In this episode we discuss various multiplayer blunders in games and what happens when a game grow to very large scales.