Game Dev Dialogs

How can designers create refreshing games drawing inspiration from existing art and popular games? Zach Gage discusses how conceptual creativity in game design can create compelling experiences for players which are meaningful and culturally responsible lenses for the world.

Designing for accessibility can increase the reach and audience of games. But how hard is it, and where do we start? Greg Lobanov, lead developer on Chicory: A Colorful Tale, talks with us about wet sounds, boss fights, and colorblindness, and how designing for accessibility improves a game's overall design.

Mythological archetypes like knights and bards are powerful but also standard-issue in games. How do we renew old archetypes to tell fresh, new, and compelling stories? Michael Chu, Narrative Director at 31st Union, talks to us about designing characters through archetype transformations in Overwatch and the kinds of stories he wants to see in

Why do some games feel unfair when their math is perfectly fair, as well as the other way around? Ian Schreiber, cofounder of Global Game Jam and Assistant Professor at RIT, explains various cognitive biases, from selection bias to the hot-hand fallacy, and how they affect the experience and design of games.

What’s a fair exchange of value, and how do we build ethical guidelines around monetization in games? Crystin Cox, Director of Live Game Ops at Xbox Game Studios, talks to us about creating value for players, finding what’s fair, and how to approach monetization design with integrity. Guest: Crystin Cox, Director of Live Game Ops, Xbox Game Studios Link Hughes, Game Designer

What responsibility do game designers have to the millions of players who spend their free time on our games? Daniel Cook, Chief Creative Officer at Spry Fox, talks to us about intentionally designing games to create positive interpersonal relationships and communities for players.