Designer Notes
Why do we make games? Every designer has a different and very personal answer to that question. Soren Johnson, founder of Mohawk Games, sits down with noted designers to find out by examining their careers as a whole.
- Update frequency
- every 36 days
- Average duration
- 123 minutes
- Episodes
- 90
- Years Active
- 2014 - 2025
Designer Notes 50: Alex Hutchinson
In this episode, Soren interviews game designer Alex Hutchinson, Creative Director at Typhoon Studios and best known for his work on Spore, Assassin’s Creed 3, and Far Cry 4. They discuss how they bo…
02:24:24 |
Wed 18 Dec 2019
Designer Notes 49: Adam Saltsman - Part 2
In this episode, Soren interviews game developer Adam Saltsman, who co-founded indie publisher Finji and is best known for his work on Gravity Hook, Canabalt, Hundreds, Capsule, and Overland. They di…
02:29:34 |
Fri 01 Nov 2019
Designer Notes 48: Adam Saltsman - Part 1
In this episode, Soren interviews game developer Adam Saltsman, who co-founded indie publisher Finji and is best known for his work on Gravity Hook, Canabalt, Hundreds, Capsule, and Overland. They di…
01:55:53 |
Tue 15 Oct 2019
Designer Notes 47: Brendon Chung - Part 2
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Brendon Chung, best known for his work on Atom Zombie Smasher, Thirty Flights of Loving, and Quadrilateral Cowboy. They discuss why Xbox L…
01:27:59 |
Mon 05 Aug 2019
Designer Notes 46: Brendon Chung - Part 1
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Brendon Chung, best known for his work on Atom Zombie Smasher, Thirty Flights of Loving, and Quadrilateral Cowboy. They discuss how to mak…
01:34:52 |
Sat 29 Jun 2019
Designer Notes 45: Rami Ismail
In this episode, Soren and Leyla Johnson interview independent game developer Rami Ismail of Vlambeer, best known for his work on Super Crate Box, Ridiculous Fishing, Luftrausers, and Nuclear Throne.…
02:26:01 |
Wed 05 Jun 2019
Designer Notes 44: Clint Hocking - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Clint Hocking, who started his career working on the original Splinter Cell and was also the Creative Director of Splinter Cell: Chaos …
01:41:23 |
Mon 31 Dec 2018
Designer Notes 43: Clint Hocking - Part 1
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Clint Hocking, who started his career working on the original Splinter Cell and was also the Creative Director of Splinter Cell: Chaos …
01:53:43 |
Sat 24 Nov 2018
Designer Notes 42: David Sirlin - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer David Sirlin, best known for his work on Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Yomi, and Puzzle Strike. They discuss how many hit poi…
01:46:52 |
Sat 06 Oct 2018
Designer Notes 41: David Sirlin - Part 1
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer David Sirlin, best known for his work on Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Yomi, and Puzzle Strike. They discuss why games with m…
01:59:57 |
Wed 08 Aug 2018
Designer Notes 40: Brian Reynolds - Part 3
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Brian Reynolds, best known for his work on Colonization, Civilization 2, Alpha Centauri, and Rise of Nations. They discuss why Big Huge…
01:38:56 |
Fri 22 Jun 2018
Designer Notes 39: Brian Reynolds - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Brian Reynolds, best known for his work on Colonization, Civilization 2, Alpha Centauri, and Rise of Nations. They discuss when Brian d…
02:28:04 |
Wed 16 May 2018
Designer Notes 38: Brian Reynolds - Part 1
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Brian Reynolds, best know for his work on Colonization, Civilization 2, Alpha Centauri, and Rise of Nations. They discuss how his origi…
01:42:10 |
Tue 24 Apr 2018
Designer Notes 37: Chris Hecker - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews independent game developer Chris Hecker, best known for his work on Spore and SpyParty. They discuss accessibility versus depth, when SpyParty suddenly becam…
01:56:18 |
Mon 12 Mar 2018
Designer Notes 36: Chris Hecker - Part 1
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews independent game developer Chris Hecker, best known for his work on Spore and SpyParty. They discuss why game jams are no longer necessary, why the first tri…
02:05:16 |
Wed 21 Feb 2018
Designer Notes 35: Manveer Heir
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews independent game developer Manveer Heir, best known for his work on the Mass Effect franchise. They discuss the sunken cost fallacy and game development, why…
01:20:10 |
Wed 17 Jan 2018
Designer Notes 34: Tyler Sigman - Part 2
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Tyler Sigman, best known as the designer of HOARD and Darkest Dungeon. They discuss how whether it makes sense to hide game data in the ag…
02:05:01 |
Thu 07 Dec 2017
Designer Notes 33: Tyler Sigman - Part 1
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Tyler Sigman, best known as the designer of HOARD and Darkest Dungeon. They discuss how his game design career was almost derailed by stap…
02:18:46 |
Mon 13 Nov 2017
Designer Notes 32: Asher Vollmer
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Asher Vollmer, best known as the designer of Puzzlejuice and Threes. They discuss why paper prototypes don’t always translate well into vi…
01:23:35 |
Thu 05 Oct 2017
Designer Notes 31: Margaret Robertson
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews Margaret Robertson, Game Director at PlayDots. Margaret is known for her pioneering work at Hide & Seek and as editor-in-chief at EDGE magazine. They discuss…
01:32:16 |
Fri 01 Sep 2017
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