44 min listen
S2E2: Nick Moran: Reinventing Escape Games with Innovative Structures
S2E2: Nick Moran: Reinventing Escape Games with Innovative Structures
ratings:
Length:
67 minutes
Released:
Jun 22, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
In season 2, episode 2, we have a lovely chat with Nick Moran, who was creative director for Time Run, one of the most influential escape room companies. He has created ambitious games with innovative formats, and he’s now focused his creative genius on designing Spectre and Vox, a gorgeously crafted tabletop gaming experience with interactive storytelling.
Nick’s background as a narrative-focused writer becomes apparent when he starts talking about the structure of a game. It was fascinating to hear how he approaches structure from a narrative viewpoint, for example, by considering the “status” of the player in an escape room and the importance the player’s status has on immersion. Additionally, Nick approaches game design from a business viewpoint, taking into consideration how to maximize player throughput and increase productivity.
It’s rare to find a designer as talented as Nick, who creates not only with an eye for brilliant gameplay and immersive narrative, but also towards optimizing the business model. Nick is charming, hilarious and very opinionated. We think you’ll really enjoy this episode.
Show Notes
Episode Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:
SEO ORB - Marketing and SEO optimization created specifically for escape rooms by an enthusiast.
Telescape by Buzzshot - Virtual escape room game creation and interface software. Bring increased functionality to your virtual escape rooms.
Escape from Mibo Island by Sherlocked - Virtual escape room played on a uniquely immersive web-based platform. First-person point of view avatar using your own webcam video that is ideal for anyone from families to corporate events. Try out Mibo Island for 20% off with the code MARVINRULES.
Music Credits
All music provided by GameChops:
"The Legend of LoFi" by Dj Cutman & James Landino
"Hateno Village" by Mikel & GameChops
"Fairy Fountain" by Mikel & GameChops
Nick’s background as a narrative-focused writer becomes apparent when he starts talking about the structure of a game. It was fascinating to hear how he approaches structure from a narrative viewpoint, for example, by considering the “status” of the player in an escape room and the importance the player’s status has on immersion. Additionally, Nick approaches game design from a business viewpoint, taking into consideration how to maximize player throughput and increase productivity.
It’s rare to find a designer as talented as Nick, who creates not only with an eye for brilliant gameplay and immersive narrative, but also towards optimizing the business model. Nick is charming, hilarious and very opinionated. We think you’ll really enjoy this episode.
Show Notes
Episode Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:
SEO ORB - Marketing and SEO optimization created specifically for escape rooms by an enthusiast.
Telescape by Buzzshot - Virtual escape room game creation and interface software. Bring increased functionality to your virtual escape rooms.
Escape from Mibo Island by Sherlocked - Virtual escape room played on a uniquely immersive web-based platform. First-person point of view avatar using your own webcam video that is ideal for anyone from families to corporate events. Try out Mibo Island for 20% off with the code MARVINRULES.
Music Credits
All music provided by GameChops:
"The Legend of LoFi" by Dj Cutman & James Landino
"Hateno Village" by Mikel & GameChops
"Fairy Fountain" by Mikel & GameChops
Released:
Jun 22, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
S1E5: 6 Artists & 1 Programmer - Barry Meade on creating The Room: In episode 5, we had a lovely chat with Barry Meade, founding member of Fireproof Studios and one of the co-creators of The Room, an incredibly vivid mobile game first released in 2012. The Room had a tactile, immersive quality to it, from its haunti... by Reality Escape Pod - Escape Rooms & Immersive Games