Designer Notes 81: Jake Solomon - Part 2

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Designer Notes 81: Jake Solomon - Part 2

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194 minutes

Released:

Apr 11, 2024

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Podcast episode

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In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Jake Solomon, best known for the XCOM reboot and Midnight Suns. They discuss his first, failed attempt at XCOM, why 75% does not mean 75%, and how many copies of XCOM he sold at Power Gamer in Glen Burnie, MD. This episode was recorded on April 26, 2023.

Released:

Apr 11, 2024

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (82)

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.

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Designer Notes 2: Rob Pardo - Part 2: Soren is not done with Rob yet! In the second half of the interview, they discuss the MMO that shocked everyone (including Blizzard), how to hire game designers, why they didn't make DOTA2, removing the auction house from Diablo 3, and what might come nex by Designer Notes
127 min listen
Designer Notes 22: Amy Hennig - Part 2: In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Amy Hennig, best known for her work on the Legacy of Kain and Uncharted series. They discuss what elements from film can’t work in games, how many hours she averaged per week working on the by Designer Notes
99 min listen
Designer Notes 5: Daniel Cook: In this episode, Soren interviews Daniel Cook, who is the Chief Creative Officer at Spry Fox. He is best known for his design work on games such as Triple Town, Realm of the Mad God, and Steambirds as well as for his writing on game design at lostgarden.c by Designer Notes
135 min listen
Designer Notes 8: Daniel Benmergui: In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews independent game developer Daniel Benmergui, who is best known for experimental story games like Today I Die, I Wish I Were The Moon, and the IGF-winning Storyteller. He is currently working on the Indie Fund-back by Designer Notes
105 min listen
Designer Notes 1: Rob Pardo - Part 1: Welcome to Designer Notes, a podcast about why we make games, hosted by Soren Johnson of Mohawk Games. In our first episode, Soren sits down with Rob Pardo, formerly the Chief Creative Officer at Blizzard Entertainment, to discuss his game design career, by Designer Notes
124 min listen
Designer Notes 20: Liz Ryerson: In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews independent game developer Liz Ryerson, known for experimental games like Problem Attic. They discuss whether we should ever make players uncomfortable, why horror games have more freedom to try unconventional des by Designer Notes
82 min listen
Designer Notes 16: Tyriq Plummer: In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews Tyriq Plummer, who is the artist, designer, and programmer behind the roguelike platformer Catacomb Kids. They discuss why a game should let you eat your severed arm, how items can be adjectives instead of verbs, by Designer Notes
75 min listen
Designer Notes 6: Chelsea Howe: In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews Chelsea Howe, who is a Creative Director at EA Mobile. She is best known for her work at TinyCo, where she led the design of Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, and for her community efforts organizing the Queerness by Designer Notes
99 min listen
Designer Notes 10: Nina Freeman: In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews indie game developer Nina Freeman, who is best known for her personal vignette games How Do You Do It?, Freshman Year, and the upcoming Cibele. She is currently working at Fullbright as a level designer on the upc by Designer Notes
73 min listen
Designer Notes 3: Frank Lantz: In this episode, Soren interviews Frank Lantz, currently Director of the NYU Game Center. Frantz was also the co-founder of Area/Code where he led the design of Drop7. We discuss how to make sure your game gets written up in Boing Boing, why most people w by Designer Notes
101 min listen
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 triangle is always the hardest, and whether Powers of Ten w by Designer Notes
125 min listen
Designer Notes 26: Sid Meier - Part 4: In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews legendary game designer Sid Meier, best known for designing Pirates!, Railroad Tycoon, and Civilization. They discuss what game Sid wishes he designed, how to determine if a prototype should be turned into a game, by Designer Notes
103 min listen
Designer Notes 7: Brad Muir by Designer Notes
176 min listen
Designer Notes 4: Henrik Fahraeus: In this episode, Soren interviews Henrik Fahraeus, who is a Game Director at Paradox Interactive, where he has worked on the Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, and Hearts of Iron series. Also sitting in on the interview is Jon Shafer, lead designer of Ci by Designer Notes
96 min listen
Designer Notes 21: Amy Hennig - Part 1: In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Amy Hennig, best known for her work on the Legacy of Kain and Uncharted series. They discuss what happened in 1977, how to make a platformer about Michael Jordan, and whether women are now be by Designer Notes
104 min listen
Designer Notes 17: Ananda Gupta: In this episode, Soren interviews game designer Ananda Gupta, best known as the co-designer of Twilight Struggle and the lead designer of XCOM: Enemy Within. They discuss why DC has no fort in For the People, whether Labyrinth's neocon design is intention by Designer Notes
136 min listen
Designer Notes 15: Nels Anderson: In this episode, Soren interviews Nels Anderson, who was the lead designer of the critically acclaimed Mark of the Ninja and is currently a designer/programmer at Campo Santo working on the upcoming game Firewatch. They discuss how he almost went into law by Designer Notes
91 min listen
Designer Notes 11: Chris Avellone by Designer Notes
99 min listen
Designer Notes 18: Offworld Trading Company: In this episode, Bruce Geryk interviews Soren Johnson about his new economic RTS, Offworld Trading Company. They discuss how exploring a black map is one of gaming’s greatest hits, why the hardest part of designing Offworld was ending the game, and why by Designer Notes
87 min listen
Designer Notes 13: Jamie Cheng: In this episode, Soren interviews Jamie Cheng, founder of Klei Entertainment which is known for the Shank series, Mark of the Ninja, Don't Starve, and Invisible, Inc. They discuss paying back the Canadian government, why Mark of the Ninja's AI needs to be by Designer Notes
141 min listen
Designer Notes 12: Davey Wreden: In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews indie game developer Davey Wreden, who is best known for his work on The Stanley Parable and The Beginner's Guide. They discuss why he worked as a bartender while making The Stanley Parable, how they fit the "gnaw by Designer Notes
120 min listen
Designer Notes 9: Bruce Shelley: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Bruce Shelley, who is best known for his work on Railroad Tycoon, Civilization, and the Age of Empires series. He is currently working at Bonus XP on Servo, a new RTS. They discuss what the two Sids by Designer Notes
124 min listen
Designer Notes 30: Steve Gaynor - Part 2: In this episode, Soren interviews Steve Gaynor, co-founder of The Fullbright Company and best known for his work on BioShock 2, Minerva’s Den, and Gone Home. They discuss whether audio diaries need to make sense, why the Gone Home family is made up of b by Designer Notes
112 min listen
Designer Notes 14: Mark Herman: In this episode, Bruce Geryk interviews veteran wargame designer Mark Herman, former CEO of Victory Games and best known for pioneering card-driven wargames with We The People. They discuss designing games for less than $100 per week, why he couldn't rele by Designer Notes
132 min listen
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 video games, whether a game should take up 100% of your by Designer Notes
84 min listen
Designer Notes 29: Steve Gaynor - Part 1 by Designer Notes
124 min listen
Designer Notes 51: Michał Drozdowski and Przemysław Marszał: In this episode, Soren and Leyla Johnson interview Creative Director Michał Drozdowski and Art Director Przemysław Marszał of 11 Bit Studios, best known for their work on This War Of Mine and Frostpunk. They discuss why This War of Mine does not judge by Designer Notes
146 min listen
Designer Notes 19: Louis Castle: In this episode, Soren interviews Westwood Studio co-founder Louis Castle. They discuss why early video game artists were also great at Etch-a-Sketch, why Dune 2 was not Dune 1, how Boom Blox was almost Angry Birds, and why narrative games can’t end on by Designer Notes
157 min listen
Designer Notes 25: Sid Meier - Part 3: In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews legendary game designer Sid Meier, best known for designing Pirates!, Railroad Tycoon, and Civilization. They discuss why dinosaurs need to have ranged attacks, how deals go down on the SimGolf course, and if Civ by Designer Notes
111 min listen
Designer Notes 24: Sid Meier - Part 2: In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews legendary game designer Sid Meier, best known for designing Pirates!, Railroad Tycoon, and Civilization. They discuss how Sid’s stealth fighter was more interesting than the real one, whether XCOM violates the C by Designer Notes
107 min listen

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Designer Notes 82: Mitch Lasky - Part 1: In this episode, Soren interviews noted game investor Mitch Lasky, best known for his work as a venture capitalist at Benchmark, as the CEO of JAMDAT, and as an executive at Activision and Electronic Arts. They discuss how the Doom shareware model was a p by Designer Notes
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Designer Notes 80: Jake Solomon - Part 1: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Jake Solomon, best known for the XCOM reboot and Midnight Suns. They discuss how much money he had to give back to Accenture, how to animate multiple units at the same time, and why Sid suddenly sta by Designer Notes
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Designer Notes 79: Trent Kusters - Part 2: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Trent Kusters, co-founder of League of Geeks, best known for the strategy game Armello. They discuss why Armello has so much output randomness, whether they fudge the odds, and how to turn off a Gam by Designer Notes
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Designer Notes 78: Trent Kusters - Part 1: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Trent Kusters, co-founder of League of Geeks, best known for the strategy game Armello. They discuss how he faked his way into games journalism, how to sneak risky ideas past licensors, and how to m by Designer Notes
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Designer Notes 77: Cole Wehrle: In this episode, Soren interviews tabletop designer Cole Wehrle, best known for his work on Root, Oath, Pax Pamir, and John Company. They discuss whether John Company is satire, how the East India Company was like QWOP, and the importance of German postal by Designer Notes
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Designer Notes 76: Tanya Short: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Tanya Short, co-founder of Kitfox Games and best known for her work on Moon Hunters and Boyfriend Dungeon. They discuss why her parents had to get a second phone like, how she accidentally made a rog by Designer Notes
164 min listen
Designer Notes 75: Moonbreaker by Designer Notes
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Designer Notes 74: Charlie Cleveland: In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview veteran game designer Charlie Cleveland, founder of Unknown Worlds and best known for his work on Natural Selection and Subnautica. They discuss why Charlie Cleveland moved to Cleveland, how he did Kickstarter be by Designer Notes
194 min listen
Designer Notes 73: Liz England: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Liz England, best known for her work on Scribblenauts, Sunset Overdrive, and Watch Dogs: Legion. They discuss how she organized her mom’s RPG inventories, what is the boiling point of a lion, and w by Designer Notes
178 min listen
Designer Notes 72: Harvey Smith: In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview veteran game designer Harvey Smith, best known for his work on the Deus Ex and Dishonored series. They discuss what TDA stood for at Origin, if Dishonored is just Thief but faster, and why it is sometimes better by Designer Notes
159 min listen
Designer Notes 71: Matthew Davis: In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Matthew Davis, co-founder of Subset Games and best known for his work on FTL and Into the Breach. They discuss whether FTL is a roguelike, how they resolve conflict at Subset, and whether Soren by Designer Notes
170 min listen
Designer Notes 70: Justin Ma: In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Justin Ma, co-founder of Subset Games and best known for his work on FTL and Into the Breach. They discuss how he bombed his first game industry interview, why the AI in FTL can’t behave like by Designer Notes
120 min listen
Designer Notes 69: Designer Notes 69: Chris Delay - Part 2: In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview independent game developer Chris DeLay, co-founder of Introversion Software and best known for his work on Uplink, Darwinia, Defcon, and Prison Architect. They discuss how to play Prison Architect without a priso by Designer Notes
114 min listen
Designer Notes 68: Chris DeLay - Part 1: In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview independent game developer Chris DeLay, co-founder of Introversion Software and best known for his work on Uplink, Darwinia, Defcon, and Prison Architect. They discuss why they hid the credits screen for Uplink, by Designer Notes
173 min listen
Designer Notes 67: Old World: In this episode, Tom Chick and Bruce Geryk interview Soren and Leyla Johnson about their new historical 4X, Old World. They discuss whether the Old World timeline really makes sense, how they approach Early Access differently, and why Soren didn’t want by Designer Notes
129 min listen
Designer Notes 66: Luca Redwood: In this episode, Soren interviews Luca Redwood, the developer of 10000000, You Must Build a Boat, and Photographs. They discuss why 10000000 has no commas, how he makes sure the player never gets unlucky, and why you need to build a boat. This episode was by Designer Notes
90 min listen
Designer Notes 65: Robin Hunicke - Part 2: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Robin Hunicke, co-founder of Funomena and best known for her work on MySims, Boom Blox, and Journey. They discuss why developers overperform their authority in large companies, how they almost accid by Designer Notes
122 min listen
Designer Notes 64: Robin Hunicke - Part 1: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Robin Hunicke, co-founder of Funomena and best known for her work on MySims, Boom Blox, and Journey. They discuss why HyperCard was so great, why AI development is game design, and how Steven Spielb by Designer Notes
127 min listen
Designer Notes 63: Josh Sawyer - Part 2: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran RPG designer Josh Sawyer, best known for his work on Icewind Dale, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity. They discuss the purpose of grinding, the difference between viable and optimal characters, and why R by Designer Notes
139 min listen
Designer Notes 62: Josh Sawyer - Part 1: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran RPG designer Josh Sawyer, best known for his work on Icewind Dale, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity. They discuss how making a website for a tattoo parlor led to his game career, what is the purpose of by Designer Notes
114 min listen
Designer Notes 61: Chet Faliszek by Designer Notes
170 min listen
Designer Notes 60: Andy Schatz - Part 2: In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Andy Schatz, who founded Pocketwatch Games and is best known for his work on Monaco and Tooth and Tail. This episode was recorded March 23, 2018. They discuss what Monaco and Rashomon have in co by Designer Notes
106 min listen
Designer Notes 59: Andy Schatz - Part 1: In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Andy Schatz, who founded Pocketwatch Games and is best known for his work on Monaco and Tooth and Tail. This episode was recorded March 23, 2018. They discuss how he tried to live out Ultima’s by Designer Notes
108 min listen
Designer Notes 58: Rob Daviau - Part 2: In this episode, Soren interviews board game designer Rob Daviau, best known for his work on Risk: Legacy and Pandemic: Legacy. They discuss the criteria for a good Legacy game, how to put just a little PvP in a game without overdoing it, and why he remov by Designer Notes
74 min listen
Designer Notes 57: Rob Daviau - Part 1: In this episode, Soren interviews board game designer Rob Daviau, best known for his work on Risk: Legacy and Pandemic: Legacy. They discuss bluffing his way through his first game job interview, how he designed Betrayal at House on the Hill without eithe by Designer Notes
86 min listen
Designer Notes 56: David Dunham: In this episode, Soren interviews independent game designer David Dunham, best known for his work on the narrative strategy games King of Dragon Pass and Six Ages. They are joined by writer and designer Meg Jayanth, best known for her work on 80 Days. The by Designer Notes
115 min listen
Designer Notes 55: Meg Jayanth: In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Meg Jayanth, the writer on 80 Days. They discuss how fan fiction is similar to modding, if 80 Days is a criticism of the Bioware companion system, and why it’s important to do your work. by Designer Notes
184 min listen
Designer Notes 54: Jon Ingold - Part 2: In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Jon Ingold, who co-founded inkle and is best known for his work in interactive fiction, including All Roads, 80 Days, and the Sorcery! series. They discuss how to get the player to trust the designe by Designer Notes
112 min listen
Designer Notes 53: Jon Ingold - Part 1 by Designer Notes
89 min listen
Designer Notes 52: Roger Keating by Designer Notes
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Designer Notes 81: Jake Solomon - Part 2

Designer Notes 81: Jake Solomon - Part 2

Description

Titles in the series (82)

More Episodes from Designer Notes

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