Ben Seck is an Australian Magic: The Gathering player and Creative & Game Design Director.

Ben is one of the top Limited format players in the game, and the only player to have won a Grand Prix in Africa.

2:58 intro

7:24 Seattle vs. Barcelona lifestyle

14:47 career progression in the American tech industry

18:58 Ben's parents / Asian upbringing / finding Magic

23:16 landing on a game design career / nature of learning

27:46 Magic's rise alongside the early World Wide Web

35:53 ethical play in Magic

38:13 Australian Magic community

40:17 nature of offenses / societal rules / inclusion

47:38 casual vs. competitive gaming communities

51:25 what would cause Magic to fail

58:57 inside Wizards of the Coast

1:02:36 "Magic is one of the best ways to self-actualize"

1:09:14 game design goals / digital ownership / mental models

1:18:57 behavioral psychology of players / moral obligations in design

1:22:34 how to have BALANCED game discourse

1:30:14 "Magic is getting too expensive"

1:37:53 meeting Brian David-Marshall / boat ride with BDM / cooking competition

1:47:51 cooking origin story / game design gig at Upper Deck

1:52:26 game design aspirations: "auditioning" for Wizards of the Coast

2:01:52 biggest learning at Upper Deck: listen first

2:10:02 how Ben views EDH / Magic as game engine

2:19:53 creating Limited content with LSV and Marshall Sutcliffe: planning & execution

2:26:57 Marshall Sutcliffe is the BEST at what he does

2:33:52 takeaways from recording "reverse set reviews"

Show notes: humansofmagic.com/

Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic