What does it take to make a critically acclaimed strategy game? Chris McElligott-Park, designer of Heart of the Machine, joins the Critical Moves team to talk through: – How Arcen Games started – The design thinking behind AI War – Making strategy games without traditional narrative – Engineering AI opponents that can out-think players This is Part 1 of a two-part interview.

What does it take to make a critically acclaimed strategy game? Chris McElligott-Park, designer of Heart of the Machine, joins the Critical Moves team to talk through: – How Arcen Games started – The design thinking behind AI War – Making strategy games without traditional narrative – Engineering AI opponents that can out-think players This is Part 1 of a two-part interview.

Chris McElligott-Park on Game Design, Narrative, and Arcen’s Origins (Ep.42)

Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts treat strategy games as an afterthought. We don’t. Every week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders, indie experiments, and overlooked classics with long-form analysis and no wasted time.This isn’t quick reviews or recycled talking points. It’s sharp criticism and honest discussion about strategy game design. If a game is shallow or broken, we’ll say so. If it does something clever, we’ll explain why it works. We talk to developers without the marketing filter, getting into the mechanics and design choices that actually shape the games.If you want a RTS podcast, a 4X podcast, or a place for smarter conversations about tactics and strategy gaming, this is it. Critical Moves is made for players who think about systems, mechanics, and design—not just surface impressions.New episodes every Friday.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://criticalmovespodcast.com">https://criticalmovespodcast.com</a>

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Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts treat strategy games as an afterthought. We don’t. Every week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders, indie experiments, and overlooked classics with long-form analysis and no wasted time. This isn’t quick reviews or recycled talking points. It’s sharp criticism and honest discussion about strategy game design. If a game is shallow or broken, we’ll say so. If it does something clever, we’ll explain why it works. We talk to developers without the marketing filter, getting into the mechanics and design choices that actually shape the games. If you want a RTS podcast, a 4X podcast, or a place for smarter conversations about tactics and strategy gaming, this is it. Critical Moves is made for players who think about systems, mechanics, and design—not just surface impressions. New episodes every Friday. https://criticalmovespodcast.com

Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts treat strategy games as an afterthought. We don’t. Every week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders, indie experiments, and overlooked classics with long-form analysis and no wasted time.This isn’t quick reviews or recycled talking points. It’s sharp criticism and honest discussion about strategy game design. If a game is shallow or broken, we’ll say so. If it does something clever, we’ll explain why it works. We talk to developers without the marketing filter, getting into the mechanics and design choices that actually shape the games.If you want a RTS podcast, a 4X podcast, or a place for smarter conversations about tactics and strategy gaming, this is it. Critical Moves is made for players who think about systems, mechanics, and design—not just surface impressions.New episodes every Friday.<a href="https://criticalmovespodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://criticalmovespodcast.com</a>

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Chris McElligott-Park on Game Design, Narrative, and Arcen’s Origins (Ep.42)

Chris McElligott-Park on Game Design, Narrative, and Arcen’s Origins (Ep.42)

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