"Cultivate what matters. Cut away the rest." This is the slogan for developer Joel McDonald's breakout mobile game Prune, a title about carefully cutting away at trees to help them flourish. It's also the philosophy at the heart of Joel's own journey, from making big blockbuster titles to striking out on his own in search of something more personally fulfilling. Join us as we discuss making that leap, the need for more diversity in the industry, and the challenge of listening to the game you're making.

Cultivating What Matters With Joel McDonald

Though we tend to sit with video games for a short time, they often sit with us for a very long time afterward. On Art & Craft, join us as we uncover the deeply personal stories of some of the medium’s most thoughtful creatives.

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Leisure

I thought we’d do something a little different this time around on Art & Craft. Rather than dive deep with with one guest, I’ve chosen to chat with two. Specifically, my colleagues and close friends Harry Nesbitt & Joe Grainger, who form the art and development team of our recently released game Alto’s Odyssey. In many ways, this episode is more than just an interview, but rather, a post-mortem in which we get a chance to honestly reflect on the game’s development, what we learned, and what comes next.

Navigating The Endless Desert With Team Alto

When I first dug into the role of Producer, I assumed it was my job simply to remind people when tasks were due. Over time, I’ve come to see production much more as the discipline of removing the barriers that prevent people from doing their best work. Join me as I chat with Nick Ahrens, Executive Producer at LA-based Hidden Variable Studios, about bringing a game across the finish line, the state of modern games coverage, and the vices and virtues of vicarious ownership.  

Pulling Back the Curtain with Nick Ahrens

Zach Gage is one of the sharpest design minds creating play today. Whether it’s games like Spelltower, Flip Flop Solitaire, or Really Bad Chess, the things Zach makes brilliantly explore what you can do when you digitize the kind of broad, approachable play you’d find in a Sunday newspaper. Join us as we discuss the value in letting people learn creatively, the untapped possibilities in designing around gambling, and the way that making games can change who you are.

Rewriting the Rules with Zach Gage

Gorogoa is the kind of brilliant game that's almost hard to believe exists even as you're experiencing it. A densely layered puzzle journey that takes place inside a hand-illustrated fantasy world. Join us as we sit down with its creator Jason Roberts, and peel back some of those layers. Together, we discuss the seven year journey to bring Gorogoa to life, the ebb & flow of creative motivation, and the secret feelings we all harbour to find and solve the puzzles all around us.

Finding Hidden Meaning with Jason Roberts

Bekah Saltsman is the co-founder and CEO of Finji, a self-described collaborative game studio working on titles like Overland, Tunic, and Night in the Woods. Join us as we talk with her about pushing back against the "I'm Just" impulse, the realities of being a mother in the games industry, and the importance of listening to the way players describe your games. 

Cultivating What Matters With Joel McDonald

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