Designer Notes

By Idle Thumbs

What's Designer Notes about?

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 episodes:

04.11.2024
Designer Notes 81: Jake Solomon - Part 2
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...
12.05.2023
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,...
10.09.2023
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...
09.25.2023
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...
08.14.2023
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...
06.23.2023
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...
05.03.2023
Designer Notes 75: Moonbreaker
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 Moonbreaker is the first digital miniatures game, if players would...
04.13.2023
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 before...
03.15.2023
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,...
01.10.2023
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...
11.29.2022
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...
10.09.2022
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...
08.15.2022
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 prison, why...
06.27.2022
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, who...
05.18.2022
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...
03.28.2022
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...
02.19.2022
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 accidentally made...
02.03.2022
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...
01.10.2022
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...
12.08.2021
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,...
11.20.2021
Designer Notes 61: Chet Faliszek
In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Chet Faliszek, who co-founded Stray Bombay and is best known for his work at Valve on games such as Left 4 Dead and Portal 2. They discuss what shampoo sales have to...
10.20.2021
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...
09.16.2021
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...
07.15.2021
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...
04.25.2021
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...
02.25.2021
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...
08.21.2020
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...
07.27.2020
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...
06.18.2020
Designer Notes 53: Jon Ingold - Part 1
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 why Plundered Hearts is his favorite...
05.26.2020
Designer Notes 52: Roger Keating
In this episode, Bruce Geryk interviews veteran game developer Roger Keating, co-founder of Strategic Studies Group (SSG). Roger is best known for his work on the Warlord series as well as many digital wargames. They discuss what it was like...
02.14.2020
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...
12.18.2019
Designer Notes 50: Alex Hutchinson
In this episode, Soren interviews game designer Alex Hutchinson, Creative Director at Typhoon Studios and best known for his work on Spore, Assassin’s Creed 3, and Far Cry 4. They discuss how they both would have screwed up SimCity, how...
11.01.2019
Designer Notes 49: Adam Saltsman - Part 2
In this episode, Soren interviews game developer Adam Saltsman, who co-founded indie publisher Finji and is best known for his work on Gravity Hook, Canabalt, Hundreds, Capsule, and Overland. They discuss how Mario speed runs are the original infinite runners,...
10.15.2019
Designer Notes 48: Adam Saltsman - Part 1
In this episode, Soren interviews game developer Adam Saltsman, who co-founded indie publisher Finji and is best known for his work on Gravity Hook, Canabalt, Hundreds, Capsule, and Overland. They discuss how Cave Story showed him that he could make...
08.05.2019
Designer Notes 47: Brendon Chung - Part 2
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Brendon Chung, best known for his work on Atom Zombie Smasher, Thirty Flights of Loving, and Quadrilateral Cowboy. They discuss why Xbox Live Indie Games didn’t take off, what exactly happens at...
06.29.2019
Designer Notes 46: Brendon Chung - Part 1
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Brendon Chung, best known for his work on Atom Zombie Smasher, Thirty Flights of Loving, and Quadrilateral Cowboy. They discuss how to make an adventure game inside of Doom, why he won’t...
06.05.2019
Designer Notes 45: Rami Ismail
In this episode, Soren and Leyla Johnson interview independent game developer Rami Ismail of Vlambeer, best known for his work on Super Crate Box, Ridiculous Fishing, Luftrausers, and Nuclear Throne. They discuss why he started a company with someone he...
12.31.2018
Designer Notes 44: Clint Hocking - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Clint Hocking, who started his career working on the original Splinter Cell and was also the Creative Director of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Far Cry 2. They discuss why games...
11.24.2018
Designer Notes 43: Clint Hocking - Part 1
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Clint Hocking, who started his career working on the original Splinter Cell and was also the Creative Director of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Far Cry 2. They discuss how his...
10.06.2018
Designer Notes 42: David Sirlin - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer David Sirlin, best known for his work on Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Yomi, and Puzzle Strike. They discuss how many hit points are too many hit points, whether...
08.08.2018
Designer Notes 41: David Sirlin - Part 1
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer David Sirlin, best known for his work on Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Yomi, and Puzzle Strike. They discuss why games with more mechanics are not deeper, whether fighting...
06.22.2018
Designer Notes 40: Brian Reynolds - Part 3
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Brian Reynolds, best known for his work on Colonization, Civilization 2, Alpha Centauri, and Rise of Nations. They discuss why Big Huge made Rise of Legends instead of Rise of Nations...
05.16.2018
Designer Notes 39: Brian Reynolds - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Brian Reynolds, best known for his work on Colonization, Civilization 2, Alpha Centauri, and Rise of Nations. They discuss when Brian discovered Twilight Struggle, how Alpha Centauri influenced BioShock, and whether...
04.24.2018
Designer Notes 38: Brian Reynolds - Part 1
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews veteran game designer Brian Reynolds, best know for his work on Colonization, Civilization 2, Alpha Centauri, and Rise of Nations. They discuss how his original dream job was to write compilers, all the bad...
03.12.2018
Designer Notes 37: Chris Hecker - Part 2
In this episode, Soren Johnson interviews independent game developer Chris Hecker, best known for his work on Spore and SpyParty. They discuss accessibility versus depth, when SpyParty suddenly became fun, and why Chris Hecker ruined Spore.
02.21.2018
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...
01.17.2018
Designer Notes 35: Manveer Heir
In this episode, Adam Saltsman interviews independent game developer Manveer Heir, best known for his work on the Mass Effect franchise. They discuss the sunken cost fallacy and game development, why Mass Effect 3 would be a bad first game...
12.07.2017
Designer Notes 34: Tyler Sigman - Part 2
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Tyler Sigman, best known as the designer of HOARD and Darkest Dungeon. They discuss how whether it makes sense to hide game data in the age of wikis, if Darkest Dungeon is...
11.13.2017
Designer Notes 33: Tyler Sigman - Part 1
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Tyler Sigman, best known as the designer of HOARD and Darkest Dungeon. They discuss how his game design career was almost derailed by staplers, how a weird aeronautical engineer is a normal...
10.05.2017
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...

What's Designer Notes about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Designer Notes episodes:

Designer Notes 81: Jake Solomon - Part 2

Designer Notes 80: Jake Solomon - Part 1

Designer Notes 79: Trent Kusters - Part 2

Designer Notes 78: Trent Kusters - Part 1

Designer Notes 77: Cole Wehrle

Designer Notes 76: Tanya Short

Designer Notes 75: Moonbreaker

Designer Notes 74: Charlie Cleveland

Designer Notes 73: Liz England

Designer Notes 72: Harvey Smith

Designer Notes 71: Matthew Davis

Designer Notes 70: Justin Ma

Designer Notes 69: Chris Delay - Part 2

Designer Notes 68: Chris DeLay - Part 1

Designer Notes 67: Old World

Designer Notes 66: Luca Redwood

Designer Notes 65: Robin Hunicke - Part 2

Designer Notes 64: Robin Hunicke - Part 1

Designer Notes 63: Josh Sawyer - Part 2

Designer Notes 62: Josh Sawyer - Part 1

Designer Notes 61: Chet Faliszek

Designer Notes 60: Andy Schatz - Part 2

Designer Notes 59: Andy Schatz - Part 1

Designer Notes 58: Rob Daviau - Part 2

Designer Notes 57: Rob Daviau - Part 1

Designer Notes 56: David Dunham

Designer Notes 55: Meg Jayanth

Designer Notes 54: Jon Ingold - Part 2

Designer Notes 53: Jon Ingold - Part 1

Designer Notes 52: Roger Keating

Designer Notes 51: Michał Drozdowski and Przemysław Marszał

Designer Notes 50: Alex Hutchinson

Designer Notes 49: Adam Saltsman - Part 2

Designer Notes 48: Adam Saltsman - Part 1

Designer Notes 47: Brendon Chung - Part 2

Designer Notes 46: Brendon Chung - Part 1

Designer Notes 45: Rami Ismail

Designer Notes 44: Clint Hocking - Part 2

Designer Notes 43: Clint Hocking - Part 1

Designer Notes 42: David Sirlin - Part 2

Designer Notes 41: David Sirlin - Part 1

Designer Notes 40: Brian Reynolds - Part 3

Designer Notes 39: Brian Reynolds - Part 2

Designer Notes 38: Brian Reynolds - Part 1

Designer Notes 37: Chris Hecker - Part 2

Designer Notes 36: Chris Hecker - Part 1

Designer Notes 35: Manveer Heir

Designer Notes 34: Tyler Sigman - Part 2

Designer Notes 33: Tyler Sigman - Part 1

Designer Notes 32: Asher Vollmer