July 09, 2024

How to Design Obsessive Games by Breaking the Rules

55 minutes

Zach Gage might be one of the most innovative game designers you've never heard of.

He's the creator of Good Sudoku, Really Bad Chess, and 30+ other games that reimagine classic puzzles for the digital age.

Now he's taking on the New York Times with Puzzmo.com

We spent an hour exploring his creative process and the future of puzzle games.

Check out Zach's Resources:
http://www.stfj.net
https://www.puzzmo.com
https://www.playgoodsudoku.com/
http://www.reallybadchess.com/

(00:00) - The First Game Creations

(00:48) - Welcome to the Hey, Good Game Podcast

(00:59) - Insights from Zach Gage's Interview

(02:26) - Introducing Zach Gage

(04:18) - Zach's Gaming Preferences and Bag Obsession

(10:25) - Zach's Artistic Family Background

(12:16) - Early Exhibits and Creative Opportunities

(15:40) - Designing Good Sudoku

(23:50) - Creating Really Bad Chess

(26:22) - Struggling with Chess: A New Perspective

(27:54) - The Game Design Process

(29:06) - Challenges in Game Tutorialization

(30:38) - Innovative Game Examples

(34:00) - Building Puzmo: From Concept to Reality

(46:56) - The Role of Community and Distribution

(50:19) - Balancing Business and Creativity

(53:53) - Connecting with the Audience

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

...more