About Matt Forbeck

Matt Forbeck is an award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author and game designer with a career spanning over three decades. With more than 35 novels and countless games to his name, Matt’s projects have garnered critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award, a Scribe Award, and numerous ENNIE and Origins Awards. He is also the president of the Diana Jones Award Foundation, which celebrates excellence in gaming. His work spans iconic brands like Marvel, Warhammer 40,000, Dungeons & Dragons, Minecraft, and Halo, as well as original creations such as Shotguns & Sorcery.

In this episode, Matt dives into his extraordinary journey, from freelancing fresh out of college to creating acclaimed projects like the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game and Hard West 2. He shares lessons learned as a game designer, writer, and mentor, offering invaluable advice on building a sustainable creative career. Whether you're an aspiring creator or an industry veteran, Matt’s inspiring blend of passion, humility, and expertise is sure to resonate. Fun fact: he’s also the proud father of five, including a set of quadruplets—a feat that may rival even his most ambitious creative endeavors!

Alliestrasza joins us on today’s episode, bringing her extensive experience as a prominent streamer and influencer in the trading card game space. Best known for her long-running success as a Hearthstone content creator, Allie carved out a career in streaming that spanned nearly a decade. Recently, she has expanded her focus to game development, launching the Discord-based RPG Play Alchemy, and is also actively involved in promoting Web3 games like Parallel.

In this episode, Allie shares her journey from discovering card games during her final semester of college to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the TCG streaming world. We discuss what it takes for an influencer grow a community, the discipline required to succeed as a full-time content creator, and the lessons she’s learned in handling criticism as a public figure. Allie’s take on both traditional and Web3 gaming shows how passion, hard work, and adaptability can really pay off. Whether you're interested in streaming, game design, or building communities around shared interests, Allie’s experiences lessons that can be applied to anyone navigating a creative industry.

Ah-ha! Justin’s Takeaways

* Keys to Community Growth: One of the biggest insights from Allie’s experience is how personal involvement fuels community growth. Whether it was through creating fun community events or simply building relationships with fans, she demonstrated the power of caring about your community. This reinforced something I’ve seen time and time again—when developers or creators become part of the experience as personalities, it transforms the relationship with the audience.

* How to Deal with Criticism: Allie’s journey to becoming a streamer wasn’t without obstacles, but what stood out was how she handled feedback—both the good and the bad. When you have a defensive response to criticism, it’s often a sign of insecurity. Allie’s ability to reflect and grow through early struggles mirrors a lesson I’ve written about before. (Check out my article on this here). Criticism, when approached with the right mindset, is one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth.

* Work Hard Every Day to Achieve Your Goals: Allie earned success by treating her passion like a full-time job. I loved the story of her PowerPoint presentation to her parents, laying out her streaming career as a structured experiment. From day one, she approached streaming with a full-time mentality, putting in the hours to make her dream a reality. This is a huge takeaway for anyone pursuing creative goals. Treating passion projects with the same discipline as a “traditional” job dramatically improves the odds of success, especially when combined with the previous to Ah-Ha bullets.

Eric Dieulangard joins us on today’s episode, bringing a ton of experience from the gaming and business worlds. He is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Equinox, where he was pivotal during the launch of Altered. This trading card game became the most successful TCG Kickstarter ever, raising over $6.6 million. His career path includes professional esports, high-level marketing, and game design; Eric understands what it takes to create impactful gaming experiences.

In this episode, Eric shares his journey from competing as a professional Warcraft 3 player—becoming the first French champion in a major esports tournament—to transitioning into business and marketing leadership. Before joining Equinox, he worked at massive companies like IBM and Webedia, where he honed his skills in sales, team management, and brand growth. Eric and I also discuss lessons learned from his diverse career, offering insights on the importance of being persistent, the value of experimentation, and how to align your passions with professional purpose. Whether you’re looking to crowdfund your dream game, build a career in gaming, or find your path in a creative industry, Eric’s story is filled with awesome, actionable advice.

About Travis George

Travis George joins us on today’s episode, bringing over two decades of experience in the video game industry. Travis has held leadership roles at renowned companies like Activision and Riot Games, where he served as the product lead for League of Legends, helping to grow the game into a global phenomenon with over 117 million monthly players. He later co-founded Vela Games, where he continues to innovate as CEO, focusing on designing new player experiences in the cooperative gaming space.

In this episode, Travis shares his journey from launching his first IT services company as a teenager to pursuing a formal education in game design and eventually playing a pivotal role in building one of the most successful live-service games in history. He offers critical insights into team building, the challenges of scaling a studio, and how to align your company around vision and priorities. Travis also discusses the lessons he learned from his successes and failures, including evaluating personal and professional growth, managing creative burnout, and pivoting when necessary. Whether you’re a novice designer or a seasoned creator, Travis’s experiences and philosophies provide a treasure trove of wisdom for navigating game development. Enjoy!

Alexander Seropian joins us on today’s episode, bringing his vast expertise from decades in the video game industry. Alex is the founder of several influential game companies, including Bungie, Wideload Games, Industrial Toys, and Glenslinger Studios. He has also held leadership roles at Disney and Microsoft, overseeing teams of more than 100 people. Among his many accomplishments, Alex is best known for co-creating the iconic game Halo and for being a driving force in game design and industry innovation. In addition to his executive work, Alex has served as an advisor and investor in numerous startups.

In this episode, Alex shares his journey, from his early days growing up in the 80s and programming on an original Mac, to founding Bungie and navigating the challenges of building and leading teams. He dives into what it takes to manage through failure, the lessons learned from his entrepreneurial ventures, and his thoughts on the future of gaming, including the roles of VR, AI, and Web3. Alex’s insights into game development, team building, and navigating the ever-evolving game industry provide invaluable wisdom for creators at every stage of their careers. Enjoy!

Richard Bartle and Nigel Roberts join us on today’s episode, bringing decades of experience in gaming, technology, and community building. Richard is one of the co-creators of MUD (Multi-User Dungeon), the precursor to today’s MMORPGs, and developed the famous Bartle Taxonomy, which categorizes player types. He’s also a renowned author and academic, with works like How to Be a God exploring virtual worlds.

Nigel Roberts, one of Richard’s long-time collaborators, was involved in the development of MUD and has had a significant role in shaping the modern internet. He is a member of the ICANN Board of Directors and one of the founders of the .gg domain. Nigel also made history as the first person to win a lawsuit in the UK for unsolicited spam email. His legal and technical insights have been instrumental in building communities both online and in the gaming world.

In this episode, Richard and Nigel share their journey from developing the earliest multiplayer games to navigating the challenges of decentralized systems, community regulation, and virtual economies. They also discuss the power of “what if” in game design, the hero’s journey, and how both players and designers can express freedom and identity through games. Enjoy!

About Alex Yeager

Alex Yeager joins us on today’s episode to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience from over 20 years in the board game industry. Alex is the Chief Operating Officer at Amigo Games, overseeing the company’s North American operations. Before his time at Amigo, Alex held various leadership roles at renowned companies like Mayfair Games, where he served as Vice President of Acquisition and Development, and Steve Jackson Games, where he contributed significantly to their demo programs. He also has a rich background as an event coordinator and demo leader, helping bring many games to wider audiences.

In this episode, Alex shares his journey, from falling in love with tabletop games like Cosmic Encounter and Illuminati to his deep involvement in demoing for Steve Jackson Games and CheapAss Games. He walks us through his innovative 2-2-2 demo method, explains what makes a game pitch successful, and dives into the marketing strategies that can revive evergreen titles like Bonanza. Alex’s insights into game development, pitching, and the mechanics behind building successful games provide a goldmine of advice for designers and developers alike. Enjoy!

Want to support the podcast and get more design lessons?

Paying subscribers enjoy an abundance of extra game design content and an exclusive newsletter with new lessons, archive access, videos, and more! By opting for a free or paid subscription, you can get the latest articles delivered to your inbox and support this podcast!

About Scott Morris

Scott Morris joins us on today’s episode to share insights into the world of game design and business development. Scott is the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Lucky Duck Games, where he has played a key role in the company's growth, including the recent acquisition by Goliath Games. Before his time at Lucky Duck, Scott held leadership positions at GTS Distribution and Passport Game Studios. He's also the designer of Firefly: Shiny Dice, a dice game based on the beloved Firefly universe, published by Upper Deck Entertainment.

In this episode, Scott walks us through his journey, from running the successful review site Crits Happen to transitioning into full-time roles within the board game industry. He shares valuable lessons on branding, including how to effectively pitch a game and the complexities of acquisitions in the gaming world. Scott’s deep dive into the business side of game design, along with his tips for navigating contracts and branding, provides essential advice for designers at all stages of their careers. Enjoy!

In this special live episode recorded at Gen Con 2024, I share key lessons from my 20 years in the game industry, including insights from working with industry legends like Richard Garfield and designing major games like Ascension, Shards of Infinity, Bakugan, and SolForge Fusion. Here are some key takeaways:

* Emotional Impact: Pay close attention to how games make players feel. Player experience is the most important metric for a game.

* Set Deadlines: Setting deadlines and doing your best to hit them will change your life—deadlines are magic.

* Core Design Loop: Focus on regular iteration and refining ideas.

* Community: Building solid relationships with other creators is essential for growth. Always ask what value you can add, and you’ll be headed in the right direction.

If these ideas resonate with you, join my Think Like A Game Designer Mastery Course to receive hands-on guidance and turn your game ideas into reality. You'll have the opportunity to pitch your game to real publishers, work with a creative community, and receive expert feedback as you bring your designs to life. Sign up now!

Ethan Mollick joins us today to share his insights into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. Ethan is an associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in innovation and entrepreneurship. He also co-directs the Generative AI Lab at Wharton, which focuses on developing prototypes and conducting research to explore how AI can help humans thrive while reducing risks. His body of work includes the book Co-Intelligence, a New York Times bestseller that delves into AI's current state and future, as well as numerous published papers in top academic journals.

In this episode, Ethan takes us through his journey from working at MIT's Media Lab with AI pioneer Marvin Minsky to becoming a leading voice on the impact of AI on work and education. He shares practical advice on how creatives, including game designers, can wield AI to enhance their work while navigating its ethical complexities. Ethan and I reflect on co-designing the Breakthrough Game, which has been used by organizations like Google and Twitter to boost innovation and creativity. There’s a lot to learn from this episode, so get those notebooks out—Enjoy!