In this episode, storied game designer Chris Taylor (Total Annihilation, Supreme Commander) joins Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant for a candid conversation about fearless creativity, costly mistakes, and why groundbreaking games often mean never waiting for permission. From pioneering real-time strategy to surviving the brutal highs and lows of independent studio life, Chris shares his boldest bets - and what it truly takes to deliver on ambitious game-design dreams.

Check out Chris' web‑based RTS project Kanoogi:
https://www.kanoogi.com/

00:00 Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant welcome Chris Taylor
03:10 Chris Taylor's Early Career and Hardball
08:09 Transitioning to Boxing Games
12:18 Taking the Leap: Leaving EA for Total Annihilation
15:08 The Rise of Total Annihilation: A New Genre
21:00 Balancing Complexity: The Challenge of Game Mechanics
29:00 The Role of Trust in Creative Teams
34:37 Subtraction in Design: Knowing What to Remove
40:25 Creative Freedom and Game Development
43:52 From Cave Dog to Gas Powered Games
55:13 Work-Life Balance in Game Development
01:00:18 The Pain of Innovation
01:04:34 Lessons from Mistakes and Expectations Management
01:13:50 The Burden of Expectations & Navigating Failure
01:19:01 The Evolution of Game Development
01:24:11 The Changing Landscape of the Gaming Industry

Follow Chris:
https://x.com/DeathBot9

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In this episode, Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant talk with renowned game designer Justin Gary, discussing his journey from winning Magic: The Gathering championships to creating successful games like Ascension and SolForge Fusion. They explore the evolution of game design, the importance of creativity, the challenges of crowdfunding, and the impact of AI on the industry. Justin shares insights on navigating risks, the creative process, and the significance of building a community around game development.

Check out the new SolForge Fusion expansion mentioned in this episode, Shadows over Solace:
https://gamefound.com/projects/stoneblade/shadows-over-solis?refcode=hrtpe5I8bkOYWNsguSijmA

00:00 Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant welcome Justin Gary
03:39 Justin's Journey in Game Design
06:36 Innovations in Game Mechanics
09:26 Working with Legends: Richard Garfield
12:31 The Core Design Loop
15:30 Common Mistakes in Game Design
17:17 Setting Boundaries for Success
20:22 The Ego Paradox in Creation
24:15 Understanding Fear and Risk
28:07 The Innovator's Dilemma
34:56 Magic: The Gathering's Impact on Game Design
43:09 Finding Joy in Leadership
45:57 Trusting Your Team for Success
54:02 The Evolution of Crowdfunding in Game Development

Follow Justin:
https://x.com/Justin_Gary

Check out Justin's podcast, writings, and book here:
https://justingarydesign.substack.com/

Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wethoughtpod

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-thought-it-would-be-easy