Experimental Gameplay Workshop Founder and Braid Developer Interview…

Jonathan, founder of the Experimental Gameplay Workshop at GDC and developer of the game Braid talks about game design…

You can download the podcast here…
http://www.indiegamepod.com/podcasts/braid-podcast.mp3

or listen to it here…
http://www.indiegamepod.com/dewplayer.swf?mp3=http://www.indiegamepod.com/podcasts/braid-podcast.mp3

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Show Notes:
0:00 – 5:00 Minutes…
Introduction, Experimental Game Design Workshop Founder

Started out with simple games and was a hobbyist initially.

Started out as an indie in 6th grade

Started own company in 1996

5:00 – 10:00
Challenges of starting a company
Signed with TEN
Created a mult-player sci-fi game
Took an extra 1.5 years to finish the game
Did a sequel for the game

10:00 – 15:00
Suggestions for indie game developers…
take an incremental approach to development. Now you can make a simple game on the web
and put Google Ads next to it.

Or can make a simple game and sell it for 5 dollars.

Had a complex interface for first game, now realize that interface simplicity is important.

Noticed that another game called Arc that was very simple…was having a lot more success…even though
our company’s games had better production values.

15:00 – 20:00
Mentions how Snood felt like an anamoly.
Same with Runescape. Does not have high production values, but still very popular

Started the Experimental Gameplay Workshop at GDC because noticed that there were these
folks doing interesting experiments with games

20:00 – 25:00
Big waves at GDC…
Mid 90s: Online gaming

Late 90s: Hollywood in Games

2004-2006: Mobile Games and MMOs

Current Wave: MMOs

Talks about having a “prototype mindset”…a mentality where trying to explore
and learn things

Will work on a prototype for 1-2 weeks and then put them away for a while

25:00 – 30:00
After puts the prototype away, will come up with more ideas during the away time

When you prototype, don’t do it when you need to have a successful idea. Prototype when
you are on another project and doesn’t matter how it comes out. Maybe it will come out
good or not.

While doing main development, will take 1-2 weeks off to prototype and come up with ideas

30:00 – 35:00
Details about Braid Design and the development/exploration process

Talks about working on Braid in Thailand

35:00 – 40:00
Experimental Gameplay Workshop Discussion

40:00 – 45:00

Talks about some interesting games found at Experimental Gameplay Workshop…
Rod Humble’s “The Marriage”

Future of gaming

45:00 – 50:00
Production values vs. Gameplay

Games as Expression

50:00 – 55:00
Social Gaming vs. Single-player gaming
Opinions on Alternate Reality Gaming

Talk about favorite games
like..
Counterstrike
Everyday Shooter

55:00 – 60:00
Favorite games like…
Gammas Bros

Talks about the future of his game design…
and some of the concepts behind his upcoming game

60:00 – 65:00
Talks about initial design process
vs.
current design process

Last words for indie game developers out there…
keep doing what you’re doing
It would be nice to see indies that are doing it because they want to be independent

Take care,
Action