RPG Design Panelcast

Episode 38 – Accessibility Issues for Game Designers

D036 – Accessibility Issues For Game Designers

Presented by Russell Collins & Jason Pitre. Games are about imagination and creativity so the print medium shouldn’t be a barrier to entry. Understanding the needs of persons with learning differences and the options that designers have will keep you from excluding people who are eager to enjoy our hobby. This seminar will focus on blindness, low vision, and dyslexia and strategies to present your game content for those with print disabilities in digital and audio media.

 

Episode 38: Accessibility Issues for Game Designers [ 55:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (146)

Episode 37 – Roleplaying Scenario Design

D015 – Roleplaying Scenario Design

Recorded at Metatopia 2013. Presented by Kenneth Hite, Darren Watts, Rob Donoghue, John Stavropoulos & Bill White. Our panel of experts drills down into the specifics of scenario-building for publication, whether it’s showing off the game’s basics with an introductory scenario, or stringing several together for a mini-campaign book.

 

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Episode 36 – My Game Will Cost What?

My Game Will Cost What?

Presented by Curt Covert & Stephen Buonocore. This panel will seek to explain why games cost what they do. What are the expenses, and what decisions must you as a designer make in order to hit your target price point? Presented at Metatopia 2013.

 

Episode 36: My Game Will Cost What? [ 1:02:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (189)

Episode 35 – Dangerous Mechanics

“Dangerous Mechanics”

Presented by Jason Pitre, Kenneth Hite, Rob Donoghue & Will Hindmarch. 

The panelists will deal with mechanics that look good on the surface but can have unforeseen negative consequences in play. Spending XP, no-effect rules, dice-generated currency – all have hidden dangers. Explore these and other light bulbs that didn’t quite work out..

 

Episode 35: Dangerous Mechanics [ 54:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (275)

Episode 34 – Gaming as the Other: Race in Our Industry

“Gaming As The Other: Race in Our Industry”

Presented by John Stavropoulos, Terry Romero, Ajit George & Mark Diaz Truman.

As many “geek” activities have expanded over the last ten years, role-playing has often struggled to include the voices of racial and ethnic minorities. Join Ajit George, Mark Diaz Truman, and Terry Romero to discuss what challenges the industry faces including “Others”, why increased diversity is valuable and important to the future of gaming, and what path both designers and players can take toward building a more robust, inclusive community.

 

Episode 34: Race in our Industry [ 54:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (181)

 

Episode 33 – How to Work with Editors

How to Work with Editors

This seminar was originally presented at Metatopia 2013 in Morristown NJ. This panel was led by
Ryan Macklin, Amanda Valentine, Cam Banks and John Adamus.

Everyone needs an editor. How do you hire one? Once you have one, how can you work with her most efficiently? How does somebody become a great game editor themselves?

 

Episode 32: How to Work with Editors [ 54:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (140)

 

Episode 32 – How to be a Good Playtester for Others

How to be a Good Playtester for Others

This seminar was originally presented at Metatopia 2013 in Morristown NJ. This panel was led by
Will Hindmarch, Tim Rodriguez and John Adamus.

Everyone agrees playtesting is crucial. But what kind of feedback is best for publishers? This panel looks at the necessary skills and mindset for being a good playtester from *this* side of the table.

 

Episode 32: How to be a Good Playtester for Others [ 56:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (226)

Episode 31 – The Care and Feeding of Freelancers

The Care and Feeding of Freelancers

This seminar was originally presented at Metatopia 2013 in Morristown NJ. This panel was led by John Stavropoulos, Ryan Macklin & Amanda Valentine 

You’ve reached the point where you’re ready to hire some professional freelancers to help you complete your game, whether as writers, editors, or artists. How do you find freelancers, how do you work with them, and how do you keep them happy to work for you?

 

Episode 31: The Care and Feeding of Freelancers [ 57:18 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (181)

Episode 30 – Reaching Retailers

Reaching Retailers: How To Get Stores Behind You

This seminar was originally presented at Metatopia 2013 in Morristown NJ.

Presented by Will Hindmarch, Jim Crocker & Brian Dalrymple (+1). Your game is ready for market. Now you’ve got to get it in the hands of players, and the best way to do that is to convince stores to carry and promote it. How do you do that? Our panel of experts fills you in!

 

Episode 30: Reaching Retailers [ 56:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (140)

Episode 29 – Legalese and Intellectual Property

Legalese: Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents

This seminar was originally presented at Metatopia 2013 in Morristown NJ.

Presented by Justin Jacobson & Jason Pitre. It’s all about protecting yourself. Where and when do these legal concepts apply, and what do you need to do to make sure you’re covered without spending a fortune unnecessarily?

 

Episode 29: Legalese and Intellectual Property [ 56:09 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (146)

Episode 28 – Ebooks 101

Episode 28 of the RPG Design PanelCast is brought to you thanks to the Metatopia Game Design Festival by Double Exposure.

D050: “Electronic Book Publishing 101” presented by Jason Pitre & Joseph Bloch. What are the differences between publishing hard copy books and electronic publishing? This panel will fill you in on everything you need to know, from standards and tools to markets for reaching your audience. 

 

 

Episode 28: Ebooks 101 [ 52:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (146)

Episode 27 – Making Games Feel Magical

This was originally broadcast by Indie+ online convention, led by Mark Diaz Truman , presented by Kyle Simmons, Julia Ellingboe and James Raggi.  This is discussion the various ways that games can feel magical, from the everyday kitchen magic to the perilous high magic that could end the world.

 

Episode 27: Making Games Feel Magical [ 57:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (228)

Episode 26 – Magic Mechanics

This was originally broadcast by Indie+ online convention, led by Mark Diaz Truman in conversation with Rob Donoghue. It’s a fascinating discussion on how game mechanics can create a feeling of magic during play.

 

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Episode 25 – Is Fantasy Dead?

Is there still room for more Fantasy RPGs? What is fantasy really, anyways? How can you design interesting games within this genre?

This was originally broadcast by Indie+ online convention, led by Rich Rogers. The presenters are John Wick, James Raggi, Gilian Fraser, David A. Hill Jr., Brennan Taylor

 

Episode 25: Is Fantasy Dead? [ 53:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (248)

 

Episode 24 – How to Learn RPG Design

Everyone can design games, and we are here to help show you the way. We will teach you the basics and give you the resources to learning rpg design on your own. We provided attendants with a DVD full of podcast content and panel recordings. You can find much of that information at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eibuw567kj9px3q/ScnQmP5A58

This was presented by Jason Pitre and Mark Diaz Truman.

 

Episode 24: How to Learn RPG Design [ 53:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (409)

 

Episode 23 – No Nos in Game Design

No Nos in Game Design

A discussion led by Stan!, Jeff Bellinger., Matt Forbeck and Daniel Solis on mistakes they have learned from in their publishing experience. An excellent discussion worth a listen to this panel from GenCon 2011.

 

Episode 23: No Nos of Game Design [ 55:18 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (283)

 

Episode 22 – Things you think about games

Things you think about games

An excellent and philosophically rich discussion concerning why games matter. Presented Jeff Tidball and Will Hindmarch from Gameplaywright (http://gameplaywright.net) over at GenCon 2011.

 

Episode 22: Things You Think About Games [ 46:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (218)

Episode 21 – Game Design is Mind Control

Game Design is Mind Control: Presented by Luke Crane and Jared Sorensen from way back in 2011.

The art of game design is to induce your players to behave in bizarre, irrational ways that they otherwise would not. Join us as we demonstrate how rules make you perform all sorts of ridiculous acts. And if you don’t believe us, you will by the end of the seminar!

 

Episode 21: Game Design is Mind Control.mp3 [ 1:00:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (408)

Episode 20 – The Kickstarter Roundtable

Kickstarter Roundtable: Presented by Fred Hicks and Brennan Taylor.

In this intense workshop, we will explore the ins and outs of using Kickstarter as a crowdsourced fundraising platform.  Topics will include best practices for making videos, for customer contacts through updates, etc.

Regrets from Cindy Au and Joshua A.C. Newman on account of hurricane.

 

Episode 20: Kickstarter Roundtable [ 1:43:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (202)

 

Episode 19 – Introduction to Nordic Larp

LARPs aboard submarines? LARPs about having cancer? Join us for a journey inside the fascinating high-art gaming scene of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. They play in submarines, nuclear reactors, and in custom-built shanty towns. They get government grants to LARP! Welcome to the arty world of Nordic LARP, where intense emotion, minimal mechanics — including safewords — and fabulous scenery rule the day. Join ‘Leaving Mundania’ author Lizzie Stark and game designer and Industry Insider Guest of Honor Jason Morningstar for a journey inside this fascinating high-art gaming scene.

 

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Episode 18 – Volatility in Game Design

Randomness makes games fun, but it can also make them terrible. Our Industry Insider guests give advice on the right way to use randomness in game design. Randomness makes games fun, but it can also make them terrible. If you’re going to use randomness in your games, it’s like using fire in your kitchen. A great tool, but only if you know how to handle it. Our Industry Insider guests will give advice on the right way to use randomness in game design.

Presented by James Ernest and Jason Morningstar.

 

Episode 18: Volatility in Game Design [ 59:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (267)

 

Episode 17 – The International RPG Scene

There are thriving RPG scenes in outside North America. Come find out from our Industry Insiders on what’s up, what’s innovative, and what’s scandalous. Presented by Jason Morningstar and Dominic McDowall-Thomas.

 

Episode 17: International RPG Scene [ 53:17 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (188)

Episode 16 – Indie Cradle to Indie Grave

Join Industry Insider designers and developers as they talk about post mortems of various independently published projects.  Presented by Jason Morningstar and James Earnst

 

Episode 16: Indie Cradle to Indie Grave [ 56:10 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (155)

Episode 15 – History Panic

Presented by Jason Morningstar and Kenneth Hite.

Stress-Free Historical Roleplaying Description: How to enjoy roleplaying in historical settings – common pitfalls and how to avoid (or ignore) them.

Presented at GenCon 2012.

 

Episode15: History Panic [ 52:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (183)

Episode 14 – Advanced GM’less Play

A discussion about GM’less games by Jason Morningstar at Metatopia 2012.  This was presented to a group of game designers and publishers who ask some advanced questions.

Sorry that the introduction doesn’t include the title of the seminar.

 

Episode 14: Advanced GMless Games [ 52:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (210)