#248 Listener Questions October 2020

Kathryn joins Dirk and David to answer some more listener questions. Discussion includes a deep dive into the role of complexity in design: where it makes sense and where it detracts from the product. In a similar vein, the hosts talk about “stout” games that are both heavy in decision making but short in duration. Other topics include the RTS genre, the idea of experience-focused design, and the favorite episodes of Kathryn, Dirk, and David.

Episode Outline

0:55 Do video games and board games handle cognitive load differently? Could cognitive load have led to the death of the RTS genre?

11:22 Does the axiom of reducing cognitive load apply if your audience wants the complexity?

13:52 How do I prioritize tasks on a small indie team working on a video game?

26:40 What are some “stout,” short but heavy, board games? Are the descriptors mutually exclusive?

42:57 Is experience-focused design truly best? Is it just a re-framing of the old ludology/narratology debate?

48:33 What are the hosts’ favorite TGDRT episodes?

In this Episode

Kathryn Hymes - @chicalashaw, thornygames.com
David V. Heron - @davidvheron
Dirk Knemeyer - @DKnemeyer