In this episode, host Dirk Knemeyer is joined by co-host David Heron to answer a series of deep dives from their community. The discussion explores the technical and philosophical underpinnings of game creation, ranging from the “Wild West” of QA processes to the evolving landscape of global publishing.

The duo discusses why mimicking video games might actually be making your tabletop combat feel slow and uninteresting, the “heartbreaking” reality of survivor bias in digital publishing, and why educational games must prioritize fun to survive the scrutiny of “hyper-literate” young players who are used to the polish of modern hits.

Episode Outline

0:00 Beginning of Show

0:50 End of Intro

1:15 QA Processes and Assumptions: David discusses establishing unit tests and managing “showstopper” risks in AAA digital games, while Dirk highlights the “tedious and awful” but necessary process of proofing physical rulebooks where mistakes cost thousands of dollars

13:45 Rethinking Combat Systems: An exploration of the HP-to-zero model. The hosts argue that TTRPGs suffer when they try to mimic “state machine” computer games, suggesting that meaningful actions should be prioritized over complex tactical math

34:20 Publishing Models: A look at the pros and cons of self-publishing versus working with a publisher. Dirk notes that the “glory days” of Kickstarter are largely over for new indies, while David details the complex spectrum of funding, IP rights, and localization resources involved in digital contracts

47:30 Global Markets: A breakdown of international gaming habits, from the “design language” bifurcation in Japan and Korea to the unique buying power and layaway patterns in the Brazilian market

58:45 Educational Games: Discussion on the difficulty of designing for the classroom. David warns that educational tools are often underfunded and struggle to compete with the polish of $100-million-dollar projects like Fortnite

1:05:00 Outro

1:06:00 End of Show