Game Design Zen

Curtiss Murphy: Speaker, Consultant, and Game Designer

Games, Life, and the Pursuit of Excellence

  • 26 minutes 53 seconds
    021 : To Purple Cow or Not to Purple Cow? That is the Question

    (Some information was lost. Someone keeps hacking the site. Apologies, I think)

    So he asked, “Are you still a fan of the Purple Cow?†Game dev students were asking the same question, from Virginia to Detroit. It’s a simple question, without a simple answer. This episode gets zen on Purple Cows, via three of my heroes: Will Wright, Jonathan Blow, and Ira Glass.

    NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

    • Purple Cow
    • What about Not Original?
    • Originality is Hard
    • The Bubble – New Ideas

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    27 February 2016, 5:51 pm
  • 39 minutes 43 seconds
    020 : How Do You Do It? Three Tips for Getting Things Done

    (Why do people hack educational podcasts? I cannot imagine)

    Years ago, my boss asked, “How do you get all that stuff done?” Then, last week, my friend asked a similar question. And I realized, I didn’t have an answer. So I thought about it – podcasts, an indie business, and a family, on top of a full-time job. This episode is the answer – three tips for getting things done.

    NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

    • Focus (3:00)
    • Quality of Work (7:15)
    • Habits (19:40)

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    22 February 2016, 7:50 pm
  • 24 minutes 24 seconds
    19 : Breaking My Own Rule! On Steam, Greenlight, and Overcoming Fear

    I broke my own rule! A few weeks ago, I shared a project I was working on, before it was really ready. And after that, I kept putting off creating the video that I needed to get my project on Steam. Week after week, I did nothing, because I was afraid. This episode is about overcoming fear.

    NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

    • Breaking My Own Rule (00:35)
    • Getting onto Steam Greenlight
    • Overcoming Fear!
    • Topic – Start With Something Small (05:30)
      • From A to B, via Z
      • The Path – Little Steps
      • The Power of Community
    • Topic – Set A Hard Deadline (14:20)
      • Let’s Ride Bikes
      • From Closet to Bedroom
    • Zen Moment (21:10)
      • Success Begets Success

    Great Marriage!The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    13 February 2016, 3:51 pm
  • 24 minutes 52 seconds
    18 : Becoming Indie – On Starting A Business

    What about the business? Kenzai asked what it meant to start a business. So, this episode goes zen – covering everything from becoming an indie, to money, to products. It even discusses why you need a Purple Cow.

    NOW AVAILABLE ON YouTube!

    • Kenzai’s Challenge (00:35)
    • My Journey To Indie
    • Topic – Start Your Business (04:50)
    • Topic – Money (7:50)
      • Costs
      • Cashflow
      • Write Offs
    • Topic – Products (15:00)
      • Makes The Business
    • Zen Moment (20:00)

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    Will you forget this? It's a Purple Cow

    Will you forget this? It’s a Purple Cow

    6 February 2016, 7:52 pm
  • 30 minutes 59 seconds
    017 : Three Things You Need To Know!

    What must you know? At a recent game challenge, I met Matt Trobbiani, the creator of HackNet. After I got to know him, I thought it’d be fun to invite him on as a guest. To ensure that Game Design Zen stays zen, I recorded this for him. It’s three things we should all know.

    • Games Competition (00:35)
    • Matt Trobbiani – Creator of HackNet (01:45)
    • Guests vs Interviews (03:00)
    • A Connection – Like a New Hire (05:00)
    • Yes … And (7:00)
      • A Knife In the Back
      • No Buts!
      • Working Together in Everything
    • Interest Curve (13:45)
    • Story (18:00)
      • “How Come You Never Talk About Story?” (20:20)
      • Tell To Win – Peter Guber
        • Question/Challenge
        • Emotional Struggle
        • Galvanizing Conclusion (with a Twist)
    • Zen Moment (26:10)
      • This means you!

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    The interest curve - initial spike, rising spikes, and a climax (ending immediately afterwards)

    The interest curve – initial spike, rising spikes, and a climax (ending immediately afterwards)

    25 January 2016, 1:15 pm
  • 29 minutes 43 seconds
    16 : Season 2 – Battle Royale – Jonathan Blow vs Brett Victor

    Ready for SEASON TWO?!? It’s a new year, with exciting changes in the works. To kick it off, let’s start with two giants!

    They’re at odds. The Indie giant, Jonathan Blow, argues that simpler is better, in almost all cases. Design guru, Brett Victor, argues for sophisticated real-time design tools. This episode digs deep, to find a winner.

    • Check Out My Code! (00:35)
      • What Is An Amateur?
    • Brett Victor vs Jonathan Blow
    • Brett Victor (08:00)
    • Jonathan Blow (13:45)
      • Maximizing Resources
    • Zen Moment (26:10)
      • The winner is – The customer!

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    17 January 2016, 5:21 pm
  • 29 minutes 42 seconds
    015 : Failure, Taste, and the Closet Star Wars Geek – the Season 1 Finale

    What about failure? Your greatest ideas don’t live up to your expectations. You haven’t conquered the world. And yet, as Ira Glass says, your taste is killer. This is the season one finale of Game Design Zen – you won’t want to miss it. Happy Holidays!

    • Andrew’s Story – Frustration, Feedback Friday, and Freaking Out (00:35)
    • Season Finale (04:00)
    • Failure (7:00)
      • Freaking Out
      • “If you’re not falling down, you’re not improving”
      • The Fiery Crucible
    • Platforms are Different (14:45)
      • iOS vs Android vs Steam
      • Good Sex, Great Marriage
    • Challenge Yourself (22:05)
    • Zen Moment (25:20)
      • The Journey
      • Star Wars – Pucumir Thryss – Anagram of me!
      • Try, Improve, and Repeat
    I'm part of the Star Wars universe!

    I’m part of the Star Wars universe!

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    15 December 2015, 4:30 pm
  • 33 minutes 28 seconds
    014 : Because … Fallout 4!

    Game Design Zen : Episode 014

    Fallout 4?! Some predicted – game of the century. Some predicted – not my cup of tea. And for some, like me, it was our first exposure to the Fallout franchise. I didn’t know what to expect. Now, fifty hours in – let’s get zen!

    • Because … Fallout 4! (00:35)
    • My First Fallout (02:45)
    • Flow (4:45)
      • The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
    • Choice (14:20)
      • The Good (16:00)
      • The Bad (18:05)
    • Interest Curve – AHA! (25:00)
      • Character Selection, Power Suits, and Companions
      • Weather, Plot, and Story
    • Da Shiznit! (28:30)
    • Zen Moment (31:00)
      • The Clear Vision
      • Mystery Box

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    8 December 2015, 3:11 am
  • 41 minutes 10 seconds
    013 : Her Unexpected Gift! A Father’s Path To Gratitude – Happy Thanksgiving!

    Game Design Zen : Episode 013

    I’ve been struggling to tell a story. Weeks of nights staring at the ceiling with ideas swirling in my head. It demanded to be told. Until finally, today, I did the whole thing in one take. This special episode is the story of being a Make-A-Wish father. Happy Thanksgiving!

    The sideways glance, with wave, is for the entire auditorium, who is on their feet.

    The sideways glance, with wave, is for the entire auditorium, who is on their feet.

    • The Story Demanded To Be Told (00:35)
    • 19 Years Ago – Kayla is Born (03:38)
    • The Children’s Hospital of King’s Daughters (CHKD) (04:55)
    • The Most Important Night of my Life (11:00)
    • When I Was Wrong (17:50)
    • To Be A Nurse (24:25)
    • The Power of Will (33:45)
    • Kayla’s Voice (35:20)
    • Make-A-Wish – Kayla Bear (37:35)
    • A Thanksgiving Wish of Gratitude (40:25)
    Kayla's ballerina wish was selected by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to become the Kayla Bear.

    Kayla’s ballerina wish was selected by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to become the Kayla Bear.

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    19 November 2015, 5:17 pm
  • 30 minutes 52 seconds
    012 : A Recipe for Simplicity? Rock Band 4, Civilization, and Bushnell’s Law

    Game Design Zen : Episode 012

    I’d waited months for Rock Band 4 to arrive. And when it did, the guitar didn’t work! Find out what happens as we explore the recipe for Simplicity in games.

    Screenshot_2015-03-07-13-11-13

    • Rock Band 4 (01:00)
    • Ikea Effect – Dan Ariely (07:00)
    • A Recipe For Simplicity (09:10)
    • “100 ways to simplify life†(11:00)
    • Simplicity recipe (13:00)
      • Core – “Your garden is not complete until there’s nothing else you can remove†- Will Wright
      • Limited Choice – Barry Schwartz – Paradox of Choice & Destiny (15:00)
      • Intuitive – Block 64. Hearthstone. (17:00)
      • Players’ Perspective (20:20)
        • Civilization – Sid Meier
      • CLIP (25:00)
    • Zen Moment – Bushnell’s Law - (29:00)
      • “Easy to Learn, Difficult to Masterâ€

    FS_2_Simplicity_shrunk

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    9 November 2015, 1:07 am
  • 33 minutes 11 seconds
    011 : League of Legends vs Heroes of the Storm!

    Game Design Zen : Episode 011

    Who will win? We’re just days away from seeing if SKT will once away be crowned champs as they take on new comers, Koo Tigers. So with eyes turned toward Korea, let’s have our own battle - League of Legends versus Heroes of the Storm.

    Korea_Curtiss_Palace_shrunk

    • A Surprise Visit to Korea (00:40)
    • League of Legends Versus Heroes of the Storm (05:40)
    • Why? (10:00)
    • Quality – AAA (11:05)
      • Mechashark Versus MegaShark
      • Graphics, Marketing, Technology
    • Design (13:30)
    • Differentiators (15:45)
      • Frustration (17:20)
      • Last Hitting, Skill, Game Length (21:00)
      • Social! (24:00)
      • The Intrinsic Experience (29:30)
    • Zen Moment (31:15)
      • Build What The Customer Wants

    The Game Design Zen Podcast is the intersection of games, life, and the pursuit of excellence. It is the #1 resource for Game developers, artists, and designers including the art, science, and business of developing better games. Level up to zen!

    28 October 2015, 5:01 pm
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