Welcome to Design Doc, a podcast documenting the process of analog game design. Game designers guide you through their process from concept to product.
We recently realized that we’ve drifted apart not just from our games community, but from our community at large. Now, in a world where the future feels uncertain and dire, we're asking ourselves: how do we reconnect?
Escape from Wonderland has just one week left on Kickstarter. You can read more and back the project here.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc on Patreon: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
The Kickstarter for Escape from Wonderland is LIVE! Support the game here!
How do you know when a game is ready for Kickstarter? How far along should it be before bringing it to the world? In this episode, we talk about the delicate balance of presentation—slick, but not *too* slick; done, but not *too* done. We explored how crowdfunding has changed for small creators now that big, well-resourced companies are bringing their games to Kickstarter too. When faced with a rising standard of "doneness," should we try to match them, or pave our own scrappy way?
Mentioned in this episode:
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc on Patreon: Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
The first conversation we've had about cover design in games! We discuss how book covers are often the first thing people see of our games, how a well-designed cover can stick in someone's memory, and how a great cover isn't just about first impressions—it can make you want to pick up a book again and again.
And a special thanks to our editor, Rob, for letting us know that yes, Scholastic Book Fairs do still exist. Link here: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com
Covers mentioned:
The Martian Chronicles (Link to cover, art by Michael Whelan)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Link)
The Golden Compass (Link to cover, art by Eric Rohmann)
Our covers mentioned, all by Evan Rowland:
Questlandia original edition
Questlandia second edition
Noirlandia
Mud: A Golem Memoir
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
One of the hardest lessons in game design is coming to terms with the fact that many of our favorite ideas will remain unrealized. In this episode, we explore the games we may never complete, our lingering dream of bringing them to life, and how accepting their incompleteness might help us face the reality of death.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Evan and Hannah try playing their new game with a very rough draft of the rules, in a cross between a playtest and design session. New ideas and new questions abound as they explore uncharted territory.
To follow along with the design, Questlandia character sheets and reference rules can be downloaded for free here:
https://turtlebun.com/pages/downloads
Questlandia can be purchased here:
https://turtlebun.itch.io/questlandia-second-edition
https://turtlebun.com/products/questlandia
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
We're joined by public historian and musical improviser Alanna Shaffer to discuss real-world amusement park horror and Dippin' Dots scams at Dorney Park.
Alanna shares thoughts about story vs plot, new character drives, and everyone's personal breaking point after a day with no water. To see Alanna and Thank You, Places in person, check out their monthly improvised musical every last Thursday of the month at Tavern on Camac!
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a one-time tip: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord (we chat about Design Doc here!): https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
We continue our design of a creepy amusement park game, starting with the question, "What does bad behavior look like in an amusement park?" In this episode, we begin with a lot of questions, and end with a roadmap to a first playtest that includes character weaknesses, theme park-related goals, and an unreliable park map filled with skulls and crossbones.
To follow along with the design, Questlandia character sheets and reference rules can be downloaded for free here:
https://turtlebun.com/pages/downloads
Questlandia can be purchased here:
https://turtlebun.itch.io/questlandia-second-edition
https://turtlebun.com/products/questlandia
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Support Design Doc with a one-time tip: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
How can you use simple rules to create a complex setting? In the second part of this live design series, Hannah and Evan take a swing at world and character mechanics. To create a spooky, surreal environment, they’re forced to come up with new ways to approach worldbuilding and character design.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Support Design Doc with a one-time tip: https://ko-fi.com/designdoc
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
What makes a game hack manageable in scope and size? Hannah and Evan delve back into game design to create a creepy amusement park Questlandia hack on the fly. They begin by brainstorming moods, moments, mechanics, and materials for a spoooooky game. From doppelgangers to malevolent crowds to corn dogs, they end with a wealth of ideas for the next design session.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by ipaghost: https://www.ipaghost.com/
Episode edited by Rob Abrazado: https://robabrazado.com/
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Hannah and Evan face off in a battle of inspiration and ego to outdo each other's most founder ideas. Then, they set impostor syndrome aside and dilute those ideas down to something they'd both be willing to try.
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Jingle news by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/460424/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
From Mood, Moments, Mechanics, Materials (MMMM) to "Be aware, be charming," our Design Doc conversations over the years have inspired some of our favorite game design ideas. We talk about the ideas that have had a lasting impact on our game design, and how we're incorporating each one into our most recent project.
Show notes:
Okay, Let's Redesign Noirlandia, for Mood, Moments, Mechanics, Materials
Scopeful Optimism, for discussion of scope
FLETs, for fiddly little end things
Fish People, for "Be aware, be charming"
High Life (2018 film)
Lincoln in the Bardo (2017 George Saunders novel)
Links/Credits:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Get in touch:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Turtlebun Discord: https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
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