Designer Notes – Details, episodes & analysis

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Podcast Designer Notes

Designer Notes

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Frequency: 1 episode/45d. Total Eps: 95

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Why do we make games? Every designer has a different and very personal answer to that question. Soren Johnson, founder of Mohawk Games, sits down with noted designers to find out by examining their careers as a whole.
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Apple Podcasts

  • 🇬🇧 Great Britain - videoGames

    26/06/2026
    #96

  • 🇩🇪 Germany - videoGames

    26/06/2026
    #41

  • 🇬🇧 Great Britain - videoGames

    25/06/2026
    #58

  • 🇩🇪 Germany - videoGames

    25/06/2026
    #98

  • 🇩🇪 Germany - videoGames

    24/06/2026
    #69

  • 🇩🇪 Germany - videoGames

    23/06/2026
    #51

  • 🇨🇦 Canada - videoGames

    17/06/2026
    #82

  • 🇨🇦 Canada - videoGames

    16/06/2026
    #53

  • 🇬🇧 Great Britain - videoGames

    16/06/2026
    #93

  • 🇩🇪 Germany - videoGames

    16/06/2026
    #68

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Score global : 43%

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Designer Notes 84: Zach Barth - Part 1

samedi 31 août 2024 • Duration 02:39:32

In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Zach Barth, best known for his puzzle games, including SpaceChem, Infinifactory, Shenzhen I/O, and Opus Magnum. They discuss why he never originally wanted to make money on his games, why puzzle games are terrible, and whether he has ever played Minecraft. This episode was recorded on September 11, 2023.

Designer Notes 83: Mitch Lasky - Part 2

jeudi 6 juin 2024 • Duration 01:54:05

In this episode, Soren interviews noted game investor Mitch Lasky, best known for his work as a venture capitalist at Benchmark, as the CEO of JAMDAT, and as an executive at Activision and Electronic Arts. They discuss how the industry’s business models have always affected design, why he was wrong about the Halloween pack ruining League of Legends, and why the litigation leaks are better than GDC. This episode was recorded on October 23, 2023.

Designer Notes 74: Charlie Cleveland

jeudi 13 avril 2023 • Duration 03:14:01

In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview veteran game designer Charlie Cleveland, founder of Unknown Worlds and best known for his work on Natural Selection and Subnautica. They discuss why Charlie Cleveland moved to Cleveland, how he did Kickstarter before Kickstarter, and whether Subnautica was intended to be a survival game. This episode was recorded on March 20, 2022.

Designer Notes 73: Liz England

mercredi 15 mars 2023 • Duration 02:57:50

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game designer Liz England, best known for her work on Scribblenauts, Sunset Overdrive, and Watch Dogs: Legion. They discuss how she organized her mom’s RPG inventories, what is the boiling point of a lion, and whether system complexity matters if the player can’t see it. This episode was recorded on September 17, 2022.

Designer Notes 72: Harvey Smith

mardi 10 janvier 2023 • Duration 02:38:58

In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview veteran game designer Harvey Smith, best known for his work on the Deus Ex and Dishonored series. They discuss what TDA stood for at Origin, if Dishonored is just Thief but faster, and why it is sometimes better to be heavy handed. This episode was recorded on March 23, 2022.

Designer Notes 71: Matthew Davis

mardi 29 novembre 2022 • Duration 02:50:13

In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Matthew Davis, co-founder of Subset Games and best known for his work on FTL and Into the Breach. They discuss whether FTL is a roguelike, how they resolve conflict at Subset, and whether Soren can convince them to add unlimited undo to Into the Breach. This episode was recorded on Sept 19, 2022.

Designer Notes 70: Justin Ma

dimanche 9 octobre 2022 • Duration 01:59:42

In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Justin Ma, co-founder of Subset Games and best known for his work on FTL and Into the Breach. They discuss how he bombed his first game industry interview, why the AI in FTL can’t behave like a human, and whether Into the Breach should have unlimited undo. This episode was recorded on March 24, 2022.

Designer Notes 69: Chris Delay - Part 2

lundi 15 août 2022 • Duration 01:53:31

In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview independent game developer Chris DeLay, co-founder of Introversion Software and best known for his work on Uplink, Darwinia, Defcon, and Prison Architect. They discuss how to play Prison Architect without a prison, why the game needed cutscenes, and how to design an economy when the world is ending. This episode was recorded on March 24, 2022.

Designer Notes 68: Chris DeLay - Part 1

lundi 27 juin 2022 • Duration 02:53:20

In this episode, Soren and Leyla interview independent game developer Chris DeLay, co-founder of Introversion Software and best known for his work on Uplink, Darwinia, Defcon, and Prison Architect. They discuss why they hid the credits screen for Uplink, who Darwinia’s Dr. Sepulveda is based on, and whether you can have too much fun playing Defcon. This episode was recorded on March 22, 2022.

Designer Notes 67: Old World

mercredi 18 mai 2022 • Duration 02:08:49

In this episode, Tom Chick and Bruce Geryk interview Soren and Leyla Johnson about their new historical 4X, Old World. They discuss whether the Old World timeline really makes sense, how they approach Early Access differently, and why Soren didn’t want to give up on the name 10 Crowns.

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