Explore every episode of the podcast Make That Game! A Game Design Podcast

This week's ~USER SUBMITTED~ game theme is Armor! Isaac's game is about roaming a post-apocalyptic equipping a rusting tank with state of the art... cardboard armor!? And Clair pitches an idea about shedding your hard protective exterior and exposing your vulnerable self for the sake of love! Then we talk a whole lot about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

04:45 Isaac Pitches Tank World

13:49 Claire pitches "Armour" (it's a pun)

24:15 Isaac and Claire discuss Echos of Wisdom

53:41 The rapid fire round!

This week's game idea theme is cookies and in that spirit Isaac brings us the aptly named Cookie Shooter! It's a first person shooter... with a cookie theme. Yup. Claire's game is a Battletech-inspired Gingerbread man game! Then we discuss savescumming and building it into games.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

00:00 Make that game!

02:40 Isaac Pitches a cookie FPS

9:23 Claire pitches a half-baked gingerbread person game

16:45 Discussion: Save Scumming built into your game?

30:27 The Rapid Fire Round!

What's old is new again with our first "New Game+" episode! It's technically a re-run, sure, but! You probably haven't listened to it! We have stats that say so!

Isaac pitches "Duck Ponder" a location defense game, presumably about ducks and ponds. Claire's idea is "Cat Cafe Princess Warrior", a She-Ra meets Link's Awakening, meets a cat cafe game!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

This week the theme is: princess! Claire's idea has you managing princess parties and Isaac gives us the gift of cursing princesses with eternal slumber! For our discussion, Claire gives us her Honks and Bonks (it's like a review, if you haven't heard one of these before!) of Golden Glitch's time-looping adventure game, Elsinore!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

We start off by reading a listener's screwy game idea, and then we've decided we're going to try out doing game idea themes! This week the theme is: leaves! Claire's game is about scattering leaves on lawns and Isaac's is a competitive Leaf 'Em Up! Then Isaac talks entirely too long about Dwarf Fortress, and we learn what a skink is.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

It's a spooky ooky episode of Make That Game! Isaac pitches a game about a ghostly pumpkin army and Claire pitches a 5-in-1 multi-game ghost extravaganza! We also talk about Life is Strange's strange lack of accessibility, and what can make a horror game SCARY!

This is Make That Game, the shocking podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random scary words and come up with a horrific game idea and gruesome design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's spooky!

Claire pitches an idea about solving puzzles with reflected light (AND we learn she doesn't know what 3D means!) and Isaac pitches an idea about Santa Claus clobbering evil cretins with his sack! Then we discuss... why games might get released uh, too early!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac's game idea is a roguelike where you become the enemy you kill (that's right, you usually get weaker!), and Claire does her homework and revisits her idea from last time! Then we discuss the design differences between tabletop games (mostly board games) and video games!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

In a rare turn of events, Isaac pitches the first game and it's a very simple strategy game! Then Claire pitches an idea for a game where you randomly transform between forms! For our discussion we talk about our top 3 "draws" for games - what are we looking for? What makes us want to play new games we see/hear about? Find out!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire pitches a game about drawing weapons! You know, with a pencil? What did YOU think I meant by "drawing weapons"? Isaac's game is about reversing the fishing game. Then we discuss Claire replaying Life Is Strange in. What has she learned as a gamer since her first time playing!?

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire pitches her game named "Age of Umpires", if that gives you any hints as to what it could be about, and Isaac's pitch is for a tower defense themed after exploiting tourists! Then we talk about the psychological need to use the bonuses you have, even if that's not really the best idea.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire pitches a game idea about escaping a house, and Isaac brews up an idea about… brewing! And learns that a distillery and a brewery are different things! For the discussion, Isaac removes a system from The Witcher 3, and Claire removes a mechanic from Kirby games!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

We read a listener's game idea about cryptids, Claire pitches a non-cryptid-based game about playing out TV Trops, and Isaac brings us back to cryptids (thankfully!) with a bigfoot hunting ImmSim (immersive simulator) that forces you to mix plaster in the rain! The discussion topic is... GOOD and EVIL! What's it good for, anyways!?

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire's idea this week revolves around remaking and improving a childhood favorite, and Isaac pitches a game about controlling a tank and making miniscule adjustments! Our discussion revolves around taking a game and "improving it" by adding a mechanic or system to it!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire's pitches an idea about marketing pets for adoption, and Isaac's game pitch is... a little early? It's August, what's he doing pitching a Halloween game!?

We talk about games in maps, immersion, and ease of play! Do you like diegetic directions, or do you NEED a marker to navigate?

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

For episode 101 we try a NEW FORMAT! Claire brings the vibe, and Isaac brings the mechanics, and we make a game idea together! Tell us how you think it worked out!The discussion topic today is bait n' switch in games! How do you feel when you think a game is going to be one thing, but then turns out to be a completely different thing? How about when it becomes that completely different thing HOURS in?? Let's discuss!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

It's episode 100! We made it! Let's celebrate with another episode of Make That Game! We talk about the SAG-AFTRA strike and its impact on the gaming industry. Then Claire pitches a hidden cat game! And Isaac does a roguelike about becoming crab.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire enters your dreams and fights a demon in her game pitch, and Isaac has two half ideas that we make into a full idea with some back and forth! Then we talk about inventory management as a progression system. And also, at some point, monster breeding in games. There's kinda three discussion topics in one episode this time, whoa!!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac pitches a game named Long Tooom which he has apparently been holding on to for a while. Was it worth the wait?? Claire's idea is about a doctor who cures ailments with their fists! Then Claire and Isaac talk a little bit too much about tabletop wargaming when they discuss game updates and the burden of an update on onboarding new players. This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac pitches a game about exploring... and that's it! No experience, no treasure. Just, the thrill of exploring! Claire's idea puts you in the role of a live streamer! And for a discussion we talk about systemic games/systemic game design AKA designing your game around the emergent interplay of ~systems~! Sounds exciting!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire's pitch this week is for a game where you collect pride flags, and Isaac pitches a fantasy game about using the stars for power! Claire talks about game design elements of Kirby and the Forgotten Land that help or hinder her speedrun attempts. Don't forget we're going LIVE for a pre-GDQ stream on July 30 2024 1130am EST! Claire will be running Kirby Go Home and Sleep and we'll send everybody who shows off directly into Summer Games Done Quick at 1230!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire pitches an light-bending idea, and Isaac's game idea is about exploring space and terraforming planets - do you think he's been playing No Man's Sky a lot again?? We talk about the games we uninstalled from our Switch and why we uninstalled them!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac went to a nerd convention for nerds who play tabletop wargames like Warhammer 40k and such, so his idea is a nerd game for nerds who like wargames! Claire uses a flashback to explain how she did, actually, give a game idea to us, and that game idea was based on Blades In the Dark, the tabletop roleplaying game! Then we leverage that to talk about adaptations in general and things to keep in mind when adapting a non-video game to a video game.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire pitches a game that a certain famous pop star may be interested in??? And Isaac wants to hunt dinosaurs in Fallout: New Vegas, we guess? Then we talk about Another Crab's Treasure by Aggro Crab, and recap our livestream of it from the past weekend!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac offers a bad, dumb, pointless game idea to start the podcast off strong! And then Claire's really good idea is about being a ghost that cleans a child's room at night! The discussion topic of the day is "returning to games after a long time" and how a game can be designed to make that easy for returning players!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire's game racers humanoid trains... with RHYTHM! Isaac's game is about holding limes, and also racing, coincidentally. Then we talk about the Fallout TV Show. Not much game design chatter there, but it's a fun show!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac gets super excited about a dragon-taming simulation game that he forgot to design flying mechanics for! Claire's game idea is a game you can play forever! And ever... and ever... Then we talk about The Pokemon Problem! What happens when your one character/attack/whatever is TOO POWERFUL and you just do the same boring thing over and over!? What kind of design leads to this, what can you do to steer away from it?

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

This week Claire pitches a run 'em up game about business reviews, and Isaac makes a time-stopped mission-planning warrior assassin game! And he asks a small question about limited tries in games.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

This week Claire pitches a visual novel city builder roguelite where you play across generations with each choice impacting the future for generations! Isaac's idea is "edgy Kirby". That's it. That's the game. It's Kirby and edgy. Isaac asks Claire: "Well, what WOULD you read, in a game, if not instructions!?" and she answers!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac pitches an auto-scroller to the chagrin of every speedrunner, and Claire pitches a Percy Jackson themed rogueLITE! Then she Honks and Bonks Kirby: Return to Dreamland Deluxe!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire wants to play games that follow a growing career, so she pitches an idea for being a pyschic medium on tour! Isaac's pitch is a Fire Department management sim game! We discuss how games inform the player of what's going on and what the player should be doing. The user experience! That's the term we never use in our discussion! Look at us.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire pitches a game about spending large sums of cash as fast as possible! Isaac decides it's like a Legend of Zelda randomizer but with money instead of fighting!

Isaac pitches a game that, yet again, tries to bring tabletop wargames to the computer. This time, as a tower defense!
Claire learns, through discussion, that dry land can exist below sea level. Folks!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac pitches a puzzle game about navigating traffic (is he worried about a commute or something?) and Claire wants to put players in charge of running a craft fair booth!

We talk about our recent livestream ROGUE-A-THON where we tried to help Claire understand what Roguelike/Roguelites were through FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE! Does she have a better idea now, or is she still lost in the dungeon!?

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac pitches a game idea about a zombie monkey and Claire pitches a game where you can build "I Spy" games for your friends!

Claire talks about Escape Rooms and we discuss how escape room design can apply to video game designs/how they are similar!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire pitches a relaxing wedding cake baking game. Isaac tries to make that Goron spinny thing from Majora's Mask a whole game. Can he avoid making it a Sonic game???

We recap our first live stream of 2024 and semi-honk and bonk ANGRY BIRDS! Whoa, is it really 2024? Seems a little late to be having Angry Birds discourse...

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac's idea for this week is bringing the doldrums of the office to your video game console... with minigames! Can he make office busywork... fun!?

Claire gives us an idea for a party game (but really she just wants to outsource pro/con lists to her friends)!

Then we talk about a potential new Nintendo console?? There's rumors of it? Idle Speculation? The... Switch 2???

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Hey hey hey, we're here to pitch game ideas and Isaac's pitch is: Glitch Hunters! A Spot-the-difference puzzle game.

And Claire pitches "9 Month Cruise", a game about managing *and surviving* a 9 month cruise! Hm, that sounds topical!?

And for our discussion, Isaac mopes about Twitter/X. How... how is that game design related? Guess you gotta listen to find out.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire, who has NOT been reading and watching and listening to a podcast about Percy Jackson at all, visits Olympus and brings us an idea for a game where you play as Atlas! What genre of game could it be??

Isaac's game idea is an RTS (Real Time Strategy) game with no resource collectors - no, you have to raid your enemies for supplies!

For today's discussion topic we discuss gaming resolutions for the new year!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

We're back to our normal scheduling! Claire pitches a game idea which borrows the gameplay of beloved SkiFree, and gives it a story and cute kitty characters!

Isaac says his pitch is 'tetris interior design' but a) what does that mean? And b) is that even true? Is there really interior design going on?

Our discussion is using the mechanics of a game to tell or enforce the story/narrative of a game! Isaac realizes how important taking notes is as his brain refuses to come up with any examples of what he means - only examples of games that don't do it! Eugh! Ugh!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

We're back from a Health and Holiday Hiatus! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, your gift from us to you is that Isaac let's Claire do most of the talking this episode!

There's a little changeup from the usual dynamic this week. Isaac pitches a game idea that was inspired by his bout of coughing fits but somehow transformed into a game about spear-fishing on a raft! What a journey for an idea!

The real meat and potatoes of this episode however is The Rant! Claire and Isaac watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and they (but mostly Claire) have a lot to say! Are they good things? You'll just have to listen to find out!

But don't worry, we still do the Rapid Fire Round. However this week, we only generate three random words TOTAL. That is to say, we only do one round of the Rapid Fire Round. But don't worry - it's a good one!

Your favorite video game design podcast is BACK in the New Year and coming swinging! Get ready for more episodes in the coming weeks!

Today's episode has a SECRET MYSTERY! Throughout the episode we drop 3 total hints. Listen carefully, and see if you can solve the mystery yourself!

Claire's idea this episode is a game idea about a guy with ideas! An idea guy game idea.

Isaac's game idea puts you in charge of a cute li'l space explorin' rover, like the Mars Curiosity Rover, but for alien planets!

For a discussion, Isaac rants and raves about Real Time Strategy games and their split into City Builders and MOBAs, and expresses some hope for the future (let's go Stormgate!)

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac goes solo! That's right, freed from the shackles of Claire he gets to ramble, uninterrupted, for 5 whole game ideas (counting the rapid fire round!). Just absolute stream of consciousness stuff going on here, may as well be Finnegan's Wake. That's right, Isaac talking is equivalent to a James Joyce novel! Anyways, he pitches a TACTICAL BATTLE SIMULATOR (who would ever predict that??), and a game about shooting dragons with a ballista... and being corrupt about it!?

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

You're finally awake. Not even last night's storm could wake you... or could it not??? Ignoring the confusing double (triple?) negatives there, Isaac's game idea takes inspo from that famous line from Elder Scrolls: Morrowind and has you play as a storm trying to wake up a fated hero!

Claire pitches a game idea about designing houses. Like, really hardcore simulation style, not Sims/Animal Crossing style. Her game idea digs into the real life "rules" of room design!

This week's discussion is about storyboarding/prototyping games. Mostly their stories, but Isaac brings it to gameplay by bringing up cardboard prototypes again!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

It's an episode for HALLOWEEN! How spooky are our game ideas? Isaac pitches "S.S.S." a game about exploding skeleton armies, and Claire pitches a fixed camera horror game about exploring a museeeeeum.

Then we talk about those apps that help you build habits. Gamified chore lists, you might call them.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

This week Claire's embracing the season with a game idea named... Skeleton Hands!? So spooky!

Isaac thinks about VR for the first time in his life and pitches a game about untangling cords and cables. Claire isn't so sure if it's a game that actually makes sense for VR though...

You know those unhinged mobile game ads? That's what we chat about this episode.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire's game idea this week is an online social deduction game. Sounds pretty sus to me!

Isaac's got an idea for a city builder disguised as a farming game disguised as a Halloween game!

Then he rants about being able to move buildings in a city builder he played. And city builders in general. He might lose the plot a bit.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!
And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac pitches a game idea where you can't stop moving, ever, for any reason, or else you die! It's sort of an anti-Superhot!

Claire pitches an adventure game where your hoop skirt defines your abilities/tools... and where you can fit!

Claire asks about arcade games. What ever happened to those? Do people still make new ones, like games specific for arcades? We talk about that a bit.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!
And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

This week's episode will have you saying "nice"!
Isaac's idea his about robbing museums, returning artifacts to the people they belong to, and smashing stuff that doesn't belong at all!

Claire pitches an arcade game about jousting. With normal horses, even!

What ever happened to Flash, anyways? Is that a game design question? We ask it anyways!

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!

And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Claire's idea brings us on an adventure to discover pieces of a secret code to find big treasure!

Isaac's idea has us scavenging a post-apocalyptic wasteland for... laserdiscs? And VHSes! That's right, an alternate history post-apocalypse game where Blockbuster (don't sue us please) survives the apocalypse and you've gotta keep it going!

Claire asks about ending Open World Games. Do you just go for the final boss as fast as possible? Do you diddle about with side quests? Do you do something in between?

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!
And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!

Isaac pitches us a mini-game idea about emulating the tactile feel of juggling with a video game controller! Also, it turns out Claire knows a lot about juggling. Who knew!
Claire's idea this week is a tycoon/business management game about making cereals! Can you top Kellog's? Will your cereal knock Count Chocula off the shelves?

We also go off on a wild tangent about Reese's puffs, rap songs, messed up candy ads, and pronunciation!

Claire watched some TikToks about Baldur's Gate 3 and they raised questions about... save scumming! We discuss save scumming, what it means to scum a save, what a developer can do to prevent it (or encourage it!) and whether save scumming is wrong. It also gives Isaac flashbacks to Disco Elysium. You can hear his grimacing, folks. It's weird how he can do that.

This is Make That Game, the podcast where we talk about the latest and greatest new video games... that aren't ever going to get made. We pitch 'em, you make 'em (if you want, nobody's forcing you I guess). Then we break down games we've played by game design elements we liked or didn't like so much. If you're looking for a video game design focused podcast, we might have just the one for you!
And of course, as always, we have the rapid fire round, where we generate 3 random words and come up with a game idea and design incorporating them! Needless to say, it's a riot!