Podcasts by The Panic Mode Podcast
An insiders’ take on games and game design.
Further podcasts by Panic Mode
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64 - The Future of Games (and Panic Mode) from 2021-02-14T19:00
It’s been a strange time for games and the games industry. This week we talk about where we see game design going moving forward and discuss the future of The Panic Mode Podcast.
Website: ...
63 - Cognitive Narrative Design with Katarina Gyllenbäck from 2021-01-31T19:00
This week we welcome narrative designer Katarina Gyllenbäck to share her expertise on how cognitive-based story creation can be used to create meaningful and engaging interactive experiences.
<...
62 - Blockchain in Game Design with Chris Wood from 2021-01-17T19:00
Chris Wood returns to the show to share his insights on blockchain in game design. And yes, it does in fact have more applications than just safer microtransactions :0
Website: panicmode.n...
61 - Gamification in Education with Scott Hebert from 2021-01-03T19:00
This week we welcome Scott Hebert to the show to share his insights on gamification in education. Scott is a teacher, author, and an intrepid pioneer committed to reimagining teaching in the 21st C...
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60 - 2020 in Review from 2020-12-20T19:00
For our last show of the year, we take a look back at what 2020 will be remembered for in game design and development, as well as a recap of the Game Awards.
Website: panicmode.net
Twi...
59 - Realism in Game Design from 2020-12-06T19:00
With video games reaching photorealistic levels of graphical fidelity, the way we think about realism in game design is beginning to change. This week, Aidan goes over his heuristics on designing f...
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58 - The History of Mobile Games from 2020-11-22T19:00
Mobile games dominate the modern industry landscape. This week we explore the technologies that have powered or continue to power the genre, as well as the games that have come to define it.
57 - Speedrunning in Game Design from 2020-11-08T19:00
Designing games for speedrunning is something of a novelty. But as we discuss this week on the show, it’s well worth considering.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: twitter.com/panicmoded...
56 - Part 2: Mental Health and Game Development from 2020-10-11T18:00
This week we take a look at the oft discussed topic of mental health in game development, and how we can prevent/treat mental health issues both for ourselves and teammates.
Website: panic...
55 - Part 1: Mental Health and Games from 2020-09-27T18:00
Mental health and games are closely intertwined areas - whether it’s playing games to cope, or the depiction of mental health in those games. This week we take a look at this relationship as well a...
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54 - Open World Games from 2020-09-13T18:00
This week on the show we take a deep dive into the practices and challenges commonly associated with designing open world games. Turns out it’s a fairly open-ended topic (ayyye)
Website: p...
53 - Educational Games from 2020-08-31T01:59:54
This week we discuss why educational games may be the future of classroom learning. And no, we don’t mean those games your teacher used to make you play at www.coolmathgames.com.
Website:...
52 - Death of the Game Designer from 2020-08-02T18:00
This week we take a somber look at how we as gamers relate to not only the games we play, but also the people who made them. This is Death of the Game Designer.
Website: panicmode.net
...
51 - Euro Games from 2020-07-19T18:00
Euro games are a rising genre in board games, but… what exactly are they? And what the hell is Ameritrash? And why does gaming academia continue to force its cruel taxonomies on everything? Worry n...
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50 - Asymmetric Games from 2020-07-05T20:51:52
Asymmetry carries a lot of pros and cons when implemented in games. This week we dive into what asymmetry is, what it’s good for, and how to effectively design asymmetric games.
Check out ...
49 - Race in Video Games with Rishi Barnwal from 2020-06-21T18:00
This week we talk to Rishi Barnwal from On Thin Ice Games about race in video games, and what we can do to be conscious of it as game designers.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: twitte...
48 - Evergreen Games from 2020-05-24T18:00
Evergreen games are a growing presence in the gaming industry. This week we take a deep dive into what they are, where they came from, and the hottest of takes on where they are going.
Web...
47 - Visual Novels from 2020-05-10T18:00
Visual novels have a (relatively) long and unusual history. This week we get into what visual novels are, where they came from, and why you should probably be making them.
Website: panicmo...
46 - Scope in Game Design from 2020-04-26T18:00
Scope is important to any project, and doubly so ina field as complex as game development. This week we delve into the practices and consequences of scoping in games.
Website: panicmode.ne...
45 - Art in Games with Wayne Wong-Chong from 2020-04-12T18:00
This week we welcome Pixelmatic’s Director of Art, Wayne Wong-Chong, to talk about everything art in games. And also about our quarantine beards!
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panic...
44 - Roguelikes from 2020-03-30T00:35:02
This week we get into the pointlessly perplexing taxonomy behind roguelikes (with a ‘k’), roguelites (with a ‘t’), and all of the useless criteria associated with each. Seriously. Some people think...
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43 - Designing Metagames from 2020-03-16T05:23:57
Metagames: gamers hate ‘em, competitors love ‘em, and in some ways it feels like game designers only discovered them in the past ten years. This week we breakdown all you need to know about metagam...
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42 - Team Communication with Chris Wood from 2020-03-01T21:05:51
Communication in team environments is crucial to any big project, even more so in game development. This week we speak with Chris Wood, the COO of Pixelmatic, on how to cultivate a healthy team env...
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41 - Game Feel from 2020-02-16T19:00
As a belated Valentine’s Day nod, this week we’re focusing on *feelings* in games. Or as it is more colloquially known: “game feel,” or less colloquially known as: “how much screen shake can you fo...
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40 - Applied Game Design Theory Vol. 2 from 2020-02-03T03:38:33
We’re back with more applied game design theory! This week we’re looking at Fortnite, Stardew Valley, and Mario Kart and try to get a sense of what makes them tick from a game design perspective.
39 - Making Your First Game from 2020-01-20T00:18:57
Making your first game is the first baby step towards becoming a game designer. So why do so many aspiring designers struggle to take it?
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotn...
38 - Unified Board Game Design Theory from 2020-01-06T03:17:31
This week we discuss Dan Ackerman’s article “Towards a grand unified theory of board game rules,” AKA our diatribe on why lengthy board game rulebooks SUCK.
Website: panicmode.net
Twit...
37 - 2019 in Review from 2019-12-23T22:46:44
This week we pause to reflect on what 2019 meant for games and game design, as well as recapping The 2019 Game Awards!
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
Facebook: fb...
36 - Gameplay Loops from 2019-12-08T21:35:26
This week we take a look at a core concept of game design: gameplay loops. Are they different from feedback loops? Yes. Or are they…? No, they are the same. Unless they aren’t. They are different. ...
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35 - Hopepunk & Grimdark from 2019-11-24T23:06:45
In this episode, we discuss the emergence of the grimdark and hopepunk subgenre, and their potential to influence game design. And for the record, it’s pronounced “hope-punk” not “hopunk”. Just say...
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34 - Types of Fun from 2019-11-10T23:38:45
This week we look at the many ways gaming academia has tried to quantify “fun”. Fun fact: funnily enough, researching “fun” is a decidedly unfun experience despite “fun” ostensibly being “fun”. Doe...
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33 - Panic Radio Vol. 2 from 2019-10-31T15:43:34
Panic Radio is back! What’s spooky gaming stories have gotten you in panic mode lately?
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet
Medium:...
32 - Progressive vs. Emergent Gameplay from 2019-10-13T22:42:26
Understanding what is meant by progressive and emergent gameplay is an important tool for communicating about game design. And yes, we promise we didn’t just make those terms up.
Website: ...
31 - Girls and Games from 2019-09-30T03:25:33
This week we tackle myths about girls and games.
We’d hoped we wouldn’t have to, but apparently we do.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
Facebook: fb.me/pa...
30 - Character Creators from 2019-09-15T22:51:15
Who knew character creators could be so complicated?
Shelby did.
Shelby always bloody knows.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
Facebook: fb.me/pani...
29 - Progression Systems from 2019-09-01T19:20:50
It’s our podcast’s one year anniversary! In this episode we take a look at progression systems, and talk about the past and future of Panic Mode.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panic...
28 - The History of the First-Person Shooter Genre from 2019-08-18T20:31:48
First-person shooters have been around in one form or another for over forty years now. This week we discuss its history, its subgenres, and the design philosophies that informed it along the way.<...
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27 - Panic Radio from 2019-08-05T05:23:14
Hello internet, what's got you in panic mode today?
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet
Music Credits:
AhDah by Kevin...
26 - Zero Sum Fun from 2019-07-21T23:47:38
A grab bag episode this week on the podcast. Everything from the persistent presence of crunch in the gaming industry to how to make losing fun. And not to spoil anything, but the signoff is a litt...
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25 - Collectible Card Games from 2019-07-08T00:08:50
This week we look at collectible card games - what they are, why they're popular, and some heuristics for designing them.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
Facebook:...
24 - Empathy in Games from 2019-06-23T21:54:05
Games can evoke empathy in its players in ways unlike any other medium. But as we discuss this week, that’s not always a good thing.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
23 - Accessibility in Video Games from 2019-06-09T23:22:13
This week we discuss accessibility in video games, both in terms of what we can do to improve gaming experiences for disabled gamers, and the merit of games that are so difficult that not everyone ...
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22 - The Souls Genre from 2019-05-26T20:34:01
Shelby and Aidan discuss the Souls games, how they spawned an entire gaming genre, and how they contradict what we think we know about game design.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @pa...
21 - Historical Accuracy in Video Games from 2019-05-12T19:02:59
Shelby goes rogue in this episode, explaining her research into the social issues behind historical accuracy in video games, and how accountable we are as game designers for the history we choose t...
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20 - Operant Conditioning in Video Games from 2019-04-28T16:59:23
This week we discuss operant conditioning in video games, AKA the psychology behind why we all played Farmville about 30 hours past the point it was fun.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter...
19 - Story in Video Games from 2019-04-14T19:41:42
Storytelling in video games is as difficult an endeavor as it is in any other medium. This week, we take a look at some games with excellent stories and talk about what made them work.
We...
18 - Narrative Design in Board Games from 2019-03-31T18:51:15
After years of research, analysis, and discussion, we have concluded that board games DO in fact have a narrative. We explore this shocking discovery and discuss some heuristics designers should co...
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17 - Analysis Paralysis from 2019-03-17T18:52:55
This week we take a look at analysis paralysis - what it is, what it does, and how we should handle it as game designers. This episode is more or less a love letter to any and all of us who have be...
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16 - Applied Card Game Design Theory from 2019-03-03T22:35:08
We're back with more applied game design! This week we're examining classic card games like War, Go Fish, and Poker under the scrutinous lens of modern game design theory.
Website: panicmo...
15 - Implicit Communication in Game Design from 2019-02-17T20:17:04
Effectively communicating with your player is a key component of any game’s design. This week, we take a look at how to communicate with your players without them even realizing it.
Websit...
14 - Social Deduction in Game Design from 2019-02-03T20:17:34
Social deduction games are great for parties, creating stories, and cold-blooded betrayal. This week we take a look at what makes social deduction tick in game design.
Website: panicmode.n...
13 - Board Game vs. Video Game Design from 2019-01-20T22:57:29
Board game design is fun, messy, and not talked about very much (even by this show's standards). This week, we give board games some love and talk about how board game design compares to video game...
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12 - Toxicity in Video Game Culture from 2019-01-06T19:51:49
Toxicity in gaming often feels unsolvable, but that's far from the case. This week, we take a look at some of the practical solutions that have been implemented or could be implemented to battle to...
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11 - Violence in Game Design from 2018-12-23T19:36:02
We close the year out with a discussion of violence in game design and by extension the role violence plays in the gaming medium. It's a wild time.
Trigger warning: this episode contains ...
10 - Games Journalism with Patrick Hickey Jr. from 2018-12-09T19:24:40
How important are game review scores? What's the future of games journalism? Should you buy Darksiders 3? This week we sit down with journalist Patrick Hickey Jr. to discuss the good, the bad, and ...
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9 - Monetization in Video Games from 2018-11-25T19:03:46
"Are loot boxes ethical?" is the million dollar question this week. We explore how video games are monetized in the modern era and try to find where the line between maximizing profit and deliberat...
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8 - Designing Tutorials in Video Games from 2018-11-11T19:00
A bad tutorial can ruin a good game, and a good tutorial will often go entirely unnoticed. This week we break down the underappreciated art of designing tutorials for video games!
Website:...
7 - Complexity & Depth in Game Design from 2018-10-28T18:00
We discuss how designers should employ complexity and depth in game design. Spoiler: Dwarf Fortress may have pushed the envelope a liiiiiittle bit too far.
Website: panicmode.net
Twit...
6 - Applied Game Design Theory from 2018-10-14T18:00
We apply modern game design theory to Monopoly, Clue, and Risk! We also tell you how to win at those games and what games you should probably be playing instead.
Website: panicmode.net
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5 - Positive & Negative Feedback in Game Design from 2018-09-30T18:00
Feedback loops are key to keeping gaming experiences fun from start to finish. Except in Mario Kart where they just ruin everything.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
4 - Narrative Design in Video Games from 2018-09-16T18:00
Shelby and Aidan explore narrative design in video games and how it differs from narrative in other mediums.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
Facebook: fb.me/panicm...
3 - Difficulty in Game Design from 2018-09-02T18:02
In this episode, Shelby and Aidan discuss difficulty in games. Should there be a difficulty setting? When is a game too difficult, or too easy?
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmo...
2 - Top Down vs. Bottom Up Game Design from 2018-09-02T18:01
In this episode of Panic Mode, Shelby and Aidan discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of top down vs. bottom up game design.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotne...
1 - Luck vs. Skill in Game Design from 2018-09-02T18:00
Welcome to the first episode of Panic Mode! In this episode, Shelby and Aidan discuss luck versus skill in gaming and game design.
Website: panicmode.net
Twitter: @panicmodedotnet
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