Rules of the Game 2025: Uncommon Techniques from Insightful Designers

The "Rules of the Game" podcast session for 2025 features five game designers discussing various principles and techniques in game design. The session begins with a tribute to Laurelyn McWilliams, a past speaker, emphasizing emotional connections in games and studio culture. Chandana Ekanayaka introduces the concept of "intentional friction" to build emotional resonance, using examples like "Getting Over It" and their own game, "Thirsty Suitors." Alicia Thayer discusses balancing technical order with creative chaos, advising technical designers to prioritize the player experience over perfect code. Noah Falstein advocates for simplicity in game design, drawing from his experience with "Sinistar" and highlighting the importance of emergent complexity. Carla Engelbrecht explores the role of constraints in fostering innovation, referencing her work on Netflix's "Bandersnatch" and the "here lies pre-mortem" technique. Finally, Harvey Smith shares insights on layering game systems, level design, and narrative to support creative play, using "Prey" as a prime example.