69 episodes
Design Doc Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland
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- Arts
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5.0 • 25 Ratings
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Come along with Hannah and Evan in a living documentation of the game design process, from the first spark of an idea, to every disastrous surprise. It’s not an instruction manual, but a travel guide, with lots of unexpected stops along the way.
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Adapting a Text
Hannah and Evan talk about how to transform a beloved movie, book, or show into a game, using their latest project as an example: An adaptation of a 1779 book of cosmetic chemistry, The Toilet of Flora.
EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS:
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/
Toilet of Flora: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44276
OUR GAMES:
Website: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
GET IN TOUCH:
Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun
Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod -
Working around a Job
In a perfect world, we'd make a living just making roleplaying games. But sometimes, duty calls, and you've got to work around another job. In this episode, we talk about rolling with the punches in a moment when the creative work is competing with a new and time-consuming reality—that of a day job.
FOLLOW/CREDITS:
Our games: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun
Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod -
Obsessions
What’s the difference between a “theme” and an “obsession?” Inspired by a classic writing book from the ‘80s, we share our respective obsessions and talk about how they show up in our work, intentionally or otherwise.
EPISODE MENTIONS:
Learn how to play Go: https://online-go.com/learn-to-play-go
Learn how to smell things (Introduction to Perfumery Kit or Perfumery Notes Kit from Perfumer’s Apprentice): https://shop.perfumersapprentice.com/c-58-educational-kits.aspx
Writing Down the Bones (book by Natalie Goldberg)
Synecdoche, New York (film)
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity (book by Graeber and Wengrow)
A Pattern Language (architecture and urban design book by Alexander, Ishikawa, Silverstein)
Eating Raoul (film)
The Clock Crew (Newgrounds wiki link)
FOLLOW/CREDITS:
Our games: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun
Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod -
Better Never Than Late?
Kickstarter stretch goals are notorious for getting project creators into trouble. Sometimes, they over promise content. Other times, they create financial strain. Often, it's all of the above. In this episode, we talk about Top Tracks, a stretch goal project we just completed that's so overdue... nobody even remembered it.
CW: This episode contains a discussion of sexual harassment.
EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS:
Top Tracks! https://turtlebun.itch.io/damntheman (under Download Demo)
Our games: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun
Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod -
Designing Alone, but Not Lonely
In this episode, Hannah talks about the art of doing creative work alone. As part of a game design duo that normally does all creative work together, what does it look like to self-motivate on game design solo? From setting small, manageable goals and little rewards in advance to finding companionship in the work itself.
MENTIONED IN EPISODE:
Scavengers Reign (animated mini series) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21056886/
Health Minds App (available for free on the Apple app store and Google Play) - https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app
EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS:
Our games: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun
Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod -
Design Session: What Makes a Good Solo RPG?
We love making solo RPGs, but we don't always love playing them. In this episode we brainstorm ideas for a possible one-player version of Questlandia, and what would make us excited to play it.
EPISODE LINKS/CREDITS:
Our games: turtlebun.com
Patreon: patreon.com/turtlebun
Join the Turtlebun Discord! https://discord.gg/XD4WVDjvbz
Get in touch! Designdocpod (at) gmail (dot) com
Design Doc intro/outro theme by Pat King
Instagram: instagram.com/turtleandbun
Turtlebun Twitter: twitter.com/turtleandbun
Design Doc on Twitter: twitter.com/designdocpod
Customer Reviews
Not just a game design log
This show is an honest and ongoing examination of the creative process. It’s not about a game, it’s about 2 artists figuring out what’s important to them and what they need to do and be to progress toward that goal. It is an embodiment of “the journey, not the destination”.
It is alternately comforting and inspiring as I go through my own creative struggles.
A wonderful arc
This show is more than just a game design show. Over the years it has been a show about the struggles of crowdfunding, burn out and personal relationships. I love how honest it can be at times.
Honest, Lovely, Caring
For me, that this podcast is about designing games is besides the point. The topic is interesting to me, but the biggest draw is that each show quickly enters the space where two friends are talking very honestly with each other about a shared project and it feels like they’ve forgotten about the microphones entirely. They have a care and respect for each other that lets them express ideas and show vulnerability without fear of that vulnerability being abused. Listening to this podcast is the audio equivalent of taking a hike with a good friend.