Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Anne Ratchat , Jason Morningstar , and regrets from James Mendez Hodes. When writing games, a lot of topics are taboo simply because as a community, we are worried how people might take the intentionality of the design to the worst possible places. The issue created by not writing these games, we erase the experience of so many creatives and players who also deserve to have their voices heard. We will be discussing the thought process of how to tack...
Jul 29, 2023•56 min•Ep. 478
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Olivia Montoya , Acata Felton . In some circles, Secrets and Powers LARPs are dismissed as outdated or "too obscure." Our panelists flatly reject this mindset, and invite you to join them for a discussion about what Secrets and Powers games have to offer. Come learn more about this specific type of LARP, which has a focus on pre-written characters, hidden information and roles, and ability mechanics. Learn about why secrets and powers games are cool...
Jul 15, 2023•57 min•Ep. 476
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Mel D'Amato Anyone who makes or sells consumer goods has been watching the news about shipping and logistics in horror. The cost of freight is up. There are no shipping containers to put goods into. Products are sitting on docks in Asia. Full ships can't get to port to unload on this side of the ocean. Our expert, Mel D'Amato from ShipBob, talks to us about what's going on, why everything is terrible, and what we can expect over the next several mon...
Jul 01, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 475
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Jon Lemich , Chance Feldstein , Alex White . There are many diceless RPGs, but their mechanics and design objectives vary more than most designers realize. What do you need to consider when designing a diceless RPG? Do you simply want to replace dice with cards or hidden information wagers, or do you want it to be randomizerless, gameless, or pure collaborative authorship?...
Jun 17, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 474
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Joan Moriarity , Darren Watts , Beth Rimmels . Which is better, a game that concludes when somebody wins, or a game that concludes when the story is deemed to be complete? It's a trick question, obviously; both styles have their benefits and drawbacks, but what are those exactly? Why do certain kinds of players tend to gravitate toward one or the other? What can devotees of one type gain from playing the other, and how can we make it more enjoyable ...
Apr 30, 2023•58 min•Ep. 473
Recorded at Metatopia 2021 Presented by Eric Whalen. Lawyers secretly know that you do not read the big chunks of standardized text in your contract that have nothing to do with your obligations and how much you are getting paid / paying (called "boilerplate" text). Worse - many lawyers forget to read the boilerplate in their own contracts! Whether you love or hate these reader-unfriendly text walls, join the panelist as he reminds us to intellectually grapple with the important provisions every...
Apr 15, 2023•59 min•Ep. 472
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Moe Poplar , Michael Low , J Gurantz . Now kids, stop fighting! RPGs are intensely emotionally engaging, deeply moving experiences - and they're fun! Much attention has been paid, recently, to their application in therapy, helping people navigate complex emotional change. This creates a question - how does the violence often built into the system - and setting - of an RPG affect players, and how can we create games where tension, drama, and struggle...
Apr 01, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 471
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by presented by Jack Rosetree , Olivia Montoya , Taylor LaBresh . Perfection is a toxic concept. The pressure to make our games elegant, innovative, replayable, marketable, pitchable, attractive, and trendy can be exhausting. Don't be afraid to make ugly, unmarketable, uncomfortable, or downright bad games. Making trash is liberating, exhilarating, and cathartic. Full Slide Deck at https://tinyurl.com/htnw669s...
Mar 04, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 470
Recorded at Metatopia 2021 Presented by Jason Pitre , Rae Nedjadi and Sean Nittner with regrets from Jay Dragon. Countless brilliant analog game designers are creating innovative games around the world. Unfortunately, creatives from many countries face harsh barriers in terms of crowdfunding access, banking regulations, shipping challenges, or other factors. That is why international co-publishing agreements have come on the scene. In this panel, Filipino Designer/Publisher Jamila Nedjadi joins ...
Feb 18, 2023•59 min•Ep. 469
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Jonathan Lavallee , Alastor Guzman , Moe Poplar . Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Printing and Publishing Where You Are. In this panel we'll be looking at the current state of printing and publishing RPGs from Canada, the US, Europe, and Mexico. Where are there new opportunities for small publishers to produce physical books without breaking the bank?...
Feb 05, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 468
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Richard Ruane , Pam Punzalan , Brian Yaksha , Zedeck Siew . In METATOPIA 2020's "Devil in the Details" panel, we explored microsettings; settings that focus closely on a specific area, region, or location. This year, we'll discuss how microsettings challenge traditional assumptions about game mechanics, focusing on character creation, magic, technology, and GM procedures. How can the concrete specificity of microsettings open up other design opportu...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 467
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Thomas Manuel , Logan Timmins , Rae Nedjadi , Aaron Lim , momatoes . Asking and answering questions seems really simple but at the same time, it's a powerful tool in the game design process. Watch a group of storygame designers talk about the role of questions in their games and how they can help you get the best out of play at the table....
Dec 04, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 466
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Tanya Pobuda , Sarah Stang , Erika Chung , Eric Lang . We know where we stand - gaming, specifically analog gaming in this case, has a sexism and racism problem. We've proven that through our research. Now that we have the data to back up our lived experiences, what can we do to fix the problems?...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 465
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Beth Rimmels , Sen-Foong Lim , Gwendolyn Marshall . As a GM or game designer, you can produce a rewarding or disappointing experience for players. Regardless of genre, game or goals, what your design focuses on and how it conveys that determines how it will be received. We'll discuss how to create satisfying experiences whether you're trying to scare players, create thought-provoking frustration, or make players feel like heroes...
Oct 22, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 464
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Jason Cox , Shing Yin Khor , Jeeyon Shim . Keepsake Games, Art, Education and Equity. Keepsake games, which generate material objects as a result of play, are a fascinating tool for classroom use. What if the experience of educational games was visually shaped by the students? How would this affect their engagement and retention of content? How can a game like this thrive in the quantitative systems that dominate education?...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 463
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Richard Ruane , Diogo Nogueira , Sarah Blunt, Daniel Wilson and Noora Rose. Cold, scary, empty, and filled with radiation, we all know the real void of outer space isn't a friendly place. But what opportunities do we get when we create settings in a different outer space, one we see in pulp novels, weird fiction, planetary romances, cosmic horror, and early tabletop games and supplements such as Spelljammer or Space 1999? What makes creating a space...
Sep 24, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 462
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Jordan Russell. What is DDP? What is VAT? How can I expand my business Globally? If these are questions you have asked yourself then this session is for you. Come grab some knowledge with Jordan Russell (from ShipBob) on how to expand your business into different markets around the world. Becoming a global business isn't as scary as it seems.
Sep 12, 2022•46 min•Ep. 461
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Scott Morris and Michael Parker. Are you a designer and want to know how your game gets distributed? Are you self publishing and want to know more about Distribution? Are you crazy enough to actually ask a Distributor anything? Join us as Scott Morris from GTS and Michael Parker from ACD discuss the U.S.'s 3-Tier system and answer questions....
Aug 27, 2022•57 min•Ep. 460
Recorded at Metatopia 2021 Presented by Gabby Swab , John Harris , Ian Mercer . Role Playing as Experiential Learning: How Dungeons & Dragons Assists in Teaching Management Concepts" In Fall 2020, students across three universities participated in building a character based on their Ideal Entrepreneur, Human Resources Manager, or Leader. Using the format from the popular Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game, the students' chosen character used their characteristics, skills, and knowledge t...
Aug 13, 2022•56 min•Ep. 459
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Sen-Foong Lim , Paul Stefko , Moe Poplar and Quinn Murphy . Jonathan Lavallee was unable to attend for medical reasons. Analysis paralysis exists in creativity! When we put up limits and restrictions, we find new ways to solve problems and be creative. This panel will talk about what works for them when putting up walls around their creative process....
Aug 06, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 458
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Jonathan Lavallee , Sen-Foong Lim , Misha B. It's always great and interesting to have cool terms for features in your game, but there are moments when that can get in the way of what you're trying to say. We'll be talking about the importance of, and balance between, clarity and flavor in your text....
Jun 25, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 457
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2021 Presented by Jay Dragon , Robert Donoghue , Rabbit Stoddard , Darla Burrow . Game design and publishing are complex tasks at the best of times, and particularly so for those dealing with ADHD. Many creatives struggle with maintaining their attention and concentration on their design and publishing work. How do you track your accomplishments and keep track of what you need to do next? How do you manage multiple deadlines and juggling priorities? How can ADHD be h...
Jun 12, 2022•59 min•Ep. 456
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Jack Parra , Melissa Gay . This panel for art beginners discusses technique, both in a general sense and specifically for the kinds of products you're likely to encounter in the game biz.
May 21, 2022•59 min•Ep. 455
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Grant Howitt , Matt Jones, Alexi Sargeant , Jeeyon Shim , Jason Tocci . Writing long games is hard, but so is writing short games. What advantages do one-page games afford us? What can't they do? What can they do better than longer games? We're going to find out.
May 14, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 454
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Eric Whalen. This panel is a brief discussion of the basics of copyright law (and some other aspects of intellectual property law) as they pertain to writers and game designers. Members of the panel include game designers, publishers, writers, and former attorneys who have dealt with these issues themselves
May 07, 2022•56 min•Ep. 453
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Cat Tobin , Will Sobel , JR Blackwell , Christopher McGlothlin , Maz Hamilton. You're an RPG designer now! That's great, but now how do you get your awesome game in front of players who will appreciate it? How do you position yourself for future projects? Basically, how do you get your name on a game to mean something? Our panelists grapple with this sticky problem!...
Apr 30, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 452
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Emily Escovar , Anne Ratchat . You've got a great game and you're looking to sell it, or maybe you're looking to get a position working for somebody else making games. How do you present yourself and your game in their best lights? Pitching's a necessary skill regardless of your role in the industry. Learn how to do it here!
Apr 23, 2022•56 min•Ep. 451
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Kathleen Mercury and Julie Ahern . Any adult who's worked closely with kids as a teacher, caretaker, or mentor has a cache of stories about times they learned true humility at the hands of a child. This late night panel presents the argument that the youngest generation is our greatest asset. Join panelists as they break down (through real life, hilariously humiliating examples) how every aspect of games, from design to execution, is bettered for th...
Apr 04, 2022•59 min•Ep. 450
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Cat Tobin , Becky Annison, Sharang Biswas . How to Design !More! !Drama! into your RPG! Some of the most satisfying role playing experiences come from the dramatic outcomes of emotional connections between player characters. We look at ways for tabletop and LARP writers to design for deeper character relationships and dynamics, to provide a structure for GMs to bring more of the good kind of drama to their RPGs...
Mar 26, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 449
Recorded at Metatopia Online 2020 Presented by Kyle Ott & Riley Parks. This panel will focus on tips targeted to those who are beginning their design careers. The presentation will include advice on how to approach a publisher and conduct publisher research. Our panelists will give new designers advice on how to get unstuck and resources to help them with their first designs.
Mar 20, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 448
