#308 Narrative AI with Emily Short

#308 Narrative AI with Emily Short

Author: Dirk Knemeyer & David V. Heron January 17, 2024 Duration: 51:12

Dirk and David are joined by legendary interactive fiction writer and creative director of Failbetter Games Emily Short. The trio discuss Emily's career, her contributions to interactive fiction, and some of her thoughts on both traditional game AI and modern generative AI. Topics include modeling relationships in games, player psychology and how much information to give, and how game AI can be used in non-combat oriented experiences.


Dirk Knemeyer and David V. Heron host The Game Design Round Table, a conversation that digs into the craft behind all kinds of games. Whether it's the latest digital release, a strategic tabletop session, or an immersive role-playing campaign, this podcast treats game design as a serious and fascinating discipline. The discussions move beyond simple reviews to explore the mechanics, psychology, and artistic choices that make games work. You'll hear the hosts break down specific elements from both popular and niche titles, analyzing what succeeds and what doesn't with a critical yet constructive eye. Their approach is grounded in real experience, offering practical insights rather than abstract theory. This makes each episode valuable whether you're sketching your first prototype or have been in the industry for years. The tone is conversational and detailed, like listening in on a brainstorming session between two seasoned professionals. They naturally cover the entire landscape of the field, connecting lessons from one medium to another in ways that are often surprising. For anyone who has ever wondered why a particular rule feels so satisfying or how narrative integrates with player agency, this podcast provides thoughtful commentary. It’s a consistent source of education and inspiration, reminding listeners that game design is an ever-evolving art form. Tune in to join the round table and deepen your understanding of what happens behind the screen and under the rulebook.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Game Design Round Table
Podcast Episodes
BtC - Daryl Andrews on Generating Ideas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:17
Ellie Dix is joined for the inaugural episode of Behind the Cardboard by Daryl Andrews, designer of Sagrada, The Real Truth, and Kodama 3D among many others. Together, they discuss Daryl's career, how he comes up with ne…
#334 New Year, New Format, New Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:09
2024 was an excellent year for game design, and 2025 is looking to be even better. As time moves forward, TGDRT must evolve just as our favorite games do. Dirk and David discuss the state of the show; what worked, what d…
#333 App-Integration with Andrew Fischer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
Dirk and David are joined by Andrew Fischer, lead designer of the Cosmere RPG. In this first of two interviews, the crew discusses Andrew's career, from working at Fantasy Flight Games to being the lead designer of the w…
#332 Listener Questions with Ellie Dix Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:58
The Game Design Round Table rounds out its best year yet with another set of Listener Questions! Dirk and David are joined by Ellie Dix once more to answer your questions about hidden information, designing for different…
#331 Solforge Fusion with Justin Gary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:08
Dirk and David are joined this week by Justin Gary, founder of Stone Blade Entertainment and co-designer of Solforge Fusion. They discuss the life, death, and rebirth of Solforge, as well as its unique approach to conten…
#330 Xenolanguage with Kathryn Hymes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:58
This week, Dirk and David are joined by Kathryn Hymes, co-owner of Thorny Games and former co-host of the show. Together, they discuss Kathryn's new game Xenolanguage, a roleplaying game where players take the role of hu…
#329 Small Games with Ellie Dix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:48
This episode, Dirk and David are joined by Ellie Dix, owner of The Dark Imp and author of The Board Game Family. They discuss Ellie's career and path into game design, as well as the intricacies of how she manages to des…
#328 Civilization Series 8 - Ara [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:59
Dirk and David convene once more to discuss the release of Ara: History Untold by Oxide Games. They analyze the game's strengths and weaknesses, how it feels to play, and how it compares to the actual Civilization series…
#327 Undergrove with Elizabeth Hargrave and Mark Wootton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:30
David is at the helm this week, joined by Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan, Mariposas) and Mark Wooton (Legend of the Five Rings, Mariposas). The trio discuss Elizabeth and Mark's new game Undergrove, a resource management a…
#326 Therapeutic TTRPGs with Daniel Hand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:08
Dirk is joined by Daniel Hand, therapeutic counselor and author of "Role-playing Games in Psychotherapy: A Practitioners Guide". Together, the pair discusses Daniel's journey into TTRPGs and his process of introducing th…