Season: RPG - Serious Games Pt.2

Season: RPG - Serious Games Pt.2

Author: Dirk Knemeyer & David V. Heron July 15, 2025 Duration: 26:53

Host Kathryn Hymes (@katehymes, thornygames.com) is joined by renowned designers Jason Morningstar (bullypulpitgames.com) and Randy Lubin (@randylubin, randylubin.com) to explore the world of "serious games"—games designed for education, training, and social impact. They share unique game experiences, discuss the challenges of designing beyond entertainment, and debate the usefulness of the "serious games" label.

 


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
Season: RPG -  Randy Lubin - RPGs in Organizational Settings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:38
In this episode, we are joined by Randy Lubin, a well known game designer who has had experience in RPGs, Tabletop gaming, and Mega games. We will dive into the complexities of Mega games as well as what it means to deve…
BtC- Dave Neale on Identifying Potential Publishers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:11
Today, Ellie Dix and Dave Neale dive into the complexity of forming publisher relationships, as well as choosing the correct publisher. Taking a perspective from both experienced designers and beginner designers, creatin…
Season: RPG - Interlude: The First Round Table [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:56
Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron look back on TGRT's most recent topics, along with taking time to dive into many of the conversations brought up by Ellie Dix in BtC. Sharing thoughts about co-design and comparing the commu…
BtC - Isaac Vega on Self Publishing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:59
Today, Ellie Dix and Isaac Vega take a deep dive into what it means to self publish, both the struggles and the benefits. Touching on collaborating with others on projects, along with devoting your time and energy into b…
Season: RPG - Luke Hughes - Leadership RPGs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:16
An in depth dive into the makings of Burden of Command, along with the strategies and tools used to create the realistic nature of the game. Conversations about using the right assets and tailoring your game in a way tha…
BtC - Richard Heayes on Protecting Your Idea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:10
Ellie Dix is joined by Richard Heayes, former design director for Hasbro and current co-founder of 7pips. They discuss the ins and outs of trademarking, idea infringement, and the benefits of freely sharing your ideas. T…
Season: RPG - Ben Robbins on GMless Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:51
Dirk and David are joined by Ben Robbins, designer of Microscope and many other narrative games. They discuss the play culture of Microscope, the differences between it and trad TTRPGs, and the ways games of Microscope c…
BtC - Mandela Grandon on Co-Designing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:30
Ellie Dix is joined by Mandela Grandon, designer of Glasgow, Overstocked, and The Shakespeare Game. They talk about the benefits and process of co-design, the difficulties in working with another person, and how to even…
Season: RPG - Cosmere RPG with Andrew Fischer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:55
The season of RPGs starts off with flare! Dirk and David are joined once more by Andrew Fischer, here to discuss his experience designing the Cosmere RPG. They discuss the difficulties in adapting the expansive work of B…
BtC - Rikki Tahta on Designer Community [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:47
In this episode, Ellie chats with Rikki, creator of Coup, The Chameleon, and Melee, about his inspiring journey in design. He highlights the importance of process and how a supportive community has influenced his path. T…