Welcome to Game Academy: the podcast where game design, academia, and industry chaos collides! Hosted by Dr Adam Jerrett, a game designer, educator, and PhD survivor with big golden retriever energy, this show dives into the art, craft, and culture of making and studying games. Each episode features conversations with developers, journalists, content creators, and academics from across the games industry. We break down the creative process, unpack what makes games tick, and get real about the industry’s highs, lows, and the “what just happened?!”.
From indie projects to AAA blockbusters, we discuss it all — especially if it involves making players cry (in a good way). Expect lols, frank chats (or Frank Lanz), and the occasional tangent about weird horror games or why game UIs are terrible. Whether you're a developer, a student, or just someone who loves games, pull up a chair — you’re officially enrolled in Game Academy.
Don’t worry, there’s no homework. Probably.
📧 Got questions or guest suggestions? Hit us up at gameacademypod AT gmail DOT com!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Game Academy: the podcast where game design, academia, and industry chaos collides! Hosted by Dr Adam Jerrett, a game designer, educator, and PhD survivor with big golden retriever energy, this show dives into the art, craft, and culture of making and studying games. Each episode features conversations with developers, journalists, content creators, and academics from across the games industry. We break down the creative process, unpack what makes games tick, and get real about the industry’s highs, lows, and the “what just happened?!”.
From indie projects to AAA blockbusters, we discuss it all — especially if it involves making players cry (in a good way). Expect lols, frank chats (or Frank Lanz), and the occasional tangent about weird horror games or why game UIs are terrible. Whether you're a developer, a student, or just someone who loves games, pull up a chair — you’re officially enrolled in Game Academy.
Don’t worry, there’s no homework. Probably.
📧 Got questions or guest suggestions? Hit us up at gameacademypod AT gmail DOT com!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This month on Game Academy, we’re cracking open a booster pack of nostalgia, tabletop secrets, and indie dev wisdom with the one and only Matthew Bell!
Matt’s had the kind of career that makes you go, “Wait, you did what?” He started out wrangling tournaments and managing organised play for Yu-Gi-Oh! across Europe (yes, the one with Blue-Eyes White Dragon), before jumping into video game production at Sumo Digital, and now going full indie with his new card-based tabletop strategy game, Robot Raiders.
We get into the wild world of organised play (turns out, it’s more spreadsheets and fewer holographic dragons than you might expect), how Matt transitioned from TCGs to AAA production, and what it’s really like launching your own tabletop game in 2025. Spoiler: it’s hard, it’s exciting, and yes, there’s a Kickstarter!
We also chat about the craft of designing games for the people who play them, what makes a great gameplay loop in card games, and how Matt approaches “getting people to play the game” - the hardest design challenge of all.
Whether you're a lifelong duelist, a budding designer, or just someone believes in the heart of the cards, this one's got something for you. Your move!
Links & Shoutouts:
🎲 Back Robot Raiders on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mattorigusstudios/robot-raiders-a-1-4-player-epic-card-game-battle-experience
📢 Keep up with Mattorigus Studios on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MattorigusStudios
📧 Got a question or guest suggestion? Email us at gameacademypod@gmail.com
🐶 Follow Adam’s extremely nerdy ramblings at https://bsky.app/profile/twoleft.bsky.social
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.