Jordan interviews Eric Zimmerman, a veteran game designer, educator, and co-founder of Gamelab, the studio that created the iconic Diner Dash. Eric is currently a professor at the NYU Game Center and has written extensively on game design, including co-authoring the book “Rules of Play” (2004) with Katie Salen. Eric shares his unique perspective on game design as a way of life, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, the use of different frameworks, and the role of creativity in game creation.
[03:04] Eric’s background: From painter to game designer
[07:00] The origins of Gamelab and the early days of independent game development
[12:00] Teaching game design; Early days at NYU and working with Frank Lantz
[16:00] The value of frameworks in game design
[21:30] Creating a company culture at Gamelab that fosters ownership and creativity
[25:20] The importance of constraints in fostering creativity
[30:00] The role of experimentation and collaboration in game design
[34:00] Eric’s advice to young designers: Embracing mistakes and the learning process
[37:00] Eric’s thoughts on the future of game design
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