Game Theory For Gamers: Decisions, Strategies, & Payoffs
Summary:
This session will provide an introduction to formal Game Theoretics as used in the social sciences and explore how choices impact the player experience.
Description:
The player experience in games is frequently a combination of chance and choice. Many gamers understand the math and probability that dictate chance, but few understand the numerous ways in which choices are influenced and evaluated.
Join our experts as we examine what it means to make a game accessible.
Description:
From braille editions to designing content for neurodiversity, we'll discuss the current methods of creating & editing games to work towards a more inclusive gaming space.
Elizabeth Hargrave relates how she goes about translating cool things in nature into the form of a game - then practice brainstorming your own ideas for nature-based games from prompts she provides.
Description:
Join 2025 Guest of Honor Elizabeth Hargrave for this informative and nature filled conversation. This event will also include a Q&A session.
A user interface can make or break a game, enabling a great game to shine or causing it to crash & burn. Learn how to spend your time & make good UI/UX choices across the game design lifecycle.
Description:
While we're often counseled not to waste time making our prototypes "pretty," overlooking UI and UX during prototyping can lead to playtests that are counterproductive, don't provide useful insight, or outright fall apart.
Practice, Practice, Practice (Iteration In Game Design)
Summary:
Discussion on techniques for rapid iteration in game design, and the importance of time in the lab.
Description:
Game inventor James Ernest (Cheapass Games, Crab Fragment Labs) has created more than two hundred original tabletop games and learned something from each one.
Elizabeth Hargrave, David Gordon, & Michael O'Connell discuss how they expanded the Wingspan universe to dragons & fish. What makes these games feel like they are in a shared family, yet different?
Description:
There will also be a Q&A session with this event. Guest of Honor Elizabeth Hargrave, David Gordan, and Michael O'Connell will lead the conversation.
The Aesthetics Of Chance (Why Games Have Randomness, Whether You Like It Or Not)
Summary:
Discuss the basics of probability, psychology, and the factors that make chaos a crucial element of games. Learn how to use randomness in your design, how not to do it, and the reasons why.
Description:
Hosted by James Ernest (Lords of Vegas, Kill Doctor Lucky, Pirates of the Spanish Main)
When designing a game, should you start with the mechanics or the story? Why not both? Come learn how narrative and mechanics can blend together to form a whole greater than the parts.
A discussion on why and how the most important thing you can bring to the craft is YOU. Take a seed of an idea and pull it in divergent directions. Come prepared to share and contribute!
Description:
Join Guest of Honor Eric Lang a game designer who has been in the business almost 30 years. Together youll will discuss why and how the most important thing you can bring to the craft is YOU. In interactive workshop format with a short lecture, we will explore one seed of an idea and pull it in at least three highly divergent directions based on the background and experiences of different potential authors.