Think Like A Game Designer Soren Johnson (Part I) — Building Civilization Through 4X Design, Bridging Digital and Physical Gaming, Navigating the Evolving TCG Landscape, and Crafting Games for Varied Playtimes (#49)
5 snips
Jun 12, 2023 
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Intern Credit Opened Doors
- Soren's first industry credit came from an EA internship working on Knockout Kings.
- That early credit helped him get interviews and launch his studio career.
Pacing Is Thematic Design
- Historical 4X pacing needs distinct eras and enough turns for each unit type to matter.
- Rush compression steals meaningful moments and undermines the theme.
Prevent Optimization From Killing Fun
- Watch for mechanics that let players optimize the fun out of your game and remove tedious micromanagement.
- Automate or persist small resources (e.g., production overflow) so players focus on meaningful choices.