For the MN GameDev Microtalks at Minnebar 11, in 2016.

1. MN GameDev Microtalks
Martin Grider
Michael Migliacio
Zach Johnson
Dev Jana & Ari Carrillo

2. Game Idea a Day by Martin Grider

3. Who am I?
• iOS Developer
* making apps since 2008
• AbstractPuzzle.com
* split between:
- contract / freelance
- my own apps & games
* 3+ years
• Game Developer
• Game Designer
• Perfect teeth? Pirate?!?

4. How did this start?
• Happened to write a new game
idea in my game design journal
on 1/1.
• Talking about “resolutions”,
later that day, I jokingly
suggested I only had 364 left
to write.
• For about a week, I kept
pretending it was a joke…

5. By the Numbers
• 16 weeks (so far) with blog
posts every Friday
• That’s over 112 entries!
• I only missed 2 days
• 42 pages of my ~70 page
game design gDoc
• 2 digital prototypes, at least 4
board games Number Puzzle
from 1/8

6. Benefits of writing
Idea Recaps
• Reminds me
* Wow! Did I even write this?
• Re-validates
* Any good?
* Better or worse than I
remember?
* Worth more time/effort?
• Re-phrases
* Better articulates the idea.
* Clarifies the idea.
* Repairs the idea.
• Represents me
* I’d like to be known for my
game design(s).
Line Combine
from 2/3, ~3-day prototype

7. Things I’ve spent (more)
time thinking about
• Abstract Strategy board games
• Pie in the sky game ideas
• Puzzles!
• VR Ideas
• Pitched Puzzle Prison at the “Big
Indie Pitch” at GDC
• Got me into the Steamworks
program, and they sent me a Vive
Pre (VR dev kit)!
Puzzle Prison
from 1/20, ~14-day prototype

8. Inspirations
• I’ve always been interested in
rapid prototyping
• 1 Game A Month
http://www.onegameamonth.com/
@1GameAMonth — #1GAM
• Experimental Gameplay Session
at Game Developer Conference
• Game A Week
http://ramiismail.com/2014/02/game-a-week/
• Global Game Jam
http://globalgamejam.org/
• Ludum Dare
http://ludumdare.com/

9. Future Goals for
Game Idea a Day
• More prototypes!!!
• More analysis:
• How many board games vs video
games vs mechanics?
• How many useless entries vs
“playable” ones?
• How often do I revisit the same
ideas?
• More importantly:
• Keep it going.
@livingtech
http://chesstris.com/
http://abstractpuzzle.com/