The Game Design Round Table

Host Dirk Knemeyer, a veteran in user experience (UX) design, is joined by co-host David Heron, a long-time game industry professional known for his work across major console evolutions and mobile free-to-play titles. In this episode, they dive deep into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in game development, sparked by listener questions from their Discord community. The discussion explores the technical hurdles of AI memory and "drift," the ethical debates surrounding AI-generated art versus code, and the historical parallels between current AI fears and past technological shifts like the Luddite movement. Whether you're a developer or a curious player, this conversation offers a blunt, expert look at how AI might either disrupt or democratize the craft of making games

In this episode, host Dirk Knemeyer is joined by co-host David Heron to answer a series of deep dives from their community. The discussion explores the technical and philosophical underpinnings of game creation, ranging from the "Wild West" of QA processes to the evolving landscape of global publishing.
The duo discusses why mimicking video games might actually be making your tabletop combat feel slow and uninteresting, the "heartbreaking" reality of survivor bias in digital publishing, and why educational games must prioritize fun to survive the scrutiny of "hyper-literate" young players who are used to the polish of modern hits.

Join host Dirk Knemeyer and Co-Host David Heron as they discuss Dirk's transformative first month using Claude. Dirk, who previously avoided technical tools like the terminal, shares how he was "pill-popped" into AI-assisted programming to build a massively multiplayer online turn-based game from scratch. The conversation explores the sheer speed of AI development—achieving nine months of human work in a single afternoon—while also providing a grounded reality check on security flaws, AI hallucinations, and the future economics of game studios

Join hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron as they welcome back Cole Werhle, the designer of hits like Root and Oath. In this episode, Cole details his major career move from Leder Games to founding Buried Giant Studios. He explains his unique business philosophy of making "fewer games more slowly" to focus on dense games and sustainable creative infrastructure. The conversation explores how digital playtesting revolutionized his design process, the development of his massive project Arcs, and his insights on why the board game industry should remain "small and homey" compared to the volatile video game market

Hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron are joined by Raven Zachary, a veteran tech executive and product leader known for his work in spatial computing, AI, and the internet industry. This episode explores the intersection of traditional game design and modern technology, focusing on Raven's new project, Navaros, a persistent browser-based game (PBBG). Raven shares how he utilized AI-assisted "vibe coding" to build a complex maritime exploration game without being a professional programmer, spending over 300 hours iterating with AI agents. Listeners will learn how to use AI as a "research assistant" to clarify mechanics and why iterative design is the key to mastering these new tools.