Caffeinated Reviews is hosted by Jay Johns and Lindal Walker. Focused on motivating the independent game developer, we review games based on game design, functionality, story, and societal appeal. Studying games will help build the design muscle and ultimately generate better games.
Ep 07: Game Design Review: Angry Birds
November 23, 2015
Episode Description:
Jay Johns and Lindal Walker discuss Ravio’s Angry Birds. Ravio’s story is a great example of a never giving up. Angry Birds is Ravio’s 52nd game. The success of the Angry Birds is attributed to great gameplay, fun audio, and building destruction using physics.
Show Notes:
Ep 06: Game Design Review: Bloons Tower Defense 5
November 16, 2015
Episode Description:
This episode Jay Johns and Lindal Walker discuss a game design review of the game Bloons Tower Defense 5. This is a great example of a well done tower defense game. Novel artwork including monkey’s throwing shurikens at balloons is a good game for all ages.
Show Notes:
Ep 05: Game Design Review-Candy Crush
November 9, 2015
Episode Description:
Jay Johns and Lindal Walker discuss Candy Crush. Topics include a game design review and the acquisition by Activision. Candy Crush is a great example of a “Match Three” style game.
Show Notes:
Game Theory – Designed to Addict (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BTGgCEFuQw
Activision buys Candy Crush
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/03/us-king-digital-m-a-activision-idUSKCN0SS07Z20151103
Ep 04: Sharing Ideas
November 2, 2015
Episode Description:
Sharing your game idea makes you a better designer. Too many people worry about sharing game ideas, if you do not share your ideas you can not iterate and make your idea better. NDA’s are not needed, no one will steal your game idea. Developers have too many of their own game ideas to worry about stealing yours. An idea has no value without execution!
Show Notes:
Ep 03: Game Design Review-Hearthstone
October 23, 2015
Episode Description:
Today we are talking about Hearthstone. This Blizzard Enterntainment title is a casual card playing game similar style to games such as Pokemon. Are you interested in creating casual games? or card games? This is a great example of creating a battle card game with interesting mechanics.
Show Notes:
Link to Hearthstone:
http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/?-
Ep. 02: Game Design Review-Heroes Charge
October 23, 2015
Episode Description:
Today we are talking about the mobile application Heroes Charge. Our review is focused on the design of this game. Heroes Charge is a great example of how to create a freemium app that implements in-app purchases on a game with a lot of depth.
Show Notes:
Link to Heroes Charge:
http://hc.ucool.com/
Articles:
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-03-23-lilith-games-suing-ucool-over-cloning
Ep. 01 Intro Podcast
October 23, 2015
Episode Description:
This is our opening podcast. Jay Johns and Lindal Walker give an introduction to the Caffeinated Reviews podcast. You will get to know Jay Johns and Lindal Walker’s background, the podcast release schedule, and how to contact the Caffeinated Reviews team.