Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Spectating games is an important game design consideration

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Full lecture (with slides):
youtu.be/DUKpsWFUy1U

Designing Games for Spectators
Presented at Super MAGFest 2026 by Rym and Scott, hosts of the GeekNights podcast.

Most game design discussion focuses on the players. But some of the most popular games on Earth are watched by more people than will ever play them. From sports to live streams, spectators are a fascinating and important aspect of game design. Think about it. Is a game show really a fair competition? Does a game show need to be fun for the players? How different do games look when they’re designed primarily for players versus for spectators? Can you design for both?

#gamedesign #couchgaming #esports