Designing ForDesigning For is a series which looks at a level in gaming, and analyzes a theme central to that level's design. In this episode, we look at the Mega Man series: what makes controlling it feel good, how to design a level to challenge those controls, and how one Robot Master somehow manages to embody both the best and worst of the series: Napalm Man!
Napalm Man: Mega Mans Best AND Worst Robot Master Stage - Peak DesignDesigning For2021-08-15 | Designing For is a series which looks at a level in gaming, and analyzes a theme central to that level's design. In this episode, we look at the Mega Man series: what makes controlling it feel good, how to design a level to challenge those controls, and how one Robot Master somehow manages to embody both the best and worst of the series: Napalm Man!
Mega Man 11 Torch Man: youtu.be/O2k0u0QQMBESuper Mario Party Jamboree - First Impressions From The Smartest Idiot You Know!Designing For2024-10-18 | Look. I wasn't NOT gonna do it. I am sure I will be everywhere playing this game the next few days, let's see what we can glean from a first time and play together!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPThe CRUELEST Board in Mario Party Peak DesignDesigning For2024-10-15 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we delve into Castaway Bay, a board from Mario Party 6, and see what it does to be needlessly cruel to its players... and how it encourages you to be cruel to others in turn. And how that kind of sadism is just a fun time!
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksBeen A Rough Week. Lets Unwind With This Cozy Party Game! (Dokapon Kingdom 1st Playthrough)Designing For2024-10-13 | Yeah not gonna lie fam, it's been difficult, everything's falling out of place. But video games are good and soothing and this one seems fun and cute, so I'm ready for a cozy afternoon, how about you?
Frasier Fantasy Available Here: edward-la-barbera.itch.io/frasier-fantasyHow To Become A Mario Party MASTER (And Lose All Your Friends)Designing For2024-08-19 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we tackle the Mario Party series. Long thought to be purely luck based, instead, we teach you how to WIN by manipulating your friends, what to focus on in how to get better, and how to enhance your Mario Party experience to its highest level.
Video Editing: Lucas The Enby https://x.com/LucastheEnby
0:00 I Am Very Normal About Mario Party 3:00 What We're Covering 3:56 #1 - Minigame Mastery 7:12 #2 - Coin Thresholds (and how to manipulate them) 10:46 #3 - Talk To 'Em: How To Break Their Game Plans 17:44 #4 - Avoid Gimmick Plays! 19:45 #5 - Use Items Defensively! 23:36 #6 - Crush Their Positioning, Crush Their Spirit! 28:04 #7 - Steal Bonus Stars! 32:41 #8 - Be A Good Sport! 34:37 I Am Become Party (And So Are You)THE NOISE: Pizza Towers Extra Crusty Second Order Designing For BreakdownDesigning For2024-08-03 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we break down Pizza Tower's second playable character, the Noise, and what he does t-- oh god he's got a knife. Oh god help.
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksA Message To @ProtonJon and @The8BitDrummer - Im Pyrr To RuleDesigning For2024-07-24 | Follow @TarvouldsQuest for when it goes live! Expected release early August.
"Sturm und Kong" by djpretzel via OCRemix: youtu.be/2uWf_MZgWxgVIDEO GAME MUSIC TRIVIA MASTER TRAINING - The Quest To Beat Proton Jon and The 8-Bit DrummerDesigning For2024-07-14 | I DARE be challenged by NEOPHYTES @ProtonJon and @The8BitDrummer who dare try to reach for my throne atop the video game music trivia pedestal! They have won seasons each, but I shall not go down easily at all. Join me as we go through various quizzes, tests and trials to come out on top, training to defeat the fools and become the Tarvould's Test champion.
See all prior episodes of the trivia show here: youtube.com/watch?v=2ps2zLKrQFM&list=PLEM8tY7SIrzdiSk5cIPxbcX4S7LxrE9vdRanking My Top 100 Games WITH YOU!Designing For2024-06-26 | Determine my taste! Have a brief window today, so I figured a fun little activity would be to go through games I like and have people yell at me to tell me what's good! Let's hang out and talk about video games and junk and figure out what to stream next!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPIF WE BELIEVE, HE WILL COME Nintendo Direct June 2024 reactionsDesigning For2024-06-19 | We got Pyrr, Gooms, Connor, Duke, and Tarvould all here for the inevitable. Somehow, someway, we will find the treasure we're looking for
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPThe Final Loop (In Stars And Time FINALE)Designing For2024-06-15 | Act 5. We're here. We're going to save everyone, whether they deserve it or not. Time to rewrite the script, just need the players to act properly now~
This is a FIRST PLAYTHROUGH of the game; I know its basic premise, an idea of who the characters are, and some vague plot points revealed non-sequentially to me through memes and clips of the JelloApocalypse vid. Please do not mention or imply future events in the game unless I directly ask or spoil solutions to puzzles in any way. Thank you!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPno matter how many times it takes (In Stars And Time First Playthrough)Designing For2024-06-10 | we're going to do this. we're going to break the loop.
This is a FIRST PLAYTHROUGH of the game; I know its basic premise, an idea of who the characters are, and some vague plot points revealed non-sequentially to me through memes and clips of the JelloApocalypse vid. Please do not mention or imply future events in the game unless I directly ask or spoil solutions to puzzles in any way. Thank you!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPim fine~ (In Stars And Time First Playthrough)Designing For2024-06-08 | its going to be ok. we are going to help our friends and get out of this!
This is a FIRST PLAYTHROUGH of the game; I know its basic premise, an idea of who the characters are, and some vague plot points revealed non-sequentially to me through memes and clips of the JelloApocalypse vid. Please do not mention or imply future events in the game unless I directly ask or spoil solutions to puzzles in any way. Thank you!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPloop is my friend & would never hurt me : ) (In Stars And Time First Playthrough)Designing For2024-05-31 | King is strong, but don't worry, we have good friends who would never ever cause us pain or anything!
This is a FIRST PLAYTHROUGH of the game; I know its basic premise, an idea of who the characters are, and some vague plot points revealed non-sequentially to me through memes and clips of the JelloApocalypse vid. Please do not mention or imply future events in the game unless I directly ask or spoil solutions to puzzles in any way. Thank you!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPWere Back Again, And About Time, Too! (In Stars And Time First Playthrough)Designing For2024-05-25 | Well, took three weeks to get my voice back. Sorry for the delay; it's go at this again. This is a FIRST PLAYTHROUGH of the game; I know its basic premise, an idea of who the characters are, and some vague plot points revealed non-sequentially to me through memes and clips of the JelloApocalypse vid. Please do not mention or imply future events in the game unless I directly ask or spoil solutions to puzzles in any way. Thank you!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPWere Back Again, And About Time, Too! (In Stars And Time First Playthrough)Designing For2024-05-24 | Well, took three weeks to get my voice back. Sorry for the delay; it's go at this again. This is a FIRST PLAYTHROUGH of the game; I know its basic premise, an idea of who the characters are, and some vague plot points revealed non-sequentially to me through memes and clips of the JelloApocalypse vid. Please do not mention or imply future events in the game unless I directly ask or spoil solutions to puzzles in any way. Thank you!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPThe Eternal Heart of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Designing for StorytellingDesigning For2024-05-06 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we break down Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and why it manages to stay resonant to a nearly untouchable degree to so many so many years down the road: an undying and bafflingly thorough devotion to the art of storytelling.
0:00 A Divisive Tale of Legacy 4:42 The History of Mario’s Story 7:54 Mario Minus the Mushroom Kingdom 11:37 A Story of Stories: Homage Through Chapters 14:49 The Stories of Party Members 16:17 The Legend of Flavio 20:01 The Story of Super Luigi 21:39 The Tremendous, Insignificant Stories of Rogueport 24:42 The Story of The Thousand-Year Door 28:32 The Heart of Mario’s StoryIm Back In The Building Again?! (In Stars And Time First Playthrough)Designing For2024-05-03 | Excited to start a playthrough of this game! Been anxious for a couple weeks now to sink my teeth in! This is a FIRST PLAYTHROUGH of the game; I know its basic premise, an idea of who the characters are, and some vague plot points revealed non-sequentially to me through memes and clips of the JelloApocalypse vid. Please do not mention or imply future events in the game unless I directly ask or spoil solutions to puzzles in any way. Thank you!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPPikmin 2.4: You Can(not) Save Louie (Pikmin 2 First Playthrough)Designing For2024-04-26 | Three caves left. Two captains. One man to save. We can do it. We can be the change we need to see.
This is a first playthrough of Pikmin 2, I know nothing about what is coming from this point forward other than that a "Water Wraith" exists and I need to run from it. Please do not spoil things for me or give hints unless I ask!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPLouie Memorial Mandatory Overtime (Pikmin 2 First Playthrough)Designing For2024-04-20 | We are now free of debt, but we have sustained a terrible, but not entirely all that terrible really we're just saying it for the press release, loss in the process. Though Louie has assuredly been eaten by something or other now, we are sending out a rescue party in the hopes of finding things more valuable than him incidentally.
This is a first playthrough of Pikmin 2, I know nothing about what is coming from this point forward other than that a "Water Wraith" exists and I need to run from it. Please do not spoil things for me or give hints unless I ask!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPMakin PIKMILLIONS of Pokos (Pikmin 2 First Playthrough)Designing For2024-04-12 | Good morning, captains! Today's challenge is to loot every last bit of this planet and strip it bare for nothing but profit! Losers will have their kidneys removed!
This is a first playthrough of Pikmin 2, I know nothing about what is coming from this point forward other than that a "Water Wraith" exists and I need to run from it. Please do not spoil things for me or give hints unless I ask!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPLoot The Carrot Boys Home (Pikmin 2 First Playthrough)Designing For2024-04-05 | I have never even played Pikmin 2 for more than ten minutes! Please watch as I go out to plunder the natural beauty of this landscape for profit after awakening its natural peoples to violence!
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPI Want To Go Home (Pikmin First Playthrough)Designing For2024-03-29 | I've never beaten this game. I've.. never actually gotten far in any of the Pikmin games. Please watch me be unable to handle the responsibility of many little dudes and suffocate under the pressure. And the poison air, that too.
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXPEscaping the Carrot Planet (First Playthrough)Designing For2024-03-22 | I've never beaten this game. I've.. never actually gotten far in any of the Pikmin games. Please watch me be unable to handle the responsibility of many little dudes and suffocate under the pressure. And the poison air, that too.
Afterward we'll probably play some puzzle games or something.
Looking to consistently stream on Fridays. If you have a suggestion for a game you'd like to see played, please let me know! I do owe members specifically games of their choice, and remember a bit better during the stream itself, so feel free to leave suggestions in the chat!
To celebrate turning 30, Pyrr is running the gauntlet - one hour from one game from every year he's been alive! We've got 30 games lined up for everyone, plenty of guests eager to chat about their experiences, just generally a comfortable, celebratory endurance match of video games! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a bunch of games!
This is also a fundraising opportunity for Designing For to help offset the costs of video making! If you would care to become a member or support Designing For on Patreon ( patreon.com/designingfor ), share a superchat, whatever, we would greatly appreciate it! But being here is by far the most important thing!
Please find our guests here!
Tarvould's Quest: @TarvouldsQuest The Duke of Dorks: @TheDukeofDorks AuthorMx: @AuthorMx CrystAAHHL: @CrystAAHHL Altermentality: thefourthcomic.com Brookesmart: instagram.com/_brookesmart_
To celebrate turning 30, Pyrr is running the gauntlet - one hour from one game from every year he's been alive! We've got 30 games lined up for everyone, plenty of guests eager to chat about their experiences, just generally a comfortable, celebratory endurance match of video games! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a bunch of games!
This is also a fundraising opportunity for Designing For to help offset the costs of video making! If you would care to become a member or support Designing For on Patreon ( patreon.com/designingfor ), share a superchat, whatever, we would greatly appreciate it! But being here is by far the most important thing!
Please find our guests here!
Tarvould's Quest: @TarvouldsQuest The Duke of Dorks: @TheDukeofDorks AuthorMx: @AuthorMx CrystAAHHL: @CrystAAHHL Altermentality: thefourthcomic.com Brookesmart: instagram.com/_brookesmart_
To celebrate turning 30, Pyrr is running the gauntlet - one hour from one game from every year he's been alive! We've got 30 games lined up for everyone, plenty of guests eager to chat about their experiences, just generally a comfortable, celebratory endurance match of video games! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a bunch of games!
This is also a fundraising opportunity for Designing For to help offset the costs of video making! If you would care to become a member or support Designing For on Patreon ( patreon.com/designingfor ), share a superchat, whatever, we would greatly appreciate it! But being here is by far the most important thing!
Please find our guests here!
Tarvould's Quest: @TarvouldsQuest The Duke of Dorks: @TheDukeofDorks AuthorMx: @AuthorMx CrystAAHHL: @CrystAAHHL Altermentality: thefourthcomic.com Brookesmart: instagram.com/_brookesmart_
To celebrate turning 30, Pyrr is running the gauntlet - one hour from one game from every year he's been alive! We've got 30 games lined up for everyone, plenty of guests eager to chat about their experiences, just generally a comfortable, celebratory endurance match of video games! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a bunch of games!
This is also a fundraising opportunity for Designing For to help offset the costs of video making! If you would care to become a member or support Designing For on Patreon ( patreon.com/designingfor ), share a superchat, whatever, we would greatly appreciate it! But being here is by far the most important thing!
Please find our guests here!
Tarvould's Quest: @TarvouldsQuest The Duke of Dorks: @TheDukeofDorks AuthorMx: @AuthorMx CrystAAHHL: @CrystAAHHL Altermentality: thefourthcomic.com Brookesmart: instagram.com/_brookesmart_
To celebrate turning 30, Pyrr is running the gauntlet - one hour from one game from every year he's been alive! We've got 30 games lined up for everyone, plenty of guests eager to chat about their experiences, just generally a comfortable, celebratory endurance match of video games! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a bunch of games!
This is also a fundraising opportunity for Designing For to help offset the costs of video making! If you would care to become a member or support Designing For on Patreon ( patreon.com/designingfor ), share a superchat, whatever, we would greatly appreciate it! But being here is by far the most important thing!
Please find our guests here!
Tarvould's Quest: @TarvouldsQuest The Duke of Dorks: @TheDukeofDorks AuthorMx: @AuthorMx CrystAAHHL: @CrystAAHHL Altermentality: thefourthcomic.com Brookesmart: instagram.com/_brookesmart_
To celebrate turning 30, Pyrr is running the gauntlet - one hour from one game from every year he's been alive! We've got 30 games lined up for everyone, plenty of guests eager to chat about their experiences, just generally a comfortable, celebratory endurance match of video games! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a bunch of games!
This is also a fundraising opportunity for Designing For to help offset the costs of video making! If you would care to become a member or support Designing For on Patreon ( patreon.com/designingfor ), share a superchat, whatever, we would greatly appreciate it! But being here is by far the most important thing!
Please find our guests here!
Tarvould's Quest: @TarvouldsQuest The Duke of Dorks: @TheDukeofDorks AuthorMx: @AuthorMx CrystAAHHL: @CrystAAHHL Altermentality: thefourthcomic.com Brookesmart: instagram.com/_brookesmart_
Discord: discord.gg/bAwJkXP30+ HOURS OF STREAMING! Pyrrs 30th Birthday Three-Day Extravaganza -Announcement!Designing For2024-02-18 | I'm turning 30! To celebrate, we'll be hosting a series of streams on February 22, 23, and 24th, each stream containing ten games - one from each year I've been born! All streams will last from 9 AM to 9 PM PST, except the final day which will last until midnight so I may grow old and expire in real time. If you happen to got the time, please hang out and enjoy!
Additionally, all streams will serve as fundraising for the channel! If you would like to provide support and are able at this time, please consider a membership or signing up for our Patreon. Patreon available here:
Tarvould's Quest: @TarvouldsQuest The Duke of Dorks: @TheDukeofDorks AuthorMx: @AuthorMx CrystAAHHL: @CrystAAHHL Altermentality: thefourthcomic.com Brookesmart: instagram.com/_brookesmart_Peppino: Pizza Towers Secret Sauce Designing For AnxietyDesigning For2024-01-29 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we celebrate one whole year of Pizza Tower by breaking down its main character, Peppino Spaghetti! We look at the simple allusions to everyman characters that his design endears, and how he takes that simple base and expands upon it to not just homage his inspirations, but do them one better to make Pizza Tower a truly unique and beautiful experience.
Peppino Thousand-Yard Stare by seagullguy: reddit.com/r/PizzaTower/comments/17q4qlp/peppino_thousandyard_stareBowser - STILL Gamings GREATEST Villain!Designing For2023-12-20 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we extensively break down the history of perhaps the most famous baddie in all of video games, King Bowser Koopa. We tackle all of his appearances, from platformers to RPG's to spin-offs to adaptations, and see how his hundreds of appearances have contributed to the aura of one of gaming's most truly iconic characters, as well as put forth an argument for how that ends up making him the greatest villain the medium's ever had. There may be better-written characters than Bowser, but none of them are written to care about being a villain quite like the Koopa King!
0:00 Yowzer It's Bowser 5:03 Super Mario Bros - Your Immovable Obstacle 8:07 Mario Platformers - Your Eternal Adversary 11:30 The Terror of the Koopa King 15:24 Becoming His Biggest, Baddest Self - Super Mario RPG 22:57 King Koopa's Kool Kontinuity - Mario RPG's to 2009 28:39 SHOWTIME 32:03 The Modern Monster - Bowser Post-Inside Story 35:20 Playable Spin-Off Bowser - Feel The Power! 37:33 A Bowser Revolution - Mario Party 40:22 LIGHTING IN A BOTTLE ROUND 41:17 The Greatest Villain - Long Live The KingKomm Süsser WAH End of Evangelion Waluigi ParodyDesigning For2023-12-01 | No waa understands me. I thought this was supposed to be a world without cheaters and without losing. You betrayed me! You betrayed my stardom! Nobody wants me, so they can just Waa. Nobody cares whether I'm in a game or not. Nothing will change... so they can all just Waa. It would be better if I never debuted. I should just Waa too. Is it okay for me to Waa here? WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Pyrrhickong as Waluigi Waluigi as Waluigi Additional vocals and mixing by @AuthorMxThe History of Waluigi: From Loathed To Loved Designing For AppreciationDesigning For2023-11-25 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we take a deep dive into the creation, history, and reception of the king of cheaters, Waluigi. We delve into the character's initial frosty reception, how Camelot, Namco, Square, Hudson, and Nintendo themselves stuck with him to flesh him out, how memes and fan works rose Waluigi's star to unbelievable heights, and how we can all come around - ironically or no - on anything with real passion and love behind it.
Please check out Matthew Taranto's works here! Including:
0:00 An Intro To Waluigi 2:30 The Creation of Wah 5:15 The Reception of Wah: Why He Was Hated 8:55 Waluigi Endures - Early Spin-Offs 12:54 The King of Spin-Offs - Waluigi Through the 2000's 18:16 Waaaa In The Family 24:03 Happy Birthday, Waluigi - How He's Grown 28:28 Appreciating Waluigi Now 32:07 End of the WaaTears of the Kingdoms Greatest Strength Designing For PracticalityDesigning For2023-11-07 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we give the reigns to long-time editor, AuthorMx, to talk about Tears of the Kingdom, and how its overworld map manages to not be a quick and easy rehash, but to expand upon the ideas of role-playing, worldbuilding, and development that most recent Zelda titles really love honing in on!
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksThe Greatest Monster In Fighting Games Designing For TerrorDesigning For2023-10-31 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we break down the Vampire Savior himself, Jedah Dohma, and explore what the Darkstalkers franchise does to make itself special! For in celebrating monsters, Darkstalkers has had to create its own definition of terror, and in both gameplay and stature, Jedah does not disappoint.
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksPokemon Trainer Red Designing For LegacyDesigning For2023-09-29 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we look back at the original journey to be the very best, and the trainer that players walked with to climb to that plateau! But while Pokemon Trainer Red was a neat player character, it's what he represents for the Pokemon franchise - that initial champion for all others to not just aspire to be, but be better than - that makes him truly a Pokemon Master.
Also check out our episode on Pikachu, and how it remains the perfect mascot of the Pokemon series not just through design, but gameplay and theming, too: youtu.be/_sBDoOwPdskPokemon Trainer Blue Designing For RivalryDesigning For2023-09-28 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we look back at the original journey to be the very best, and the rival that accosted players every step of the way! What simple actions Pokemon Trainer Blue does to remain an incredibly memorable character, how he reflects the themes of Pokemon, and how he ended up growing past his initial trappings into a character we still cherish today!
Also check out our episode on Pikachu, and how it remains the perfect mascot of the Pokemon series not just through design, but gameplay and theming, too: youtu.be/_sBDoOwPdskAll About Waddle Dee! Designing For DeevotionDesigning For2023-09-15 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we look over Kirby's long-time enemies, Waddle Dees! They may not be that strong, or smart, or competent, but they're here to serve as more than just obstacles - they're the little helpers that prop up the vibe and themes of Kirby by helping out whenever they can! And the individuals in that group that take that simple message to a whole new level.
0:00 It's Waddle Dee! 1:44 The Weakest Enemy(?) 3:49 The Strongest Supporting Cast 7:55 The Strongman and the Sailor 10:23 Waddle Dee's Crystal Quest 12:17 King Dedede (And Those Who Waddle With His Name) 15:43 Everyone's Idol: Bandana Waddle Dee 22:22 Why We Waddle With YouIn Defense of Sonic 2006s Princess Elise: The Blunders of AmbitionDesigning For2023-07-27 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, I CAN EXPLAIN. We look over the disaster that was the release of Sonic 2006, and break down its failures in storyetlling, while also trying to capture what it was attempting to do with its central character: Princess Elise. We look over all of the ambitious efforts this character arc tried to go for, and what about Sonic's writing makes it so special, but so potentially volatile, to see what we can learn from the ultimate failure of this much-maligned game.
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksD4 Behind The Scenes: The Desperation of Spamton G Spamton Making Of & CommentaryDesigning For2023-07-23 | Today, pyrr and Author take a look back at and provide running commentary on the making of the Designing For episode, The Desperation of Spamton G Spamton. Learn! Laugh! Be impressed by very little as we over triple the episode length! Join discord and patreon please! Dunno, just thought it'd be neat to see how these kinds of things get made, what effects, all that. If that interests you, neat!
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksExodia: The God of Degeneracy - The Psychology of Yu-Gi-Ohs Most Famous MonsterDesigning For2023-07-13 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we ignore the 'gaming' element entirely and focus in on Exodia the Forbidden One, one of the most popular trading cards and characters from the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise. We examine exactly what makes the beast tic, what his initial aspirations were as a card and character, and how that's been twisted for decades into creating the most unfun, cruel, and fulfilling force in the card game... I mean, besides Chain Burn or Eldlich.
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksThe Putrid Pride of Gruntilda Designing For VanityDesigning For2023-06-30 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we celebrate 25 years of Banjo-Kazooie by looking into its main villain, Gruntilda Winkybunion. A simple character on the surface, Grunty has proven to be an incredibly enduring bad guy due to her devotion to her own vanity, and her selfishness and pride allow her to thrive as the central pillar that all of Banjo's personality can revolve around.
Intro Theme By: soundcloud.com/phil-thej/tracksDr. Neo Cortex: The Brilliant Failure Designing For PityDesigning For2023-06-24 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we delve into the history of the Crash Bandicoot franchise, and how its starring villain, Dr. Neo Cortex, manages to somehow be incredibly memorable and lovable in spite of constant pathetic appearances. Let's see just how great you can make a villain defined by weakness!
0:00 The Power of Villains 3:01 The State of Cortex 5:38 Crash 1: A New Dope 10:34 Crash 2: Cortex Strikes Back 13:48 Crash 3: Return of the Doubt 16:08 Cortex's Inferno: Crash Through the 2000's 20:11 Cortex's Purgatorio: The Twinsanity Tragedy 24:44 N. termezzo: The N Sane Trilogy 25:41 Cortex's Paridiso: It's About Time! 33:24 The Power of Pity 36:45 Thank You Mr. O'BrienBreath of the Wilds Gerudo Desert Designing For AdaptabilityDesigning For2023-05-11 | Designing For is a series which looks at one specific level, character, or idea in gaming and breaks down the central theme to that element to figure out what it's, well, designing for! In this episode, we look over the history of Zelda's most contentious tribe, the Gerudo. Forged of hardship, deceit, and mistrust, long have their deserts haunted players, and their king, Ganondorf, used that backing to rally his people toward conquest... yet Breath of the Wild shows us a different approach. Not only have the Gerudo adapted to their environment, the desert itself adapts with the times, providing a challenge that no longer is based on frustration and mistrust, but tackling challenge from a different angle and thriving in it, just as the Gerudo have.
Special thank you to @Gamescapes for allowing us to utilize their gorgeous Breath of the Wild landscapes: youtube.com/c/Gamescapes
To Arkham for his tremendous performance as the King of Evil, Ganondorf: https://www.castingcall.club/arkham
And to vandam365 for providing and animating the Ganondorf model during the narration sequences: fiverr.com/vandam365
Outro - Gerudo Interlude by djpretzel: youtu.be/xzSq-q0_YG4Mika & The Witchs Mountain Designing For FlightDesigning For2023-02-27 | Designing For is a series which looks at a level in gaming, and analyzes a theme central to that level's design. In this episode, we break down upcoming title Mika & the Witch's Mountain, and how its gameplay is able to flawlessly capture the exhilarating feeling of flight without neutering it, capturing an incredibly cozy and breezy feeling in a way as unique as it is simple!
Also check out our episode on Sonic Adventure 2's Chao Garden, and how a similarly comforting mode accents and enhances the high-speed gameplay of Sonic the Hedgehog: youtu.be/dD1zuuUH2gI
Or our episode on A Hat In Time's Mafia Town, and how to create a simple level that feels so incredibly dense and filled with life and things to do: youtu.be/wBojUUxe1e0Snake in Smash Bros. Designing For IngenuityDesigning For2023-02-02 | Designing For is a series which looks at a level in gaming, and analyzes a theme central to that level's design. In this episode, we look at the design of Solid Snake in the Super Smash Bros. series, and how the first guest character the series has had doesn't fit the mold for a traditional fighter OR the stealth game character you'd expect. Instead, Snake embodies the bold, creative spirit of the Metal Gear series to absolutely incredible effect to make one of the most unique and well-realized members of the whole roster!
Also check out our episode on how Smash Bros handles the adaptation of another character's spirit excellently in a whole different way, King K. Rool - youtu.be/iEwnsrxygJQ
Or our episode on Metal Gear Solid's Heliport, and how it encourages different kinds of play for different styles of players - youtu.be/DYVSVySfFm0