Just Enough Cooks in the Kitchen: Managing an Anthology Game With 25 Writers
Narrascope 2020, Online (due to COVID), June 2, 2020 (with Laura Michet)
We spoke about managing the writing and narrative design process in a game structured as a multi-voice anthology (Link)
The Role of Historical Research and “Historical Accuracy” in Where the Water Tastes Like Wine
History Department, Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach, November 5, 2019
I spoke about the historical research process for Where the Water Tastes Like Wine and also the treacherous meaning of the phrase “historical accuracy” as commonly used in video game marketing. (no public video)
Refining Your Game Idea, or How to Make Jaws Without A Shark
Full Indie 2019, Vancouver Convention Center, Vancouver, Canada, September 28, 2019
I presented a talk about my approach to design, starting from a game idea and refining it down to possible theme, settings, and mechanics. (Link)
The Process of Creating an Experimental Commercial Indie Game
Konsoll 2018, Grand Hotel Terminus, Bergen, Norway, November 2nd, 2018
I was invited to speak at Norway’s independent game festival, Konsoll, about the process of making Where the Water Tastes Like Wine. (Link)
An American Story: A Look At US History in Where the Water Tastes Like Wine
The Interactive Pasts Conference, Center for Sound and Vision, Utrecht, October 8, 2018
I presented the research process involved in gathering the many narratives that went into the game, why we chose those particular periods of US history, and using the past as a lens for discussing present-day themes. (Link)
The American Story
CalTech Art + Tech Speaker Series, California Institute of Technology, Palo Alto, January 29, 2018
I was invited to talk about Where the Water Tastes Like Wine and the strengths of interactive media (no public video)
A Different Kind of Narrative Game
A.MAZE Festival, Berlin, April 28, 2017
A talk about the narrative design and philosophical approach to Where the Water Tastes Like Wine at AMAZE Festival (Link)
Blowing Down That Road
IndieCade East, New York City, February 14, 2015
I spoke at IndieCade East about the challenges of moving to a team of one and the narrative structure and ambitions of Where the Water Tastes Like Wine. (no public video)
Programmers: Who Needs 'Em?
NYU Game Innovation Lab, New York City, May 8, 2014
The days when creating an influential work in the medium of videogames required teams of dedicated software engineers are fading into the past. Games that chase the bleeding edge of technology suddenly feel less akin to film than to roller coasters, while a cornucopia of new tools empowers a new generation of non-technically focused game developers to push the expressive bounds of the medium. What does the changing role of technology and the engineering discipline in games mean for today’s programmer? (Link)
Crowdsourcing the Localization of Gone Home
Game Developers' Conference, San Francisco, March 19, 2014
I gave a talk on how we encouraged and enabled fans to help us translate all the text in Gone Home (Link)
The Programming of Gone Home: How to Succeed By Being Lazy
Game Developers' Conference, San Francisco, March 17, 2014
Talked at GDC 2014 about techniques for getting more work done as a solo programmer by avoiding common pitfalls (Link)