A masterclass in modern game development with Osebo, revealing his journey from sketching word puzzles on a flight to Jamaica to launching Couples using AI tools and smart design principles.

Learn how this former Tumblr and Facebook designer leverages LLMs to create engaging puzzles while building Castle's next-gen mobile game engine – proving that the best games start with pen and paper before embracing cutting-edge tech.

Check out Osebo's Resources:

https://castle.xyz/
https://www.couples.game/
https://evenings.fm/

Socials:

https://osebo.net/
https://osebo.info/
https://x.com/0sebo
https://www.0sebo.com/
https://www.instagram.com/0sebo/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/osebo/
https://www.f6s.com/member/oseboakhigbe#about

--

• (00:00) - Introduction and Welcome
• (01:24) - Interview with Osebo: Game Design Insights
• (02:16) - Osebo's Favorite Games
• (06:48) - The Resurgence of Chess in New York
• (08:08) - Osebo's Gaming Journey
• (11:32) - From Design to Programming
• (14:38) - Professional Journey: Tumblr and Facebook
• (16:33) - Exploring VR and Oculus
• (21:13) - Castle: A Cognition Gym
• (22:51) - Team and Vision at Castle
• (24:57) - Game Creation and Monetization
• (29:18) - Prototyping on the Way to Jamaica
• (30:15) - Prototyping the Game Mechanics
• (30:46) - Building and Sharing the Game
• (31:39) - Community Feedback and Adjustments
• (33:33) - The Role of AI in Game Development
• (36:31) - Challenges and Innovations in Word Games
• (39:03) - Organic Growth and Community Engagement
• (43:33) - Future Plans and Monetization
• (49:12) - Evening.fm and Independent Radio
• (54:19) - Conclusion and Contact Information

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Brian Reynolds, co-owner of The Bridge Teachers, brings a unique blend of creativity and gaming expertise to the world of bridge instruction. As an actor, writer, and director, Brian partnered with his wife Samantha to transform bridge education through their subscription-based platform thebridgeteachers.com.

Key takeaways include:
- Their innovative approach to teaching bridge through accessible online content
- The transition from personal instruction to scalable digital education
- The potential market of 37 million bridge players in the U.S.
- Their mission to modernize bridge education and attract younger players
- The cognitive health benefits of regular bridge playing

Check out Brian's Resources:

https://thebridgeteachers.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@thebridgeteachers
https://www.instagram.com/thebridgeteachers
https://www.facebook.com/thebridgeteachers

--

• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast
• (00:34) - Meet Brian Reynolds: The Bridge Teacher
• (01:40) - Brian's Gaming Journey
• (03:08) - The World of Bridge
• (03:53) - Gaming as a Social Experience
• (05:21) - Brian's Perspective on Games and Life
• (06:36) - Learning Bridge: A Personal Story
• (08:27) - Challenges and Rewards of Learning Bridge
• (11:20) - The Importance of Fun in Gaming
• (17:26) - Promoting Bridge to a New Generation
• (21:15) - The Bridge Teachers: A Family Business
• (28:20) - BridgeBase Online and the Future of Bridge
• (30:23) - Chess Ratings and Learning Dynamics
• (32:44) - Bridge's Master Points System
• (35:46) - Monetization Strategies for Bridge Teaching
• (43:45) - Balancing Creative Pursuits and Bridge
• (49:55) - The Future of Bridge and Its Market Potential
• (55:13) - The Cognitive Benefits of Playing Bridge
• (57:03) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Slavi Grozev, the creator of Random Trivia Generator. Slavi, originally an acoustic engineer, shares his journey of developing the popular trivia website, discussing his inspiration from long drives and quiz bowls during his time at engineering school. Despite having a full-time job and family commitments, Slavi dedicates time daily to update and evolve the platform. The conversation delves into Slavi's approach to building the site, handling user submissions, and future plans for new features. The episode also highlights Slavi's philosophy on user interaction, design focus, and the challenges of monetizing a passion project while keeping it accessible.

Check out Slavi's Resources:
https://www.randomtriviagenerator.com/
https://twitter.com/randomtrivia
https://www.facebook.com/randomtriviagenerator

--

• (00:00) - Introduction and Early Marketing Challenges
• (00:22) - Podcast Welcome and Listener Engagement
• (01:36) - Interview with Slavi Grozev Begins
• (02:24) - Slavi's Favorite Game: Heroes of Might and Magic
• (04:55) - Career Journey: From Chemical to Noise Engineer
• (08:23) - The Birth of Random Trivia Generator
• (11:36) - Building and Growing the Trivia Platform
• (17:03) - User Engagement and Content Creation
• (21:56) - Future Features and Enhancements
• (22:28) - Early Growth and Viral Moments
• (23:59) - Impact of the Pandemic
• (26:30) - Acquisition Offers and Business Decisions
• (27:35) - Future Plans and User Engagement
• (34:17) - Monetization Strategies
• (37:43) - Localization and Translation
• (41:38) - Advice for Aspiring Game Creators
• (43:12) - Final Thoughts and Fun Facts

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

David Ngo is the creator of ChessHub.com and a software engineer at Amazon. They delve into David's background in software development, his passion for chess, and the creation and evolution of ChessHub.com. David shares insights into game development, user feedback, and the challenges and triumphs he faced. They also discuss domain acquisition, monetization strategies, and future features aimed at improving the chess learning experience for users.

Check out David's Resources:
https://www.chesshub.com/analysis/new

--

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:24) - David Ngo's Background and ChessHub Overview
• (01:07) - David's Love for Chess
• (02:35) - Challenges and Experiences in Chess
• (05:41) - Creating and Growing ChessHub
• (14:09) - Monetization and Advertising Insights
• (21:58) - Future Plans and Features for ChessHub
• (28:17) - Advice for Aspiring Game Creators
• (30:21) - Conclusion and Contact Information

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Linmiao Xu is the creator of Blitztactics.com. Lin, a software engineer and avid chess enthusiast, shares his experiences developing Blitztactics—a fast-paced online chess puzzle platform. They discuss Lin's 'blitz chess' addiction, his forays into charcoal art inspired by Dark Souls, and the creative processes during his travels in Asia.

Lin also delves into his involvement in training neural networks for Stockfish, a leading chess engine, and his professional role in developing generative image models at Playground. The conversation wraps up with Lin's future aspirations in game development and his philosophy on creativity and progression.

Check out Linmiao's Resources:

https://blitztactics.com/
https://lichess.org/training
https://github.com/linrock/blitz-tactics

https://robotmoon.com/
https://github.com/linrock
https://unsplash.com/@linrock
https://www.instagram.com/linrock/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/linmiao-xu/

--

• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• (01:25) - Linmiao Xu's Favorite Games
• (03:39) - Art and Travel Inspirations
• (06:31) - Biohacking Vision
• (10:04) - The Birth of Blitztactics
• (12:52) - Challenges and Popularity of Blitztactics
• (15:33) - Community and Traffic Insights
• (26:03) - Stockfish and AI Involvement
• (31:44) - Future Projects and Closing Remarks

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Richard Rognlie, the creator of Gamerz.net. Richard discusses his extensive background in programming, from early interest sparked by family to his career in defense contracts and web development. The conversation delves into the unique platform of Gamerz.net, which hosts over 270 play-by-email games. Richard shares insights into game design, the evolution of the site, and his experiments with various interfaces and mediums. The episode highlights the enduring appeal and challenges of asynchronous game play facilitated through email, touching on topics like user engagement, accessibility, and the potential future of the platform.

Check out Richard's Resources:

http://www.gamerz.net/
https://www.instagram.com/richardrognlie

--

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:47) - Richard's Background and Early Programming Days
• (02:11) - The Birth of Gamers.net
• (04:10) - Game Development and Favorite Games
• (10:20) - Technical Details and Challenges
• (14:02) - Community and Usage Patterns
• (17:51) - Future of Email-Based Games
• (31:11) - Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

In this episode, we chat with Sandro Wahl, CEO and founder of PreAlpha, and the mind behind Make It Meme, a multiplayer game that turns meme creation into a social experience.

Sandro shares his journey of creating the viral game, Make It Meme. He discusses the challenges of moderation, monetization, and the upcoming 2.0 version of the game. We also explore the social dynamics of memes and how Make It Meme has become a cultural touchstone for its players.

Check out Sandro's Resources:

https://prealpha.dev/
https://makeitmeme.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/prealpha/

https://github.com/CookedApps
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandro-wahl/

--

• (00:00) - Introduction to the Guest: Sandro Wahl
• (04:06) - The Birth of Make It Meme
• (05:30) - From Private Game to Public Success
• (08:08) - Gameplay Mechanics and Design Challenges
• (15:14) - User Stories and Cultural Impact
• (19:21) - Dynamic Meme Creation Process
• (19:52) - Future of Tailored Meme Packs
• (21:46) - Challenges in Moderation
• (25:47) - Monetization Strategies
• (28:41) - Community-Driven Moderation
• (31:20) - Innovative Ad Integration
• (34:56) - Exciting Upcoming Updates
• (37:03) - Join the Community

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

In this episode, we sit down with Gabriele Cirulli, who created the viral hit game 2048 when he was just 19 years old.

What started as a five-day coding experiment became a worldwide phenomenon, leading Gabriele through an unexpected journey of viral success, burnout, and eventually finding peace with his creation. After stepping away from the game for years, he recently quit his job at 1Password to work on 2048 full-time, launching a completely reimagined version with new features and improved performance.

Surprisingly, Gabriele shares his unconventional view on the thousands of copycats his game inspired, seeing them as a beautiful extension of creativity rather than theft. From dealing with the pressure of unexpected success to embracing an open-source mindset, Gabriele's story offers unique insights into what happens when a side project suddenly becomes a global sensation.

Check out Gabriele's Resources:

https://play2048.co
https://classic.play2048.co/

https://x.com/gabrielecirulli/
https://gabrielecirulli.github.io/2048
https://github.com/gabrielecirulli/2048
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielecirulli/
https://www.facebook.com/2048.by.Gabriele.Cirulli/

For questions or feedback:
feedback@play2048.co

--

• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast
• (00:28) - Meet Gabriele Cirulli: Creator of 2048
• (01:28) - Gabriele's Favorite Game: Fortnite
• (02:11) - The Evolution of Multiplayer Gaming
• (03:11) - Gabriele's Journey into Web Development
• (04:58) - The Changing Landscape of Web Development
• (07:50) - The Viral Success of 2048
• (11:00) - The Inspiration Behind 2048
• (17:46) - The Open Source Impact of 2048
• (26:20) - Reflecting on 2048's Success and Burnout
• (26:59) - Moving to the Netherlands and Finding Normalcy
• (27:38) - Creating the Mobile App and Monetization Struggles
• (29:30) - Selling the Mobile App and Partnership with Solibon
• (30:32) - Changing Perspectives on Advertising
• (31:33) - Quitting the Job to Focus on 2048
• (34:22) - Developing the New Version of 2048
• (42:58) - Challenges and Feedback from the Community
• (48:32) - Exclusive Amazon Prime Version
• (53:39) - Future Plans and Closing Thoughts

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com