It’s been a strange time for games and the games industry. This week we talk about where we see game design going moving forward and discuss the future of The Panic Mode Podcast. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode YouTube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: The Future of Panic Mode: https://www.panicmode.net/articles/the-future-of-panic-mode Game Theory - Video Games Will Never be the Same: https://youtu.be/ifai1WJJ8Z0 Kotaku - The Secret To The Success Of Bastion, Pyre, And Hades: https://bit.ly/2LJDeye

This week we welcome narrative designer Katarina Gyllenbäck to share her expertise on how cognitive-based story creation can be used to create meaningful and engaging interactive experiences. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode YouTube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: Katarina Gyllenbäck: katarinagyllenback.com twitter.com/gyllenback

Chris Wood returns to the show to share his insights on blockchain in game design. And yes, it does in fact have more applications than just safer microtransactions :0 Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode YouTube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: Chris Wood: twitter.com/ChrisWood1821 Millennials in China Podcast: www.millennialsinchina.com Blockchain Narrative Paper: https://bit.ly/3i3ksxG Extra Credits - Blockchain Games: https://youtu.be/ywvTIM_eOVI Infinite Fleet: www.infinitefleet.com

This week we welcome Scott Hebert to the show to share his insights on gamification in education. Scott is a teacher, author, and an intrepid pioneer committed to reimagining teaching in the 21st Century. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode YouTube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: Scott Hebert: www.mrhebert.org twitter.com/MrHebertPE facebook.com/thegamificationguy youtube.com/masterheebs Scott Hebert - The Power of Gamification in Education: https://youtu.be/mOssYTimQwM Scott Hebert - Press Start to Begin: https://amzn.to/33QNevz

For our last show of the year, we take a look back at what 2020 will be remembered for in game design and development, as well as a recap of the Game Awards. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode YouTube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: Mark Brown - How Accessible Were This Year’s Games? https://youtu.be/RWQcuBigOj0 Kotaku - The Secret To The Success Of Hades: https://bit.ly/2WA8TE4 Playstation 9 Commercial: https://youtu.be/rv9_AlimsiQ

With video games reaching photorealistic levels of graphical fidelity, the way we think about realism in game design is beginning to change. This week, Aidan goes over his heuristics on designing for realism in video games. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode YouTube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: WIRED - The New 'Demon's Souls' Remake Tries Too Hard to Be Realistic: https://bit.ly/3qtwRyH WIRED - How Video Games Are Saving Those Who Served: https://bit.ly/2VL2DZH Music: Ambient by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Mobile games dominate the modern industry landscape. This week we explore the technologies that have powered or continue to power the genre, as well as the games that have come to define it. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode Youtube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: Wired: - How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry: https://bit.ly/3kM8t7q BBC - Japan leads mobile game craze: https://bbc.in/2Kmez1E Pocket Gamer - A Brief History of Mobile Games: https://bit.ly/2UUOwR7 History of Mobile Games: https://bit.ly/2UNUu6p Cragstan Periscope-Firing Range: https://bit.ly/3pGMjHh Mattel's Auto Race: https://bit.ly/3pGMbYj Music: Pookatoria and Friends by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Designing games for speedrunning is something of a novelty. But as we discuss this week on the show, it’s well worth considering. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode Youtube: tinyurl.com/panicmode Show Notes: Panic Mode - Learning to Speedrun Ghostrunner - Episode 1: https://youtu.be/kg62o0a8A48 Snoman Gaming - Good Game Design - Speedrunning: https://youtu.be/AecPaV5GBIk Gamasutra - 6 ways to make your game more appealing to speedrunners: https://bit.ly/32k4p7Q Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/c/SummoningSalt IGN - Game Developers React to Speedruns: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLraFbwCoisJA6eO7VSWtUqLaIFBQq4PCv Kotaku - How to Start Speedrunning: https://bit.ly/36bd79x Wii Fit Speedrun: https://youtu.be/zHE9l7r0DzA

This week we take a look at the oft discussed topic of mental health in game development, and how we can prevent/treat mental health issues both for ourselves and teammates. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode Show Notes: Crevoshay et al. - State of the Industry 2019: Mental Health in the Game Industry: https://bit.ly/3024z2y Gamasutra - Crunch can put devs at odds with their own mental health: https://bit.ly/2HhtOHG Jennifer Hazel - Invent a Game, Reinvent Yourself: https://youtu.be/Nr2WJiiN3C0 CheckPoint: https://checkpointorg.com

Mental health and games are closely intertwined areas - whether it’s playing games to cope, or the depiction of mental health in those games. This week we take a look at this relationship as well as what designers can learn from it. Website: panicmode.net Twitter: twitter.com/panicmodedotnet Facebook: fb.me/panicmodedotnet Medium: medium.com/panicmode Show Notes: Gamasutra - 97% of gamers say playing games benefits their mental health: https://bit.ly/32UMpl6 Low Batteries - a series about mental health and gaming: https://bit.ly/3mMHkDm BBC - Video games and mental health: 'Nobody's properly talking': https://bbc.in/301eV2S Extra Credits - Mental Health in Games: https://youtu.be/hht0MtPZ_Ng The Insight Project: https://theinsightproject.com/ TheGamer - 10 Video Games That Deal With Mental Illness: https://bit.ly/35X0tMX