What Games Truly Are, with Tadhg Kelly

Playmakers - The Game Industry Podcast

In this episode:

Jordan sits down with Tadhg Kelly, an experienced consultant specializing in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and video games, with a rich background in game design and production. Tadhg has held significant roles at notable companies like BSkyB, Lionhead Studios, Climax Studios, and Mobile Game Doctor. His work spans a variety of game projects, from board games and live-action role-playing games to large-scale PC games and innovative AR/VR technologies. In this episode, Tadhg shares his journey from game designer to consultant, offering invaluable insights into the industry's evolution and the lessons he has learned along the way.

Topics covered:

• Tadhg’s transition from game designer to consultant and the lessons he learned along the way
• Understanding the "Sexy/Worthy Trap" and how to use it to your advantage in game design
• Balancing speed-to-market against feature development in game projects
• The benefit of having diverse skill sets in the gaming industry
• Common mistakes made in the early stages of game development
• The value of letting your game developer do their job

For more game industry tips:

• Learn more about Jordan & Bright Black
• Listen on iTunes | Spotify (Support the show and leave a review)
• Visit www.playmakerspodcast.com for the full blog post and more!

Timestamps:

[03:04] Tadhg’s journey from game designer to consultant

[06:15] Lessons learned from working on various game projects

[09:47] Examples of “cliff projects” and challenges in game development

[13:00] Consulting and transitioning from traditional game development

[17:19] The “Sexy / Worthy Trap” and how it influences successful games

[22:27] Simple mistakes in the early stages of game development

[24:06] Why assumptions about gameplay and player psychology can lead to failure

[26:57] The importance of being “sexy” rather than “worthy” in game development

[30:09] Writing game design documentation and focusing on the user experience

[36:30] Lessons from working on platforms like OUYA and Magic Leap

[44:43] Tadhg’s thoughts on consulting and what’s next in the game industry

Resources & media mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Tadhg:

• LinkedIn
• Work with Tadhg at Mobile Game Doctor
• Read the What Games Are Blog
• Twitter

Games & companies mentioned:

• Lionhead Studios
• Climax Studios
• Sky Games
• OUYA
• Magic Leap
• EverQuest (Daybreak Games)
• Among Us (Innersloth)
• Minecraft (Mojang)
• Farmville (Zynga)
• World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment)