{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"E141: Why Talented Game Teams Still Ship Boring Games","description":"Level up your leadership: https:\/\/forms.gle\/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 Every great game you have ever played relies on a hidden shape underneath its experience, and most game dev leaders can't name it. When you can't name a design pattern, you can't use it on purpose. That\u2019s how talented teams spend years pouring sweat into content, only to release a game that just doesn\u2019t engage its players. In this episode, Benjamin Carcich breaks down \u201cinterest curves,\u201d a game design lens from Jesse Schell that dictates how player engagement actually works. Drawing from juggling acts, Howard Shore\u2019s Lord of the Rings score, and nested loops in League of Legends, Ben demonstrates why player interest has very little to do with mechanical difficulty or content cost\u2014and how you can map engagement to keep players coming back. What You'll Learn in This Episode: What an interest curve is\u2014and why it determines whether players stay engaged or lose interest The four stages of every great interest curve: the hook, rising peaks, strategic valleys, and the climax Why developers often mistake development effort for player value, leading to weak pacing and player drop-off How to design moments that maximize player engagement instead of just increasing production cost A practical way to map your game's interest curve with your team and align everyone around the player experience How playtests can reveal the exact moments where players become bored, confused, or disengaged Why the same principles behind great games also apply to movies, presentations, and even business meetings If you're a leader in game dev who wants your team aligned on what actually keeps players engaged\u2014rather than just making games harder or more expensive to build\u2014this episode is for you. Connect with us: \ud83d\udd17Ben\u2019s LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/benjamin-carcich\/ \ud83d\udd17BBG\u2019s LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/building-better-games\/ \ud83d\udd17Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/buildingbettergames\/# \ud83d\udd17Website: https:\/\/www.buildingbettergames.gg \ud83d\udd17YouTube: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@buildingbettergames If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com #GameDev #GameDesign #GameDevelopment #BuildingBetterGames #ProductionLeadership   ","author_name":"Building Better Games","author_url":"https:\/\/buildingbettergames.gg\/podcast","html":"