If you’ve played Civilization II, Alpha Centauri, Rise of Nations, or Frontierville, you know the work of Brian Reynolds. Having spent 30 years (and counting) making games, Brian’s game design experience spans the most hardcore to the most casual. He co-founded Firaxis Games and Big Huge Games, and he’s now Chief Game Designer at social game giant Zynga.
Brian sat down with Irrational’s creative director Ken Levine for a chat that touches on the past, present, and potential future of games, on both the hardcore and casual sides of the spectrum. They discuss the ins and outs of entrepreneurship, the advantages of having Sid Meier around when you start a new company, and how a strategy game like Alpha Centauri and a shooter like BioShock may have more in common than you’d think.
Share your thoughts about this podcast in the comments below, or head over to the forums for more in-depth discussion.
- Produced by James Bonney & Chris Remo
- Music courtesy of The Happy Hollows
gladiator49 | June 2, 2011 3:02 pm
I’m going to start listening to this now, should be quite good.
ngsoftwork | June 2, 2011 5:28 pm
I LOVE these interviews
borrego | June 2, 2011 6:20 pm
YES! A new podcast! Thanks, guys!
felonious | June 2, 2011 6:35 pm
Nice! Going to have something to listen to it at work tonight!!!!
bioshockways | June 3, 2011 1:03 am
Is he working on Bioshock : Infinite ?
loberto | June 3, 2011 5:03 pm
Looks like Good Old Games will be releasing Alpha Centauri later this year!
http://www.gog.com/en/news/gog_com_s_catalog_gets_huge_with_addition_of_classic_ea_titles
deltadrill | June 4, 2011 1:56 am
i wish i made games for a living
gladiator49 | June 4, 2011 4:14 am
^ That’s my dream job as well.
icegrove | June 4, 2011 3:00 pm
So many ideas to games, would be cool.
senyadraquille | June 4, 2011 8:48 pm
lol its funny when you randomly skip through it,
tylerdodge | June 5, 2011 3:21 pm
This is great! Brian Reynolds doesn’t get enough recognition… his track record in game development is outstanding.
peckinpork | June 6, 2011 7:42 am
Offtopic:
Behold, the Bioshock Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip4GToqLbhU
just thought I should share it…
dkg0d | June 6, 2011 12:57 pm
SO STOKED FOR THIS! Glad to see these podcasts are still going. Thank you!
igabsfan | June 15, 2011 10:54 pm
Please, more interviews!
Do not be afraid to interview people multiple times on different topics.
bobogoldman | June 18, 2011 3:27 am
waited patiently four months….