Think Like A Game Designer

Think Like A Game Designer

Dormant Designs

From Ascension to Infinity

Justin Gary's avatar
Justin Gary
Oct 02, 2023
∙ Paid

As the creator of the Ascension Deckbuilding Game and its many expansions, I naturally had a lot of ideas for new deckbuiding experiences that didn't quite fit into the Ascension world. However, not all of them fit into the distinct universe of Ascension. While intriguing and full of potential, some ideas veered off the established path and seemed better suited for a different landscape or narrative. The wealth of these untapped ideas continually piqued my curiosity. However, many of them found their way into my game design notebooks, waiting in quiet anticipation. There, they remain dormant, like hidden treasures, awaiting the perfect moment when I decide to integrate them into a new game. And that, dear reader, segues us into our first lesson.

Write down and reference your design ideas! 

Even though there wasn’t a good home for these ideas, I've kept a design journal where I write down all my game design concepts. I also make it a habit of going back through these notes every month or…

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