player engagement — Experience Points Podcast

Episode 140 Randy O'Connor on Designing Through Constraints

In this episode of Experience Points, Dave Eng welcomes game designer, artist, and educator Randy O’Connor to explore the crucial role of constraints in game design and learning. From limited resources to time pressure, constraints shape player experiences and enhance engagement. Randy shares insights on how friction creates meaningful challenges, how platform limitations influence design choices, and why designing for “not doing” can be just as impactful as action. Through examples like This War of Mine, Frostpunk, and Hades, they discuss how well-crafted restrictions foster creativity, strategy, and deeper learning.

Randy O’Connor, Game Design ConstraintsDave EngJune 15, 2025Randy O’Connor, game design constraints, educational games, friction in games, game-based learning, player engagement, systems thinking in gamesComment

Episode 115 What is Player Engagement?

On today’s episode, we’ll answer the question: What is Player Engagement? Games require that players interact with them. They require individuals to contribute; to change; and to augment the game according to their own will and agency. This encompasses player engagement and how they come to interact with games as well as what keeps them coming back to play.

player engagement, motivation, player experienceDave EngJune 30, 2024player engagement, motivation, time investment, player experience, interaction, feedback, challenges, progression, tutorials, learner engagement, cognition, behavior, socialComment