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The Corner of Story and Game

The Corner of Story and Game

Gerald Ford 153 Episodes Feb 2, 2026

The Corner of Story and Game is a podcast that explores the intersection of storytelling and gaming. Host Gerald Ford interviews worldbuilders, including game designers, writers, and comic book creators, about the narratives within board games, video games, novels, and comics. Each episode features conversations that delve into how stories are crafted and how games influence writing. The podcast aims to create a cozy space for listeners to discover new perspectives on creative worldbuilding.

Episodes

Willem Delventhal on The State of Indie Games: What We Take Into 2026 Feb 2, 2026 00:33:00 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, returning guest Willem Delventhal joins us for our year-end conversation, looking back on what 2025 taught us and looking ahead to what it will take to thrive in 2026 as indie creators.Quick note up front: this episode was recorded at the start of the new year, and it’s coming out later than planned. That one is on us. Life got loud, timelines got m
Batuhan Gözlüklü on Quest Design, Narrative Design, and Building an Indie Studio After AAA Jan 23, 2026 00:34:34 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, I sit down with Batuhan Gözlüklü for a conversation about quest design, narrative ownership, and what it means to earn creative control one decision at a time. We talk about how missions and objectives become the backbone of player experience, how narrative can stay present at every layer of development, and why “healthy escapism” might be one of th
Kristi Eckert on Communication and Collaboration That Solve Narrative Problems in Game Development Jan 19, 2026 00:27:29 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, we sit down with Kristi Eckert to talk about the thing that quietly solves (or breaks) narrative in development: communication. Kristi shares how story problems often start as people problems, and why collaboration, trust, and shared language across disciplines matter just as much as craft on the page.Together, we dig into what narrative designers c
Brady Sadler on Creative Identity, Worldbuilding, and Starting a Publishing Company Jan 13, 2026 00:38:07 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, returning guest Brady Sadler joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about worldbuilding, creative identity, and what it looks like to grow into a maker who works across mediums. Brady has been on a prolific run with his novels, while also co-designing board games and helping launch a publishing company with his brother.Together, we explore how a s
From Fanfiction to Franchise: Ashley Poprik on Turning Passion Writing Into Game Narrative Jan 6, 2026 00:35:32 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, returning guest Ashley Poprik joins us for a candid, craft-focused conversation about how fanfiction, forums, and community storytelling can become real training grounds for professional narrative work.We talk about how writing inside existing worlds teaches voice, structure, collaboration, and feedback loops, and how those skills translate directly
Creatures and Cocktails: David Gallaher on Immersive D&D and Live Storytelling Design Dec 24, 2025 00:50:59 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, we sit down with David Gallaher to talk about Creatures and Cocktails, an immersive Dungeons and Dragons experience built to feel welcoming, premium, and deeply communal. David shares how his background across games and comics shaped the way he thinks about “ramp up,” onboarding, and reducing lore overload so new players can jump in without feeling
Building an Earthquake‑Proof Career: Chris Tran on Story, Change, and Creative Resilience Dec 9, 2025 01:06:14 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, I'm joined by Chris Tran - a narrative designer, esports leader, educator, and creative strategist - for a rich conversation about building a resilient career grounded in values, adaptability, and community.Chris shares how his professional journey, from law school to esports management, and eventually narrative design, has been guided by empath
Prototype Everything! How Scott Rogers Uses Early Testing to Power Creative Success Nov 19, 2025 00:45:25 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, returning guest Scott Rogers -- game designer, author, and educator -- joins us for a deep dive into the power of prototyping. From his roots in video games to his current focus on board game design, Scott shares how early testing and iteration drive creative clarity, strengthen pitches, and shape player experience.Together, we explore how functiona
Building Story in Open Worlds: Winter Mullenix & Tormod MacLean on Narrative Design in Sandbox MMOs Oct 28, 2025 00:49:15 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, we sit down with Winter Mullenix and Tormod MacLean to explore what it really means to tell stories in open-world, player-driven spaces. Together, we dig into the challenges and opportunities of crafting narrative in sandbox MMOs, where story doesn’t come from scripted quests alone, but from the players themselves.Winter and Tormod share insights fr
No Cutscene, No Problem: Sagar Beroshi on Fear, Flexibility, and Narrative Grit Oct 17, 2025 01:06:40 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, we sit down with Sagar Beroshi, Principal Narrative Designer at The Chinese Room. Together, we unpack what it really means to write horror when you're working without a blockbuster budget, and why narrative constraints can be an unexpected ally.Sagar shares the realities of writing in a system where your cutscene might get cut, your VO might van
Fragmented Realms: Worldbuilding Across Games, Comics, and Transmedia with Joshua Rubin Oct 5, 2025 00:42:50 In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, returning guest Joshua Rubin, veteran narrative designer (Destiny, Assassin’s Creed, The Walking Dead, Telltale), joins us to unpack the chaos, creativity, and continuity of transmedia worldbuilding.We dive into:🧩 Fractured storytelling across Discord, comics, and AAA games📚 Building lore from microfiction to macro-worlds✍️ His Dead Ghosts chapbook
Transmedia Narrative: Navigating Canon Between Games, Comics, & Other Media with Jesse Scoble Sep 27, 2025 00:55:33 In a world of expansive IPs, player agency, and multi-format storytelling, how do you keep a narrative consistent without strangling its potential?This week on The Corner of Story and Game, we sit down with Jesse Scoble, a veteran narrative designer and worldbuilder whose career spans Assassin’s Creed, Hyper Scape, City of Heroes, and even TTRPGs and now comics!We explore the art and craft of narr

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