Jason Kapalka - FAT CHANCE!

Jason Kapalka: Slide slides & audio (15 MB)

Games of chance were among the first pastimes of human beings, and, as any gambler or internet poker player can tell you, they’re still pretty popular. What is it about randomness that enthralls us? What’s the real difference between a game of skill and one of chance-- and why can you go to jail for not figuring it out? Do casual gamers prefer products based on luck to those based on skill? Are there “good” and “bad” ways to incorporate randomness into a game design? What is the classic mistake everyone makes when playing a game of chance, and how can you use it to make your game more addictive and compelling? These and other questions about luck in the world of casual gaming will be explored and maybe even answered!

Delivered at Casual Connect Kyiv, October 2007

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Jason Kapalka (email)

Jason Kapalka is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of PopCap Games, the Seattle-based developer of popular casual games such as Bejeweled, Zuma, Bookworm, and Chuzzle.

Prior to founding PopCap in 2000 with John Vechey and Brian Fiete, Jason worked as Senior Producer at pogo.com, where he designed and produced more than a dozen of their web games and helped create the multiplayer infrastructure. Before that he was a regular contributor to Computer Gaming World, the industry's oldest PC gaming magazine. He holds an MA in English from the University of Alberta.

HOME \| LECTURES & ARTICLES \| GAME DESIGN \| FAT CHANCE! RANDOMNESS AND LUCK IN CASUAL GAMES slides & audio (15 MB) Games of chance were among the first pastimes of human beings, and, as any gambler or internet poker player can tell you, they’re still pretty popular. What is it about randomness that enthralls us? What’s the real difference between a game of skill and one of chance-- and why can you go to jail for not figuring it out? Do casual gamers prefer products based on luck to those based on skill? Are there “good” and “bad” ways to incorporate randomness into a game design? What is the classic mistake everyone makes when playing a game of chance, and how can you use it to make your game more addictive and compelling? These and other questions about luck in the world of casual gaming will be explored and maybe even answered! Delivered at Casual Connect Kyiv, October 2007 DOWNLOAD Jason Kapalka (email) Jason Kapalka is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of PopCap Games, the Seattle-based developer of popular casual games such as Bejeweled, Zuma, Bookworm, and Chuzzle. Prior to founding PopCap in 2000 with John Vechey and Brian Fiete, Jason worked as Senior Producer at pogo.com, where he designed and produced more than a dozen of their web games and helped create the multiplayer infrastructure. Before that he was a regular contributor to Computer Gaming World, the industry's oldest PC gaming magazine. He holds an MA in English from the University of Alberta.