The Great Game

Patrick Doyle

Jack and Patrick talk about Megagames in the Australian environment - how it all started, how we do things down under, and how our players and designers find the world of megagaming.

The Great Game Theme: Balrog Boogie, Diablo Swing Orchestra

The Great Game logo by Jack McNamee using Earth Vectors by Vecteezy.

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20 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 26 min
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S1 · E61
August 30 · 1 hr 45 min
61: Becky (Background Briefing)
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Patrick got to talk with BeckyBecky Ladley from... well, megagames eveywhere. Hear about Becky's introduction to the world of megagames pre-WTS, the experience of being in the very first game of Watch the Skies, and how the megagame scenery has changed in the years since. You can see a full list of the games Becky has attended here, and you can read more about her design work (and other creative pursuits) on her blog. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E60
August 30 · 1 hr 18 min
60: Tales of the Allfather with Ciaran and George
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We talk with co-designers Ciaran and George about their latest megagame, Tales of the Allfather - a narrative-focussed game about viking mythology, brewing beers, and good deaths! Check out Ciaran's work. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E59
July 30 · 1 hr 2 min
59: Are you now, or have you ever been... with Andrew
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We talk with Andrew from Redding Megagames about his game Are you now, or have you ever been...? to hear about the first recorded use of 'Megagamers' as a team in a megame, and why facilitators should avoid lifts at the game venue. Get a copy of the game here. Read more about the game at the Megagame Assembly. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E58
June 30 · 1 hr 4 min
58: Small Megagames with LJ
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We got to speak with LJ from the Megagame Coalition about her game Gathering Darkness, a triple threat in the megagame world - it's a prequel, it's a mini-megagame, and it's made for beginners! Note: LJ was cursed with allergies this recording, but was a trooper in powering through with us. Our helpful production staff made sure she was a-ok throughout. Note2: Patrick used this episode to start rubbing his beard a lot, creating a unique ASMR experience we may take to Patreon if the fans allow. Episode links: ⁠Megagame Coalition⁠ The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E57
May 31 · 2 hr 42 min
57: Trenton (Background Briefing)
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Trenton takes us through his 3 arcs of megagaming, from his love of media/news teams (and giving copious feedback to megagame makers) to playing the role of secret-designer in his own game years later. Episode links: Megagame Coalition Midwest Megagames The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E56
April 29 · 1 hr 24 min
56: Social Deduction with Justin and Ben
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We speak with Justin (Adelaide Megagames) and Ben (BK Game Design) about social deduction, traitors and hidden roles in the megagame world. Check out the referenced blog post by Tony, Sydney Megagamers, at the Megagame Assembly. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E55
March 30 · 56 min
55: What is a megagame, again?
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Warning: this episode uses a lot of generalisations and specifcially the words 'generally' and 'in general'. Listener discretion is advised. We revisit our very first episode, 5 years on, to understand what a megagame actually is. Come with us on this journey of discovery as we explore enjoyable panic, solitaire megagames and, finally, the single, true definition of what a megagame is. If you've never heard of megagames before, this is a really good place to begin! Some fun links for you to enjoy! Megagame Assembly Megagame Makers A list of megagame discord communities Watch a megagame online Watch another, older megagame online God Emperor The Generalissimo is Dead Watch the Skies Den of Wolves The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E54
February 27 · 1 hr 20 min
54: Vroom with Carl
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We spoke with Carl from Sydney Megagamers about the megagame of F1 racing that came to the wasteland. Learn about the art of broken economies, pizzazz and mad max style racing in Vroom. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E53
January 30 · 2 hr 15 min
53: Rob (Background Briefing)
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make friends before you need them. People are on the same team, not necessarily the same side. Want more wisdom? Listen along! The second in our background briefing series, a long meandering discussion with Rob Grayston, of East Midlands Megagames, about megagame logistics, project management, serious games and Warhammer 40K. Episode links: https://www.emmegagames.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/620002656028053 https://socialudo.org/store https://www.stonepaperscissors.co.uk/ https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/ https://connectionsoz.wordpress.com/ The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E52
Dec 31, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
52: Megagame Initiative with Peter and Liam
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We connected with Peter and Liam from the Megagame Initiative (check them out online) to talk about about megagames have developed in Cape Town over the last few years. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E51
Oct 25, 2025 · 56 min
51: The Company Archives with NB
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack sat down with Non-Breaking Space games to talk about the John Company inspired megagame, The Company Archives. Read a player's experience of the game here. You can find more of NBS' work online at www.nbsp1618.games and check out the latest release, Cross Bronx Expressway. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E50
Oct 4, 2025 · 57 min
50: Raising Spirits with James
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack and Pat talk with James (Sydney Megagamers) on how he came to designing Raising Spirits, a mini-megagame based on the renowned social deduction game Blood on the Clock Tower. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E49
Sep 20, 2025 · 3 hr 18 min
49: Ciaran (Background Briefing)
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ An experiment with the rambling, longer form, Patrick sits down with Ciaran (of The Generalissimo is Dead fame) to talk about what makes a megagame designer. This is the first 'background briefing' and looks at getting a deeper understanding of the people behind the megagame world. We did inevitably have a few audio bumps and bomps throughout, so apologies for those. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E48
Sep 6, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
48: Crossovers with Trenton and Scott
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack talks with Trenton (Megagame Coalition) and Scott (West Coast Megagames, certified 'megagame crazy') to talk about the crossover event of their Gencon 2025 Megagames Deephaven and Goblin City. The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E47
Aug 23, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
47: The Lighthouse with Dave
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack talks with Dave, Sydney Megagamers, about his 2025 Megagame The Lighthouse. Check out the game (and buy it to run yourself) here: https://littlemegagames.itch.io/the-lighthouse The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E46
May 19, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
46: Last Turn Madness with Justin and Sam
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We finally got to sit down with some passionate Megagame aficionados (Justin from Adelaide Megagames and Sam from Basenti Games) and get to the bottom of Last Turn Madness - the good, the bad and the ugly! The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E45
Feb 22, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
45: This City Sucks with Chris
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The gang talks to Chris from Melbourne Megagames about This City Sucks - a game about vampires, turf wars, real estate and auctions... and figuring out what the hell happened to the mayor! The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E44
Feb 8, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
44: Tales from the Scrapheap
Keep in touch:⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jack and Pat delve into the dire archives for designs and concepts that landed in their scrapheap - not gone, not forgotten, but long-abandoned ideas that just didn't make it. The Great Game theme is⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Connect with Ben⁠⁠Bound by Desire⁠
S1 · E43
Jan 25, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
43: Bound by Desire with Ben
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠ We regroup with the Architect of Megagames, Ben of BKGameDesign, to tackle the romance-inspired megagame Bound by Desire. We talk about the secret to getting megagamers to a megagame, why Lady McStuffin' Face is so insidious, and just how dangerous romantic polyhedrons can be. Episode Links: Connect with Ben Attend Bound by Desire The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Jan 11, 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
42: Team Time - Councils
Keep in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/greatgamepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Discord server⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For the inaugural session of Team Time, Jack, Pat, Trenton and Ciaran hash out what's going on with councils in megagames and ask the question - do we really need 'em? Find Ciaran and Trenton over at the Megagame Coalition and True North megagame servers (and of course, at the Great Game server)! The Great Game theme is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Balrog Boogie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by the Diablo Swing Orchestra The Great Game logo was made by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jack McNamee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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