What does it take to create unforgettable game audio—from eerie soundscapes in Death Stranding to iconic branding in Mortal Kombat?

Composer and sound designer Joel Corelitz joins us to talk about his path from writing music for pharmaceutical ads to shaping the sonic identity of major titles. We dive into the creative process, what good feedback really sounds like, the overlooked potential of sound in web games, and why sometimes doing the work is more important than waiting for inspiration.

Check out Joel's Resources:
https://joelcorelitz.com/
http://twitter.com/joelcorelitz
http://instagram.com/joelcorelitz
https://joelcorelitz.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@joelcorelitzmusic

Games Mentioned:
Dark Souls - Joel's favorite game to play
Halo Infinite
Death Stranding
Mortal Kombat One
The Unfinished Swan
Nine Souls
The Last Clockwinder
Hyperlight Breaker
Hyperlight Drifter
Lazy River

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• (00:00) - Introduction to Joel Kitz and Wave Plant
• (00:56) - Joel's Favorite Games and Balancing Work and Play
• (03:36) - The Journey from Advertising to Game Composing
• (08:52) - The Creative Process and Musical Language
• (15:51) - Feedback and Collaboration in Game Music
• (19:30) - Budgeting for Game Music and Audio Branding
• (25:30) - Exploring Sound Design in Games
• (26:14) - The Role of Musicality in Sound Design
• (30:02) - Challenges in Sound Design and Asset Management
• (31:04) - Collaborations and Working Solo
• (32:29) - Impact of AI on Creative Work
• (35:30) - Teaching Game Music Composition
• (38:23) - Starting a YouTube Channel
• (41:46) - Formal Education vs. Self-Learning in Music Composition
• (43:49) - Reflecting on Career Choices
• (44:59) - Current and Upcoming Projects
• (46:08) - Connecting with Joel Online

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Meet David Workman, known in the puzzle world as "HalfBakedLunatic" - a Microsoft veteran who creates Sudoku puzzles so difficult he can't solve them himself.

David shares the incredible story of how he invented TiVo's core technology in 1996, only to watch it slip away when his two-page concept paper got buried at Microsoft. He reveals his epic gambling simulation that proved why casinos always win (even with unlimited money, you'd eventually make bets exceeding the world's GDP), and explains the paradox of puzzle creation - building something is the opposite of solving it.

With 64 puzzles published and 10 featured on the legendary Cracking the Cryptic YouTube channel, David has earned his place among elite puzzle setters. His masterpiece had viewers watching for 45 minutes before a single digit was placed. Plus: the hilarious tale of licensing Elvis for $1,200 while a cockroach photo nearly cost millions.

Check out David Workman's Resources:
http://www.halfbakedlunatic.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mediabizdev/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCkyCXQNZY5ZhoSy1dL8b1Q
https://logic-masters.de/Raetselportal/Benutzer/eingestellt.php?start=0&name=HalfBakedLunatic

Games Mentioned:
Craps - David's favorite game to play
Pinochle
Sudoku
Kropki puzzles

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• (00:00) - Introduction to Puzzle Setting
• (00:28) - Meet David Workman: The Prolific Puzzle Setter
• (01:08) - David's Favorite Games and Betting Strategies
• (01:46) - The Martingale Betting Strategy Explained
• (07:22) - David's Journey in the Broadcast Electronics Industry
• (09:30) - The Birth of TiVo: A Missed Opportunity
• (10:55) - Licensing Elvis Presley and Other Fun Stories
• (12:40) - David's Love for Sudoku and Puzzle Setting
• (16:40) - Challenges and Joys of Creating Puzzles
• (19:42) - Tools and Techniques for Puzzle Setting
• (23:05) - Creative Puzzle Themes and Ideas
• (28:11) - Monetization and Publishing Platforms
• (29:27) - Corporate Events and Custom Puzzles
• (33:12) - David's Favorite Puzzles and Their Stories
• (39:06) - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find David's Puzzles

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

In this episode, we talk with Jason Todd—aka Timberlake—the faceless creator behind the YouTube channel Smart Hobbies. Jason shares how he turned Sudoku from a personal pastime into a thriving YouTube channel with over 900K views on a single video. We dive into the strategy behind his growth, why he stays off-camera, how he connects with an older audience, and the surprising power of Sudoku games in a fast-paced creator economy.

Check out Timberlake's Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/@SmartHobbies
https://buymeacoffee.com/timberlakeb
https://www.instagram.com/timberlakesmarthobbies

Games Mentioned:
Sudoku - Timberlake's favorite game to play
Wingspan
Scrabble
Chess

--

• (00:00) - Introduction and Top Videos Overview
• (00:50) - Welcome to the Hey, Good Game Podcast
• (01:42) - Meet Jason Todd, AKA Timberlake
• (02:21) - Jason's Favorite Games
• (02:52) - The Birth of Smart Hobbies
• (04:34) - The Faceless Channel Strategy
• (06:55) - Jason's Background and Career
• (09:03) - The Journey to YouTube Success
• (11:05) - Content Creation and Audience Engagement
• (24:16) - Revenue Streams and Future Plans
• (30:02) - Balancing Work and Personal Life
• (30:21) - Overcoming Regret and Embracing Routine
• (30:50) - Collaborating in the Sudoku Community
• (34:07) - Growing Your YouTube Channel
• (34:46) - Choosing the Right Platform for Courses
• (39:47) - Understanding Your Audience
• (42:23) - The Importance of Quality Content
• (46:08) - Exploring the Benefits of Sudoku
• (52:39) - Future of Sudoku and Community Building
• (55:27) - Connecting with Timberlake

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Kevin Glikmann, actor and creator of WordGlyph, joins us to share his wild creative journey—from voicing unforgettable characters in Red Dead Redemption to hand-building one of the most unusual word games on the internet.

We talk about the inventing spirit that started with childhood roller coaster blueprints, the challenge of onboarding players in a genre-breaking game, and how Kevin used AI to accelerate coding without losing control. He also shares scrappy marketing tactics, ASMR game videos, and why rejection just means you’re onto something original.

Check out Kevin's Resources:
https://wordglyph.xyz/

https://kevinglikmann.com

Game Mentions
Chess - Kevin's favorite game to play
WordGlyph

Red Dead Redemption

Scrabble

Upwords

Chopper (Apple II)

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• (01:20) - – Playing Bullet Chess and Getting Stuck
• (03:15) - – Inventing at Age 9: A Roller Coaster Pitch to Disneyland
• (05:00) - – Creative Parents and Early Exposure to Production
• (06:30) - – From Airplane Spoofs to Apple II Coding
• (08:00) - – Taking Apart the Rubik’s Cube to Make It Harder
• (09:30) - – Balancing Left-Brain Code with Right-Brain Performance
• (11:00) - – Vulnerability in Acting vs. Game Design
• (14:00) - – Why Seth Breyers Didn’t Return in Red Dead 2
• (16:30) - – Favorite Roles and Joy of Physical Acting
• (18:40) - – Why Game Creation Is So Much Harder Than Voice Acting
• (20:00) - – Kevin’s Failed Game Inventions (Scrap Ball, Word Race)
• (22:30) - – From Toy Agents to Hasbro Rejections
• (24:00) - – Where Word Glyph Began: Breaking Letters Into Segments
• (25:30) - – Toothpicks, Flash Prototypes, and the Original Word Glyph
• (27:30) - – The Wordle Wake-Up Call
• (28:45) - – Building Word Glyph with JavaScript and AI
• (31:30) - – The Frustration of Not Knowing Your Own Code
• (34:00) - – Marketing Scrappiness: Reddit, Y Combinator, TikTok
• (37:17) - – Creating Linguistic and Math Angles with AI-Generated Articles
• (40:02) - – Discovering ASMR as a Game Marketing Tactic
• (42:17) - – Why Influencers Cost $15K+ (and What to Do Instead)
• (44:02) - – The Power of DIY Press, Product Hunt, and Discord
• (48:02) - – Onboarding Through Experience, Not Instructions
• (51:02) - – Game Design Tip: Help Players Win Early
• (52:17) - – How Kevin Uses Community Boards for Learning & Retention
• (53:32) - – Why Bad Moves in Ads Might Work
• (55:02) - – What Kevin Would (and Wouldn’t) Do Differently

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Samuel Johnston, co-founder of Bleppo and co-creator of Word Salad, joins us to share how a daily word game turned into a viral hit with over 50 million views. We talk about designing for TikTok, teaching new users game mechanics, building games that are fun (not addictive), and what it’s like growing a studio by betting on the right kind of sharing.

Check out Samuel's Resources:
https://bleppo.co.uk/
https://wordsalad.online
https://numbersalad.com/
https://steks.net/

Game Mentions
Morrowind
RimWorld
Diablo II
Day of the Tentacle
Red Alert
NYT Strands
NYT Connections

--

• (00:29) - Meet Samuel Johnston: Founder of Bleppo
• (01:14) - Samuel's Favorite Games
• (02:07) - Nostalgic Gaming Moments
• (04:12) - Creating Non-Addictive Games
• (07:48) - The Birth of Bleppo
• (10:12) - Developing Word Salad
• (11:52) - The Art of Cryptic Crosswords
• (14:50) - Setting Puzzles: A Creative Process
• (23:34) - Reaching the First Thousand Players
• (24:21) - Challenges in Marketing and Monetization
• (24:48) - Pivoting to a New Strategy
• (25:07) - Leveraging Social Media for Growth
• (26:58) - Collaborating with Small Content Creators
• (27:31) - Unexpected Success Stories
• (36:12) - Refining the Onboarding Process
• (45:31) - Future Plans and Reflections

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

David Steinberg went from submitting crosswords to the New York Times at age 12 to becoming the editorial manager at Andrews McMeel. In this episode, he shares how puzzles captured his imagination, what makes a great daily game, and why accessibility, surprise, and player-first design are key to long-term success. We also dive into how AI, onboarding, and syndication are shaping the future of games for indie developers and solvers alike.

Check out David's Resources:
https://syndication.andrewsmcmeel.com/puzzles/category/puzzles
https://www.gocomics.com

Find David Online:
http://www.customcrossword.com
https://www.xwordinfo.com/Thumbs/?author=David+Steinberg
60 Seconds With David Steinberg

Game Mentions
https://beekeeperlabs.com/crossfire/
https://www.playbalatro.com/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2400510/Dungeons__Degenerate_Gamblers/
https://playthebazaar.com/
https://imsqueezy.com/
https://crosswordfiend.com/

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• (00:59) - David's Favorite Game Right Now
• (02:13) - Discovering Crosswords and Early Inspirations
• (03:54) - First Attempts and Early Rejections
• (04:46) - Getting Published and Shifting Focus
• (06:27) - The Appeal and Evolution of Crosswords
• (09:14) - Creating Crosswords: Tools and Tips
• (12:56) - Solving Strategies and Tournament Insights
• (14:58) - Crossword Tournaments and Competitions
• (18:49) - The Future of Crosswords and Puzzle Games
• (21:49) - Easy Mode for Friday Crosswords
• (22:03) - Evolution of Puzzle Creation
• (23:20) - Criteria for Syndicating Puzzles
• (25:12) - Measuring Puzzle Success
• (27:23) - Surprising Aspects of Syndication
• (28:28) - Trends in the Puzzle and Gaming Industry
• (33:04) - Merging Comics and Puzzles
• (35:42) - AI in Puzzle Creation
• (37:29) - Onboarding Players in Puzzle Games

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

In this episode of Hey, Good Game, we sit down with Jeff Doka — creative director, writer, and co-founder of World Seekers, a GPS-based deckbuilding game that fuses exercise and entertainment. Jeff shares lessons from building Chess Puzzle Blitz, why most daily games fail to create lasting habits, and how deep mechanics and storytelling can transform casual gaming experiences. We dive into the realities of bootstrapped game development, the art of crafting daily puzzle loops, and why designing for real-world benefit (not just dopamine hits) might be the future of gaming. Plus: why AI isn’t replacing good storytelling anytime soon, and how rolling a D20 perfectly describes indie life.

If you care about games that actually make your life better — you’ll love this one.

Check out Jeff's Resources:
https://www.4leaflabs.com/
https://www.finalbossediting.com/
https://www.worldseekersgame.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Distributor-Jeff-Doka-ebook/dp/B0DMPYTBGH
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Wlid-Novella-Anthology-Book/dp/1955062676

Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/worldseekersgame
https://www.instagram.com/worldseekers_game/
https://bsky.app/profile/finalbossediting.bsky.social


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Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Elyot Grant, CEO and Game Director at Lunar Studios. Elyot shares his prolific journey from academia to game development, highlighting his expertise in creating engaging puzzles and successful indie games like Prisma. He discusses his favorite classic games, including Tetris and StarCraft, and provides deep insights into the intricacies of game design and puzzle creation.

Elyot also recounts compelling stories about their Kickstarter campaign for Prisma and using Reddit to build an early audience. Additionally, he sheds light on the making and scaling of 'Islands of Insight,' a puzzle game known for its vast number of handcrafted puzzles, emphasizing the blend of artistry and algorithmic generation in game design. This episode is filled with valuable tips for indie developers and puzzle enthusiasts alike.

Check out Elyot's Resources:
http://lunarchstudios.com/
https://user-74792.artstation.com/

Socials:
http://twitter.com/lunarchstudios
https://www.facebook.com/Prismata/
https://www.youtube.com/lunarchstudios

--

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (02:17) - Elyot Grant's Gaming Preferences
• (04:41) - Deep Dive into Tetris
• (16:09) - Challenges and Weaknesses in Gaming
• (19:43) - Kickstarter and Game Development Journey
• (30:58) - Building a Community at Expos
• (31:55) - Building a Community Around a Game
• (32:49) - Challenges of Collecting Emails at Conventions
• (35:28) - The Reddit Story: Turning a Failure into Success
• (42:09) - Kickstarter Campaign: Seizing the Momentum
• (45:49) - Islands of Insight: Crafting 10,000 Handcrafted Puzzles
• (53:56) - The Value of Handmade Puzzles vs. Generated Puzzles
• (01:00:04) - Conclusion and Future Projects

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com