How to Brainstorm Successful Games
The counterintuitive brainstorming rule that made Exploding Kittens a global hit
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In this episode of the How I Work podcast, organizational psychologist Amantha Imber speaks with Elan Lee, the game designer behind the record-breaking success of the card game, Exploding Kittens. Lee reflects on how Exploding Kittens made Kickstarter history by mobilizing an existing fan base, designing for social interaction, and turning a simple gameplay loop into a global phenomenon. Lee offers a fresh look at how creativity thrives under constraints, how to discern which terrible ideas could evolve into great ones, and why sellability is as essential as originality.
Summary
About the Podcast
Elan Lee is the co-creator of the massively popular card game Exploding Kittens and CEO of the company behind it. He co-founded 42 Entertainment, served as chief design officer for Xbox Entertainment Studios, and pioneered alternate reality games with projects like The Beast, developed for Steven Spielberg. Organizational psychologist Amantha Imber hosts the How I Work podcast, speaking with world-class achievers about the strategies, habits, and mindset shifts that underpin their success.
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