If you’ve played Civilization II, Alpha Centauri, Rise of Nations, or Frontierville, you know the work of Brian Reynolds. Having spent 30 years (and counting) making games, Brian’s game design experience spans the most hardcore to the most casual. He co-founded Firaxis Games and Big Huge Games, and he’s now Chief Game Designer at social game giant Zynga.

Brian sat down with Irrational’s creative director Ken Levine for a chat that touches on the past, present, and potential future of games, on both the hardcore and casual sides of the spectrum. They discuss the ins and outs of entrepreneurship, the advantages of having Sid Meier around when you start a new company, and how a strategy game like Alpha Centauri and a shooter like BioShock may have more in common than you’d think.

Share your thoughts about this podcast in the comments below, or head over to the forums for more in-depth discussion.

iTunes Feed

Direct Download Episode 7

Irrational Podcasts RSS Feed

• Produced by James Bonney & Chris Remo
• Music courtesy of The Happy Hollows