# The Arcade Artificer

Receive regular in-depth game design analysis. Discover how the best games entertain their players and learn to do the same.

Page: <https://rssamplifier.com/jboger-substack-com>  
Feed: <https://rssamplifier.com/jboger-substack-com.md>

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## [Games as Promises](https://jboger.substack.com/p/games-as-promises)

_2026-01-07 · JB Oger_

How to design games that sell in three (very hard) steps.

## [No Scarcity, No Strategy](https://jboger.substack.com/p/no-scarcity-no-strategy)

_2025-09-03 · JB Oger_

How do you design a compelling resource loop? Here's how I did in Drop Duchy

## [The Road From Reveal To Selling 100k Units](https://jboger.substack.com/p/the-road-from-reveal-to-selling-100k)

_2025-07-14 · JB Oger_

What happened in the year since we've revealed our first project? A lot.

## [How I Started An Indie Studio](https://jboger.substack.com/p/how-i-started-an-indie-studio)

_2024-07-17 · JB Oger_

My first game Drop Duchy is now announced, let me tell you how I got there.

## [Intro to Systemic Design](https://jboger.substack.com/p/intro-to-systemic-design)

_2024-05-29 · JB Oger_

What's the difference between "system" and "systemic", and how to create solid systemic experiences.

## [The Tragedy of Skull and Bones](https://jboger.substack.com/p/the-tragedy-of-skull-and-bones)

_2024-02-28 · JB Oger_

The disappointment lies less in the game itself and more in the industry as a whole

## [Lessons from a Smart Watermelon](https://jboger.substack.com/p/lessons-from-a-smart-watermelon)

_2023-11-15 · JB Oger_

Five design takeaways from a suprising hit game

## [Marvel Avengers First Hour Problem](https://jboger.substack.com/p/marvel-avengers-first-hour-problem)

_2023-10-25 · JB Oger_

When the intro misses the mark & what we can learn from it

## [When Should You Abandon Your Objectives?](https://jboger.substack.com/p/when-should-you-abandon-your-objectives)

_2023-10-04 · JB Oger_

Setting goals is important, but there are three situations where you should consider dropping them.

## [Watch Chovy Code Live (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/X0xkGPQlwf9c)

_2023-10-04 · **Sponsored**_

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## [‘Follow The Fun’ is a Trap](https://jboger.substack.com/p/follow-the-fun-is-a-trap)

_2023-08-09 · JB Oger_

When the ubiquitous development advice doesn't work, and what to do instead