Touko Tahkokallio — Curiosity, Physics, and the Power of Mental Playtesting (#94)
About this episode
Touko Tahkokallio discusses his journey from theoretical physics to game design, emphasizing the importance of a playful mindset and the value of juggling multiple projects.
Touko Tahkokallio is one of the rare designers who has mastered both tabletop and digital worlds. Starting out as a theoretical physicist, Touko shifted careers to follow his passion for play. First by designing acclaimed board games like Eclipse , then shaping some of the biggest mobile hits of all time at Supercell, including Hay Day , Boom Beach , and Brawl Stars . In 2022, he co-founded a mobile game studio Stellar Core which he is the chief creative officer. In this episode, we explore the hidden value of juggling multiple projects, how to prototype without rules or components, and why a playful mindset is essential, especially when the work gets tough. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe
People in this episode
Host: Justin Gary
Guest: Touko Tahkokallio
Topics covered
- game design
- playtesting
- tabletop games
- mobile games
- creativity
- physics
Keywords
- game design
- playtesting
- tabletop games
- mobile games
- creativity
- Eclipse
- Supercell
- Stellar Core
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Supercell, Stellar Core
Books & works: Eclipse, Hay Day, Boom Beach, Brawl Stars
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