About the Panel
The stories we tell through video games begin with the player. Although they may be written about characters, it is the player's experience of the story told through the characters that really matters. This idea of narrative projection is explored in both of indie studio The Game Band's two titles - spatial puzzle coming-of-age game, Where Cards Fall, and absurdist text-based baseball simulation, Blaseball.
Although wildly different in gameplay and aesthetic style, both Where Cards Fall and Blaseball invite narrative projection in unique ways. Join Sam Rosenthal, Stephen Bell, and Joel Clark as they reflect on the stories being told through these games.
Panelists
Sam Rosenthal, Joel Clark, Stephen Bell
Sam Rosenthal
Sam Rosenthal is the founder and creative director of The Game Band, a studio that aims to inspire hearts and minds with games that reflect the world we live in. The Game Band won an Apple Design Award for its first title, Where Cards Fall, and created the viral sensation Blaseball. The studio name was inspired by his love for bands that stay relevant by defying expectations. Prior to directing Where Cards Fall, he worked as a game designer on What Remains of Edith Finch, Skylanders, and Where’s My Water.
Joel Clark
Joel Clark joined The Game Band in 2017 as a Platform & Tools Engineer after working for almost five years as an engineer on several projects including Emoji Blitz. He was responsible for the suite of design tools the team used to build Where Cards Fall, and created the simulation and much of the voice behind Blaseball.
Stephen Bell
Stephen Bell is a film director, writer and narrative designer who has worked on acclaimed titles including Sky: Children of the Light and 12 Minutes. He was instrumental in shaping the storyline for Where Cards Fall and is one of the key voices behind Blaseball’s absurdist humor.