Navigating Game Design: The Story Behind Tortugas Games (Part 1 of 3)
Release Date: 03/10/2025
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info_outlineIn this episode, we kick off the first of a three-part conversation with Nick Raynor and Jon Micah Tyson, co-founders of Tortugas Games. They share their journey from being longtime friends to developing Red Tides: A Tale of New Caribbea—an immersive pirate-themed tabletop experience that blends history, strategy, and storytelling.
Meet Our Guests
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Nick Raynor – A game designer and entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience in interactive entertainment, having worked at Rockstar Games, Bethesda, and Blizzard Entertainment. He now applies his expertise in game mechanics, player engagement, and business operations to board game design.
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Jon Micah Tyson is a co-founder of Tortugas Games, a tabletop game studio, where he leads art direction and graphic design, crafting immersive visual experiences for players. With nearly 20 years of experience in art and design, he is also Co-Chair of the Art & Design Department at Belhaven University, where he has helped shape the next generation of artists.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
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The inspiration behind Red Tides: A Tale of New Caribbea
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How their backgrounds in AAA video games and art education influence their approach to board game design
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The balance between historical accuracy and engaging gameplay
Topics Mentioned:
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Pirates
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Mythology and folklore in storytelling
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The psychology behind game mechanics
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Game design principles and player engagement
Episode Timestamps:
⏳ [00:00:58] Introduction
⏳ [00:01:26] Meet Nick and Micah
⏳ [00:03:47] Brent’s Journey in Art
⏳ [00:06:17] Everyone’s a Creative
⏳ [00:07:30] The Birth of Red Tides
⏳ [00:09:32] Influence and Inspiration
⏳ [00:12:02] Building the Pirate World
⏳ [00:14:31] An Ocean Crawler?
⏳ [00:15:08] Sensory Gameplay
⏳ [00:15:58] Blending Mythology and History
⏳ [00:20:27] Factions and Strategy
⏳ [00:21:20] Fantasy Elements
⏳ [00:21:51] Nick’s Ideas and Micah’s Art
⏳ [00:24:01] The Appeal of Pirate Life
⏳ [00:27:04] What If: Alternate History
⏳ [00:28:22] Integrating Ideas into the Game
🎙 This is Part 1 of our three-part conversation with Nick and Micah.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we dive deeper into game mechanics and world-building!