Join hosts Jack and Adam as they sit down with Thomas Vandenberg, the visionary creator behind Kingdom Classic and Kingdom New Lands, for a deep dive into the evolution of minimal strategy design. Thomas shares the fascinating journey of turning a Flash game prototype into a beloved franchise that pioneered the "aesthetic strategy" genre, where atmosphere and accessibility take precedence over complex mechanics.The conversation explores the golden age of Flash gaming, the creative constraints that shaped Kingdom's innovative sidescrolling strategy mechanics, and the philosophy behind keeping games minimalist while resisting feature creep. Thomas opens up about the challenges of following up a successful indie hit, his collaboration with composer Amos Roddy, and his upcoming projects including the tower defense game Garbage Country. From diegetic UI design to the appeal of multiplayer "friend slop" games, this episode examines what makes strategy games truly engaging beyond their mechanical depth.This conversation offers rare insights into creating games that prioritize vibes and player experience over conventional complexity, perfect for Kingdom fans and anyone interested in thoughtful game design philosophy.https://criticalmovespodcast.com

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