Trent Euman
He/Him
Hello! I’m Trent, a game designer and brand ambassador who’s passionate about all things video games. I am a co-founder and designer of Peanut Games and Emberlane Games, currently working on the upcoming games Mushroom Mancers and Launch Hazard. As a designer, I love thinking outside the box and embracing unconventional ideas, which fosters experimental thinking and innovative solutions in my work. Lastly, if I were a fish, I’d be a Pineapple Fish because it’s an Australian fish that’s truly unique, like myself (yes, that’s its name)
Where Rules Meet Freedom: The Game Mind vs Play Mind
TG Lightning Talks @ Melbourne International Games Week 2026
In this session, we will explore Bernie De Koven’s concepts of the Game Mind and Play Mind in video games. We will examine how these two mindsets shape how players experience and interact with games, using notable examples to show their differences. I will provide an overview of De Koven’s theories, focusing on the relationship between structure, rules, freedom, and creativity. Together, we will analyse games to see how players can adapt, challenge, and reinterpret the rules established by developers. This discussion will help us understand how balancing structure and freedom can create engaging and meaningful game experiences.
Trent Euman
He/Him
Hello! I’m Trent, a game designer and brand ambassador who’s passionate about all things video games. I am a co-founder and designer of Peanut Games and Emberlane Games, currently working on the upcoming games Mushroom Mancers and Launch Hazard. As a designer, I love thinking outside the box and embracing unconventional ideas, which fosters experimental thinking and innovative solutions in my work. Lastly, if I were a fish, I’d be a Pineapple Fish because it’s an Australian fish that’s truly unique, like myself (yes, that’s its name)