# 420: Googly Eyes and Top Hats

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2022-07-14
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 420
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/420

## Summary

Dan White, CEO of Filament Games, discusses the design of educational games, including their robot simulator RoboCo and its multiplayer version, RoboCo Sports League, on the Roblox platform. He explains how Filament Games uses Unity to build platform-agnostic learning experiences that teach mechanical engineering and problem-solving through authentic game mechanics. White argues that games are uniquely suited for teaching higher-order thinking and soft skills, contrasting them with less effective drill-and-practice methods. He also addresses the challenges of assessment in games and the importance of designing for specific platforms like VR and tablets to maximize engagement.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=7) Introduction: Dan White and Filament Games
- [1:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=117) Lightning Round: Game Preferences and Design Philosophy
- [6:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=371) Designing for Formal vs. Informal Learning Environments
- [8:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=528) Teaching Soft Skills and Authentic Game Mechanics
- [19:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=1170) Platform Agnosticism: VR, Tablets, and Unity
- [22:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=1346) RoboCo and RoboCo Sports League on Roblox
- [33:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=1994) The Problem with Assessment in Learning Games
- [41:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=2494) The Limits of Game-Based Learning and Intuition
- [49:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=2986) Future Game Ideas: Entomology, Soil Science, and Farming
- [58:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats#t=3495) Sensitive Topics and Platform-Specific Design Constraints

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Filament Games (company)
- RoboCo (product)
- RoboCo Sports League (product)
- Roblox (other)
- Unity (tool)
- Unreal (tool)
- Kerbal Space Program (product)
- Stardew Valley (product)
- Lemonade Stand (product)
- Civilization (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Zach Barth of Zachtronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-01-20-an-interview-with-zach-barth-of-zachtronics) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Simone Giertz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-01-13-an-interview-with-simone-giertz) (The Amp Hour)
- [Roblox: David Baszucki](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-08-15-roblox-david-baszucki) (How I Built This)
- [Ep. 14: Zero to H.I.R.O.: The Path to Becoming a Full-Stack Mechatronics Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-08-18-ep-14-zero-to-h-i-r-o-the-path-to-becoming-a-full-stack-mechatronics-engineer) (The Robo Success Podcast)
- [539: My Ai Powered Ergonomic Chair](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-25-539-my-ai-powered-ergonomic-chair) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-14-420-googly-eyes-and-top-hats. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.