"Bangers Only" has become a bit of a touchstone for @SeaExcursion and I as we dive into writing the text of our big game. Its a joke but its also a shorthand for a deeper philosophy of games writing and I thought I might break down the elements of the Bangers Only philosophy.

A lot of this stuff is probably stuff that my fellow designers already know, but I've been throwing the phrase around a lot so talking about it is good. Also having it articulated helped me a lot in figuring out how to push my self more. Hope you find it helpful.

The core of it is that if your not coming away from each section or move you write thinking this thing stands on its own, hits hard, and Im incredibly proud of it then you need to go back and edit. Bangers Only is about holding yourself to a standard of clean, sharp writing.

But more than that Bangers Only is about finding the rhythm in your work, having a sense of when you earn your punchlines, your pull quote worthy sentences, and when you need to do the work setting up those moments and explaining the connective tissue.

Even if the phrase is "Bangers Only" It doesn't mean every sentence needs to be quotable or stand alone. It means that every sub section should have at least one moment of clean summation that sticks in the readers memory so they can return to it, and use it as a hand hold.

It means we're constantly pushing ourselves to clearly articulate the connection between things, to tell the people reading our game why whats on the page is there and whats the most important. It means cultivating clarity of purpose and communication.

It doesn't mean shying away from complex or multifaceted design, but rather making sure you have an firm understanding of your own purpose from which to build on and that you pause every few paragraphs to reiterate the connection between complex ideas and your stated goals.

It also means committing to a lot of editing, and throwing out your favorite phrases when you realize they don't hit hard enough or distracting fro the core elements. A lot of times we find ourselves sighing during yet another round of editing but saying "its for the bangers".

Even though "Bangers Only" as a goal is contingent on continual referencing back to your base design, it doesn't mean treating your readers like they cant understand. It actually means having faith that they can fully understand and utilize the fundamental tools of the game.

You're trusting that once your players know the fundamental pitch and get what you're selling they'll take the tools and ideas you've laid out and run with them. That because you've given them firm handholds they will be able to break down the more complicated and ephemeral bits.

The main core pillar of the Bangers Only philosophy is that players deserve to know why they are pulling a lever in a game, and that they deserve to know the thought layered into your work. That these things will make their time with the game better, make mechanics hit harder.

Bangers Only as a writing philosophy is about having every piece of your game matter, finding a rhythm that alternates between complex explorations and firm statements of intent, and most importantly laying the underpinnings of your work bare for the reader.