Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Cyber Owls
Sep 5, 2025
In this insightful discussion, independent game creator Izzy Kestrel, known for her experimental projects, shares her unique experiences with speedrunning and her emotional journey during a 50-day play experiment of Cyber Owls. Game developer Shawn Alexander Allen explores the creative context of the fictional studio and the mashup of retro inspirations. Rand Hall adds depth with listener commentary, enriching the exploration of gameplay mechanics and the interplay between parody and difficulty. Together, they celebrate the challenges and triumphs of the Cyber Owls universe.
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Episode notes
Returning Guest Commits To Cyber Owls
- Izzy Kestrel explained she missed many prior games but returned to fully commit to Cyber Owls for this episode.
- She joked about being Gex's number one fan and described her past fan works like Gexfeld.
A Multigenre Game As An Anthology
- Cyber Owls stitches four distinct mission genres into one game and adds a fifth rescue mini-game on failure.
- The result reads like an anthology that tests player expectations about genre consistency.
50-Day Playthrough And Handheld Saga
- Izzy played Cyber Owls daily for 50 days and described her learning curve over that run.
- She bought a clamshell handheld then preferred the Switch for better enjoyment on long bus rides.