Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Hot Foot
Mar 21, 2025
Join game developers Jon Perry and Derek Yu as they dive into the creative process behind their game Hot Foot, a unique entry in the UFO 50 collection. They share nostalgic anecdotes about childhood games and discuss the delicate balance of multiplayer vs. single-player dynamics. Hear about the challenges of making gameplay accessible while maintaining excitement and fairness. Their insights on collaboration and character development highlight the evolution of game design and the joy of community engagement at GDC 2025.
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Origins and Gameplay of Hot Foot
- Hot Foot's gameplay comes from a children's dodgeball-like game involving beanbags and foot-tagging.
- Players draft teams, use special powers, and engage in a gym-class tournament setting full of playful mischief.
Two Modes, Different Experiences
- Hot Foot's single-player mode feels chaotic due to complex controls managing your AI teammate.
- The two-player co-op experience is smoother and more thematically rich, enhancing gym class camaraderie.
Unfairness Integral to Sports Games
- Sports games embrace unfairness as part of their drama, including bad referees and imbalanced teams.
- This 'unfairness' drives excitement and mirrors real sports rather than breaking player expectations.
