Software Engineering Daily Caves of Qud with Brian Bucklew
Feb 5, 2025
Brian Bucklew, cofounder of Freehold Games, dives into the fascinating 15-year journey of developing Caves of Qud, a roguelike game set in a rich post-apocalyptic world. He shares insights on the blend of sci-fi and fantasy that inspires its deep lore, and discusses the balance of handcrafted vs. procedurally generated design. The episode also highlights innovative terrain generation techniques and the transformative role of procedural generation in gaming. Bucklew reflects on technical challenges and future plans, including mobile adaptations.
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Early Gaming Programming Roots
- Brian started programming with Apple IIc BASIC inspired by early game magazines like Byte and Nibble.
- His first games were simple text-based adventures typed in from magazine listings, reflecting an autodidactic path.
Hauntological Game Design
- Caves of Qud is a blend of roguelike and text-based MUD influences with a sci-fantasy setting.
- It explores what games might be like if we evolved early ’80s game concepts with modern UI and imagination.
Moses Roguelike Childhood Game
- Brian shared a vivid childhood memory of playing a Moses-themed roguelike Bible trivia game limited by his religious upbringing.
- This rare game inspired his fascination with roguelikes early on despite restrictions on gaming content.
