Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Grimstone
Jun 27, 2025
In this conversation, game designers Stephanie Boluk and Patrick LeMieux from UC Davis, along with Trent Kusters from League of Geeks, delve into the unique RPG 'Grimstone'. They share their game development journeys, highlighting Patrick's nostalgia for RPG Maker 2000. The discussion includes the game's emotional character selections, retro gameplay mechanics, and its satirical take on a hellish Texas landscape. They also tackle the challenges players face in navigating the game, from resource management to combat, alongside themes of personal growth and Indigenous representation.
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Choosing Your Party in Grimstone
- Players select four characters to save from a saloon fire, creating a custom party with profound consequences.
- The inclusion of a dog, Rufus, in every party is beloved and impactful.
Uncompromising Old-School RPG
- Grimstone fully embraces the old-school JRPG genre with its uncompromising complexity and grind.
- This sincerity in design, despite occasional frustration, reflects deep love for the classic RPG style.
Initially Playing Grimstone Unarmed
- Trent played for hours without equipping weapons, drastically hindering his early progress.
- This showcases the game's opaque systems and the necessity of discovery in gameplay.
