Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games cover image

Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

134: Striving for Imperfection with Jon Ingold (A Highland Song)

Feb 24, 2024
Jon Ingold, co-founder of Inkle Studios and brain behind narrative gems like 80 Days and Heaven's Vault, joins to delve into his latest adventure, A Highland Song. He discusses how the game allows players to 'fail forward' in a unique narrative structure. The conversation reveals insights into the development of Ink, a scripting language transforming storytelling in games. Jon also shares his motivations behind creating immersive landscapes and the intricate mechanics that deepen player engagement, all while emphasizing the evolution of narrative-driven experiences.
01:35:32

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast emphasizes the importance of organic narrative exploration, allowing players to engage meaningfully with their surroundings and create their own paths.
  • It highlights the duality of scale in A Highland Song, where vast landscapes evoke both a sense of freedom and vulnerability in players.

Deep dives

Exploration and Narrative Design in Game Development

The podcast discusses the intricacies of game design, with a focus on how narrative can drive exploration within a game. The developers emphasize the importance of creating a game world that encourages players to engage with their surroundings, discover hidden narratives, and forge their own paths. A key insight is that narrative exploration should feel organic, allowing players to experience both the challenges and rewards of their journey. This approach challenges traditional narrative structures by making player decisions impactful rather than simply steering them toward a predetermined outcome.

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