Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games 134: Striving for Imperfection with Jon Ingold (A Highland Song)
11 snips
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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Jon's Path to Games
- Jon Ingold began programming at a young age, inspired by Infocom adventure games.
- He transitioned from teaching to game writing after a Radio 4 project, landing at Sony Cambridge.
Text Adventures' Hidden Depth
- Early text adventures, despite their interface limitations, possessed sophisticated world models and narrative systems.
- Jon Ingold aimed to bring this sophistication to more accessible game formats.
Rhythm and Movement
- A Highland Song uses rhythm action to represent physical exhaustion and exhilaration during traversal.
- This evokes the feeling of moving through the landscape, enhancing the narrative experience.