Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Seaside Drive
Aug 22, 2025
Join indie game developers Daniel Mullins, creator of Inscryption, and Tonda Ros, known for Blue Prince, as they dive into the arcade shooter Seaside Drive. They discuss its unique gameplay and nostalgic aesthetics, while reflecting on the challenges of boss fights and speedrunning. The duo also explores the emotional connections players have with curated collections like UFO 50. In a playful twist, they share insights on upcoming projects, community engagement, and the joys of retro gaming, blending humor and innovation in this vibrant discussion.
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Scope Shaped By Schedule
- The game was developed quickly within UFO 50's schedule and Ojiro likely built it to a compact scope rather than expanding it later.
- That constraint produced a focused, 'just enough' design rather than an expanded standalone title.
Speedrunning Via Repetition
- Tonda Ros has speedrun and community experience and played many UFO 50 games repeatedly for fun and improvement.
- He often edges into speedrunning after repeated plays because golding stages leaves you halfway there.
Minimalist Shmup, Maximum Feel
- Seaside Drive is a slick one-to-two player arcade shmup where you drift horizontally and power your gun by moving.
- The design centers on tight feel, juggling enemies, and vibey presentation rather than complex scoring systems.
