Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games 139: Sticking to Your Systems with Animal Well
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Jun 1, 2024 
Billy Basso, the sole developer of the indie hit 'Animal Well', and his business partner Dan Adelman share insights on their unique game design. Joined by Adam Conover, they discuss the game's slow-burn development and layers of gameplay. Fascinating anecdotes reveal how childhood fears influenced their creative process, while exploring the delicate balance of player challenge and enjoyment. They also tackle the struggles of maintaining game secrets while engaging a community eager for discovery, highlighting the importance of collaboration in indie game development.
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Kangaroo Inspiration
- Billy Basso was inspired by a viral video of a buff kangaroo terrorizing a suburban neighborhood.
- Kangaroo sounds, which are surprisingly raspy and unsettling, also influenced the game's design.
Player Freedom and Progression
- Animal Well's gameplay offers significant player freedom, with varying item acquisition and progression routes.
- This is achieved by dividing the game into interconnected areas with multiple access points and item dependencies.
Unintended Bubble Wand Use
- Adam Conover discovered an unintended bubble wand exploit early in Animal Well, using it for extensive sequence breaking.
- The game later provides an item that streamlines this technique, highlighting the game's flexibility.