Nice Games Club - a gamedev podcast!

#273The State of VR in 2022Interview2022.08.11Your nice hosts talk to Andrew Eiche, COO at Owlchemy Labs (Job Simulator, Vacation Simulator, Cosmonious High) about the state of VR in 2022, and where VR and VR development tools may be going in the coming years.Andrew talks about how industrial design should influence VR design, why you shouldn't take inspiration from movies, and how ergonomics are important. Also, Ellen takes a hard stand on the right way to use a dial.VR in 2022 and its FutureVR / AR / XROwlchemy LabsThe Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman, bookHeadsetsPico VR HeadsetPlaystation VR2VR EnginesVRTK (Virtual Reality Tool Kit)TButt - Turbo ButtonCosmonious HighCosmonius High on Tik Tok - Tik TokCosmonius High on TwitterCosmonius High on SteamAndrew EicheGuestAndrew Eiche is Chief Operating Owl and Cable Slinger at Owlchemy Labs. Andrew's background is game development and computer programingExternal linkAndrew Eiche is on Twitter @buddingmonkeyOwlchemy Labs on Twitter @olwchemylabsOwlchemy Labs website

#281StorySlide (with Osama Dorias)Nice Games Jam2022.10.06Game designer Osama Dorias returns to the clubhouse to help design a game that can be played remotely, and provides some (much needed?) structure to the Nice Games Jam process. Stephen is obsessed with Bananas, Ellen contemplates her mystery banana gift, and Mark realizes some of these concepts might be too complicated for small children.Osama previously joined us for episode 211:Building Blocks of DesignThis isn't the first time we'd had a guest join us for a Nice Games Jam:Blame the Cat! (with Monica Fan)Osama on TwitterOsama's podcast is "The Habibis"Playtest MaterialsThe slides we created for this episode's playtest.The Noun ProjectPrompt"Design a game that can be played remotely with (Osama's) children (and ideally is still fun for adults)"Game typeTabletop gamePlayer count3-6MaterialsElectronic system for sharing slides (such as Google Slides)A voice connection with remote playersA set of slides or icons/drawings/clipart to create the set of slidesA system for privately messaging playersSetupCreate a set of slides (12) with icons, drawings, photos, or clip-art, if not using a pre-made slide deck. Each slide should contain 3 items. Pick a Game Master (usually one of the adults playing the game).The Game Master comes up with one group objective with two parts: A protagonist/hero.A conflict for the protagonist.The Game Master comes up with one secret objective for each player: Each secret objective should start with the phrase “The hero should...”Ideally these will be randomly assigned.RulesPlayer order goes to the left and does not changeThe game ends when you run out of slidesEach slide should be a simple phrase or sentenceGameplayPlay starts with the Game Master describing the first slide, starting with the phrase “Once upon a time..”Play continues to the player on the Game Master’s left and the slide progresses.This player chooses one of the three pictures on the slide to incorporate into the story with a phrase or sentence.Play continues to the left with a new slide. And continues around the circle, with each player getting a new slide (the Game Master may now sit out of the storytelling), until there are no more slides left.The Game Master may provide an epilogue (and explain what an epilogue is to the children playing the game) as desired. Note: Defining 'Epilogue' will not be out of character for this game, as in this episode's run-through Mark would have had to explain to kids: headbanging, Ska, life in 1998, mosh-pits, micro-cassettes, and a reference to 'Spaceballs.'At the end of the story, players try to guess each others individual objectives.

#252Visual CodingInterview2022.03.17This week we're joined by Alina Matson, developer of Fitment—a microworkout app designed with cozy gamers in mind. Alina talks about how she has used the popular Unity plugin Playmaker to kick-start her transition from a career in mechanical engineering to gamedev. Positive vibes abound. Plus, surprise singing!Visual CodingProgrammingToolsPlaymaker - Hutong Games, Unity Asset StoreBolt - Unity, Unity Asset StoreBlueprint Visual Scripting - Unreal EngineProcessingScratch - MIT10 Most Nostalgic Flash Games From The Early 2000s - Samuel Williams, CBRStephen J. Guy, Director, Applied Motion Lab - University of MinnesotaZebraZappsWe mentioned a previous interview episode with Freya Holmer,Self-education, et al.Alina MatsonGuestBioExternal linkAlina on TwitterFitment websiteFitment Discord serverFitment on Twitter

#247Designing like a Dungeon MasterInterview2021.12.10Your nice hosts (Ellen, mainly) conduct a double-interview, with a consummate professional and a committed amateur, on the subject of game design though the lens of tabletop game mastering. Subjects include the dynamic between system design and session design, the balance between planning and improvisation, and how players can be encouraged to participate in the process.Designing like a Dungeon MasterGame DesignNarrativeTabletopAlternity - Sasquatch Game StudioMDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research - Robin Hunicke, Marc LeBlanc, Robert Zubek, Northwestern UniversityDread, a game of horror and suspense - The Impossible DreamThousand Year Old Vampire - Tim HutchingsRobin's Laws of Good Game Mastering - Robin D. LawsUnpossible Game LabsCon of the NorthKatrina imagined a future with "Westworld as a video game," which coincidentally was a topic in one of our first episodes:"It's against the law to stop."Katrina OstranderGuestAn editor for over a dozen media tie-in novellas spanning multiple genres, and the Creative Director of Story and Setting for Fantasy Flight Games, where she oversees the internal and licensed development of the studio's proprietary IPs.Besides her work as an editor of tie-in fiction and developer of IPs, Katrina has written for or developed over a dozen roleplaying game products, including adventures, supplements, and core rulebooks.External linkWebsiteTwitterThe Great Clans of Rokugan: Ice and SnowDescent: Legends of the Dark Jon KiehneGuestA "committed amateur" of tabletop role playing games, Jon is a longtime Dungeon Master who created a wholly unique campaign setting for his regular group (including your nice host Ellen) which he has been running for over six years.

#268"No referees?!"Roundtable2022.07.07How much of the culture around a game is rooted in its design? That's one of the questions that comes up as Mark takes us on a tour of curling—an Olympic sport that's described as "chess on ice." We examine its origins, the Spirit of Curling, and some specific rules that may have a big impact on how players behave towards one another. Later, Stephen considers some questions about off-ramps, the parts of a game that guide players as they end a play session. Should we as designers encourage players to take breaks? Gato Roboto by doinksoft (from Devolver Digital) - SteamCurling0:10:15Mark LaCroixGame DesignAbout Curling - World Curling FederationWhy is this Olympic Sport called Chess on Ice? - by user "Pete", Chess.comCurling might be an antidote to our troubled times - Kristen Gelineau, The Detroit NewsGlossary of curling - WikipediaDeflategate - WikipediaOff-Ramps0:50:00Stephen McGregorGame DesignGamingHow Gaming Breaks Can Make You a Better Player... and Why They're Important - Michael Harman, Make Use Of

Sarah Yu and Beth, developers of Bugaboo Pocket, join us once again in the clubhouse after our chance meeting at GDC! Listen in as we gush about bugs a lot, but also discuss how to present personality traits of your pets in pet management games. There's also a bunch of cool videos of bugs in this episode's show notes!Sarah and Beth were also interviewed by us during GDC in 2022.GDC 2022 Special (Part 2)Characterization in Pet Management GamesArtGame DesignGamingChao World - Chao IslandDo Dogs Smile? What’s Really Behind That Adorable Smile? - Joelle Audette, Canine CampusBugaboo Pocket Beta - Bugaboo PocketBugs MentionedWhat is an isopod? - NOAA Ocean ExplorationVideo of Praying MantisVideo of Jerusalem Crickets (Potato Bugs)Video of Syrphid Fly (Hoverfly)Games MentionedNeko Atsume - Hit-Point Co., LtdWobbledogs - Animal UprisingMerge Dragons - Gram GamesBugaboo Pocket - Bugaboo PocketSarah YuGuestProgrammer making games. Currently working on Bugaboo Pocket: a digital pet game where you raise bugs.External linkLink to Bugaboo PocketBethGuestArtist/animator currently working on Bugaboo Pocket.External linkLink to Bugaboo Pocket

The clubhouse comes together this week to realize the danger and fear surrounding Save Data. Mark talks about the advantages of Json and xml, then immediately tells why he choose neither of them for his project. Stephen summarizes why meetings are great and why everyone is sometimes a tech artist (Make it more... Dynamic?), and the team discusses how to best communicate between people who have different skills sets.Stephen's Brother Streaming his work - @DarkaysTG, YouTubeMark's Music Choice: The Beths "Expert in a Dying Field" - The Beths, YouTubeNice Games Club on MastadonGet your partner their own NGC shirt here0:08:46Save Data48:44Interdisciplinary Communication

To celebrate their sixth anniversary, the hosts play two 'talky talky' games: 'Where Should We Begin: A Game of Stories' and 'Hypertheticals.' They reflect on their competitive nature and discuss their gaming strategies. They also share stories of disappointing dining experiences, taking risks in their careers, and their personal experiences with injuries and recovery. The hosts reflect on the unpredictability of life and the importance of word-of-mouth promotion. They also explore hypothetical scenarios involving mind-killing abilities, standardized perfect days, and a reversal of musical tastes.

This week, fellow nice gamedev Millie Walker enters the clubhouse to discuss her approach to combining genres. It's an episode full of synthesis, but not photosynthesis because Stephen doesn't want to talk about his bonsai tree.Fusing GenresGame DesignMarketingMyth Caller: The Nightmare Shaman - KaratkuroXander the Monster Morpher: Universe Breaker - Karatkuro, SteamWe previously tackled "genre" in:"I do business." Millie WalkerGuestExternal linkTwitterYouTubeDiscord

Lots of technical talk in this episode as your nice hosts wade into these two large topics! Flappy Dragon - Google Play Store0:09:27CamerasLinear InterpolationWikipediaSuper Mario World Camera Logic ReviewShaun InmanYouTubeCamera Movements for 2D Platformers: How Do I Know Which One to ChooseSam HuSam J H HuPro Camera 2DLuís Pedro FonsecaUnity Asset Store0:31:52Bug Tracking and TriageParkinson's LawWikipediaResponsible Bug Reporting and TriageSmartbearAuction-based serious game for bug tracking"""Çağdaş Üsfekes,Eray Tüzün,Murat Yılmaz,Yagup Macit,Paul Clarke"""The Institution of Engineering and TechnologyBug Triaging PrinciplesBugsnagGame Development Essentials: Bugtracking (or how we ended up writing our own bu…Andre WeissflogThe Brain DumpProduction Testing and Bug TrackingJamie FristromGame DeveloperWhat makes a good bug report?Nick BarrettGamesIndustry.bizAzure DevOpsMIcrosoftEllen mentioned Agile Development in this episode.Agile DevelopmentWe also talked about Bugs in one of our first episodes."Bananas, from here to eternity."