Nice Games Club - a gamedev podcast!

Mark (and special guest Dale!) got back from GDC on a red-eye flight, took a quick nap, then immediately joined Martha and Stephen in the clubhouse to recap the year's largest gathering of game creators.Nindies (Nintendo Indies) Showcase Spring 2019 - Nintendo, YouTube"Developer Is Making an Official Zelda Game"  - Tom Marks, IGN Music from Eric Fullerton - Eric Fullerton MUSIC, YouTube0:08:06GDC 2019 SessionsGDC on YouTubeYouTube#notGDCnotgdc.fungamedev.worldIndiepocalypse 14 v 18"Valve redesigns Steam game library, adding Steam Events"Michael McWhertorPolygon0:25:17Dale Makes GDC MagicAmir’s game about anxiety: @unboxedexperience@unboxedexperienceTwitterKate Compton’s “Illegal zines.”@GalaxyKateTwitterThe Full GWU @ GDC 2019 Schedule!Copenhagen Game Collective's "The Undie Game"Schell Games Unveils Virtual Reality Sword Fighting Game ​‘Until You Fall’0:49:05The MIX 2019Untitled Goose GameFalcon AgeAway: The Survival SeriesBeast PetsThe Sojourn0:53:56Mark Does GDC BusinessGame Connection America"Developer/Publisher Relations (with Kongregate’s August Brown)" Nice Games Club episode is a good episode to learn about meeting with a publisherDeveloper/Publisher Relations2019 Digital Media and Video Game Conference1:11:16Game Workers Unite!"Tim Schafer Talks Unionization, Streaming, And The Future Of Double Fine" Maddy MyersKotaku SplitscreenGame Workers Unite

In this episode your Nice Hosts talk all about two important aspects of game design that can help more people play your games- Localization Systems and Accessibility! Stephen drives in the snow, Martha gets her nails done and Mark tries to get the baby to go to sleep.NOTE: The CVAA law that Martha talks a lot about in this episode applies -only- to chat systems in games not to game play. She didn't realize this at the time of recording- but all the things we talk about are still things to strive for in every part of your game!Photo credit: Microsoft0:07:03Localization Systems“What languages to localize your game into?”Jacob StempniewiczGame Developer0:46:30Accessibility“About CVAA: US legislation affecting communications functionality in games, ne…IGDA Game Access SIG“CVAA for Fostering Innovation and Change”Sarah HortonThe Paciello Group“2018's Accessibility Advances”Ian HamiltonGame DeveloperAble GamersGame Accessibility"What It's Like To Play Games When You're Colorblind”Cameron GidariKotakuXbox Adaptive Controller“Designing for Disabilities” Video SeriesMark BrownGame Maker’s ToolkitWikipediaKaren Stevens, EA Sports Accessibility Lead

This week, August Brown (senior producer for Kongregate Publishing) enters the clubhouse to reveal the secrets of successful developer/publisher relationships!Your nice hosts learn what publishers expect from a pitch, how forming a relationship with a publisher isn't always strictly business, and that publishers also think you're not charging enough money for your game.Developer/Publisher RelationsProductionKongregate PublishingSelf-publish on KartridgeMartha mentioned the Sokpop Collective.August brought up The Flash Games Postmortem that his colleague John Cooney pre…

Your nice hosts are big fans of video games, video game makers, and podcasts. So in this episode we talk all about both sides of the creator-fan relationship and how to create perfect balance in both communicating with fans and telling them to go away so you can work on balancing your game design- our second topic. Stephen shows us how balancing multiplayer and single player games are the same thing, Martha isn't as unique as she thinks she is and Mark gets 7th tier internet famous. Sorry, he won't take direct fan mail- please send all your letters to Stephen.Photo credit: Nintendo of AmericaTreasure Stack (the game that Stephen gets paid to work on) is out now! It is a…Video Games and Music Convention (Formally Gamers Rhapsody)Our episode on game soundtracks"All that and a bag of chips." "Google is holding a mysterious gaming press event at GDC next month" - Tom Warren, The VergeDrake and Josh “Its spherical!” VideoMark is Internet Famous now0:16:50FanbasesMy Brother, My Brother and Me (MBMBaM- pronounced “muhbimbam”) (The McElroy’s f…Listen to this podcast when...0:41:00Game Design BalanceButterscotch Shenanigans podcast"Alien isolation's Artificial Intelligence Was Good... Too Good"GB BurfordKotakuPerfect Imbalance Extra Credits video

In this episode, your nice hosts make sure you know that Treasure Stack, the game Stephen "is paid to work on," is coming out Friday, March 1st!Mark then gives a primer on some audio basics that will help you understand how sound works, and works in your game. Even if you're bored by that, be sure to stick around for a discussion Stephen leads about representation in games."Treasure Stack Reveals Launch Date With a Trailer Powered By Artisanal, Locall… - Hardcore Gamers0:05:32Audio Basics"MP3 'died' and nobody noticed: Key patents expire on golden oldie tech"Andrew OrlowskiThe RegisterDigital Audio Basics: Sample Rate and Bit DepthTurns out, there is a ".2" in certain surround sound setups.Get free sounds on freesound.org!The reduction in audio dynamics in pop music is a result of the so-called Loudn…0:41:57Representation in GamesKey & Peele - Black Republicans"Here's a good argument for a black Batman"Dan NeilanAV Club"Hopi-less: How Kachina Became Donut County"John WalkerRock Paper Shotgun"What It's Like To Write About Race And Video Games"Gita JacksonKotaku

Extra Extra! Hear all about it! All the news that's fit to podcast! Join us in the Nice Games Clubhouse/Newsroom to hear all about the latest and greatest news from the video game world- at least latest and greatest from our vantage point in the past. Mark takes Valve to task, Martha makes a case for golf being interesting and Stephen is only here for the mechanics not the entertainment.It's an episode full of releases, re-releases, spiritual successors, and "Epic" fails!Bulletin topic (Recent releases)GamesKingdom Hearts 3 (finally)Apex LegendsGod Eater 3WargrooveResident Evil 2Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy (a rerelease)New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on SwitchBury Me My LoveWalking Dead Final Season Episode 3Pic-a-Pix PiecesCrackdown 3AnthemFar Cry New DawnMetro ExodusBulletin topic (News)Valve Says It's 'Unfair' That Metro Exodus Is Exclusive To Epic Store - Nathan Grason, KotakuAxiom Verge's free Epic Game Store version has a funny Steam bug - Allegra Frank, PolygonAnthem: 19 changes from the demo to the live game - Ryan Gilliam, PolygonActivision Blizzard Lays Off Hundreds Of Employees - Jason Schreier, KotakuThe Fallout Of Activision Blizzard's Massive Layoffs - Jason Schreier, KotakuNintendo Exec Says 'A Very High Number' Of Its Designers Are Women - Jason Schreier, KotakuAmazon's questionable MMO has you colonize the 'new world' - Colin Campbell, PolygonSuper Smash Bros. Melee Events in Four States Ban Wobbling After Tennessee Ruli… - Ian Walker, KotakuCaptain Marvel website

This week on the program we attempt another Nice Games Jam, where we are given a prompt from Martha's boyfriend (and Evil Games Club co-host) Dylan, which we have to use to create a playable game by the end of the episode.The prompt was "Cold," owing to the extreme winter temperatures we were facing in Minnesota at the time of this recording.We're hoping to do even more of these going forward, so let us know what you think of this episode format on the feedback from!PromptColdGame typeTabletop gamePlayer count2-4Materials4-sided Die4 Player MarkersNotepad to track player statsBoardSetupBoardMartha took a photo of what we were using to play the game during the recording of the episode:And here's a rough mockup Mark made while editing this episode:RulesGoalThe goal of the game is to leave your house and run a quick errand during the worst blizzard of your lifetime.PlayThe board is split into 4 stages. On your turn, you roll a 4-sided die to determine your movement. When you reach the first square of the next stage (even if you are in the middle of your movement), you draw from a deck of "events/challenges" giving you an situation to deal with. After resolving the challenge, complete your movement (modified according to the result of the challenge, if any).The game begins by having every player draw an event for the first stage (see below for event desciptions).Play order is determined in descending order by who spent the most time outside during the Halloween Blizzard of 1991. If you are unable to determine play order using this method, figure something else out, I guess.After every player draws an event for the first stage, all players will get dressed for their adventure by distributing winter gear stats...StatsPlayers get 9 points to distribute on winter gear. Points you don’t "spend" here are saved and can be used later at certain opportunities. Each player puts 0-4 points in each of three categories: Shoes (to aid in snow-based challenges): 0 points is gym socks and flip-flops.4 points is pac boots plus snowshoes.Coat (to aid in wind-based challenges): 0 points means just a T-shirt.4 points is a sweater under a hoodie under a heavy parka under a pea coat.Gloves and Stuff (to aid in interaction-based challenges): 0 points is bare hands/head4 points is wool-lined mittens with a pocket for your hand-warmers, an inch-thick balaclava, and an 8-foot tartan scarf.Players also begin the game with 0 Cold Enough For Ya? points, and 3 Minnesota Nice points. Events in the game can add or subtract these points: If you accumulate 3 Cold Enough For Ya? points, you lose the game by giving up and going home to bury yourself under 100 fleece blankets (role-play optional).If you drop to 0 Minnesota Nice points, you may complete your errand, but you lose your Minnesota spirit (and also the game).Challenges/EventsFor the purposes of this prototype, rather than draw from a deck, roll a 4-sided die and use the challenges listed below.1st stage: "Getting out of the house"1 - Furnace out: +1Cold Enough For Ya?2 - You're snowed in: If you do not obtain a 3 or better in Shoes, you must end your turn when you reach your front door, no matter what your die roll is.3 - You slept in: Lose a turn.4: Whoops! Two errands: You must take "the long way" in the 3rd stage.2nd stage: "Getting to your car"1 - Car covered in snow: If you have 3 or greater in Gloves and Stuff, ignore this, otherwise, chose from these options: Get rid of snow: +1Cold Enough For Ya?Don’t get rid of snow, -1 to all die rolls in the 3rd stage.2 - Neighbor needs help shoveling: If you have any stat points saved over, you can spend one point to help your neighbor. If you do not have any points or don't want to spend one, -1Minnesota Nice. If you do spend a point, roll a 4-sided die: 1 - "Thanks! I owe you one" You get nothing.2 - "Rough out there. I've got an extra coat if you want it" +2 to Coat.3 - +2 to Shoes.4 - +2 to Gloves and Stuff.3 - Slip on your sidewalk: Lose a turn as you lay embarrassed on the cold ground.4 - Freezing wind: If you have a 3 or greater in Coat, ignore this, otherwise, chose from these options: Power though it: +1Cold Enough For Ya?Move carefully: During this stage, you may only move one space per turn (if you have any movement left on this turn, you can move forward one space).3rd stage: "Making it to the store"1 - Car won’t start: Lose a turn while your neighbor helps you.2 - The roads are not plowed: If you have a 4 or greater in Shoes (for the purposes of this prototype, Shoes stands in for a Snow Tire stat), ignore this, otherwise, -1 to all die rolls in this stage.3 - A stranger spun out into a ditch: If you have any stat points saved over, you can spend one point to help the stranger. If you do not have any points or don't want to spend one, -1Minnesota Nice. If you do spend a point, roll a 4-sided die: 1 or 2 - "Thanks! I don't have AAA." You get nothing.3 or 4 - "Let me pay you back somehow." +2 to Any Stat.4 - Car's heater is broken: +1Cold Enough For Ya?4th stage: "Picking up a half-gallon of milk"1 - Forgot your grocery list: Lose a turn as you sit and think.2 - The parking lot is snowed-in: If you have a combined 7 or greater in Shoes + Gloves and Stuff, ignore this, otherwise, -1 to all die rolls in this stage.3 - Help an old person with groceries: If you have any stat points saved over, you can spend one point to help the person. If you do not have any points or don't want to spend one, -1Minnesota Nice. If you do spend a point, roll a 4-sided die: 1 or 2 - "You know, they used to have people for this." You get nothing.3 or 4 - "I'm on my way to the Goodwill, do you want anything?" +2 to Any Stat.4 - There's a line out the door!: Choose from these options: -1Minnesota Nice as you shove your way past everyone.+1Cold Enough For Ya? as you wait patiently.

Your Nice Hosts are back from PodCon 2 and fresh off the Global Game Jam where Martha wrote a game for the first time! We talk all about that experience as well as celebrate Public Domain Day for the first time in 20 years. Mark guides us through the history of copyright, Stephen jams in 3D and Martha is a totally normal McElroy Fan (tmtmtmtm)Photo by GLITCHLiving Computer MuseumGlobal Game Jam games from Minnesota0:15:15Writing for GamesOne Polar Night0:37:57Intellectual Property and the Public DomainPublic Domain Day 2019 (Duke University Website)“Happy Birthday” is public domain, former owner Warner/Chapell to pay $14Joe MullinArs TechnicaCopyright vs Trademark vs PatentUnited States Patent and Trademark OfficeAll by MyselfIrving Berlin, Aileen StanleySherlock Holmes in the 22nd CenturySherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century theme songThe Patent on Loading Screen Minigames is About To ExpireLuke PlunkettKotakuOracle vs Google trial Java runtime

Ellen Burns-Johnson joins us once again in the club house to discuss our work on Widget Satchel (a platformer staring an adorable ferret!) We talk all about what went well, what was challenging and what is still left to do.Widget Satchel: Our goal is to release in April 2019.Wishlist Widget Satchel now on Steam!Code Comment episode about Widget SatchelCode Comment: "Widget Satchel"Ludum Dare special video episode featuring the first prototype versionNice Plays: Ludum Dare 40 games (2017)What We Did On Our Winter Break (2018-19)

We're back with new episodes for the new year! Friend of the show Ellen Burns-Johnson joins us in the clubhouse for the annual Nice Games Club Nicest of 2018 where we talk about some games we liked that came out in 2018 - or at least that we played in 2018. Stephen is on brand with his signature fighting moves, Ellen has Unity in her sights for 2019, Martha has to think of new titles for herself, Mortho barges in to steal the show and Mark -twist- doesn't talk about a Star Trek game.Ellen is here!Podcon 2We will be there in Seattle this weekend!You can attend the con remotely and watch live streams of the talks/live shows.Global Game Jam EventbriteJanuary 25-27, 2019There is a free Diversity ticket option.No experience required to jam.Remember a healthy game dev is a better game dev so go home and sleep, eat, drink lots of water and don’t crunch- make a smaller game!Local Releases (2018)Video GamesClaw Breaker (Team Klaw)Verdant Skies (Howling Moon Studio)Newt One (DevNAri)Joggernauts (SpaceMace)Optica (GLITCH)RJdoesVR (local OculusGo developer)Hardlight Blade (released in 2018)Asimov (early access in 2018)FireZone (coming soon)Board and Card GamesRoot (Leder Games)Vast: The Mysterious Manor (Leder Games)Squirmish (Steven Stwalley)Too Many Bones: Undertow (Chip Theory Games)Martha's Nicest (2018)Celeste (Matt Makes Games)Nintendo Labo (Nintendo)Ellen's Nicest (2018)Fate: Core System (Evil Hat Studio)Pyre (Super Giant Games)Mark's Nicest (2018)Spiderman (Marvel/Sony)Return of the Obra Dinn (Lucas Pope)Stephen's Nicest (2018)Soulcalibur VI (Project Soul)Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo)Girlfriend Review of Super Smash Bros. UltimateMartha's Most Anticipated (for 2019)Ooblets (Glumberland)In the Valley of Gods (Campo Santo)Mark's Most Anticipated (for 2019)Dreams (Media Molecule)Luigi’s Mansion 3 (Nintendo)Yoshi’s Crafted World (Nintendo)Widget Satchel (Noble Robot)Stephen's Most Anticipated (for 2019)Nioh 2 (Team Ninja)Smash Bros. DLC (Nintendo)Ellen's Most Anticipated (for 2019)Baba is You (Hempuli)Alien Isolation 2 (Cold Iron Studios)