Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

Izzy Kestrel, a game developer from Funomena and No Goblin, joins John Axon, a programmer and Discord moderator, to discuss Overbold, a thrilling arcade shooter. They dive into how risk-taking can lead to greater rewards in gameplay. The conversation touches on nostalgic gaming experiences, comparing Overbold's mechanics to classic titles. They also humorously explore character strategies and the community's inventive contributions to game design, highlighting the fun and challenges of navigating the vibrant world of retro gaming.

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13).  Laura, Jey, and Doug break down Episode 8 and share their Mole suspicions.  Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Reality TV Warriors finale live interviews w/ Gilles, Michèle, Alexy https://rtvwarriors.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/diary-of-a-mole-finale-iv/ Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://eggplant.show/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol Eggplant's De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow Eggplant Discord http://discord.gg/eggplant

In this engaging discussion, guests include Shawn Alexander Allen, a dedicated advocate for marginalized game developers; Robert Ashley, creator of the documentary series A Life Well Wasted; Trent Kusters, a game developer with a rock band past; and Greg Ford, a former gaming journalist. They delve into the challenges and mechanics of the game Fist Hell, exploring its dark themes and community reactions. The conversation highlights nostalgia in gaming, innovative design choices, and the evolving landscape of player experiences, making for an entertaining insight into the gaming industry.

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13).  Laura, Jey, and Doug break down Episode 7 and share their Mole suspicions.  Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://eggplant.show/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol Eggplant's De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow Eggplant Discord http://discord.gg/eggplant

Stephanie Boluk, a game educator from UC Davis, joins fellow faculty member Patrick LeMieux, a speedrunning expert, and Aaron 'ix' Kearsley, a former speedrunner. They dive into Mortol II, discussing its unique gameplay mechanics, including the absence of traditional save systems. The trio explores the chaotic politics of Mortolia and shares hilarious anecdotes from their gaming experiences. They also reflect on the evolving landscape of game design, contrasting nostalgic elements with modern innovations, making for a lively, insightful conversation.

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13).  Laura, Jey, and Doug break down Episode 6 and share their Mole suspicions.  Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://eggplant.show/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol Eggplant's De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow Eggplant Discord http://discord.gg/eggplant

We're joined by Ben Wilson (Saltsea Chronicles), John Axon (Capybara Games), and Scott Anderson (Unity) to discuss Pingolf, the 31st game in the UFO 50 collection. “Each year the best golfers in the galaxy show up to compete at the UFO Invitational.” Next week: Mortol II Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Desert Golfing https://store.steampowered.com/app/757040/Desert_Golfing/  Golfing on Mars https://store.steampowered.com/app/1340570/Golf_On_Mars/ Cursed to Golf https://store.steampowered.com/app/1726120/Cursed_to_Golf/ Executive Golf DX (Playdate) https://play.date/games/executive-golf/ Yoku’s Island Express https://store.steampowered.com/app/334940/Yokus_Island_Express/ Scott’s Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/impossible.bsky.social John's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/johnaxon.bsky.social Ben’s Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/zerofiftyone.bsky.social Ben's Crosswords https://zerofiftyone.net/ The End of Gameplay by droqen https://store.steampowered.com/app/3120040/The_End_of_Gameplay/ 31 Unmarked Games by droqen https://droqen.itch.io/31-unmarked-games  Episode 69 – Building a Better Bridge with Ben Wilson https://eggplant.show/69-building-a-better-bridge-with-ben-wilson Episode 129 – Reinforcing Worldbuilding through Gameplay with Spoils https://eggplant.show/129-reinforcing-worldbuilding-through-gameplay-with-spoils  A Year of UFO 50 - Golfaria https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-golfaria   https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow    

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13).  Laura, Jey, and Doug break down Episode 5 and share their Mole suspicions.  Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Every Game In This City, Season 1 - Escape Rooms in Kuala Lumpur https://www.idlethumbs.net/everygame/episodes/a-chocolate-milk-heist Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://eggplant.show/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol Eggplant's De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow Eggplant Discord http://discord.gg/eggplant  

In the 4th installment of our current Into the Depths series, we dive into Caves of Qud. This sprawling open-world roguelike has been in development since 2007 and Early Access since 2015. Doug and Rob - joined by special guest host Star St. Germain - continue talking about the main quest with one of the game's creators, Jason Grinblat. This episode we talk through Pax Klanq, Yd Freehold, and the Tomb of Eaters. Don't forget to join our Discord and play along with the series. Show Notes: Buy Caves of Qud on itch.io: https://freeholdgames.itch.io/cavesofqud Caves of Qud soundtrack: https://freeholdgames.itch.io/caves-of-qud-soundtrack 2025 Independent Games Festival: https://igf.com/article/consume-me-wins-grand-prize-nuovo-award-2025-igf-awards Doug & Rob let's play video of Tomb of the Eaters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is3keH8R-8A Star on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisisstar.bsky.social Jason on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:zflcrtqmb7pcwouiixuf22pq

In this lively chat, Stephanie Boluk and Patrick LeMieux, both game educators at UC Davis, join Gab Koenig, the creative mind behind Tux and Fanny. They dive into the game Rock On! Island, discussing its whimsical premise of defending a cave from dinosaurs. The trio explores tower defense mechanics, reminiscing about nostalgic titles while analyzing the evolution of gameplay. With humor and insights, they share personal gaming anecdotes and the journey of mastering game design, highlighting the importance of community and creativity in the industry.