Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

In this bonus installment of our current Into the Depths series, we continue diving 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 - chat about sidequests with one of the game’s narrative designers, Caelyn Sandel. This episode we talk about the Servidian Meadow, the Hindren, Bey Lah, the integration of political and cultural commentary into worldbuilding, writing workflows, Mamon Souldrinker, Warden Une, Fraying Favorites, Many Eyes, Caelen Sandshell, _, and the cyclical nature of influence on Qud’s world. Don't forget to join our Discord and play along with the series!  Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. 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  The Qud Survival Guide: https://ectafoole.itch.io/the-qud-survival-guide Star on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisisstar.bsky.social  Star on itch: thisisstar.itch.io Star’s website: https://www.thisisstar.com/  Caelyn on bsky:  https://bsky.app/profile/ectafoole.bsky.social  Caelyn’s Fiction work ectafoole.itch.io https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

In this discussion, Trent Kusters, co-founder of League of Geeks, John Axon from Capybara Games, and narrative designer Adam Dolin dive into 'Lords of Diskonia.' They explore the blend of tabletop and video game mechanics, showcasing how disc-flicking games create unique social dynamics. Personal anecdotes abound, from cycling across Japan to humorous game nights. The trio also critiques pacing issues in gameplay while celebrating their shared passion for gaming. Their camaraderie and insights into indie development make this a delightful listen!

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Trent Kusters (League of Geeks) to discuss Grimstone, the 40th game in the UFO 50 collection. “Praise Biggan, the four of you survived the saloon fire. But somethin' tells me this story's just gettin' started...” Next week: Lords of Diskonia Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.   Discussed in this episode: Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster https://finalfantasypixelremaster.square-enix-games.com/en_US/  SaGa Frontier Remastered https://saga-franchise.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/saga-frontier-remastered  Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake https://dragonquest.square-enix-games.com/games/en-us/dragon-quest-1-2-hd2d-remake/  Super Mario RPG  https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/super-mario-rpg-switch/  Undertale  https://undertale.com/  Final Fantasy VIII Remastered https://www.square-enix-games.com/games/final-fantasy-viii-remastered  Mother 3  https://mother3.fobby.net/  Final Fantasy VII  https://finalfantasyviipc.square-enix-games.com/en  Tales of Symphonia Remastered  https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/tales-of/tales-of-symphonia-remastered  Hylics  https://mason-lindroth.itch.io/hylics  Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians https://vimeo.com/ondemand/huicholesfilm The Road to Dragon Quest  https://archive.org/details/road-to-dragon-quest Space Funeral  https://thecatamites.itch.io/space-funeral  Yume Nikki  https://store.steampowered.com/app/650700/Yume_Nikki/  The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tom-lin/the-thousand-crimes-of-ming-tsu/9780316542173/?lens=little-brown Game Maker’s Notebook - XCOM Creator Julian Gollop Shares Game Design Tips , Dev Stories and More  https://gamemakersnotebook.libsyn.com/xcom-creator-julian-gollop-shares-game-design-tips-dev-stories-and-more    Stephanie's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/chouxsalad.bsky.social Patrick's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/alt254.bsky.social Trent's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/trentkusters.bsky.social A Year of UFO 50 - Mortol II https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-mortol-ii  A Year of UFO 50 - Rock On! Island  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-rock-on-island  A Year of UFO 50 - Mortol  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-mortol  A Year of UFO 50 - Fist Hell  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-fist-hell  A Year of UFO 50 - Vainger  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-vainger  A Year of UFO 50 - Porgy  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-porgy  A Year of UFO 50 - Bushido Ball  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-bushido-ball  Into the Depths: Kentucky Route Zero - Part 1  https://eggplant.show/into-the-depths-kentucky-route-zero-part-1      https://bsky.app/profile/eggplantshow.bsky.social https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

Jay Ma, the brilliant mind behind Into the Breach, Steve Gillham, an aspiring game developer and UFO 50 aficionado, and Adam Dolin, an acclaimed writer from God of War: Ragnarok, join the conversation. They dive into the frenetic world of 'Star Waspir,' sharing insights on its challenging gameplay and unique mechanics. Personal anecdotes sprinkle humor throughout, as they discuss the balance of nostalgia and frustration in tough games. Listeners will enjoy tales of community collaboration and the creative spark that fuels indie game development.

Join Tonda Ros, a game developer known for Blueprint and Mythic Spoiler, alongside doseone, a musician behind the soundtracks of Enter the Gungeon and Samurai Gunn. They dive into the intriguing world of Rakshasa, discussing its unique mechanics and the emotional depth of gameplay where even death can't halt your fight against demons. The duo also shares personal journeys in gaming and creativity, highlights from their childhood, and the importance of community in gaming. Plus, they explore the nostalgic design elements reminiscent of classic NES games.

This podcast features Carolyn Petit, a veteran games journalist and managing editor at Kotaku, alongside Scott Anderson, a software engineer at Unity with a rich background in both AAA and indie games. They dive into Valbrace, the latest addition to UFO 50, highlighting its innovative mechanics and nostalgic ties to classic dungeon crawlers. The conversation also touches on player challenges with gameplay dynamics, the evolution of RPG customization, and the excitement surrounding the Cherry Rush charity speedrun event, fostering a vibrant discussion of community and creativity in gaming.

Join Alex Jaffe, a lead champion designer at Riot Games, Scott Anderson, a graphics engineer at Unity, and Alfredo Barraza, a gameplay trailer expert at Riot. They dive into the mechanics of 'Hyper Contender,' exploring its dynamic gameplay and nostalgic elements of fighting games. The trio shares personal anecdotes, discusses studio dynamics and the community's role in game development, and reflects on innovation versus accessibility in game design. Their banter is filled with humor and insights about the gaming industry's evolution.

In this engaging discussion, Jeff Dubbin, a lawyer and the top-ranked player of Lost Cities on Board Game Arena, shares his insights on high-level play. He delves into the psychological aspects of strategy, emphasizing how understanding opponents can be pivotal. The conversation also explores the emotional stakes involved in achieving greatness and the intricacies of Elo rankings. Listeners will appreciate anecdotes about competitive adventures and the impact of community in both legal and gaming realms.

Join Liz Ryerson, a musician and writer known for her insights on GamerGate and labor rights in gaming, alongside Russ Frushtick, co-founder of Polygon.com. They delve into 'Campanella 2,' exploring its roguelike challenges and comparing it to classics like Spelunky. The conversation touches on emotional impacts of sequels, the nostalgia of retro gaming, and the intricacies of game design. Their amusing dialogue highlights overlooked mechanics and the creativity behind current gaming trends, while offering personal reflections and recommendations.

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13).  Laura, Jey, and Doug break down Episode 9 (reunion) and try to rank and contextualize the season. Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more. 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, including live finale interviews: https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow Eggplant Discord http://discord.gg/eggplant