The Secret Lives of Games

Join indie game developers Daniel Mullins, creator of Inscryption, and Tonda Ros, known for Blue Prince, as they dive into the arcade shooter Seaside Drive. They discuss its unique gameplay and nostalgic aesthetics, while reflecting on the challenges of boss fights and speedrunning. The duo also explores the emotional connections players have with curated collections like UFO 50. In a playful twist, they share insights on upcoming projects, community engagement, and the joys of retro gaming, blending humor and innovation in this vibrant discussion.

Join Scott Anderson, a veteran graphics engineer from Unity, Jackie Vecchitto, co-founder of Holy Wow Studios known for Trombone Champ, and Xalavier Nelson, head of Strange Scaffold. They dive into the quirky world of Quibble Race, mixing humor with darker themes. The team discusses the evolution of game mechanics, the intersection of gaming and gambling, and the emotional impact of quirky narratives. Personal anecdotes and reflections on nostalgia add depth to their lively conversation, making for a fun exploration of indie game development.

We're joined by Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) to discuss Combatants, the 46th game in the UFO 50 collection. "The evil Red Ants have taken your land! Fight Back and defend your queen!" Next week: Quibble Race Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Starcraft: Remastered https://starcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/ Pikmin 1+2 Bundle https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/pikmin-1-plus-2-bundle-switch/ Little King's Story https://store.steampowered.com/app/390310/Little_Kings_Story/ Tinykin https://www.tinykingame.com/ Patapon https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/patapon-1-plus-2-replay Tooth & Tail https://www.toothandtailgame.com/ The Grasshopper: Games, Life, and Utopia by Bernard Suits https://broadviewpress.com/product/the-grasshopper-third-edition/#tab-description Manifesto: The 21st Century Will Be Defined By Games by Eric Zimmerman https://kotaku.com/manifesto-the-21st-century-will-be-defined-by-games-1275355204 Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change The World by Jane McGonigal https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reality-is-broken-jane-mcgonigal/1100817884?ean=9780143120612 Game Studies Study Buddies 51 – Suits – The Grasshopper https://rangedtouch.com/2022/09/29/51-suits-the-grasshopper/ EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Mini & Max https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-mini-max Gio on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/gwishin.bsky.social 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). In this very special bonus episode, Laura, Jey, Doug, and Melissa sit down with Wouter Verstichel (Director/Showrunner of De Mol) to discuss the experience of working on the show. Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more. Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Links: Eggplant's De Mol 2024 recap series, including live finale interviews: https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow 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 https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

Join game developers Billy Basso, creator of the whimsical Animal Well, and Ben Wilson from Saltsea Chronicles, alongside Kayin, famed for I Wanna Be the Guy, and comedian Adam Conover. They dive into the quirky adventure of Mini and Max, exploring themes of nostalgia and the magic of miniature worlds. The conversation touches on game design intricacies, the emotional connections players foster, and humorous anecdotes about life and gaming. They also delve into the artistry of procedural generation and share insights on their creative journeys.

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Eileen Hollinger (Capybara Games) to discuss Pilot Quest, the 44th game in the UFO 50 collection. "The Campanella has crashed! Fix it by harvesting resources and exploring the wild zone." Next week: Mini & Max Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Collection of Mana https://mana.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/collection-of-mana Actraiser Renaissance https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_US/games/actraiser-renaissance Progress Quest http://progressquest.com/ Candy Box II (Sequel to Candy Box) https://candybox2.github.io/candybox/ Cow Clicker http://cowclicker.com/ A Dark Room https://adarkroom.doublespeakgames.com/ Cookie Clicker https://cookieclicker.com/ Clicker Heroes https://www.clickerheroes.com/ AdVenture Capitalist https://hyperhippo.com/games/adventure-capitalist/ Universal Paperclips https://www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips/ The Barnacle Goose Experiment https://everest-pipkin.com/barnacle-goose/ Banana https://store.steampowered.com/app/2923300/Banana/ Neptune's Pride https://np.ironhelmet.com/#landing Game Dev Story https://store.steampowered.com/app/1847240/Game_Dev_Story/ Knytt https://archive.org/details/Knytt/ Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure https://www.gog.com/en/game/cosmos_cosmic_adventure GameMaker https://gamemaker.io/en Edinburgh Festival Fringe https://www.edfringe.com/ Mel McGlensey is NORMAL https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/mel-mcglensey-normal Into the Depths: Kentucky Route Zero - Part 1 https://eggplant.show/into-the-depths-kentucky-route-zero-part-1 Into the Depths: Super Mario World - Part 1 https://eggplant.show/into-the-depths-super-mario-world-part-1 https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

Join game writer Adam Dolin, known for his work on God of War, and game developers Colin and Sarah Northway of Northway Games, as they dive into the enchanting chaos of Elfazar's Hat. They share insights on cooperative gameplay and strategize over card collection while exploring the game's unique challenges. Personal anecdotes reveal their experiences in the gaming industry, and discussions on color schemes add depth to the narrative. The trio also reflects on the importance of community engagement and celebrates the creativity born from collaboration.

Star St. Germain, a game developer known for her work on Hollow Vista and Highland Song, joins fellow creators Madison Karrh and Zach Aikman to explore Night Manor, a standout title in the UFO 50 collection. They discuss the game's innovative design and its distinct lack of dialogue, creating a unique horror experience. The conversation dives into storytelling in gaming, nostalgic connections to classic titles, and the emotional depth that comes from player choices. Insights about the mechanics and atmosphere of Night Manor offer a fresh perspective on horror adventure 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!