Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

In the first installment of our deep-dive Spelunky 2 miniseries, we have a - spoiler-free! - discussion of the first world of the game, design changes big and small and their implications, and what this sequel does to recapture the essence of what make the series so special. Show notes: Spelunky 2 Noita Surviving Spelunky 2: Tips for a Successful Expedition/Transition Northway Games I Was a Teenage Exocolonist Museum of Other Realities Polygon Spelunky 2 review Ojiro's Spelunky 2 death Nick's Spelunky 2 shotgun forgetfulness eggplant.show

Lucy Morris (Starcolt) joins us to talk about her recently-released dating/pet care sim Best Friend Forever! We discuss running a studio in a small community, building three dimensional characters, and the emotional travails of launching a game. Show notes:  Lucy Morris Lovegames podcast bffgame.dog Launch Day: the emotional cost of releasing a game Jared Rosen + Dream Daddy Love Transcends All (Geographical) Boundaries acrylic

We kick off a new era with a fully rebranded show! After navel-gazing about the changes, we talk to our own Zach Gage about making a Sudoku game that loves you. Show notes: eggplant.show Good Sudoku doseone Richard Hogg Northway Games Sportsfriends Osmos The Worst Idea of All Time Hot Tub Time Machine Arcane Kids Manife$to The Miracle Sudoku The Berenst#in Bears problem Put Your Name on Your Game GDC talk

We close out this chapter of the podcast with some (spoiler-free!) impressions of the near-final Spelunky 2, with creators Derek Yu and Eirik Suhrke to guide us through their design process and answer your burning questions. The walls are shifting... Some things we discussed: Derek Yu Eirik Suhrke Spelunky 2 release date trailer Super Mario World Downwell Faxanadu

Loot Rascals co-designers Ricky Haggett and Jonathan Whiting join us to discuss their whimsical cosmic roguelike, as does superfan Tim Schafer to help us sing its praises! We discuss playing with hexes in the pub, the function of humor in games, and how Loot Rascals is the first "stranding" game. Some things we discussed: Loot Rascals Hollow Ponds Jonathan Whiting Double Fine Productions RAD Davey Swatpaz Archon: The Light and the Dark Skylanders HeroQuest Good Sudoku Nethack Into the Breach I Am Dead Meowza Jon Boam

Shawn Alexander Allen joins us to talk about his tactical brawler, Treachery in Beatdown City. We discuss the roots and inspirations of this innovative mash-up, the action economy that makes it tick, and the process of translating life experience into your creative work. Some things we discussed: Shawn Alexander Allen Treachery in Beatdown City Hybrid Heaven V.A.T.S. system Put Your Glock Away, I've Got a Stronger Weapon For You (A Maze talk) @writnelson's Blockbuster thread Cory Arcangel's Super Mario Clouds Being black in America

Theresa Duringer (Temple Gates Games) joins us to discuss the process of bringing board games to digital platforms. We discuss tutorial and UI challenges, machine learning for AI, and how to find your niche as a small studio. Show notes: Theresa Duringer Temple Gates Games Roll of the Galaxy beta Gen Con Machine Learning for Boardgame AI in Race for the Galaxy TD-Gammon AlphaStar: Mastering the Real-Time Strategy Game StarCraft II Keldon Jones' Race for the Galaxy AI How to Run a Studio Without a Surprise Hit Scythe: Digital Edition Terraforming Mars

Soren Johnson (Offworld Trading Company) joins us to discuss his new historical strategy game Old World, as we dive into playing by feel in a numbers-driven game, the problematic themes inherent to the 4X genre, and personalizing games through narrative scale. Some things we discussed: Soren Johnson Mohawk Games Civilization IV Spore Offworld Trading Company Old World 4X genre Designer Notes podcast Heroes of Might and Magic Guns versus butter Guns, Germs, and Steel Battle Line Lost Cities

In the final installment of our Noita miniseries, Nolla Games' Petri Purho and Olli Harjola join us for a deep dive Q&A on the game! We discuss the influence of magic on its design, its origins and early iterations, how they empower different play styles, and where the boundaries of the game might actually be. Some things we discussed: Kloonigames Facepalm Games Hempuli Sisu Knytt The Magic Way Frog Fractions NetHack Game Feel book Stair Dismount Liero The Fight of the Sumo Hoppers Pro Pilkki My Summer Car Nokia worm (Snake) Wings Soldat Stephen’s Sausage Roll Apex Legends Forge misdirect

It's Andy's big 5-0 and we're celebrating by diving into our mailbag of thoughtful listener questions! We discuss working within a team, how academic practice intersects development, framing your work across a career, the role of aesthetics in games, and the materiality of engines. Phew! Some things we discussed: The Last Dance B.U.T.T.O.N.: On Self-Effacing Games and Unachievements Characteristics of Games Terry Cavanagh Design Anarchy Ansel Adams Clusterf*ck GMTK Game Jam N Designing with Physics: Bend the Physics Engine to Your Will Super Pole Riders: How We Got Full Pole Control Lost Cities Lonely Mountains: Downhill