The Spelunky Showlike

We're joined by Color Gray Games' Andrejs Kļaviņš to discuss their deeply rewarding detective game The Case of the Golden Idol. We discuss building on the game's cross-media inspirations, finding the 'aha!' moments in playtesting, and trusting yourself to trust your players. Show Notes: The Case of the Golden Idol Color Gray Games Andrejs Kļaviņš Resonance Return of the Obra Dinn gamedeveloper.com interview GMTK - What Makes a Good Detective Game? Understanding Comics William Hogarth Her Story Outer Wilds Dark Souls Foucault's Pendulum PostCurious episode Godot Engine Mark Brown episode SpiderHeck Hercule Poirot Poker Face show Under a Killing Moon

We're joined by actor Ashly Burch and Guerilla Games' Ben McCaw and Jochen Willemsen to deconstruct their deeply collaborative work on the Horizon game franchise - building the character of Aloy, the role of performance capture, and carving out nuance and evolution in a blockbuster series. Show Notes: Horizon Forbidden West Horizon series Ashly Burch Ben McCaw Jochen Willemson Hey Ash Whatcha Playin'? Tenzin (Uncharted 2) Gildun (Horizon character) Seyka (Horizon character)

We're joined by Rita Orlov to discuss her PostCurious catalog of captivating narrative tabletop puzzle games, including her journey from physical and fine art into games, why designers love bouldering, and trusting players to summit her puzzles. Show Notes: Rita Orlov PostCurious The Emerald Flame Threads of Fate KickStarter Lauren Bello Rita’s furniture Rita's masks Prague tunnels Bouldering Chip’s Challenge Syberia Rush Hour Society of Curiosities Traveler's Guide to Little Sodaburg Jack Fallows Voynich Manuscript Codex Seraphinianus The Case of the Golden Idol Mother of Frankenstein

Four of our hosts get a little loopy answering questions submitted by our listeners, from how we all met, to our favorite game controllers, to the importance of mechanics vs vibes. We plan to do more of these episides once in a while, so let us know what you think and send us your most burning, random questions! Show Notes: Andean Abyss Zach's dreamy eyes Game of Thrones board game NeGcon Gravis PC GamePad PsychOdyssey Dysforgiveness Unify XOXO Festival Edgar Rice Soiree Clusterf**k! Every Game in This City The AirBnB we were going to rent findsatoshi.com The Jejune Institute Signal Tower speakeasy Lost Cities Planet of Lana The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Chrono Trigger EarthBound

We're joined by co-founders Tyler Sigman and Chris Bourassa to discuss Red Hook Studios' new roguelike road trip of the damned, Darkest Dungeon II. We explore heroism by contrast, the delicate stakes of making an unforgiving game more forgiving, and fostering the will to get back up again when the road gets tough. Show Notes: Red Hook Studios Darkest Dungeon II Tyler Sigman Chris Bourassa Fury (2014 movie)

We're joined by Kenny Sun (Twinfold) to chat about his slapstick, roguelite platformer Mr. Sun's Hatbox. We talk about the benefits of setting a prototype down for a while, what humor can let you get away with, and trusting your instincts. Show Notes: Kenny Sun Mr. Sun's Hatbox Kenny's concert photography Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Gabe Cuzzillo Ape Out

We're joined by Greg “Cosmo D” Heffernan to discuss his IGF-winning, dice-fueled fever dream Betrayal at Club Low. We explore his fascinating journey from making music to making games, balancing for transparency, and letting your love of the process guide you. Show Notes: Cosmo D Betrayal at Club Low Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories Boiler Room London live set Despelote Glasslands Gallery Gloomhaven The Brooklyn Strategist Disco Elysium Fate role-playing system Charles Pratt Desktop Dungeons Wizardry Vlaada Chvátil Parasite Infinity Engine

We're joined by Daniel Benmergui (I Wish I Were the Moon, Fidel Dungeon Rescue), creator of the narrative-weaving puzzle game Storyteller. We discuss the challenges of designing playful and snappy interaction, wrangling cause and effect, and managing expectations for a game 15 years in the making. Daniel Benmergui Storyteller Cosmicomics Petri Purho I Wish I Were the Moon Today I Die Fidel Dungeon Rescue Scribblenauts Florence worm club Framed Façade

We're joined by Hernán Sáez of Videogamo (DOBOTONE, NAVE) to discuss his beautifully ephemeral party/arcade games, as well as Marie Foulston, a playful curator/creative director who commissioned Videogamo's latest work, GOL-E-GOL. We discuss site-specific experiences, and the slippage between hardware and software realms. Show Notes: Hernán Sáez Marie Foulston Videogamo Máximo Balestrini NAVE Arcade DOBOTONE Gol-E-Gol Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt Wild Rumpus No Quarter Exhibition 2022 The Grannies Australian Centre for the Moving Image OUYA B.U.T.T.O.N. California Extreme Slick Shot (pool arcade game)

We're joined by John Johanas, Director of Tango Gameworks' pitch-perfect rhythm action game Hi-Fi RUSH. We discuss the many challenges of creating a world and systems that stay on beat, while John and Sarah discuss the creation of the character she plays in the game (!), Korsica. Show Notes: John Johanas Hi-Fi RUSH Tango Gameworks Sekiro Skate's text-based prototype Everyday Shooter Tormentor X Punisher Patapon PaRappa the Rapper GuitarFreaks Guitar Hero Live Dyad Thumper Zwan - Honestly

We're joined by Madison Karrh, the solo dev behind Birth, a curious new adventure puzzle game about building a companion to quell your loneliness. We discuss the density and voyeurism of exploring city spaces, embracing the aesthetics of death, and making games that respect your time on earth. Show Notes: Madison Karrh IndieCade: Canabalt's Adam Saltsman's Pursuit of the Infinite Cole Imperi (Thanatologist) Double Fine's PsychOdyssey Everyone I Know Keeps Breaking Things A Chat With the Creator of Birth - Eurogamer Feral Earth Solar Protocol Weiwei Xu's Multiverse Library of Babel

No guest this week, so we chat about the motley selection of games we're playing, before hopping into some thoughtful listener questions. We talk reality shows, historical board games, our go-to podcasts, and the importance of making things for yourself. Show Notes: Betrayal at Club Low Noita Slice & Dice Hi-Fi RUSH Duolingo I Imported EDF6, And Here's Why You Should Too Boss Fight Books - Season 6 Kickstarter OODA loop Paolo Pedercini's Making Games in an F****d Up World Greening the Games Industry Homo Ludens Podcast Playing at the World Molly House Dead Eyes Rashomon Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV The Eleventh podcast The Worst Idea of All Time Guy Montgomory Lolita Podcast You Must Remember This A More Civilized Age Dr. Gameshow Hey Riddle Riddle Just Button

Patrick "Vectorpark" Smith joins us to discuss his curious and inspiring oeuvre, the lost art of Flash games and DVD menus, and the pros and cons of keeping your art to yourself. Show Notes: Vectorpark Windosill Patrick's paintings Haunt the House Dorling Kindersley's 1995 Encyclopedia of Nature Daniel Clowes Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan Julie Doucet Jim Woodring's Frank "Playdate" by Chris Ware Richard McGuire TET Playables Hollow Ponds Noby Noby Boy

We welcome Laura E. Hall (they/she) as a permanent member of the cast! Fresh off a session of their online escape game The Traveler's Guide to Little Sodaburg, we dig into its web-savvy design, how the last few years have impacted the immersive games space, and the inspirations behind a rad career of experience design. Show Notes: Laura E. Hall The Traveler's Guide to Little Sodaburg The Pop Star's Room of Doom Pursuit of the Assassin Artist Palace Games Sleep No More Meow Wolf I Love Bees The Beast Masquerade book The 11th Hour book Level99 The Silence in Room 1258 De Mol A Game Designer's Analysis of QAnon

Per tradition, we sit down with immersive puzzle designer Laura E. Hall - and bonus guest writer/developer Rob Dubbin - to count down our Top 5 games of 2022, alongside picks from previous show guests and our listeners. Happy New Year! Our GOTY picks (SPOILERS): Laura: Pentiment Bureau of Multiversal Arbitration Immortality The Case of the Golden Idol The Emerald Flame Rob: Kubb I Was a Teenage Exocolonist Fun City Slice & Dice Babble Royale Andy: Metroid Dread Pentiment (... and Modern Warfare 2) Neon White Elden Ring (and Sekiro) Root (and John Company, Oath, and Pax Pamir) Sarah: Horizon Forbidden West Knotwords Escape Academy Subaltern Music League (but actually kpop) Zach: (Three-way tie) Elden Ring / Robotron: 2084 / fetch Super Mario Land DX (on the Analogue Pocket) Need for Speed Unbound (Tie) Isle of Arrows / Gargoyle’s Quest Legend of Zelda Ancient Dungeon (Complete Conversion of NES Legend of Zelda) Doug: Top 5 TikTok Games Apartment Claim to Fame The Mo!e ORG (application form) Super "Soni

Josh Sawyer (Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity) joins us to discuss Obsidian's historical, narrative-driven adventure game Pentiment. We chat about text boxes as game feel, creating hard player choices that don't feel bad, and putting yourself in your art. Show Notes: Josh Sawyer Pentiment The Name of the Rose Pitching a 16th Century Murder Mystery - AIAS Game Maker's Notebook Juice It or Lose It talk Lettermatic Night in the Woods So where *is* Tassing, actually? (Tumblr post) Darklands Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio Andrei Rublev

Our guest couldn't make it, so we gathered some listener questions and got weird! Join us for Thanksgiving recipes, our favorite recent game mechanics, and some "state of the industry" musings. Enjoy! Show notes: Vectorpark Meathead's AmazingRibs.com Manchego mashed potatoes Kabocha Pie Nick's pancake recipe Paprika Recipe Manager Sarah's Konsoll talk Sarah as She-Venom Marvel Snap Caper: Europe Air, Land & Sea God of War: Ragnarok Pax Pamir John Company Tango Theory of Mind Donkeyspace

We (well, Nick) stops by the annual Day of the Devs event in San Francisco, and chats to a bunch of lovely developers about the games they're showing there, their biggest design challenges, and what it feels like making games in the cursed year of 2022. Show notes: Day of the Devs Double Fine iam8bit Pietro Righi Riva Saturnalia Chandana Ekanayake Thirsty Suitors Jasper Oprel Indiana Jonas Surmount Madison Karrh Birth Billy Basso Animal Well Xalavier Nelson Jr. Sunshine Shuffle Rachel Heleva Astra Games Doseone Game Over by A7PHA Brandon Sheffield Demonschool

Ghost Pattern's Jason Bakker and Georgia Symons join us to discuss their heartfelt interactive story Wayward Strand. We meander through its immersive theater inspirations, the origins of its airship, and the process of rethinking player agency in the attention economy. Show Notes: Jason Bakker Georgia Symons Ghost Pattern Wayward Strand Need 4e+9 Speed The Last Express Sleep No More The Drowned Man The Life Aquatic VicScreen Freeplay

Alexander Perrin and Joshua Tatangelo join us to discuss their expressive, physics-driven space puzzler Heavenly Bodies. We chat about designing a challenging game that isn't antagonistic, a funny game whose comedy is inherent, and their inspirations (or lack thereof). Show Notes: Heavenly Bodies 2pt Interactive Pogo Cat Short Trip Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy Meredith Hall Untitled Goose Game Simpsons space scene