The Spelunky Showlike

In the final installment of our deep-dive Spelunky 2 miniseries, creator Derek Yu and lead programmer Micky Pascual regale us with stories of development, their approach to the post-launch changes, and how they tackled an ocean of secrets. First half is largely spoiler-free (until 1:14), second half is full spoilers! Show notes: Derek Yu Micky Pascual BlitWorks Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone Minus World Spelunky book Andy Baio's kid Eirik Suhrke UFO 50 Goats screaming like humans

Necrobarista's lead artist Ngoc Vu sits down to tell us how her team created the singular aesthetic of their kinetic visual novel, and talks us through its inseparable Melbourne inspirations. Show notes: Ngoc Vu Route 59 Games Necrobarista Long Live the Queen (the game Ngoc couldn't remember!) Tumblr Cinegraphs Rabbit Rush Kotaku anime frustration article Tachikoma Bin chickens Ned Kelly Sidney Nolan Understanding Comics Tilt to Live

In the fourth installment of our deep-dive Spelunky 2 miniseries, we wade into the deepest secrets and SPOILERS of the game, covering the entire "chain" path and far beyond, giving our impressions, tips, and design musings along the way. Show notes: Mummy's voice meme A breakdown of 2013's most fascinating video game moment Ancient Egyptian sacrificial mythology Nick's first trip to Duat Our new voicemail number: 312-809-9680‬

The ENTIRE all-star Disc Room team - Kitty Calis, JW Nijman, Doseone, and Terri Vellmann - stop by for a rowdy disc-ussion on their new arcade sci-fi avoid-em-up. We chat about making the Margherita pizza of games, nailing the details to make a simple concept sing, and making the most of team collaborations. Show notes: Disc Room Launch trailer Kitty Calis JW Nijman Doseone Terri Vellmann Pizza Margherita Disc Room Game Jam VVVVVV Chris Ware Monolith Bit Pilot

In the third installment of our deep-dive Spelunky 2 miniseries, we continue the discussion on its unique difficult curve, debate the latest changes to the game, and talk through the design of worlds 3-5. Show notes: Noita 1.0 Thanks for a Great Launch (Update) JakeTreester's Reddit criticisms (big spoilers!) Nick's Olmec whiff Nick's Jiangshi whiff Colin's Daily in a GIF

Tj Hughes (Terrifying Jellyfish) joins us to talk about his upcoming experimental food/art game Nour: Play With Your Food. We discuss games as toys, making things accessible by making them weird, and the most important element of both cooking and design (spoilers: it's love). Show notes: Tj Hughes Nour: Play With Your Food Feesh Panoramical Electroplankton Tabor Robak on Video Games Food in FFXV Breakfast in Dreams Hero of Time, Vegan of Hyrule Toasted Ravioli City Museum

In the second installment of our deep-dive Spelunky 2 miniseries, we discuss the game's radical approach to difficulty, break down and contrast the second worlds of the game, and compare results on the Daily challenge.

A Short Hike creator Adam Robinson-Yu chills with us to chat about his cozy exploration game, from its Humble origins and inspirations, to balancing feature density with scope. Show notes: A Short Hike Adam Robinson-Yu Pitfall Planet Adam's Itch.io page Fund: Futures Crafting a Tiny Open World: A Short Hike Postmorterm Building Games Around Humor: Lessons from The Haunted Island, A Frog Detective Game Stugan Breakwaters Kickstarter doseone's new album

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

In the fourth installment of our Noita miniseries, we discuss the intention of randomness, getting stuck in our play patterns, leaning into the game's weirdness, and some modifications we'd like to see. Some things we discussed: 10,000 Bowls of Oatmeal Problem Brogue Teamfight Tactics Balancing Multiplayer Games

Spelunky creator Derek Yu returns for an expansive discussion on the membrane between players/devs, the connection between design/process, and the understated influence of arcade games on his work - all through the lens of what we've been playing and thinking about in quarantine. Some things we discussed: Derek Yu UFO 50 Noita Animal Crossing: New Horizons AC:NH QoL fan video Marina Abramović Streets of Rage 4 Metal Slug X Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 Web Liero Scourgebringer Bargain Basement Bathysphere Gals' Fighters boardgamearena.com Can’t Stop Acquire Innovation Sea Block Factorio mod SnowRunner Caveblazers Miasmata Escape From Tarkov Gutwhale  Just One Lost Cities Azul What Up With That?