The Short Game

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes has more in common with party games played with boards or cards than with most video games. You play it in person with friends, one of whom is the bomb-defuser, looking at a simulated bomb on their laptop (or VR headset) with the others trying to talk them through the complex defusing process with the help of a hilariously complex bomb defusal manual. It’s a game designed to facilitate fun communication, minor panics, and hilarious mistakes. Each round/bomb takes about 5 minutes to play/defuse. The game is available on Steam for Windows PC, as well as for Samsung Gear VR in the Oculus Store. Also mentioned in this episode: BANG! | Board Game | BoardGameGeek Spaceteam: Cooperative Party Game for Phones and Tablets You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash Shane Kelly – @8bitShane

We’re back with more discussion of Undertale, but this time we’re talking about the story, characters, and endings! This all-spoiler episode follows up on our spoiler free discussion of the game, so if you haven’t played the game, start there! Thanks for nerding out about Undertale with us some more. Next week we will be back with a quick episode on bomb-defusing pseudo-party-game Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes! We’ll also be discussing the results of the 2015 IFComp interactive fiction competition. Undertale Review – Giant Bomb You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Laura Nash – @laurajnash Nate Heininger – @natestl Shane Kelly – @8bitShane

The initial version of this episode had a sound issue with Shane’s track that has since been corrected. If you hear any gaps in the audio, please delete and re-download the episode. Sorry for the inconvenience. This week we’re talking about Undertale by Toby Fox. Described as “the RPG where you don’t have to destroy anyone,” Undertale turned out to be one of the sweetest, funniest, and ultimately most moving games we’ve played. In the interest of preserving Undertale’s many surprises, we’ve trying a different format this week. This episode is entirely spoiler free. We discuss the game’s unique gameplay and humor, and give a few tips for enjoying it fully. Next week we’ll be returning with a short episode covering details of the story and endings. Editor’s Note: This is a strong contender for my Game of the Year. Don’t miss it! – Raygan Undertale is available for Mac and Windows, through Steam, the Humble Store, and the developer’s website, for $9.99. Expect it to take around 10 hours to complete. Here’s a link to the Temmie Armor, mentioned near the end of the episode. You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane (00:00) - Intro (06:36) - Story (12:20) - Pixel art (13:56) - Music (17:36) - Combat (24:54) - Puzzles (29:28) - Making Friends (36:44) - Saves (38:50) - Tips (49:18) - Wrap-up

In this special episode of The Short Game we are recapping the final acts of Life is Strange, a game we started covering when its first episodic chapter released early this year. If you are new to Life is Strange, start by playing the game or with our first episode on it, but if you’ve completed the game, listen in for some in-depth discussion of the triumphs and frustrations of this important game. Links for this episode The Short Game | 39: Life is Strange – Chapter 1 (Chrysalis) The Short Game | Life is Strange Book Club: Episode 2 – Out of Time The ridiculous design behind a key scene in Life Is Strange | GamesBeat | Games | by Evan Killham Life Is Strange (Soundtrack) – DONTNOD Entertainment Wiki – Wikia You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash

Continuing on with our coverage of IFComp (the Interactive Fiction Competition) we’re back with brief impressions of 11 more games from this year’s whopping 55 entries. Be sure to check out Episode 61 for more games and some background on IFComp. IFComp 2015 Games Covered in This Episode Untold Riches by Jason Ermer Unbeknown by A. DeNiro The Baker of Shireton by Hanon Ondricek Taghairm by Chandler Groover SPY INTRIGUE by furkle Grandma Bethlinda’s Variety Box by Arthur DiBianca Ether by Mathbrush Duel by piato The King and the Crown by Wes Lesley Forever Meow by Moe Zilla A Figure Met in a Shaded Wood by Michael Thomet Click Here for Download/Play Online links for all 2015 IFComp games Correction: We described Solarium, by Alan DeNiro, from the 2013 IFComp, as a parser game. It is in fact a Twine game like his 2015 entry. Links for this episode The Short Game | 61: IFComp 2015 The Interactive Fiction Competition The Interactive Fiction Competition 2015 Games List Playfic Seltani: Welcome Spring Thing 2015, and Aspel | Emily Short’s Interactive Storytelling The Short Game | 45: Spring Thing 2015 – Interactive Fiction Festival The Short Game | 22: Year Walk The Short Game | 59: Porpentine: Eczema Angel Orifice The Short Game | 31: Interactive Fiction Downwell The Short Game | 47: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (with guest host Gary Butterfield) You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash

This week we’re talking about The Beginner’s Guide, the new game from Davey Wreden. Wreden’s first game, The Stanley Parable, was the topic of the second episode of The Short Game way back in the distant past (last year.) We loved it, to say the least. This game is a very different beast, and it covers some pseudo-autobiographical territory. Wreaden narrates as he presents a collection of short games by a (fictional) friend, Coda, and explains what each one means to him. But Wreden and Coda have a more complex relationship than is initially on display. The collection delves into deep psychological and ethical waters during its short run-time. The Beginner’s Guide is available for $9.99 on Steam and the Humble Store for Mac and PC. Expect it to take just an hour and a half to complete. Links for this episode: The Beginner’s Guide on Steam Buy The Beginner’s Guide from the Humble Store. The Stanley Parable | The Beginner’s Guide is a game that doesn’t want to be written about / Offworld The Beginner’s Guide review • Eurogamer.net The Beginner’s Guide (Davey Wreden) and Intimacy Inside Games | Emily Short’s Interactive Storytelling Game of the Year | Galactic-Cafe Davey Wreden & William Pugh: Life After The Stanley Parable | Rock, Paper, Shotgun The Short Game | 54: The Magic Circle Super Mario 3D Land – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Downwell Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Until Dawn – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash

IFComp, the interactive fiction competition, is the longest running and most important event in the interactive fiction scene. Each year dozens of interactive fiction authors submit new work of all kinds, from hardcore parser puzzle games to experimental Twine games, and this year a record 55 games were submitted! With a timely assist from Emily Short we selected a few of this year’s most intriguing entires and bring you some brief impressions. With so many games to try, this is likely just the beginning of our IFComp coverage! IFComp 2015 Games Covered in This Episode – 5 Minutes to Burn Something! by Alex Butterfield – Arcane Intern (Unpaid) by Astrid Dalmady – Brain Guzzlers from Beyond! by Steph Cherrywell – Laid Off from the Synesthesia Factory by Katherine Morayati – Map by Ade – Midnight. Swordfight. by Chandler Groover – Sub Rosa by Joey Jones & Melvin Rangasamy Click here for a ballot and download links for all of the 2015 IFComp entries Planning on playing along or voting in this year’s IFComp? Let us know your impressions! Use our Contact form or contact us on Twitter at @_shortgame! Links for this episode: The Short Game | 45: Spring Thing 2015 – Interactive Fiction Festival The Short Game | 31: Interactive Fiction The Short Game | 59: Porpentine: Eczema Angel Orifice The Interactive Fiction Competition The Interactive Fiction Competition – Rules Slouching Towards Bedlam Floatpoint Lost Pig Leather Goddesses of Phobos – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia IFComp News – “Emily is Away” is withdrawn emily is away – official site inkle – 80 Days inkle – New adventures in 80 DAYS! New Release: Discernment (Emily Short’s subscriber story for Fallen London) UNDERTALE Read Only Memories: A New Cyberpunk Adventure • MidBoss You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Laura Nash – @laurajnash

It’s Contra meets that-one-level-in-Braid with Super Time Force Ultra! S.T.F.U. was developed by Capy Games (of Superbrothers Sword & Sworcery EP fame.) It’s a fast paced shooter who’s unique time-out mechanic lets you approach the frenetic bullet-hell madness a bit more like a puzzle game. Initially launched in 2014 on Xbox 360, Super Time Force Ultra (a newly expanded version) is also available through Steam (Windows only) and on PS4 and Playstation Vita, where it launched in September 2015 as a part of the Playstation Plus program. Depending on skill and play-style, expect the game to take 4 to 6 hours to complete. Links for this episode: SUPER TIME FORCE How long is Super Time Force Ultra? – HLTB Super Time Force Ultra on Steam Super Time Force Ultra on PS4 | PlayStation®Store US The Lost Vikings – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Download The Lost Vikings from Battle.net CAPY Games Critter Crunch SUPERBROTHERS: SWORD & SWORCERY EP Destiny: The Taken King | Official Site Infinity Blade – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Infinity Blade: Awakening – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Infinity Blade: Redemption – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shooty Skies Legend of Grimrock Alpaca Evolution on the App Store You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl

Laserlife is a game almost too high-concept to exist. A existential-music-biography game in which you play as a laser-based life form investigating the corpse of a human astronaut it finds drifting through deep space. Also there’s techno music. It’s pretty neat! Laserlife released yesterday (timely!) on PS4 and Steam for PC and Mac for $15 and is coming to Xbox One in late October. It is designed to be completed in a single sitting, two to three hours. Links for this episode: Choice Provisions Laserlife Zapping to PS4 on September 22nd – PlayStation.Blog Four year after concept trailer, Laserlife is back thanks to a partnership with Intel | Polygon The Short Game | 38: Alto’s Adventure and Endless Runners TRACER Chris Osborn (@tracervision) | Twitter Rez – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Elite Beat Agents – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Woah Dave! It’s a VIDEO GAME! Tharsis interview at PAX Prime 2015 – YouTube You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your (solo) host this week was: – Raygan Kelly – @raygank

Porpentine Charity Heartscape is one of the most fascinating figures in interactive fiction. This week we discuss her collected Twine works, released as a nicely packaged collection entitled Eczema Angel Orifice, released in June of 2015. Porpentine’s work is in turns hilarious, insightful, heartbreaking, sexy, unsettling, and beautiful. We discuss some of her more well known works and touch briefly on some of the deep cuts included in the collection. ECZEMA ANGEL ORIFICE is available from the author’s website or through itch.io. It contains 25 stories, each of which may take between an hour and 5 minutes to experience. Links for this episode: The Short Game | 31: Interactive Fiction NYTimes – Twine, the Video-Game Technology for All Interview with Porpentine, author of howling dogs | Emily Short’s Interactive Storytelling Eczema Angel Orifice (Porpentine) | Emily Short’s Interactive Storytelling IF Comp 2012: howling dogs (Porpentine) | Emily Short’s Interactive Storytelling Steam Greenlight :: Eczema Angel Orifice PORPENTINE ECZEMA ANGEL ORIFICE CRY$TAL WARRIOR KE$HA Meet Me in the Moon Room: Stories: Ray Vukcevich Gamasutra – IGF winner Hofmeier pays it forward for Porpentine’s Howling Dogs Escape Velocity (video game) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Race The Sun on the App Store Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia SUPER TIME FORCE You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame See our list of upcoming games, and make suggestions.. Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Laura Nash – @laurajnash