The Secret Lives of Games
The Secret Lives of Games
Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 24, 2020 • 1h 39min
43: A Window Into Narrative Systems with Tom Francis
Tom Francis (Gunpoint, Heat Signature) crashes in to discuss his upcoming small-scale strategy game Tactical Breach Wizards, how he finds and focuses on the cores of his games, and the narrative systems that make them sing. Some things we discussed: Tom Francis Gunpoint Heat Sig Tactical Breach Wizards (new walkthrough) RPS: What Works And Why Morphblade Imbroglio GameMaker Into the Breach The GIPF Project Dawn of War: Dark Crusade Dishonored Brick Design Talk: Difficulty is Random
Apr 17, 2020 • 1h 20min
Into the Depths: Noita - Part 2
In the second installment of our miniseries, we discuss our different play styles, wand customization, building games around online communities, and our experiences with - and the implementation of - Noita's Daily Challenge. Some things we discussed: Noita Risk of Rain Zach's badass barrel kick Noita 101 - Tips for new players Wand Stats - Noita Notes 4
Apr 10, 2020 • 1h 14min
42: The Secrets of Simplicity with Martin Jonasson (holedown)
Martin Jonasson (holedown) joins us to extract the juiciness that powers his "delightful spectacle of bouncing," reveals the truth behind his rounded corners, and discusses the aesthetic and scope commitments that drove games like twofold inc. and rymdkapsel. Some things we discussed: grapefrukt games holedown twofold, inc. rymdkapsel jesus vs. dinosaurs Juice it or lose it Breakout: Pilgrim in the Microworld experimental gameplay project vectorpark
Apr 3, 2020 • 1h 17min
Into the Depths: Noita - Part 1
In this first installment of our new miniseries focused on Noita (with guest co-host Bennett Foddy), we share our early stories and beginner tips, discuss the genealogy of the game, and contemplate how we feel about shooting being its primary verb. Some things we discussed: Noita Bennett Foddy Crayon Physics Deluxe The Swapper Baba Is You Liero Worms Kuron and the Jelly Islands Sisu
Mar 27, 2020 • 1h 16min
41: Producing More Than You Consume with Tyriq Plummer (Catacomb Kids)
Tyriq Plummer (Catacomb Kids, UFO 50) joins us to discuss the guts and evolution of his long-term roguelike project, how he stays motivated, and making his minions matter. Plus a very special show announcement! Some things we discussed: Tyriq Plummer Catacomb Kids UFO 50 Our new Discord! Noita Made out of Meat: Health Systems in Video Games Tyriq's dev streams Pixelation.org Aesop Rock Sachin Teng Basic Animation Aesthetics by David OReilly The External World The Amazing World of Gumball
Mar 13, 2020 • 1h 23min
40: The Physics of Uncertainly with Andrea Roberts (Roundguard)
Andrea Roberts of Wonderbelly Games talks to us about her brand-new bouncy dungeon crawler Roundguard! We discuss physics as a system of uncertainty, combining Peggle with a roguelike formula, and using that formula to create player friendliness. Things we discussed: Roundguard Spelunky 2 PS Blog post Dunklords Peggle Fable A Guide to Proc Gen Practitioners That's the Way the Ball Bounces: Using Physics to Manifest Chance in Roundguard Caves of Qud Subterfuge Disgaea Cleromancy Baby's First RPG Electronic Rituals, Oracles and Fortune Telling Cinco Paus
Feb 28, 2020 • 1h 24min
39: The Tricks of the Toolkit with Mark Brown (Game Maker's Toolkit)
Mark Brown of Game Maker's Toolkit joins us to talk about the process behind his excellent series on game design. We discuss his recent video on randomness - diving deep on input/output randomness - as well as roguelike progression, and much more! Things we discussed: Game Maker's Toolkit How (And Why) Spelunky Makes its Own Levels The Two Types of Random Michael Brough's Imbroglio "brog" Characteristics of Games Playing at the World Sid Meier's Psychology of Game Design Geoff Engelstein's "pink noise" talk Roguelikes, Persistency, and Progression Let's Game it Out YouTube channel The Best Games from GMTK Game Jam 2019
Feb 15, 2020 • 1h 20min
38: The Rhythms and Layers of Ryan Clark
Ryan Clark of Brace Yourself Games (Crypt of the Necrodancer, Cadence of Hyrule) sashays in to chat with us about how he hit on his rhythm roguelike formula, layering in depth to make his systems sing, and how he's found - and repeated - indie game success. Some things we discussed: Brace Yourself Games Crypt of the Necrodancer Industries of Titan Phantom Brigade Bard seeded speed world record How to Consistently Make Profitable Indie Games Dwarf Fortress Meteorfall Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
Jan 31, 2020 • 1h 15min
37: Designing Around Language with Zach Gage
We get cozy with our own Zach Gage to talk about his just-released SpellTower+, the follow-up to the puzzle game that put him on the map. We discuss making word searches interesting, the design of letter distribution, and making the Westworld of word games. SpellTower+ zachgage.com Kinnijup's new eggplant run world record Kinnijup's new low% hell run world record Puzzlejuice Letterpress The history of Tetris randomizers Typeshift
Jan 17, 2020 • 1h 23min
36: Game Feel as Procrastination with Jan Willem Nijman
Jan Willem "JW" Nijman (Nuclear Throne, Minit) sits down with us to help us fix mini golf, before we dig into some of the design thinking behind Vlambeer's amazing catalog of action games, how he approaches prototyping, and being the self-proclaimed "Jamie Oliver of game feel." Things we discussed: Vlambeer The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan Ribbit King JW's The Art of Screen Shake talk Samurai Gunn Monolith
