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Quest Markers episodes
- EP 29 | Solo Dev, Streaming, & Community Building - A Chat with Fletch (Xtris, Canyon Crisis, & more)
Fletch joins Marina to talk about working on games, streaming, and community building.
They delve into: the importance of creativity, getting into game development and streaming, building safe communities, and the importance of game vision, player experience, and accessibility.
Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(04:33) What is a Playdate? + Physical releases of games
(08:25) How Fletch got into game development and streaming
(14:50) How did the first Fletch Fest come about?
(17:13) The importance of creativity, joy, and whimsy
(19:06) The growth of Fletch Fest
(22:18) Welcoming in raiders & shoutout to Lana Lux
(23:40) Working as a solo dev vs. working with others
(26:15) The importance of game vision and game direction
(30:17) Designing for player experience
(33:03) Accessibility in games
(34:27) What is Xtris?
(37:43) Games Fletch is playing
(42:46) What advice would we give our younger selves?
(46:22) Outro + thank you
FOLLOW US
Fletch: https://linktr.ee/paullicino
Fletch’s Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/fletchmakes
Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan
Thank you again to Lana for the raid: https://www.twitch.tv/lana_lux
Live Show on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffee
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers
Music by Marina Ryan
49 min - EP 28 | Craftsmanship, Curiosity, & Teamwork in Game Dev - A Chat with Paul Dean (Pacific Drive, Magical Kitties Save the Day, & more)
Paul Dean joins Marina to talk about working in creative roles within the gaming industry.
They delve into: creative practices, habits, and techniques, what it’s like to work on a game dev team, the importance of feedback, following one’s curiosity, and time, privilege, access, and opportunity in the industry.
Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(06:26) Pacific Drive nominated for a Nebula Award!
(09:51) Everything is interconnected (a discussion on teamwork in game dev)
(18:46) Paul’s writing practice, habits, techniques, inspiration
(29:19) Process and production in video games
(32:00) Best practices for working on a team
(47:25) Following our curiosity
(1:09:40) A creative process isn’t linear (there’s no *one way* to do something)
(1:17:29) Time, privilege, access, and opportunity
(1:26:39) Video games we’re playing
(1:35:04) Outro + thank you
FOLLOW US
Paul: https://linktr.ee/paullicino
Paul’s Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/paullicino
Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan
Monty Zander’s Resident Evil 1 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr-XJUMs6SE
Live Show on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/marinahascoffee
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers
Music by Marina Ryan
1 hr 36 min - EP 27 | A Studio Lead, Games Journalist, and Composer Walk Into a Room...
The Souls Squad is back! Sherveen, Jack, and Marina are back again to talk about the intersection between games and their disciplines in the gaming industry.They delve into misconceptions about their work, the importance of feedback and iterating, cohesion between music and game systems, some of their favourite things about what they do, and games they love. Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(04:04) What games we’re playing(19:12) What games inspired us to eventually work in gaming(37:52) What video game music inspires us(44:30) Misconceptions about working in our disciplines & talking about feedback (1:05:03) Congruence between music and game systems (1:09:18) Some of our favourite things about our work(1:19:10) Games we wish we could play for the first time again(1:28:36) Outro + thank youFOLLOW US:Live Show on Twitch: twitch.tv/marinahascoffee Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkersSherveen: https://bsky.app/profile/suduwana.bsky.socialJack: https://bsky.app/profile/jackalexroberts.bsky.social Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan Music by Marina Ryan
1 hr 30 min - EP 26 | Chatting with a Localization Game Dev (ft. Blue)
We’re back! Happy new year! Blue joins Marina once again to talk about the games they’re playing and what they’re looking forward to playing this year.
They also delve into Blue’s area of expertise: video game localization, what it entails, and what game does it really, really well.Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!***********TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Show intro(01:37) Blue’s intro(06:28) What Blue is playing (+ thoughts on ludonarrative dissonance and bugs)(10:38) Does working in games rob us of the joy of playing games?(13:08) Chatting about Octopath Traveller(17:38) Marina’s backlog(18:10) Chatting about Signalis + what Marina’s playing(21:18) The localization and writing of Final Fantasy XIV(37:40) Games we want to play this year(51:24) What are our comfort games?(54:53) Outro + thank you(57:33) Chatting with Twitch chat***********
FOLLOW US:Live Show on Twitch: / marinahascoffeeQuest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkersBlue: https://rhapsodyin.blue/Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinaryanMusic by Marina Ryan1 hr 12 min - EP 25 | Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree: Compassion, Ascension, & Abandonment (with Sherveen and Jack)
The Souls Squad is back! Marina sits down with Sherveen and Jack to talk about Elden Ring’s DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree.
They talk about the expanded lore of the Land of Shadow, their favourite narrative themes, their DLC builds, and their favourite bosses and music.
Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!To check out our prior Elden Ring episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KixVOo4TH0
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro and what games we’re playing(08:57) Story overview(11:28) Our DLC builds(18:23) Narrative moments that stood out to us(39:39) Favourite narrative themes(56:45) Favourite bosses (and notable mentions)(1:17:34) Final thoughts(1:33:29) Is Malenia still the hardest Elden Ring boss?(1:39:16) Outro* * * * * * *
FOLLOW US:
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers
Sherveen: https://bsky.app/profile/suduwana.bsky.social
Sherveen’s Game, Midautumn: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1582380/Midautumn/
Jack: https://bsky.app/profile/jackalexroberts.bsky.social
Jack’s Writing: https://tposedgaming.wordpress.com/
Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan
Music by Marina Ryan
1 hr 42 min - EP 24 | Side Quest: Games We're Playing (with Rachel)
(Note that this episode was recorded back in August 2024)
Marina sits down with Rachel - who’s worked as a producer at game studios and in game publishing - to talk about the games they’re playing, and what they want to play next.
They talk about games of all sizes and genres, including beloved indies, new releases, and AAA classics.
Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(03:00) What Rachel is playing (Cobalt Core, Against the Storm,
(11:40) Marina loves Hades & Rachel is playing Hades II
(12:49) What Marina is playing (Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail)
(18:00) Games that Rachel loves (Disco Elysium, Blue Prince)
(21:44) Games that Marina loves (Nier: Automata, Hollow Knight)
(24:50) What Rachel is playing next (Cataclismo)
(26:43) What Marina is playing next (Outer Wilds, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus)
(33:33) Rachel getting back into Apex Legends? + Kingdom Two Crowns + Marina loves FF7 Rebirth’s Queen Blood and Animal Crossing
(37:21) Industry Talk: SAG-AFTRA Strike, Layoffs, & The Difference between AI and GenAI
(44:08) Outro
* * * * * * *
FOLLOW US:
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers
Rachel: https://bsky.app/profile/hlywa.bsky.social
Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan
Music by Marina Ryan
46 min - EP 23 | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (with Myleah)
Marina sits down with Myleah - Founder of Lumikha Cosplay Resale - to talk about Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
They chat about the game’s charm, sarcasm, and cheekiness, robots gaining sentience, and why Vivian is so amazing.
Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(10:12) Story Overview
(12:57) Why this is Myleah’s favourite game
(16:40) Cheeky, sarcastic tone of the game
(20:46) Favourite characters
(24:45) Narrative theme of found family
(26:20) Sense of adventure
(20:30) Can machines feel emotions? + Exploring serious themes
(36:10) Bowser and Kammy are Team Rocket
(28:25) The music
(43:50) Spooky Twilight Town
(45:30) Favourite environments
(49:20) Paper mechanics
(53:25) Outro
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FOLLOW US:
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers
Myleah: https://x.com/METTALEAH
Marina Ryan: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan
Music by Marina Ryan
55 min - EP 22 | Side Quest: Games to Play in 2024 (with Ren)
Marina sits down with returning guest Ren to talk about the games they’re currently playing.
They talk about collecting mermaid items in Animal Crossing, how the Elden Ring DLC feels like an entire sequel, Stardew Valley’s similarities to the original Animal Crossing, the cheekiness of Paper Mario, and our love for Final Fantasy XIV.
Grab a coffee, and join us for a chat!
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(05:38) Animal Crossing
(12:12) Elden Ring DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree
(20:24) Stardew Valley
(28:14) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
(32:03) Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
(53:38) Outro
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FOLLOW US:
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkersRen: https://renraven.carrd.co/ Marina Ryan: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan
Music by Marina Ryan
55 min - EP 21 | Xenoblade Chronicles 2 & 3: A Focus on the Future (with Xander’s Cut)
Marina sits down with Xander from Xander’s Cut to talk about Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3.
They talk about the importance of foreshadowing, whether Xenoblade 2’s DLC was better than the base game, their thoughts on Xenoblade 3’s ending, and their favourite musical pieces.
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(06:00) Overview of the games
(11:37) Pyra and Mythra’s story
(16:55) Is Xenoblade 2’s DLC better than the base game?
(22:53) Favourite music
(28:25) The ending of Chapter 5 in Xenoblade 3
(33:21) Xenoblade 3’s final act and ending
(38:55) Moebius as characters & a critique of capitalism
(44:03) Favourite characters
(49:22) Final thoughts and outro
* * * * * * *
LINKS & SOCIALS:
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkersXander: https://www.youtube.com/@xanderscut/featured
Marina Ryan: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan
55 min - EP 20 | Resident Evil 5-8: Re-Invention and Returning to its Roots (with Thomas Roland)
Marina sits down with Thomas Roland to talk about the second half of the mainline Resident Evil series.
They talk about why it matters to have character-driven stories in the horror genre, their favorite moments and twists, and what game they think is the scariest in the entire series.
* * * * * * *
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(06:17) Overview of the games
(16:09) Why character-driven stories matter in horror games
(22:18) Favourite moments in RE5
(28:04) Favourite moments in RE6
(33:16) Favourite moments in RE7
(38:44) Favourite moments in RE8
(46:31) Playing the sideline games
(47:37) Scariest Resident Evil game?
(50:25) Final thoughts and outro
* * * * * * *
LINKS & SOCIALS:
Quest Markers: https://linktr.ee/questmarkers
Thomas Roland: https://x.com/itsRhet
Lore Dump: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhgiyBSgi4pVaR7pQK6IIQ
Monty Zander: https://www.youtube.com/c/MontyZander
Marina Ryan: https://linktr.ee/marinaryan53 min
About Quest Markers
From the publisher's feed
A monthly-ish podcast about video games and the stories they tell.