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