[Ep465] Meeting of Minds

This week, we talk about corporate shenanigans, studio closures, and shareholder value.  Having a successful game and a great track record doesn’t protect a studio from closing if a corporation’s financial expectations aren’t met, and those expectations are always about maximizing shareholder value. The emphasis on short-term profit over sustainable development? That’s capitalism, baby!Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:29 Intro01:07 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)01:19 Maximizing Shareholder Value02:05 Kerbal Space Program 211: 01 Sony Helldivers 2 saga25:35 Microsoft shuts down studiosThings Mentioned: Book: Even So: Stories from an overpopulated farmhouse by David Coster (https://bookshop.org/a/84447/9781948509510)To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we discuss life lessons, game bundles, and constraints. When you first start out in game dev, early projects have more constraints. Your team might have limitations in technical skills or artistic ability or just general knowledge. But constraints aren’t a bad thing! Leaning into and embracing constraints can inject a distinctive style and personality into a game.Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:28 Intro00:47 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)03:30 Life Lessons18:38 Demo Announcement21:37 FlyhoppieAxerompa: Sam's art is so leveled up. Is he going to do the box art for CL2?33:14 PureKnix: What are the business considerations of bundling with another developer's product?38:45 Hydrochloric: Have you played 'grounded' (included on Xbox game pass) and if so what you thought?45:15 Foxgameing: When making a game how do you decide which element/elements of the game represent it for making call backs To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we talk about the Crashlands 2 demo, Fallout TV, and meaningful dialogue. Engaging in discussion with thoughtful people who hold different views can expand your perspective and deepen your understanding of the world. But make sure the diversity of opinion you’re embracing isn’t just blatantly false or terrible. We’re talking pineapple on pizza here, not basic human rights.Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:22 Intro00:42 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)00:58 Crashlands Demo News12:26 Fallout Show22:52 Disgruntled Pineapple: Hey guys! Do you think it is generally better to surround yourself with people you agree with or disagree with?To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we discuss AI News, tech demos, and change management. It’s hard to unlearn old habits and adopt new practices. Resistance is natural when you disrupt the comfort of routine and commit to adaptation. It’s a truth universally acknowledged, that change requires challenge, and progress requires change.Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:22 Intro00:49 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)01:28 AI News33:00 ParentingTo stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we talk about childhood games, the Game Changer, and DIY podcast setups. You don’t need top of the line audio equipment to get a good audio recording. After all, it’s not about the cost of the setup, it’s how you use it. Decent equipment, proper mic placement, and some sound dampening hacks are all you need to charm a listener's ears.Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:31 Intro01:11 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)01:25 Fall Out Show06:00 Retro Banana Man NL: Heyo! What equipment are you guys using to record the podcast? :)22:35 Lexzap:What were your favorite games and/or gaming consoles when you were kids? 41:00 Beekie Boppaboop: Is the game changer generic enough that you could make a card game with it? And, given the market, would you ever make a card game with it?To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we discuss an unexpected earthquake, Crashlands nostalgia, and keyboard accessibility. Making a game accessible to a global audience isn’t just about localizing the text. Like, have you ever thought about keyboard layouts? Correctly mapping the key presses in a game is critical for making sure nothing gets lost in translation.Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:33 Intro00:52 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)01:57 Earthquake04:35 Crashlands 2 Opening Cutscene 22:35 Demo24:00 Keyboard localizationTo stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we talk about the Crashlands 2 announcement trailer, now in Chinese! Then we discuss web games and security measures. Platform review processes are like door locks. They won’t stop a skilled hacker from breaking in, but can thwart casual intruders. While dealing with these obstacles can be frustrating on the dev side, the presence of these kinds of security measures can reduce the number of potential breaches by deterring low effort attempts. Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:28 Intro00:46 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)01:53 Crashlands 2 Announcement Trailer in Chinese!28:30 OopoongaToppak: Have you ever explored the concept of making a game within a front-end web framework?43:33 Fraser_: Are there any plans to ship gamechanger-level patches over-the-air to subvert app store / platform review processes?To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we discuss developer preferences, reviews, and opinionated tools. External tools often have a lot of opinions on how, exactly, they should be used, which translates into opinions on how YOU should work. Staking your livelihood on someone else’s opinions is a dangerous gambit. A lot depends on the shareholder profit dictum.Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:26 Intro00:44 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)04:19 GameMaker crew07:20 Localization16:35 Challosis: What is a game that you love that was not critically well received?35:25 QuampakPalampie: If you were starting now, would you be using services like Playfab for your backend services, or would you do it in-house all over again?To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, we talk about live service games, the door problem, and input design. How does a player interact with a game and how does the game interpret player action? This design constraint influences ALL the possible interactions in a game, making control schemes a fundamental pillar in game design.Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:37 Intro02:54 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)03:09 Helldivers 239:48 UppasitFlitwip: Why you opted not to use a joystick and instead to tap the screen to move the player in original Crashlands.To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we discuss ethical hunting, silent crashes, and iterative design. The process of iterative design is more than just tweaking code; it’s about creating a fast feedback loop between trial, error, and debugging. Without good tools, you can’t go fast, and if you can’t go fast, any experiment is going to be costly to do. If you want to boldly go where no one has gone before, you need the right tools for the job. Support Crashlands 2!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/00:24 Intro01:14 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)01:36 Crashes24:25 Second Zone in Crashlands 246:00 Disgruntled Pineapple: I was wondering if you would endorse fish fights as a sport for adults?To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to [email protected], and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★