Nathan & Mason: Exploring Social Anxiety Through Games - Indie Diary #82

In the last Indie Diary of the year, I spent some time with the folks at Zeitglas, a lovely development studio based in Switzerland that has just released Sanatorium, a mental asylum simulator game. Such a great story from these two and a lovely pair of guests, glad to have it as the last Indie Diary of 2025! Enjoy! 🎒💛--------------Support Zeitglas 🎒💛- Discord: https://discord.gg/USE5bJRHEH- Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2059090/Sanatorium__A_Mental_Asylum_Simulator/- Web 1: https://sanatoriumgame.com/https://shorelinegames.com/game/sanatorium/--------------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

We all know children love games and toys: they're fun and give them a creative outlet for their imagination. But did you know video games can be priceless in hospitals too? For this episode, I spent some time with Gamer-in-Residence Steven Mair from the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, digging into why games matter to children and how crucial they can be in a hospital environment. A really heartwarming one. Enjoy! 🎒💛--------------Support Steven and the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity 🎒💛- Email Steven at Steven.Mair[at]glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org- Donate to the hospital: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity- Hospital website: https://www.glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org/- Games for the Weans: https://www.glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org/games-for-the-weans------------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent a lovely hour with Nathan & Mason, two longtime friends and co-developers of Hermit and Pig, a story-rich, turn-based RPG about mushrooms and... social anxiety, among other things! Nathan & Mason have really mastered the concept of pouring all of yourself into your creations, and their passion for the game they're making comes through in every second of the episode. Enjoy! 🎒💛-------Support Nathan & Mason (Heavy Lunch Studio) 🎒💛Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2408350/Hermit_and_Pig/BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/heavylunchco.bsky.socialDiscord - https://discord.gg/uJ2GtYKESYInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/heavylunchco/?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heavylunchcoYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HeavyLunchStudioWebsite and Newsletter - https://hermitandpig.com/---------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Eugene, developer of Dead Cells-inspired roguelike Katanaut. From handling player feedback to battling perfectionism, Eugene's journey is definitely worth hearing about! Also, I could probably listen to his voice to relax before sleep. Enjoy! 🎒💛-------------------------Support Eugene 🎒💛Twitter:https://x.com/VoidmawGamesBsky: https://bsky.app/profile/voidmawgames.bsky.socialDiscord: https://discord.gg/VP6vyEQSzUSteam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3032830/Katanaut/--------------------------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

NOTE: My audio capture pains around my microphone continue in this episode, but I'm getting closer to a fix 🥲 sorry everyone! I'll have them sorted for Episode 81!In this one, I spent some time with Joseph McCormack, a solo developer working on a third-person RPG called Aetherfall - which blends martial arts and elemental interactions. Joseph is working on a very ambitious game for a solo developer, and he has many learnings to share for others doing the same! Enjoy! 🎒💛 -----------Support Joseph 🎒💛- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aetherfallgame/- Twitter: https://x.com/home- Discord: https://discord.gg/HYNt3fkn- Try Aetherfall: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3678790/Aetherfall/--------------Support the show 🎒💛 Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

NOTE: I'm in the process of switching my setup, which is leading to some occasional audio quality issues 😢 apologies if you notice them in this episode, they'll go away soon!In this episode, I spent some time with David & Jeremy, two Canadian comedy writers for TV turned game developers. They're working on Dumb Sherlock, a hilarious point-and-click adventure, and they have so many learnings for other beginners in the industry! Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------Support David & Jeremy 🎒💛- The One Link: https://dumbsherlock.carrd.co/------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with "Simy", a tattoo artist solo dev working on his first roguelike game 03: Hollow Descent. Simy is preparing to launch his Kickstarter campaign soon, and his journey from tattoo artist to game dev is so interesting! Enjoy. 🎒💛------------Support Simy:- Kickstarter (pre-launch): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ta2gamesstudio/03-a-surreal-roguelike-journey-into-the-unknown- Play the Steam demo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3782050/O3__Hollow_Descent_Alpha_Demo/- Twitter: https://x.com/Ta2GamesStudio- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ta2.game?lang=en- Discord: https://discord.com/invite/GfpChYu3t7-------------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.socialFollow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristFollow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Outsider Games director Stephen Downey, one of the creative minds behind Tax Force – a game about a tax collector in space. From translating comic books into interactive experiences to the impact of creating worlds for others, this episode is a fun one! Enjoy! 🎒💛---------Support Stephen 🎒💛 Wishlist Tax Force: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2508290/TaxForce/More from Outsider Games: https://store.steampowered.com/search/?developer=Outsider%20GamesDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/outsidergamesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@outsidergames_devInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/outsidergames/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/outsidergames.bsky.social---------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.socialFollow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristFollow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Rory from Giraffe Head Studios – one of the developers behind Ragdoll Physics Experiments, and also a content creator at RateMyFuneral on YouTube! From physics-based games to handling criticism in creative projects, this episode is packed with a lot of great moments. Enjoy! 🎒💛 -------------Support Rory 🎒💛Website - https://www.ragdollphysicsexperiements.com/Discord - https://discord.gg/ebvH7dGBP2Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gentleland/rmfs-ragdoll-physics-experimentsYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@giraffeheadstudiosX - https://x.com/GiraffeHeadDev----------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.socialFollow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristFollow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Ian Lynch, founder of Jaggy Snake Games and an ex developer at CD Projekt RED, Scopely and Donkey Crew – now working on a Pong meets bullet-hell game called Questing. Ian is a writer who's learned to embrace the subjective nature of creative work – and he had so much to share during our chat. Enjoy! 🎒💛 -----------Support Ian 🎒💛Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jaggysnakegames.bsky.socialInsta: https://www.instagram.com/jaggy_snake_games/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jaggysnakegamesQuesting Demo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3849870/Questing_Demo/--------Support the show 🎒💛Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.socialFollow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristFollow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠