Jean Canellas: Death's Gambit Special, From Google Docs to a Viral Game, Healing from Redemption - Indie Diary #65

In this episode, I spent some time with one half of Clumsy Bear Studio, a two-person team based in Poland and working on a delightful little roguelike deckbuilder: Hungry Horrors. Enjoy! 🎒💛--------Support Jerzy 🎒💛 - Try the demo/Wishlist Hungry Horrors: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3048840/Hungry_Horrors/- Itch: https://clumsy-bear-studio.itch.io/hungry-horrors- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/clumsybearstudio.com- Twitter: https://x.com/clumsybeargames- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungry.horrors.game- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungryhorrorsgame-------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 Lee Sargent, one third of Australia-based Raguthra Studios – a lovely indie house working on narrative adventures. Lee is a huge fan of "space" in all its possible meanings, and together we discussed how to create spaces that make sense, pouring your passion into your projects, and making something you'll be proud of. Enjoy! 🎒💛 --------Support Lee 🎒💛- Wishlist the game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3513040/The_Curse_of_the_Howling_Woods/- Threads: https://www.threads.com/@leefromraguthra- Raguthra Website: https://raguthrastudios.com- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RaguthraStudios--------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 a friend of a friend: Undergod Games, developer of action RPG KAILA scheduled for release next year. Together we talked about the creative influences that made the game a reality, and the author's path into game dev. Enjoy! 🎒💛-------Support Tomas 🎒💛- Wishlist KAILA: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1827820/Kaila/- https://x.com/Undergod_games- https://youtube.com/@Undergod_games-------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

Get ready for the *nicest* episode in the history of The Indie Diarist! 🎒💛For episode 69, I invited over Evan Greenwood, founder and creative director of Devolver Digital-published studio Free Lives, to discuss a rather silly game about male genitalia and the role of playfulness in dismantling masculinity tropes. This episode was just as bonkers as you imagine it to be – but it was also packed with great ideas and thoughts around Evan's process! Hope you enjoy – and prepare for the puns!----------Support Evan and his studio 🎒💛- Free Lives website: https://freelives.net/- Genital Jousting: https://store.steampowered.com/app/469820/Genital_Jousting/- Twitter: https://x.com/freelives?s=21&t=BjL3MQs9xlnD2MEgwhndXA- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freelives_official/?hl=en- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freelivesgames-------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

Time for another Footnote! In this bonus episode, I spent some time with Kaylee López, also known as The Gaming Anthropologist, to chat about the intersection between gaming and anthropology. A super interesting hour, during which we talked about our memories, how games create community, how stories help our survival instincts, and a lot more! Enjoy! 🎒💛---------Support Kaylee 🎒💛- Threads: https://www.threads.com/@the_gaming_anthropologist- Website: https://kayleenlopez.art.blog/- Medium blog: https://medium.com/@anthroriotdata---------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

Another one that makes me proud! In this episode, I spent some time with Jim Griffiths, one of the original minds behind puzzle investigative game The Sexy Brutale – a beautiful and underrated indie gem from 2017 set in a surrealist casino, based on a 12-minute time loop. Enjoy! 🎒💛------------Support Jim 🎒💛- Buy The Sexy Brutale: https://store.steampowered.com/app/552590/The_Sexy_Brutale/- Twitter: https://x.com/JamesRGriffiths-----------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

Time for new perspectives! In this episode, I hosted Tim Wiseman from Why Not AI, a studio that has recently released an "oversized narrative RPG" called HPL: Nyarlathotep Rising. Tim's background comes from tabletop RPG design, and this was a great chance to explore some crossovers together. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------Support Tim and Why Not AI 🎒💛- Buy HPL: Nyarlathotep Rising https://store.steampowered.com/app/1759160/HPL_Nyarlathotep_Rising/- Twitter: https://x.com/hpl_thegame-----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 Oli, Rachel and Phil from Kaizen Game Works, an independent studio working on open-world adventure Promise Mascot Agency. From trusting players and audiences to developing games as friends, this is another great and packed episode! Hope you enjoy! 🎒💛------Support the team 🎒💛Website: https://kaizengameworks.comTikTok: tiktok.com/@kaizengameworksPromise Mascot Agency Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PromiseMascotAgency/X / Twitter: https://x.com/KaizenGameWorksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/KaizenGameWorksBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kaizengameworks.comSteam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2585830/Promise_Mascot_Agency/Epic Game Store: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/promise-mascot-agency-dd7a9cPlayStation Store: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10008195Xbox: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/promise-mascot-agency/9p6gcj303k9b-----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

Get ready for one of the top episodes of this year! In this one, I spent some time with Jean Canellas, programmer and lead designer of Death's Gambit – a much beloved metroidvania that came out in 2021. Together, we touched upon some crucial and important topics for the industry, such as burnout, managing your own expectations, and the power of healing through a project's redemption. Truly a wonderful one. Enjoy! 🎒💛 -----Support Jean 🎒💛- Death's Gambit: https://store.steampowered.com/app/356650/Deaths_Gambit_Afterlife/- Deltarune: https://deltarune.com/- Twitter: https://x.com/jeancanellas- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/jeancanellas.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 Sean Menzies, founder of Golden Horde Studios, who's working on a cosy sim / resource management game called Shoni Island. Our chat covered anything from the state of industry to the legacy of legendary god game Black & White, and I enjoyed every minute of it! Hope you like it! 🎒💛-------Support Sean 🎒💛- Website- Steam- Discord- LinkedIn-------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