158: Moonlighting in the Dungeon with Mark Essen (Blood Dungeon)

We chat with Mark Essen (Nidhogg, Wheel World) about his "feverish bullet heaven platformer" Blood Dungeon. We discuss making a small game in the shadow of a bigger project, the constraints it takes to do it sanely, and building on the foundations of a nascent genre. Discussed in this episode: Messhof https://messhof.com Blood Dungeon https://messhof.com/blooddungeon exp. zine - Vampire Survivors https://expzine.com/2026/07/21/vampire-survivors-poncle-2022/ Death to the Self-Playing Game https://www.jank.cool/death-to-the-self-playing-game/?ref=aftermath.site Messhof Marchive https://messhof.com/freeware   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by v buckenham (Downpour, Beasts of Balance), Izzy Kestrel (Electrifying Incident, A Little Game Called Mario), and Bennett Foddy (Baby Steps, QWOP, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy) to discuss Helix, a spiral-action shmuplike about staying alive. It's the eighth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough. Next episode: Imbroglio Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Helix https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/helix/id562550427 868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  https://finji.itch.io/868-back  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  Maypole https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole Game Design Deep Dive: The unique touchscreen action game controls of Helix https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-deep-dive-the-unique-touchscreen-action-game-controls-of-i-helix-i- Bit Pilot http://www.bitpilotgame.com/ Tilt to Live https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tilt-to-live-hd/id391837930 Super Hexagon https://superhexagon.com/ Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved remake https://store.steampowered.com/app/8400/Geometry_Wars_Retro_Evolved/ Endings (Michael's 2015 blog) https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2015/01/endings.html Playdate https://play.date/ Nex Playground https://www.nexplayground.com/ Hylics https://mason-lindroth.itch.io/hylics Vangers https://www.gog.com/en/game/vangers Tools for Creativity class (virtual) with v buckenham https://sfpc.study/sessions/fall-26/tools-for-creativity School for Poetic Computation https://sfpc.study/ bimbo static site generator https://iznaut.itch.io/bimbo   https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We chat with Brooke Husic (Puzzmo, New Yorker, A24) about creating, stewarding, and showrunning a daily crossword for the web-based puzzle phenomenon, Puzzmo. Our discussion covers Puzzmo's first 1,000 days, Brooke's prolific career as a constructor, the impact of cultural biases on crosswords, the early-2020s indie-puzzle development boom, the need to care for both solvers and setters during revisions, the interconnectedness of difficulty and context, the relationship between constructor and venue, and so! much! more! Also: Don't forget to check out today's Puzzmo midi crossword, its 1,001th, a special collaboration between two names that will be familiar to listeners of this episode. Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Puzzmo https://www.puzzmo.com/today/  Today's Brooke and Rob collab puzzle, "Time to get up!" https://www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2026-07-12/crossword Puzzmo Data Initiative  https://data.puzzmo.com/  Brooke's 30-day Crossword Tutorial Mini-series https://www.brookehusic.com/puzzminis/  Brooke's puzzle blog https://xwordsbyaladee.blogspot.com/ Rob's Puzzmo crossword debut, "Baker's Corner" https://www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2024-05-10/crossword Lollapuzzoola https://bemoresmarter.com/ American Values Club (AVCX) https://avxwords.com/about-us/  Ingrid https://ingrid.cx/  Brooke on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/xws.bsky.social   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Andi McClure (BECOME A GREAT ARTIST IN JUST 10 SECONDS, Jumpman) to discuss BECOME A GREAT ARTIST IN JUST 10 SECONDS; a generative art game/tool made in 72 hours. It's the seventh installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough. This episode: BECOME A GREAT ARTIST IN JUST 10 SECONDS Next episode: Helix Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: 868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  https://finji.itch.io/868-back  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  BECOME A GREAT ARTIST IN JUST 10 SECONDS (stable itch.io release!) https://mermaidindustries.itch.io/become-a-great-artist-in-just-10-seconds  BECOME A GREAT ARTIST IN JUST 10 SECONDS (web build) https://dryad.technology/artist/  BECOME A GREAT ARTIST IN JUST 10 SECONDS (original Ludum Dare entry) https://web.archive.org/web/20160616205009/http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-27/?action=preview&uid=4987 SUPERHYPERCUBE https://superhypercube.com/  KidPix (public domain version) https://kidpix.app/  Increpare games (Stephen Lavelle) https://www.increpare.com/  Game Title https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2258  Andi McClure's Anti-games/Sweet Nothings https://runhello.com/anti-games  A MAZE. / Berlin 2022: Ambient Play Systems (In and Outside of Games) by Flan Falacci https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRDPXMhwkXc   Great Art by Liz Ryerson https://www.mostancient.com/shop/great-art  Making another roguelike game (yay/boo) by Michael Brough https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2015/06/making-another-roguelike-game-yayboo-my.html  Become a First Rate Artist in Just 30 Seconds https://eliot-l.itch.io/become-a-first-rate-artist-in-just-30-seconds  FUCK MARIO by Liz Ryerson https://ellaguro.blogspot.com/2014/03/fuck-mario.html  Platform Games Catalog by Patrick LeMieux (including Fucked Marios) https://patrick-lemieux.com/LeMieux-Platform_Games.pdf  BECOME A GREAT ARTIST IN JUST 10 SECONDS AND KNUCKLES https://twitter.runhello.com/mcclure111/status/576896540565901312/  BECOME A GREAT ARTIST dress https://twitter.runhello.com/mcclure111/status/573172507773026304/ BECOME A GREAT ARTIST GitHub https://github.com/mcclure/bitbucket-backup/tree/archive/repos/ufo/contents  Saint Elizabeth (Liz's new album!) https://ellaguro.bandcamp.com/album/saint-elizabeth  Notes from the Underground by Liz Ryerson https://ellaguro.blogspot.com/2026/06/notes-from-underground.html  ArtCtrl painting palette interface for BECOME A GREAT ARTIST https://vimeo.com/1080330014/fa8866803f  MOSS (programmable brush-based art tool by Rob's studio) https://moss.town/  Icosa https://data.runhello.com/j/iso/post/  Andi's Game Catalog https://runhello.com/  Scrunch (Andi's Ludum Dare 30 art tool/game) https://web.archive.org/web/20150221165706/http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-30/?uid=4987  The Zium (virtual museum collective) https://theziumsociety.itch.io/    https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin, A Good Videogame) and Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games) to discuss VESPER.5; a durational, tile-based exploration game. It's the sixth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough. This episode: VESPER.5 Next episode: Become a Great Artist Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: 868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  https://finji.itch.io/868-back  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  All Systems Brough - A Chat with Michael https://secretlives.games/website/all-systems-brough-a-chat-with-michael  VESPER.5 http://mightyvision.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vesper5.html  THE LONGING https://store.steampowered.com/app/893850/THE_LONGING/  Road to the IGF: Michael Brough's VESPER.5 (Article about GDC showcase of VESPER.5) https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/road-to-the-igf-michael-brough-s-i-vesper-5-i-  Super Friendship Club VESPER.5 Forum https://web.archive.org/web/20160407200028/http://superfriendshipclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=618  Meaning through repetition (reflection on releasing VESPER.5) https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/meaning-through-repetition.html  GDC 2013 - Interview with Michael Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqSV6f137M  Pippin Barr on VESPER.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20170711093026/http://www.pippinbarr.com/2012/08/14/you-should-play-vesper-5/  Michael Brouge's VESPER.6 by Joel Goodwin https://www.electrondance.com/michael-brouges-vesper-6/ Gardens of Time: Design Problem Solving https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2931  Steve Reich - Section I (Slowed Down 800%) - Ambient / Minimalism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AMpfdbc7U  EXPERIMENT 12 Anthology https://www.geocities.ws/experimenttwelve/  145: Addressing Memory with Plunderludics  https://secretlives.games/145-addressing-memory-with-plunderludics  i heard you like videogames https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2366  scarfmemory https://www.smestorp.com/scarfmemory.html  Post-Future Vagabond https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/11/post-future-vagabond.html  Bending the River https://www.metabolicstudio.org/653  The Old Timey Computer Show https://otcs.minuspoint.com/  Inferno by Boards of Canada https://boardsofcanada.bandcamp.com/album/inferno  imagineNATIVE Festival https://imaginenative.org/ STAY SHARP // Rogue Skin Reveal Trailer - VALORANT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1u1kUdDOys  Rushing Beat Trilogy https://www.chronocrash.com/forum/threads/rushing-beat-trilogy.5208/  THE GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE: The Thirty-Year Game https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023124/THE-GAME-DESIGN-CHALLENGE-The    https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 9 - the Reunion / Reveal! How did The Mole do it? Thanks for listening this season! Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more. Links: Thanks Robin for our Mol guessing game website! Tip him here: https://ko-fi.com/rbnvi Every Game in this City podcast (S1, which includes Laura, Jey, Doug) https://soundcloud.com/idlethumbs/sets/every-game-in-this-city Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by Michael Brough himself for a bonus chat on the thrilling occasion of 868-BACK's release day. Don't worry, we don't spoil the new game at all (except to say it's fantastic! Go buy it now on Steam!!) We discuss Michael's journey to this launch day, how his process for making art has and hasn't changed over the years, how he's learned to care for himself creatively and otherwise amidst periods of illness, how he does (and doesn't) draw connections between artistic mediums, and his impressions of our series so far, among other reflections from his development career.  This (bonus) episode: A Chat with Michael! Next episode: VESPER.5 Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: 868-BACK (Out now!! Just go buy it!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  Quinns Quest Reviews: Stonetop! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH5-uQj4uOA Forbidden Solitaire https://greyaliengames.com/forbiddensolitaire/index.php  Titanium Court https://store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/Titanium_Court/  Amberspire https://store.steampowered.com/app/3350750/Amberspire/  https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 8 - the Finale! The Mole is finally unmasked. That's about it for tourist season in Portgual (though big wave season starts around November!) but we'll be back next week for the Ep 9 reunion in Belgium. Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Thanks Robin for our Mol guessing game website! Tip him here: https://ko-fi.com/rbnvi Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 7. Who is the Mole, and how does this elimination echo last season's Final Four? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Danny Hawk - Folk Games, Flash Communities and Tiktok https://newrules.website/2021/01/12/danny-hawk-folk-games-flash-communities-and-tiktok/ Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3giaIzONA Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 6. Who is the Mole, and who will play Juliet to Wout's Romeo? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog