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

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

New format, new questions, new show! The first episode I recorded in 2025 had to be something special – so welcome to the official start of Season 3 of The Indie Diarist! In this one, I welcomed Ahmed from Lunar Games, a good old friend of the show who's working on a puzzle adventure game called My Father Lied. As we journeyed through a revamped intro section and a whole new set of questions for his Indie Diary, Ahmed discussed his love for storytelling and the importance of creating positive stories for audiences all around the world, chasing his dream to defy misconceptions around his culture – the cradle of civilisation: Iraq and Mesopotamia. Hope you enjoy! 🎒💛 ------- Support Ahmed 🎒💛 Wishlist My Father Lied: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2488850/MY_FATHER_LIED/ Twitter: https://x.com/lunargamesUruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunargames.sumeria/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lunargames.assyria Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lunargamesuruk.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LunarGamesBabylon Discord: https://discord.com/invite/83DqsNhBE7 ------ Support the show 🎒💛 Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠ Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with an old friend of the show and someone I've been planning to host for a long time: Stephen from Dire Kitten Games! Stephen is developing Scholomatch, a matching game / visual novel, and he has a lot of advice on how to help games stand out in their niche. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------- Support Stephen 🎒💛 - Wishlist the game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2113350/Scholomatch/ - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@direkittengames - Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/direkittengames.bsky.social - Website: https://www.scholomatch.com/ --------- Support the show 🎒💛 Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠ Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

Welcome to the first Indie Diary of 2025! 🎒💛 In this episode, I spent some time with Alex and Emilee from Inkblack Interactive, a wonderful couple developing a mobile game called Art's Tiles. Enjoy! ---------- Support Inkblack Interactive 🎒💛 - Art's Tiles (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/arts-tiles/id6503178934 - Art's Tiles (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inkblackinteractive.artstiles&pli=1 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arts.tiles/?hl=en - Website: https://inkblackinteractive.com ------- Support the show 🎒💛 - Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj - Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist - Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠ - Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social - Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist - Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some amazing time with a group of three friends from the Czech Republic, developing games under the name of Rocking Toy. Martin, Tom and Ondrej have just released their Beyond The Wall point-and-click narrative adventure, and they have so much to share in this last episode of 2024. Enjoy! ------ Support Rocking Toy 🎒💛 Steam:⁠ https://store.steampowered.com/app/2290010/Beyond_the_Wall⁠ App Store:⁠ https://apps.apple.com/app/beyond-the-wall/id1642146415 ⁠Google Play:⁠ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beyondthewall.game⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRmuuHWLpZ1ihjHqbOa1uug⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/RockingToyGames⁠ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/rocking_toy/⁠ Twitter/X:⁠ https://twitter.com/Rocking_Toy⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@rocking_toy⁠ Webpage:⁠ www.rocking-toy.com⁠ ------- Support the show 🎒💛 Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠ Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠