39. Strumming the Strum Button

Malin Sundberg joins us to discuss Two Spies, the new turn-based iOS spy strategy we’ve made, along with its UI, Swift as a game development language, and the pros and cons of shipping a game as a side project. Two Spies The game on the App Store Steamclock

Soren Johnson joins us to discuss making strategy games. We discuss his new game Offworld Trading Company, touch on his work on the Civilization series, and the challenges of balance. Afterward, we express our early bewilderment at Overwatch. Offworld Trading Company Designer Notes

Serenity Caldwell joins us to discuss the Apple TV as a gaming platform. We talk about what games we’ve tried so far, the weaknesses of the Siri Remote, and what kind of games could be great on Apple TV. We discuss runner games, party games, and gams that are purposely bad. Afterwards we talk about Star Wars, since this episode was recorded in December when that was the cool thing to do. Alto’s Adventure Space Age SongPop Party @settern on Twitter and Instagram Serenity’s writing on iMore The Incomparable Radio Theatre Rayman Adventures Pako Neven Mrgan’s Grayout

Campo Santo’s Nels Anderson joins us to discuss making narrative games, and in particular, Campo Santo’s new hit game Firewatch. Waving the spoilers flag high, we dig in to what makes Firewatch tick, the crazy world of branching narrative, tricky aspects of making the game, flapjacks, and the horrors of first-person character models. Afterward, we talk about weird bugs, The Witness, and 1988. Let Me Pick Three Colors, UpUp #41 with Jane Ng Firewatch! IGN interview with Campo Santo The hilarious consequences of modeling a first person character Crysis’ model in disturbing third person Nels’ and Campo Santo’s tweets The Witness The Firewatch Soundtrack

Chris Bourassa, Creative Director of Red Hook Games, joins us to talk about their hit new game Darkest Dungeon. We talk fairness, difficulty, early access, and corpses. Then we dig in to Chris’ art direction, including the look and feel of the characters, and the tools and processes he uses to create the game’s distinctive art. Afterward, we talk about some of the games we’ve been playing, stealth, and magic whales. Darkest Dungeon Full Indie Summit The art of Mike Mignola and Mike Davis The Spine animator @darkestdungeon Chris’ Deviant Art profile Vermintide Helldiver Peaky Blinders

Tiff Arment joins us to discuss the ups and downs of survival games. We dig in to stark and frozen landscape of The Long Dark, the dark whimsy of Don’t Starve, and Minecraft’s role in kickstarting the whole genre. Afterwards, we discuss Prison Architect, the hardest difficulty in The Last of Us, Goat Simulator, and podcast microphones. Hunger in Minecraft Hinterland Games’ The Long Dark Klei’s Don’t Starve The noble beefalo Up Up Down Down 26, with Don’t Starve’s audio designer Matt Marteinsson Don’t Starve Together Don’t Starve’s Treeguards Prison Architect and its new Escape Mode The Video Games Episode of Top Four Marco’s excellent Microphones Mega-Review

Karoliina Korppoo, Lead Designer on Cities Skylines, joins us to discuss simulation games. We discuss the challenges of simulations, making traffic work, cruise ships on land, focusing on fun, and poop water. Afterwards, we discuss the new expansion After Dark, Diablo, and the glory of single-player games. Cities: Skylines The Cities Skylines Reddit The Poop Powered City The Paradox Forums for Cities @Cities_PDX Skylines After Dark

Firewatch’s 3D Artist Jane Ng joins us to disuss 3D art in indie games. We talk about some of the remarkable ways Campo Santo has made Firewatch look beautiful and distinctive. We discuss procedural sky generation, stylistic fog systems, and general challenges with making art for games with small teams. Afterwards, we talk Dragon Age Inquisition, Mario Maker, and avoiding playing Destiny. Firewatch’s release date reveal: February 9, 2016 Jane’s GDC talk on the Art of Firewatch Paolo’s blog post on Firewatch’s procedural sky system The Firewatch Blog The messy exit of Bungie audio director Marty O’Donnell

We’re back for Season 2! Game designer Bobby Ross joins us to talk level design. We talk about the process of designing levels, lighting technology in 3D games, how to create balaced PvP, invisible walls, and other challenges of level design. Afterwards, we talk about what we liked at PAX. Bobby Ross’ game design tutorials Uncharted 4 trailer from E3 2015 Battleborn Unreal Engine 4.9 release notes Orcs Must Die Darkest Dungeon Kingdom, a pixel art adventure Distance, the craziest indie megabooth exhibitor Mini Metro Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Gang Beasts

Isometric’s Steve Lubitz joins us to talk rhythm games. We start with the strange origins of rhythm games on the PlayStation in the 1990s and the craze of DDR. We dig in to the rise of plastic instruments, the joy of getting good at Rock Band, and the Great Plastic Crash of 2009. We touch on dance and karaoke games, and finish on what it takes for 3D to impress John Carmack. The surreal experiences of Parappa the Rapper and Vib Ribbon UpUp No. 2, “A Perfect Storm of Crummy Business Decisions” on sequels Rock Band 4 is Coming on Polygon Retro/Grade Ryan Clark’s Finding the Beat in Crypt of the Necrodancer in Gamasutra Steve’s blog Multiball The Isometric podcast, now on Relay.fm