In this episode, the Discord Game Club interviews Michael Betts, co-founder of Omega Entertainment, about his game Towersong. They delve into the game's development, design inspirations, and the studio's unique approach to game creation, emphasizing the importance of people over products. Betts also shares insights on early access, future projects, and his passion for gaming.
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 2012's Fez , looking at coming back to a puzzle game and perception in its many forms, among other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: More cubes! Issues covered: video game development ephemera, coming back to a puzzle game, not enjoying the map but maybe you should be, a text adventure map, secret doors, retraining your brain, k...
Sean Vesce and Zack Norman discuss the making of Interstate '76, from the challenges of using a custom engine to the unique blend of 70s culture, blaxploitation films, and funk music that defined its style. They share stories about team collaboration, the influence of titles like X-Wing and Watchmen, and the innovative tools they created for level design. Norman also announces a new car game project.
Brett and Tim delve deeper into Fez, discussing its platforming mechanics, puzzle design, and unique elements, comparing it to other games like Hollow Knight. They analyze the game's approach to player agency, the balance between challenge and accessibility, and the impact of design choices on the overall experience. The episode also covers indie game development, audience engagement, and a 'choose your own adventure' email from a listener.
Brett and Tim explore the indie game landscape of the early 2010s, focusing on Fez as a prime example of innovative design. They discuss the game's unique mechanics, influences, and the broader context of indie development during that era. They also touch on the challenges and opportunities indie developers faced, and Fez's lasting impact.
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we sadly conclude our series on Interstate '76. Poor Tim could not really play the game at all, so we're going to have to let this one go, but we'll still talk about a few things. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to Mission 10 (B) Issues covered: Tim being unable to get the game running, other cultural objects disappearing, physics implementation details fro...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 1997's Interstate '76 . We talk about physics again, mission design, input, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Roughly six missions (B), technical difficulties (T) Issues covered: end of mission two sitting duck and acting, many controller bindings, driving an automatic, mapping onto the character's body instead of the ...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we begin a new series on 1997's Interstate '76 . We set the game a bit in its time, talk about Activision (almost as an afterthought), and then start getting into the characters and the vibe, of which there is much. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Early mission or two Issues covered: a game time forgot, playing a sim game genre, a unique take on the sim genre ...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we complete our series on 1999's Outcast . We talk a bit about the end of the game, the challenge of plate-spinning, gadgets we missed out on for much of the game, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Finished (Brett)... some more (Tim) Podcast breakdown: 00:47 Discussion 54:07 Break 54:36 Takeaways/Mailbag Issues covered: getting captured and los...
With Tim's power out for multiple days, we again lean on the Discord community for an episode. This time around, BioStats and Calamity Nolan interview LostLake86, one of the Discord's mods, a highly experienced Minecraft player and a streamer. We expect to return to finish off Outcast next week. Twitch: timlongojr Discord [email protected]...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 1999's Outcast . We talk about world structure, world building, concrete vs abstract implementations of mechanics, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to/through Talanzaar Issues covered: sad news, a digression on Edgar Rice Burroughs and Project Gutenberg, finally "getting" the game, depth of story and environment at...
Brett and Tim discuss Outcast's unique voxel art style and world structure, highlighting its impact on gameplay and aesthetics. They analyze the combat system, enemy AI, and the unusual projectile-based weapons, while also appreciating the game's humor and character interactions. They examine the game's legacy and influences, reflecting on its unconventional approach and surprising elements.
Brett and Tim discuss the Defeating Games for Charity event, highlighting guest streamers and community involvement, then delve into the 1999 game Outcast, exploring its voxel-based technology, action-adventure elements, and cultural influences within the context of its time, also examining its unique place among contemporaries and its impact on later games like Minecraft. They wrap up by answering an email about games unexpectedly popular in certain regions, sharing anecdotes about Skyrim and StarCraft.
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we are catching up on our mailbag! Let's face it, it's mostly about Minecraft , though we spend a lot of time on video game preservation. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Issues covered: the manananggal, Defeating Games for Charity, ownership of work materials, Tim's notes on the Discord Game Club interview with Phil Salvador, our own games disappearing, the value of libraries,...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we conclude our series on Minecraft . We talk about our stories, multiplayer, and other topics, before turning to our takeaways. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few more hours of Minecraft Issues covered: the upcoming charity event, Tim not knowing where Site D is, milestones for Tim, an epic story of loss with Mors, having high stakes and risk, Brett makes ...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we recap 2024 through our interviews. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. It's all about our takeaways -- I'm going to let the clips speak for themselves and remove the usual stuff from here. In the past year, we interviewed Michel Ancel, Alex Garden, Sam Lake, Jordan Mechner, and Tony Rowe, and every interview was fun to listen to again. Terrific slate. We're so lucky. It's humbl...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Minecraft , with this special Christmas edition. We talk a little about seeds and sharing them, carpeting your friend's base, stories of ongoing Minecraft ing, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few more hours of Minecraft Issues covered: wall-to-wall carpeting, Defeating Games for Charity, Minecraft gear, motion capt...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 2009's Minecraft . We talk about it birthing the survival genre, and a bit about what that means on several levels, drive into player motivation, and talk a little bit about how our play has gone. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few more hours Issues covered: announcement about servers, the importance of iteration and innovation in ...
Brett and Tim discuss Minecraft's early access history, impact on the industry, and their initial gameplay experiences. They explore its unique development approach, virality, and the significance of its survival mode. The episode also touches on player types, the game's ability to connect to humanity, and a listener email about the future of game sequels.
This time around, BioStats and Calamity Nolan interview Phil Salvador, Library Director of the Video Game History Foundation. We expect to return with a new series next week. Twitch: timlongojr Discord [email protected]...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we conclude our series on 2006's Dead Rising . We visit the end of the game a bit and then turn to our takeaways, before tackling a reader question. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Finished the game! Issues covered: the enemy mix, just being a journalist, being interrupted by Otis, the arrival of the army, captured by cultists, constant use of the chainsaw, ad...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Dead Rising . Brett finally slays a killer clown a decade after his first failure, and we talk more about weapons, location, and "the run." Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: More hours! Issues covered: defeating killer clown, saving all the survivors, capturing Kent's photo, additional player agency, changing tactics over time, picking ...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 2006's Dead Rising , a Capcom game. We talk about the evolving intro, strategies for play, saving those left behind, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few more hours Issues covered: the evolving intro, grinding, the man with the paint can, mastering the level, misreading the map, varying weapon types, the evolving in...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we start a new series on 2006's Dead Rising , from Capcom. We situate the game a bit in its time and with Capcom and this generation of hardware before turning to the structure and feel of the game. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few hours Issues covered: the early 360 era, throwing lots of enemies on the screen, console wars, an entry into console for PC d...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we complete our series on Fatal Frame . We talk about a couple of rough things about the game, some things we loved, and then turn to our takeaways. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Into Night 3 (Brett), End of Night 2 (Tim) Issues covered: ritual - oof, haunted house effects, effective randomness, character reactions, a consistent atmosphere, excellent cinemat...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 2001's Fatal Frame . We talk about retreading, camera upgrade strategies, how ghosts move and how that impacts level design, and various other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few more hours Issues covered: the strangling places, replaying the beginning of the game, knowing where to go or not, variety of uses for talismans, b...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 2001's Fatal Frame. We talk about the economy of the design, some sticky puzzles and usability thoughts, and mechanical considerations. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few more hours Issues covered: economy and discipline, the warbling space that signifies a ghost, a possible positive reinforcement loop and the score economy, making...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we begin our annual spooky series, this time on 2001's Fatal Frame . We briefly talk about the year it came out, its developer/publisher, and why we picked it before turning to other introductory topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: An hour-ish Issues covered: Discord-only going forward, why this game?, photo mode games, changing culture of photography, re-...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we conclude our series on Heroes of Might and Magic . We confess that we should have learned more about this game before we tried it, and then turn to takeaways and email. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Some... more? Issues covered: games we've fallen down on, the commitment, why we don't play certain genres, falling short, the possibility of finding guest ho...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we start a new series on Heroes of Might and Magic . We talk about the boardgame of it all and where the vibes are with this one, among other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Some standard, some campaign Issues covered: hearing the journey and thoughts of our listeners, deep regrets about Megaman , games that scare us, learning the patterns, hearing abo...
