Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in our third in a series of episodes about 1994's X-COM: UFO Defense . We wrap up our discussion of the game, covering save-scumming and difficulty, and talk about some pillars and takeaways. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Just as much as we could fit in Podcast breakdown : 0:39 Segment 1: X-Com finale 41:51 Break 42:24 Segment 2: Pillars and feedback Issues co...
Oct 04, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in our third in a series of episodes about 1994's X-COM: UFO Defense . We talk about our plans of attack for the game, whether the game is reacting to our plans, and how sim games make an argument. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Who even knows anymore? Podcast breakdown : 0:31 Game discussion 39:19 Break 39:45 Feedback/email Issues covered : Tim's death of dyse...
Sep 27, 2017•1 hr 24 min
That week, the Dev Game Club podcast welcomes special guest Ken Levine, founder of Irrational Games and designer/writer of System Shock 2! Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown : 0:33 Intro 1:50 Early days of SS2 and Irrational 31:33 Break 1 31:57 SS2 World-building, design, future 1:17:16 Break 2 1:17:29 Quick note about next episode Issues covered : "Shock" prototype, Looking Glass relationship and Ken's...
Sep 20, 2017•1 hr 18 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in our third in a series of episodes about 1994's X-COM: UFO Defense . We talk about the ways in which procedural generation and written generation interact a bit, as well as detailing our playthrought a bit. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : In theory, 6 months Podcast breakdown : 0:38 X-COM segment 35:05 Break 35:35 Feedback segment Issues covered : opportunity ...
Sep 13, 2017•1 hr 9 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are beginning a series of episodes about 1994's X-COM: UFO Defense . This week, we talk about terror attacks, game tension, gratification, and a bit of base management. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : A few hours past the first ground mission Podcast breakdown : 0:38 Segment 1 41:18 Break 41:47 Feedback Issues covered : managing the clock speed, difficulty of the ga...
Sep 06, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are beginning a series of episodes about 1994's X-COM: UFO Defense . This week, we set the game in its historical context and discuss the beginning of the game. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through first ground mission Podcast breakdown : 0:38 X-Com Segment 1:06:28 Break 1:06:51 Feedback segment Issues covered : business model of early Wizardry , DOS Box, peri...
Aug 30, 2017•1 hr 41 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we currently playing 1991's Super Mario World . This week, we finish Super Mario World and talk about our takeaways, including some deep dives into modern design sensibilities and constraints. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : To End of Super Mario World ! Podcast breakdown : 0:37 SMW Discussion 44:19 Break 44:57 Feedback/Next time Issues covered : Bowser's Castle, intro...
Aug 23, 2017•1 hr 22 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we currently playing 1991's Super Mario World . This week, we talk about how the difficulty of the game more and how it interacts with the exploration of the space. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through the Forest of Illusion Podcast breakdown : 0:33 Segment 1 (SMW Discussion) 34:35 Break 35:11 Feedback Issues covered : finding a key, picking things up mechanic, dire...
Aug 16, 2017•1 hr 14 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are taking a quick break from our Super Mario World series. This week, we talk in person about the first couple of hours of Breath of the Wild . Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : First couple of hours of Breath of the Wild Podcast breakdown : 0:39 Seg1: BotW 34:10 Break 34:42 Seg2: Feedback Issues covered : setting up mics, how Zelda is it?, influence from other games...
Aug 09, 2017•1 hr 10 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we currently playing 1991's Super Mario World . This week, we talk in more depth about the level design and the ways in which its open nature influences difficulty. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through Vanilla Dome Podcast breakdown : 0:29 Game discussion 48:10 Break 48:50 Feedback Issues covered : In-depth discussion of saxophones, respecting the game as a work of ...
Aug 02, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are kicking off a new series on 1991's Super Mario World , a SNES pack-in title. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Yoshi's Island Podcast breakdown : 0:40 SMW Discussion 48:36 Break 49:18 Feedback Issues covered : Tanooki suits, the ubiquity of Mario, the console versions of the game, Tim's history with 2D platforming, recognizable characters, overworld presentation, ...
Jul 26, 2017•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 72
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we have been discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life . This week we do a little bonus work and turn to its sequel, Half-Life 2 , released at the end of 2004. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up to Water Hazard Podcast breakdown : 0:36 HL2 Discussion 40:05 Break 40:35 Feedback Issues covered : the airboat: digital input/analogue output, E3 demo, face technolog...
Jul 19, 2017•1 hr 23 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life . This week we welcome Dario Casali, a level designer who worked on Half-Life and is still with the company all these years later. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown : 0:39 Interview with Dario Casali 1:04:41 Break 1:05:03 Feedback segment Issues covered : current status of Tacoma, games in 1993, connecting with a ...
Jul 12, 2017•1 hr 50 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life . This week we welcome Marc Laidlaw, long-time Valve employee and writer of Half-Life . Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown : 0:40 Interview with Marc Laidlaw 1:04:50 Break 1:05:16 Feedback/Questions Issues covered : getting started at Valve, looking at story in first person games, unshipped game at Valve, getting Q...
Jul 05, 2017•1 hr 40 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life . We talk about the much-maligned final levels and understand where they came from and then turn to a few pillars. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up to the end! Podcast breakdown : 0:35 End of the game 51:40 Break 52:10 Takeaways and Feedback Issues covered : weather and climate change, teleportation and level ...
Jun 28, 2017•1 hr 20 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life . We especially focus on level design but touch also on weapon design and a bit of reuse of weapon progression. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through Lambda Core Podcast breakdown : 0:40 Discussion segment 1:05:03 Break 1:05:28 Feedback Issues covered : the Russians, level design variety, designer control o...
Jun 21, 2017•1 hr 19 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life . We talk about what works in both the design of the military you fight and about enemy design in the game generally. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Apprehension (up to Residue Processing) Podcast breakdown : 0:35 Soldier AI and Enemy Design 53:12 Break 53:39 Feedback Issues covered : a bit of the history of ga...
Jun 14, 2017•1 hr 22 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing Valve Software's 1998 classic Half-Life . We talk about what a year 1998 was, and a good deal about the restrained opening to the game and its provenance. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up to "We've Got Hostiles" Podcast breakdown : 0:34 Segment 1: History and Half-Life beginning 1:00:57 Break 1:01:30 Segment 2: Feedback, Next Time Issues covered : 1...
Jun 07, 2017•1 hr 27 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1999 Black Isle classic Planescape: Torment . We talk about the end of the game and some of its pillars. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Finishing the game! Podcast breakdown : 0:37 Segment 1: End of the game 1:00:58 Break 1:01:23 Segment 2: Quick pillars, next time Issues covered : trapped Trias, the Pillar of Skulls, how XP is dispersed, splitting b...
May 24, 2017•1 hr 24 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1999 Black Isle classic Planescape: Torment . We talk about broad story beats, themes of identity and mazes, and the role of side quests, among other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Until you return to Sigil Podcast breakdown : 0:39 PST Discussion 1:03:18 Break 1:03:51 Feedback and giveaway Issues covered : character customization, a little ch...
May 17, 2017•1 hr 44 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1999 Black Isle classic Planescape: Torment . We talk about the usefulness of tropes (which this game mostly overturns), keeping your bearings when so much is available to you, and the uses of story and narrative to prop up underwhelming mechanics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through Ravel's Maze Podcast breakdown : 0:39 Segment 1 57:45 Break 58:1...
May 10, 2017•1 hr 27 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1999 Black Isle classic Planescape: Torment . We talk about how the overwhelming nature of the beginning acts might have come about (again), Brett hits a game-breaking bug, and needles are sought in haystacks. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through Ravel's Maze Podcast breakdown : 0:43 Segment 1: PST (2:21 Aw Jeez) 1:08:00 Break 1:08:28 Segment 2: Fe...
May 03, 2017•1 hr 25 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1999 Infinity Engine classic Planescape: Torment . We talk a bit about franchise fatigue, turning tropes on their heads, turning back historical design choices, and discuss some of what we saw as we played. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through the Undercity Podcast breakdown : 0:37 Segment 1: PST Talk 49:53 Break 50:26 Segment 2: Feedback, next ...
Apr 26, 2017•1 hr 19 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, which this week begins a new series exploring 1999 Infinity Engine classic Planescape: Torment . We situate it in time both against other games and the D&D license but also especially as the pinnacle of Interplay's Infinity Engine games, and then dive into the first section of play. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through the Mortuary Podcast breakdown : 0:41 Segment 1: ...
Apr 19, 2017•1 hr 14 min
Welcome to the fourth and final episode in our series exploring SNES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . We discuss the end of the game, finding nooks and crannies, various difficulties, and then quickly cover our takeaways. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through the end of the game! Podcast breakdown : 0:35 Segment 1: Finishing Zelda 46:48 Break 47:22 Segment 2: Takeaways, Feedback 1:...
Apr 13, 2017•1 hr 21 min
Welcome to the third episode in our series exploring SNES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . We discuss what storytelling there is, several of the bosses we fought, the analog nature of combat and also the difficulty curve before turning to some player questions. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through the Ice Palace Podcast breakdown : 0:33 Segment 1: LttP discussion 25:50 "Aw, jee...
Apr 05, 2017•1 hr 15 min
Welcome to the second episode in our series exploring SNES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . We talk a lot about how it's difficult even to analyze a game that casts such a long shadow and open worlds as a genre. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through Agahnim battle Podcast breakdown : 0:30 Segment 1: LttP Discussion 52:05 Break 52:25 Segment 2: Feedback Issues covered : hardware fea...
Mar 29, 2017•1 hr 19 min
Welcome to the first episode in our series exploring SNES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . We situate the game in time and talk about its long shadow in game development before tucking into the game proper. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through the end of the Eastern Palace Podcast breakdown : 0:30 Segment 1: LoZ 49:38 Break 50:09 Eastern Palace & Feedback Issues covered : Zeld...
Mar 22, 2017•1 hr 25 min
Welcome to the final episode in our series exploring PS1 and PC 3rd person action-adventure game Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver . We delve into the last bits of the game including pluses and minuses surrounding its environmental navigation and puzzles, its voice acting, and then turn to our takeaways and pillars. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Finishing the game! Podcast breakdown : 0:36 Soul Reaver di...
Mar 15, 2017•1 hr 25 min
Welcome to the third episode in our series exploring PS1 and PC 3rd person action-adventure game Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver . We pick apart the jumping madness that is the Drowned Cathedral, talk animation priority and interruption, and hit up some development thinking to boot. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through Rahab Podcast breakdown : 0:40 Soul Reaver discussion 55:48 Break 56:25 Feedback an...
Mar 08, 2017•1 hr 13 min
