Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are on to the second of our series on 2005's God of War . We talk about what a fully scripted camera allows you to do, where it breaks down in implementation, as well as touching on the over-the-top nature of the game and its light RPG elements. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through the Challenges Podcast breakdown : 0:43 Segment 1: God of War 51:40 Break 52:20 Se...
May 02, 2018•1 hr 12 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are lucky this week to be able to interview Mark Crowe, one of the original "Guys from Andromeda" who were the creative force behind Space Quest , as well as working on many other Sierra titles. We talk about those old days, the flexibility of working with a parser, and all the constraints on game development in the early days. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Issues covered : Mark's ...
Apr 25, 2018•58 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are beginning our series on 2005's God of War . We set the game in its time, an interesting time at the end of a console lifecycle as new machines loomed on the horizon, and then turn to the game itself before hitting feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up to the desert / through Athens Podcast breakdown: 0:44 Segment 1: God of War 50:35 Break 51:06 Segment 2:...
Apr 18, 2018•1 hr 15 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we complete our discussion of a pair of very early Sierra adventure games with Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter . We finally hear Tim's story about getting stuck on a game so long it drove him to drink and also get to our takeaways before hitting feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Finished SQ1 Podcast breakdown : 0:43 Segment 1: SQ1 35:35 Break 36:08 Segment ...
Apr 11, 2018•1 hr 24 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we continue to discuss a pair of very early Sierra adventure games, now turning to Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter . We talk a little bit more about adventure games and general and talk about some specific ways this game differs from King's Quest , including its use of space. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up to Planet Kerona Podcast breakdown : 0:45 Segment 1: SQ...
Apr 04, 2018•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we continue to discuss a pair of very early Sierra adventure games, beginning with 1984's King's Quest: Quest for the Crown . Having finished the game, we discuss the ways in which different puzzles work and what aspects are frustrating and how it might all have gotten that way. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Finish King's Quest 1 Issues covered : getting through with...
Mar 28, 2018•1 hr 12 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing a pair of very early Sierra adventure games, beginning with 1984's King's Quest: Quest for the Crown . We talk a bit about Sierra and its early contributions to games as a whole and the specific form of the adventure game, setting it in context and discussing taste. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : "About half" of King's Quest Issues covered : crossing...
Mar 21, 2018•1 hr 5 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1992's immersive sim classic Ultima Underworld . We talk about how the game comes together at the end and the interconnectedness of it all before we turn to our pillars and takeaways. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Finished the game! Podcast breakdown: 0:42 Segment 1: finishing the game 44:23 Break 44:59 Segment 2: Takeways and feedback Issues covere...
Mar 14, 2018•1 hr 35 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1992's immersive sim classic Ultima Underworld . We take a deeper dive into the leveling system and the magic system and talk about the intersection of RPGs and immersive sims and the various analog elements of this game in particular. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Levels 4-6 Issues covered : rotworm stew, taking notes and having too much to sort th...
Mar 07, 2018•1 hr 6 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are discussing 1992's immersive sim classic Ultima Underworld . We discuss the specifics of levels two and three a bit, but also tackle inventory, encumbrance, taking notes on paper, and the delightful map and how those have changed over the years. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Levels 2 and 3 Podcast breakdown : 0:43 UU Discussion 48:46 Break 49:12 Feedback Issues...
Feb 28, 2018•1 hr 11 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are beginning a new series on 1992's immersive sim classic Ultima Underworld . As usual, we situate the game in time a bit and in the Ultima series as a whole, before delving into the first few hours of the game. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Level 1 Podcast breakdown: 0:40 Underworld 54:54 Break 55:22 Feedback Issues covered: Brett gets hooked, first person game ...
Feb 21, 2018•1 hr 25 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are are just finishing our series on 1998's Japanese stealth classic Metal Gear Solid . We talk about the end of the game and some narrative choices there that we like and then discuss our pillars for the game. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : To the end! Podcast breakdown : 0:41 End of MGS 1:00:48 Break 1:01:22 Pillars and feedback Issues covered : 100 episodes, Tim...
Feb 14, 2018•1 hr 33 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in our third episode of our series on 1998's Japanese stealth classic Metal Gear Solid . We talk about a big choice in the game and the things you're not taught, particularly considering how fourth wall breaking it can be, as well as topics like UI choices. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : To Vulcan Raven (II) Podcast breakdown : 0:41 Metal Gear Solid 58:54 Break...
Feb 07, 2018•1 hr 33 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are midway through our series on 1998's Japanese stealth classic Metal Gear Solid . We talk about frustration, the various bosses, and a bit about one-offs. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through the torture scene Podcast breakdown: 0:40 MGS 1:03:10 Break 1:03:45 Feedback Issues covered : the history of "snake style," sources of frustration, Brett's psychologica...
Jan 31, 2018•1 hr 34 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are beginning our new series on 1998's Japanese stealth classic Metal Gear Solid . We first situate the game in its time, including some personal reminiscences of how we first came to the title, before turning to the stealth gameplay, the cutscenes, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through Revolver Ocelot Podcast breakdown: 0:48 Segment 1: MGS in...
Jan 24, 2018•1 hr 19 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we present our interview with Tom Hall, Project Lead of 2001's quirky Western-built Japanese-style RPG Anachronox . We talk about the team, the labor of love, what got left on the cutting floor, and various other bits and bobs. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 0:35 Interview segment 55:28 Break 56:00 Mail/outro Issues covered : the game's science fiction underpinnings,...
Jan 17, 2018•1 hr 19 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are having our fourth and final discussion about 2001's quirky Western-built Japanese-style RPG Anachronox . We talk quite a bit about the specifics of the end of the game, with a diversion into ION Storm, and then talk about our takeaways. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through to the end! Podcast breakdown : 0:42 Anachronox ! Issues covered : that final battle, s...
Jan 10, 2018•1 hr 9 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are having our third discussion about 2001's quirky Western-built Japanese-style RPG Anachronox . We talk quite a bit about the specifics of this section of the game, including the combat elements and leveling, before turning to feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : To the surface of Democratus! Podcast breakdown : 0:43 Anachronox pt III 1:05:15 Break 1:05:47 Fe...
Jan 03, 2018•1 hr 21 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we have a very special, year-end blast where we talk about some top take-aways and interview moments from the past year. And it's been a busy one, with six interviews and ten games discussed. Thanks for joining us this year. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Issues covered : defeating Darth Vader, the complexity of the world and reflecting that in TIE Fighter , taking a twist on the Chose...
Dec 27, 2017•52 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in the midst of our discussion about 2001's quirky Western-built Japanese-style RPG Anachronox . We talk about the writing and humor, how those may have developed, and also discuss the characters and their characterization, among other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through Votowne Podcast breakdown : 0:45 Segment 1: Anachronox 50:23 Break 50:52 Segment...
Dec 20, 2017•1 hr 17 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are beginning our new series on 2001's quirky Western-built Japanese-style RPG Anachronox . We set it in its time, and discuss how we decided to play it and then spend a lot of time on its world-building. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Through Bricks Podcast breakdown : 0:40 Anachronox in time, Initial discussion 38:36 Break 39:04 Thanks and feedback Issues covered...
Dec 13, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are closing our series on 1996 3D platforming sensation Super Mario 64 . We start at the end, discuss Koji Kondo's iconic music and finally, our takeaways, before turning to listener feedback. SM64 Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Finished the game! Podcast breakdown : 0:42 Segment 1: Discussion and Pillars 44:35 Break 45:08 Segment 2: Feedback/next time Issues cover...
Dec 06, 2017•1 hr 30 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in the midst of our series on 1996 3D platforming sensation Super Mario 64 . Tim intros the 'cast for the first time and we discuss both macro and micro design. SM64 Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up to 50 stars! Podcast breakdown : 0:44 SM64 Segment 42:02 Break 42:33 Feedback segment Issues covered : likening Brett to a car, increasing difficulty of stars with...
Nov 29, 2017•1 hr 15 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in the midst of our series on 1996 3D platforming sensation Super Mario 64 . We talk about level design, what permits its density, and then fall into a long chat about Nintendo's innovations in controls. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : To the second Key! Podcast breakdown : 0:33 Segment 1: SM64 Talk 43:46 Break 44:14 Segment 2: Feedback Issues covered : whether ...
Nov 22, 2017•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are just beginning a new series on 1996 3D platforming sensation Super Mario 64 . We set the game in its time and then discuss the big up-front issues, particularly the camera and how new elements and mechanics sometimes require fictional underpinnings before turning to other issues, including listener feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through the first k...
Nov 15, 2017•1 hr 31 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we have made our way to that hotel in Silent Hill 2 and then wended our way homeward. We discuss the climactic events of the game, our theories on who represents what, the multiple endings, and a host of other issues including takeaways and listener feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : To the end of the game Podcast breakdown : 0:43 Segment 1: Discussion of final ...
Nov 08, 2017•1 hr 46 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are in the middle of our three-episode series on Silent Hill 2 . We spend a lot of time talking about the section in the hospital and the potential meaning or personification of Pyramid Head. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up until the Labyrinth Podcast breakdown : 0:34 Single segment this week! Issues covered : Tim's Halloween costume, picking favorite moments, Py...
Nov 01, 2017•1 hr 31 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are just beginning a new and shorter series on Silent Hill 2 . We set the game in its time period, and dive in quickly to the madness that brings us to that quaint little town, Silent Hill. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : Up through the end of the apartments Podcast breakdown : 0:37 Silent Hill 2 51:15 Break 51:45 Feedback Issues covered : revisiting our interview w...
Oct 25, 2017•1 hr 29 min
Welcome to this special bonus interview episode of Dev Game Club, where we welcome Julian Gollop into X-COM Base Provolone for a chat. We delve into the genesis of the game, how a publisher saved the game and itself, and many other topics surrounding the development of the game. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown : 0:41 Gollop Interview 1:05:20 Break 1:05:50 Next time Issues covered : Julian's ludograph...
Oct 18, 2017•1 hr 19 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where we are quickly going over the beginning of X-COM: Enemy Unknown . Surprisingly, although we both liked it, we preferred the original. Stockholm Syndrome? Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played : The first couple hours Podcast breakdown : 0:39 Discussion of Enemy Unknown 35:53 Break 36:24 Feedback and reviews Issues covered : Firaxis's recent history, preferring the original, in...
Oct 11, 2017•55 min
