Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we complete our series on BioShock . We delve into the end and endings of the game, and of course address our takeaways.Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Finished the game! Issues covered: Brett's terrible fathering, Big Daddy issues, developing Suchong more as a character, Yellow Peril, leaning into pulp, being like a ship, turning the lower classes via demogog...
Oct 13, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on BioShock . We talk a lot about the surprise of the scene of Ryan, and some mechanical and production aspects we haven't had a chance to talk about yet. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to Apollo Square! Issues covered: where the game should (?) have ended, playing golf with your dad, finding a way to incorporate a power station, Rya...
Oct 06, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on BioShock . We talk about Fort Frolic and the arc of what's coming, guns and plasmids and a bit about their crossover, crafting, and gene tonics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up through Fort Frolic Issues covered: hitting the best beats of the game, having the future be a little blurry, Cohen's theatricality, using the camera purely...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Bioshock . We talk about the horror elements early on, the use of minibosses, how low-friction the game is, hacking and of course, the Choice. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to end of Neptune's Bounty Issues covered: reading how Atlas talks about Ryan knowing what we know, introducing Fontaine and audio tapes indicating maybe deat...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we begin a new series on 2007's Bioshock . We set the game in its time and talk about how it expanded the audience for a shooter with sim elements, as well as other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to Neptune's Bounty Issues covered: the name change, retaining identity after being acquired, what is a brand, the games that year, the Shock-verse, wanti...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we interview Brian Allgeier, the Lead Designer of the first Ratchet & Clank (as well as many others) in connection with our series. We cover 20 years of career at Insomniac, creative leadership, Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 1:12 Interview 59:45 Break 1:00:13 Feedback, Next Time Issues covered: Girl with a Stick, first jobs, getting in as an animator a...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we finish our series on 2002's Ratchet & Clank, with our takeaways and a bonus look at the 2016 remake. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Actually finished the game Issues covered: the quality of the cinematics in the new game, Quark's criminal status, being underpowered for the final boss, getting money by going back so you can buy additional weapons, fun t...
Sep 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Ratchet & Clank . We talk about the late game, variety in the game in its many forms, getting things out of order, favorite stuff, and more. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Finishing the game? Issues covered: what the remaster improved or didn't, finding upgrades, having to backtrack, how many weapons we have left, getting to the ...
Aug 25, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Ratchet & Clank . We delve primarily into the variant game play we start to see at this point in the game, though admittedly with other topics sprinkled in. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up through Bomb Factory Issues covered: voice cast, Ratchet's longer story arc, dark and snark, opposing ideas of what have to be done, buildin...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on 2002's Insomniac action shooter platformer Ratchet & Clank . This week we talk about the weapons systems, watching a game evolve over a few years, level design, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to Blarg Station Nebula G64 or thereabouts Issues covered: propulsion, stretch and squish, humor along the lines of Wa...
Aug 11, 2021•1 hr 26 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we begin a new series on the delightful action platformer shooter thing called Ratchet & Clank . We set it in its time a little bit, and talk a bit about developer Insomniac, and then turn to talk about introductory impressions and continue to catch up on feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to Novalis Issues covered: destroying your enemies with f...
Jul 28, 2021•1 hr 23 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we at last conclude our series on Final Fantasy VI . We give our takeaways and then turn to some of the mountain of feedback that's been piling up. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Issues covered: June says hello, developing deep character backstories, differing combat mechanics for each character, being pushed to mix parties at the end of the game, full world state changes, go...
Jul 21, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we add a bonus interview to our series on Final Fantasy VI . We are joined by Sebastian Deken, whose new book explores especially the music in the game. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 0:51 Interview 1:05:21 Break 1:06:03 Outro Issues covered: not being able to talk about video game music, researching live performances of video game music, pitching Boss Figh...
Jul 14, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we mostly conclude our series on Final Fantasy VI, though we'll be back for takeaways and more email. Brett takes us through the ending and we discuss some other late-game content. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Through the end Issues covered: games we haven't finished for the 'cast, setting aside a day to finish, three hours of the final dungeon, the advanta...
Jul 07, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Final Fantasy VI . We are deeply into the world of ruin, seeking out our friends, and relating our strange adventures, before turning to feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: More of the World of Ruin Issues covered: breaking the Internet, reaching the Dream Stooges, naming Cyrano, The Dark Chuckler, Tim's plan going off the rails...
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr 35 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Final Fantasy VI . Tim catches up and fails to save the world, so we talk about making it work, in the ashes, as we got the band back together, before turning to listener feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few hours past Floating Continent Issues covered: the messed up inner turmoil of Terra, being stuck in a maze with random...
Jun 16, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Final Fantasy VI . We continue talking about the story, the mechanics that make an area like Floating Continent so frustrating, the new characters, and more! Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up through the Floating Continent Issues covered: sketching my enemies to death, whether there are other characters named Relm, setting things up ...
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Final Fantasy VI . We talk about more of what we've played so far, dipping into issues of where we grind, how we approach combat, and touching on the Espers. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to Opening the Gate! Issues covered: the gold hairpin/Moogle choice, Lone Wolf in a cell, being confused about the Atma Weapon, random battles ...
Jun 02, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Final Fantasy VI . We talk about more of what we've played so far, including differences between each of our experiences especially, and culminating in the Opera House. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up through the Opera House! Issues covered: not being able to play every day, lack of recaps, enjoying the thief play, fighting a merch...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 32 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Final Fantasy VI . We talk about the story and the utility of allowing players to choose the order in which to play a few sections, among other things, before turning to your feedback. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up through two of the post-rapids sequence Issues covered: the ins and outs of S. Figaro, finding the rebel base, Tim f...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we present a bonus interview with Remi Lacoste, who reflects on what it took to make the camera of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time , which was far more authored than previous 3rd person platformers and action adventures. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 0:50 Interview 1:04:29 Break 1:05:00 Outro Issues covered: trial by fire with the last talk of the week, "I...
May 05, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we begin a new series on Final Fantasy VI , which is often in the conversation surrounding the pinnacle of the 16-bit JRPG. We set the game in its time, and then turn to it directly, talking about world-building and how 2D feels better than 3D for these sorts of games, among other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to South Figaro Issues covered: who c...
Apr 28, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we finish our series on 2003's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. We talk about the unfortunate elevator sequence, the final platforming of the game, its circular story and of course, our 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: 0:52 Prince of Persia 56:16 Break 56:46 Takeaways and Feedback Issues covered: rewinding tim...
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 47 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time . We talk about the Library, our problems with it, how we were misled, and how such things happen, as well as other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to "On the Ramparts" Issues covered: the Prince as a jerk, what did you call me?, feeling hamfisted but trying for the heart, a stepping ston...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we return to our series on Baldur's Gate with an interview with James Ohlen, who was lead designer on the title. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 0:50 Interview 52:50 Break 53:21 Outro Issues covered: starting a comic book store at 19 right before the market crashed, the origin of Minsc, starting at BioWare, building an IP bible as a way to start, working the...
Apr 07, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time . We talk a bit about combat and especially the way the baths area expands the level design, despite a few visual language missteps. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up through the Soldier's Mess Hall Issues covered: the physics of ponytails, trying to make the palace feel like a real place, deathtra...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we begin a new series on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time . We set the game in its time and studio, and then speak a fair amount about its holistic approach to design, its fluidity, and its contextualization of game mechanics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to defeating Demon Dad Issues covered: 2003 with lots of sequels and licenses, when you launch a ...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we conclude our series on Baldur's Gate . We talk takeaways and then clean up a very full mailbag. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Issues covered: the long-term quest of the franchise, Baals everywhere, converting from D&D, not every rule translating well, limiting the story to a generic "Gorion's Ward," having different expectations for their other games, a full campaign,...
Mar 18, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Baldur's Gate , the 1998 D&D interpretation that put BioWare on the map, as it were. We talk about the end of the game based on our two approaches to play, some fun side content, and other issues! Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Finished the game! Podcast breakdown: 0:48 Baldur's Gate 1:09:35 Break 1:10:06 Feedback Issues covered:...
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 41 min
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we celebrate our five years of podcasting by doing something a little bit different. We look at our first Adventures, the Atari 2600 Adventure and Colossal Cave Adventure . Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Issues covered: why we're doing the adventure games, the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, birds and videos, connecting the printer to the modem, arcade games we played, action games...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 24 min
