Join hosts and industry veterans Brett Douville and Tim Longo as they discuss older titles and the impact they had on the games industry, as well as any lessons that could be taken away even today. Play along!
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This episode of Dev Game Club delves further into Deadly Premonition, analyzing its performance issues and quirky mechanics. The hosts praise its unique enemy design and the impactful raincoat killer escape sequence, highlighting how the game's ambitious, hand-crafted moments deliver refreshing surprises often missing in today's standardized open-world titles. They also discuss the game's Twin Peaks homage and its innovative suspect-based narrative progression.
This episode of Dev Game Club explores Deadly Premonition (part two), focusing on its deep homage to Twin Peaks and the "homage or ripoff" debate, including specific parallels like character smiles and music juxtaposition. The hosts analyze the game's quirky mechanics, such as the profiling system and often-frustrating combat, and share their experiences with its confusing open world and bizarre nighttime encounters. They also discuss how the game's unorthodox design compares to titles from creators like Kojima and Suda51, highlighting the difficulties of developing and funding such unique gaming experiences today.
Brett and Tim begin their series on Deadly Premonition, exploring its distinct voice inspired by Twin Peaks and its unexpected open-world, simulated town design. They discuss Japanese developer auteurship, the challenges of a mid-console cycle with many sequels, and the game's intentional use of uncanny valley aesthetics. The episode also features listener emails debating the unique interactive nature of video games and specific feedback on Portal 2's design.
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we add to our series on Portal by interviewing Erik Wolpaw. We talk about his pre-Portal career, burnout, and success on small teams and large. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 1:05 Interview 1:12:10 Break 1:12:41 Outro Issues covered: Valve credits, early Magic: The Gathering , growing up in the shadow of James Garfield's mausoleum, publishing in magazines, ...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we complete our series on Portal . We talk about the ending part of the game, the increasing difficulty, the cake, and the boss and declare ourselves Still Alive. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Finished the game! Issues covered: puzzle hockey stick, having puzzles cross through multiple rooms, mechanical additions to the sequel, limiting the additional portal...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we kick off a short series on 2007's Portal . We talk about the year it came out, a bit about Valve and the Orange Box , before talking about the game's development history and then some topics about the game itself. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Up to/through Test 12 (because Tim can't follow directions) Issues covered: 2007 in games, motion-controlled arch...
Tim is traveling this week, so we are reaching into the Discord Game Club interview archive. This time around, BioStats and Calamity Nolan interview one... Brett Douville, who happens to also co-host Dev Game Club and is the person typing this right now, so all of this is very weird. We expect to return next week. Twitch: timlongojr and twinsunscorp Discord DevGameClub@gmail.com...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we complete our series on a pair of empathy games, Papers, Please and Cart Life . We spend some more time with Melanie and her coffee hut before turning to our takeaways, shared between both games. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Several days of Cart Life Issues covered: the tutorialization in the Melanie story, a whole functioning town, replaying the first fe...
It's again the doldrums of summer this week, so we are reaching into the Discord Game Club interview archive. This time around, BioStats and Calamity Nolan interview one Timothy Longo, who happens to also co-host Dev Game Club. Funny how that works. We expect to return next week. Twitch: timlongojr and twinsunscorp Discord DevGameClub@gmail.com...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on empathy games, returning to discuss a little more about Papers, Please before digging into Cart Life a bit. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A bit more of Papers, Please and a little bit of Cart Life Issues covered: thanks for the interview, a bit about Twin Suns Corp, showing earlier versions of the game, a vertical slice with all the...
It's the doldrums of summer this week, so we are reaching into the Discord Game Club interview archive. This time around, BioStats and Kaeon interview Calamity Nolan, a member of the Discord and usual interviewer who is also an independent developer. We expect to return soon. Twitch: timlongojr Discord DevGameClub@gmail.com
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on indie games, by looking at Papers, Please . We talk a bit about Lucas Pope, its creator, and then turn to the game's mechanics and themes. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: One or two playthroughs Issues covered: tactile job simulation games, empathy and commentary, tactility and user interfaces, how it plays, the mechanics post-day, pl...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on indie games with an interview with William Pugh of Crows Crows Crows, one of the principal developers of The Stanley Parable . Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 1:06 Interview 1:04:15 Break 1:04:49 Outro Issues covered: his way in, modding for Mario and fan games, blaming our parents, planning to work for Valve, seeing a format for dr...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we revisit our series on Gone Home and walking simulators with an interview with Karla Zimonja. We talk about Karla's early career before transitioning to talking about Minerva's Den and get a lot of great gems from the development of Gone Home . Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 01:02 Interview 1:21:00 Break 1:21:30 Outro Issues covered: early life and educat...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we complete our series on 2D indie platformer-ish things with our final episode on Spelunky . Tim talks a little bit about Derek Yu's book, the rigor and how the game just plays different, as well as Brett dipping into spoiler territory for Tim's benefit, before we turn to takeaways. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: To Ice Mines (Tim) Podcast breakdown: 00:00:4...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on Spelunky , part of a larger series on independent games. Tim uses the B word about the game, and we talk about the rigor with which one approaches the game, as well as some best practices for play, among other topics and listener mail. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Into the Jungle (Tim) Issues covered: relative lack of text but narr...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our major series on various indie games, now looking at some 2D action games with Spelunky . We talk very briefly about its director and then Tim marvels over a dynamic level design that nonetheless feels just right. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Into the Jungle (Tim) Issues covered: walking over the sands, a little history of the game, a legenda...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we finish our series on 2004 indie classic Cave Story . We talk a lot about difficulty, a bit about story, and also just what a miracle a game like this is from one person. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Finished (Brett), to dragons (Tim) Issues covered: killing baby dragons, the boss rush, being exhausted beating your head against the wall, drinking a potion...
The Dev Game Club begins its discussion of Cave Story, exploring its origins as freeware and its surprising depth beyond typical genre labels like Metroidvania. They analyze its unique mechanics, unexpected narrative elements, and the freedom of solo development. The hosts also react to a listener email about the emotional impact of Gone Home, comparing different approaches to eliciting catharsis in games.
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we complete our series within a series on walking simulators, this time with The Stanley Parable . We talk about the multiple paths, the humor, the zany meta of it all, 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: All of The Stanley Parable Issues covered: preconceptions, focusing on different things, a good capper, a career of meta, goals f...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on walking simulators with 2012's Dear Esther , played here in a 2017 "Landmark Edition" but based on a 2007 Source mod for Half-Life 2 . We of course set the game in its time, spend a fair amount of time on randomness and meaning, and open the cellar door. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: The whole shebang Issues covered: walking simulat...
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we start a new series of explorations on the walking simulator, beginning with Gone Home . We set the game in its time, talk about possible real world experiences, and dive into its restraint and storytelling. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: All of Gone Home Issues covered: walking simulator coverage, the wave of indies and another wave, career changes, Fullbr...
This week, the Dev Game Club hosts wrap up their discussion on Fez, focusing on reaching the 32-cube ending, experiencing the mind-blowing reveal sequence, and earning the game-altering first-person mode. They delve into the design implications of this feature, the philosophy behind keeping game secrets, and share their key developer takeaways on subversion, innovation, and approachability. The episode also touches on listener feedback regarding platforming difficulty.
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 ...
