Episode 53 – Conversation with Riv, currently making Pepper Grinder.

In this episode I speak with Riv of Ahr Ech studios, developer of the upcoming game Pepper Grinder currently set to be released sometime in 2023 and published by Devolver Digital.

0:00 Intro

11:00 How Riv got into making games

26:00 Words of wisdom from their experiences

30:30 The game that made Riv want to make games

35:30 What makes gaming enjoyable to Riv

51:00 Non-Gaming hobbies

1:05:30 Wrap up

Check out Riv on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Ahr_Ech

Check out Riv on Cohost at https://cohost.org/Ahr-Ech

Check out Pepper Grinder on Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2076580/Pepper_Grinder/

Episode 52 – Conversation with Michael Long, CEO of Foolish Mortals

In this episode I speak with CEO of Foolish Mortals, Michael Long, creators of MMM: Murder Most Misfortunate, Lazer Cops, Radio General, and Kaiju Wars

0:00 – Intro

09:30 – How Michael got into making games and words of wisdom

18:00 – The game that made Michael want to get into the industry

22:00 – Favorite game(s)

27:45 – What Michael enjoys about gaming

30:00 – Strategy game recommendations

33:00 – Hobbies outside of gaming

36:00 – Game that Michael feels deserves more attention and the importance of those first 10 reviews

43:00 – Wrap

Check out the Foolish Mortals discord at https://discord.gg/vGPBFft

Join the Foolish Mortals mail list at http://www.foolish-mortals.net/radiogeneral

Check out the Foolish Mortals Twitter at https://twitter.com/foolish_m_games

Check out the entire Foolish Mortals Steam catalogue at https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/foolishmortals/#browse

Check out Kaiju Wars on the Nintendo Switch at https://www.nintendo.com/en-ca/store/products/kaiju-wars-switch/ or on the Play Station Store at https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10005040 or on the XBox Store at https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/kaiju-wars/9nf41qzpcgzp

Episode 51 – Conversation with Scott Slucher and Connor Quinn, from Mega Wobble studios, creator of Lil Gator Game

In this episode I speak with both Scott and Connor from Mega Wobble studios, creator of Lil Gator Game! My first multi-person interview!

0:00 Intro

4:00 Lil Gator Game

10:00 Lessons from the demo

14:00 Lil Gator Game intentions & features

24:30 Being a completionist

33:45 How Scott and Connor found themselves working on a game

43:00 More on the team making the game

1:00:00 The game that made them want to make games

1:16:30 Outside of games hobbies

1:29:00 On the topic of “sugar”

1:40:00 Wrap up

Check out Lil Gator Game on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LilGatorGame

Check Lil Gator Game out on Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1586800/Lil_Gator_Game/

Check Lil Gator Game out on the Nintendo E Shop at https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/lil-gator-game-switch/

Support Mega Wobble on Patreon via https://www.patreon.com/lilgatorgame

Check out the Lil Gator Game Discord at https://discord.com/invite/nQDyne8DPC

Check out Lil Gator Game on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/LilGatorGame/

Check out Connor on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ConnorQuothe

Check out Scott on Twitter at https://twitter.com/skslucher

Episode 050 – Conversation with Zahid Ali Jeelani; Combat Designer at Ninja Theory and solo developer of ENENRA

In this episode I speak with Zahid Ali Jeelani, combat designer at Ninja Theory and solo developer of the upcoming ENENRA game

0:00 Intro

1:30 ENENRA

7:00 Getting into making games

16:30 Words of wisdom

21:30 Game that inspired them to get into the industry

34:45 What makes enjoyable

44:00 Comfort game

53:30 Hobbies outside of gaming

55:00 Game that doesn’t get enough credit

58:00 – Wrap up

Check out Zahid on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ZahidAliJeelani

Check out ENENRA on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ENENRAgame

Check out Stephen making Sword Symphony on Twitter at https://twitter.com/stephen_ddungu and https://twitter.com/SWORDOFSYMPHONY

Check out Ace Animation and their game Ai-Kode on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AIKODEgame

Check out Astrum Sensei on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AstrumSensei

Check out Masso on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Massoart

Check out Arisen by Ronald on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Ronlikethegust

Check out Allure’s webpage at https://www.alluremanga.com/

Episode 049 – Conversation with Dana Nightingale, Campaign Director at Arkane Lyon

In this episode I speak with Dana Nightingale, Campaign Director at Arkane Lyon, and previously a level designer on the Dishonored series, and campaign designer on Deathloop.

0:00 Intro

4:45 Arkane Austin vs Arkane Lyon

9:30 The Thief modding scene and how Dana entered the industry

17:45 Words of wisdom from her experience

22:00 What is a Campaign Designer/Director?

31:30 Favorite games

38:00 Verisimilitude: Signs of life

43:45 The JRPG that clicked

54:45 Hobbies outside of gaming

1:04:00 What makes games enjoyable

1:11:00 Immersive sims

1:22:30 More short games

1:26:15 Wrap Up

Follow Dana on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DanaENight

Episode 047 – Conversation with Zan, creator of Hedon Bloodrite

In this episode I speak with Zan, creator of Hedon Bloodrite, and currently working on 2 other upcoming titles

0:00 Intro

2:00 GzDoom as a foundation mixed with advice

13:00 Future projects

21:00 From architecture to game making

41:00 Favorite game as a child: Mil Sims, Serious Sam, Duke3D, car games

53:00 Recent and comfort games

1:05:00 Hobbies outside of gaming

12:30 Wrap up and info

Check out Zan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hedondev

Grab Hedon Bloodrite from Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1072150/Hedon_Bloodrite/ or on GoG at https://www.gog.com/game/hedon

Support Zan on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/hedon

Ashes 2063 Mod recommendation https://www.moddb.com/mods/ashes-2063

Mr Icarus Doom Mods reviews(?) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgp_adxCQiesfxKYIqIE9yQ

Episode 046 – Conversation with Tim, Blue Key Games

In this episode I speak with Tim from Blue Key Games, currently developing “They Came From Dimension X”

0:00 Intro

3:45 How Tim got into making games and advice from his experiences

19:45 They Came From Dimension X

45:45 Most exciting trend: The Indie Space

54:15 Hobbies outside of games

1:04:45 – Shout Outs/Links/Winding Down

Check out They Come From Dimension X on Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2115890/They_Came_From_Dimension_X/ or on Itch IO at https://bluekeygames.itch.io/they-came-from-dimension-x

Check out Tim (And Blue Key Games) on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bluekeygames

Check out the Blue Key Games Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@bluekeygames

Check out the Blue Key Games Discord at https://discord.com/invite/XAw2a8fQPX

Episode 44 – Conversation with Phil Giarrusso, Pixel Artist and Designer at Tako Boy Studios

In this episode I speak with Phil Giarrusso, Pixel Artist and Designer at Tako Boy Studios and creators of the upcoming title Cross Blitz and previously Candies ‘N Curses as well as Creatures of Aether. As well as a contributor to Flynn Son of Crimson and Shovel Knight Dig

0:00 Intro

05:35 How Phil got into working on games

10:00 Illustrator for pixel art

13:00 Advice for newcomers based on his own experiences

17:00 Favourite childhood games; Fate of Atlantis and other Point & Clicks

22:30 Follow up from point and clicks

25:00 Love of Kingdom Heart series

30:45 Outside hobbies; Working out, cooking, and a puppy

39:30 Cross Blitz and deck building games

48:00 Wrap Up and last thoughts

Check out Phil on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rephildesign

Check out Tako Boy Studio on Twitter at https://twitter.com/takoboystudios

Check out Cross Blitz on Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1619520/Cross_Blitz/

Episode 43 – Conversation with Josh Sullivan, project lead at Awe Interactive and creators of Bullets per Minute

In this episode I speak with Josh Sullivan, Project Lead at Awe Interactive and creators of Bullets Per Minute

Start – 03:10 – Intro

03:10 – 6:45 – I ask Josh about a game he might have wanted to make as a child

06:45 – 14:00 – We talk about their BPM game and what looks like a newly blooming genre.

14:00 – 22:45 – Josh talks about what made him want to get into making games

22:45 – 31:45 – We talk about Josh’s favourite games when they were younger

31:45 – 40:00 – We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Josh and and what kind of games he might relax with after a hard day

40:00 – 44:00 – Josh talks about what kind of hobbies and things he enjoys outside of gaming

44:00 – End – Wrap up and discussion about their suggested build to help with BPM

Check out Awe Interactive on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AweInteractive

Check out Bullets Per Minute on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BPMGame

Check out Bullets Per Minute on Steam at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1286350/BPM_BULLETS_PER_MINUTE/

Episode 42 – Conversation with Trapp, programmer at Communion Games and currently making Iowa

In this episode I speak with Trapp, a programmer at Communion Games and currently working on their first commercial game Iowa

Start – 9:00 – Intro and a brief discussion his busy/packed life

9:00 – 27:30 – We talk about how Trapp got into developing and making games and advice they might wish to impart from their experiences

27:30 – 32:45 – We talk about Trapp’s favorite childhood games, and what makes the Halo and Starcraft series some of his favorites.

32:45 – 44:00 – We discuss RTS games more, as well as Halo Wars as it is the cross section of two genres Trapp enjoys.

44:00 – 01:05:00 – We talk about Communion Game’s upcoming game, Iowa.

01:05:00 – 01:10:00 – We talk about what other things Trapp enjoys doing outside of gaming

01:10:00 – End – Wrap up

Check Trapp out on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CommunionGames

Check out Trapp’s TikTok at

Check out the Communion Games Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQUKct7f7v2QB138B4PDDSw

Check out Elegant Crow, the other member of Communion Games at https://mobile.twitter.com/elegantcrowcg