Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

We're joined by LocalThunk, solo creator of the hypnotic deckbuilder Balatro. We discuss flauting the fashion of a genre and going into development blind, the benefits of balacing by feel, and why Balatro shouldn't exist.
Show Notes:
Balatro
LocalThunk
Big two
Luck Be a Landlord
Slice & Dice
Slay the Spire
Risk of Rain 2

We're joined by renowned designer Eric Chahi (Another World, From Dust) to discuss his singularly surreal VR adventure Paper Beast. We discuss building a living ecosystem born from constraints, how the craft has changed over the decades, and the indecency of technology.
Show Notes:
Eric Chahi
Paper Beast
Another World
From Dust
Heart of Darkness
Strandbeest
TsuShiMaMiRe
Paprika
Pale Blue Dot

We're joined by Jon Ingold, co-founder of Inkle Studios (80 Days, Heaven's Vault) to discuss A Highland Song - a wild adventure through the Scottish Highlands. We chat about creating narrative-driven games without a critical path, allowing players to fail forward, and the origins of Inkle's beloved narrative scripting language, ink.
Show Notes:
Jon Ingold
A Highland Song
Inkle Studios
ink
The Forever Labyrinth
Rick Dangerous
TV Superstars
Inform
MUDs
Uncharted 3's horse-riding section

We (belatedly) celebrate the 5th anniversary of our show with a sprawling, silly, reflective episode with a full house of hosts! Thanks for listening to us for all this time. Show Notes:
Bob Mould
Heat: Pedal to the Metal
Everest Pipkin's The Poppy Grower
Learning Moonring with Zach
A Link to the Past Redux
Paper Beast
Late Show 3-Legged Race: Video Game Speedrunner Edition
Tharsis
Blue Thunder
Everyday Shooter
PixelJunk Monsters
Puzzled Pint
Sleep No More
Teeny Little Super Guy
LearnedLeague

We welcome Rob Dubbin (he/they) as a permanent member of the host pool! We discuss his journey from Late Night into making games, applicable lessons learned in the writers' room, and the importance of making your own shot.
Show Notes:
Rob Dubbin
NYU Game Center
Babycastles
Wonderville
Game Studies Study Buddies
I Am America (And So Can You!)
Earl Grey
ZZT by Anna Anthropy
London Jerry: Freelance Mailman
Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondants' Dinner
Samurai Gunn
Sportsfriends
Scripto
Scripto + Global Game Jam 2024

We're joined by Kevin Poupard, co-creative director of the beautiful, meditative climbing game Jusant. We discuss the pains and gains of physics, trying something new as a studio, and anthropomorphizing mountains. Plus special guest co-host Mark Brown of Game Maker's Toolkit! Thanks Mark!
Show Notes:
Jusant
GMTK - How Jusant Makes Rock-Climbing More Immersive
Mind Over Magnet
Grow Home
Shadow of the Colossus