The Secret Lives of Games

The Secret Lives of Games
  • 4.9 (161)
  • Video Games
  • Updated Biweekly

Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.

  1. All Systems Brough - VESPER.5

    3d ago

    All Systems Brough - VESPER.5

    We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin, A Good Videogame) and Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games) to discuss VESPER.5; a durational, tile-based exploration game. It's the sixth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough. This episode: VESPER.5 Next episode: Become a Great Artist Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: 868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  https://finji.itch.io/868-back  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  All Systems Brough - A Chat with Michael https://secretlives.games/website/all-systems-brough-a-chat-with-michael  VESPER.5 http://mightyvision.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vesper5.html  THE LONGING https://store.steampowered.com/app/893850/THE_LONGING/  Road to the IGF: Michael Brough's VESPER.5 (Article about GDC showcase of VESPER.5) https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/road-to-the-igf-michael-brough-s-i-vesper-5-i-  Super Friendship Club VESPER.5 Forum https://web.archive.org/web/20160407200028/http://superfriendshipclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=618  Meaning through repetition (reflection on releasing VESPER.5) https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/meaning-through-repetition.html  GDC 2013 - Interview with Michael Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqSV6f137M  Pippin Barr on VESPER.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20170711093026/http://www.pippinbarr.com/2012/08/14/you-should-play-vesper-5/  Michael Brouge's VESPER.6 by Joel Goodwin https://www.electrondance.com/michael-brouges-vesper-6/ Gardens of Time: Design Problem Solving https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2931  Steve Reich - Section I (Slowed Down 800%) - Ambient / Minimalism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AMpfdbc7U  EXPERIMENT 12 Anthology https://www.geocities.ws/experimenttwelve/  145: Addressing Memory with Plunderludics  https://secretlives.games/145-addressing-memory-with-plunderludics  i heard you like videogames https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2366  scarfmemory https://www.smestorp.com/scarfmemory.html  Post-Future Vagabond https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/11/post-future-vagabond.html  Bending the River https://www.metabolicstudio.org/653  The Old Timey Computer Show https://otcs.minuspoint.com/  Inferno by Boards of Canada https://boardsofcanada.bandcamp.com/album/inferno  imagineNATIVE Festival https://imaginenative.org/ STAY SHARP // Rogue Skin Reveal Trailer - VALORANT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1u1kUdDOys  Rushing Beat Trilogy https://www.chronocrash.com/forum/threads/rushing-beat-trilogy.5208/  THE GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE: The Thirty-Year Game https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023124/THE-GAME-DESIGN-CHALLENGE-The    https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 59m

  2. May 29

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 9

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 9 - the Reunion / Reveal! How did The Mole do it? Thanks for listening this season! Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more. Links: Thanks Robin for our Mol guessing game website! Tip him here: https://ko-fi.com/rbnvi Every Game in this City podcast (S1, which includes Laura, Jey, Doug) https://soundcloud.com/idlethumbs/sets/every-game-in-this-city Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 30m
  3. All Systems Brough - A Chat with Michael

    May 28

    All Systems Brough - A Chat with Michael

    We're joined by Michael Brough himself for a bonus chat on the thrilling occasion of 868-BACK's release day. Don't worry, we don't spoil the new game at all (except to say it's fantastic! Go buy it now on Steam!!) We discuss Michael's journey to this launch day, how his process for making art has and hasn't changed over the years, how he's learned to care for himself creatively and otherwise amidst periods of illness, how he does (and doesn't) draw connections between artistic mediums, and his impressions of our series so far, among other reflections from his development career.  This (bonus) episode: A Chat with Michael! Next episode: VESPER.5 Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: 868-BACK (Out now!! Just go buy it!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  Quinns Quest Reviews: Stonetop! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH5-uQj4uOA Forbidden Solitaire https://greyaliengames.com/forbiddensolitaire/index.php  Titanium Court https://store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/Titanium_Court/  Amberspire https://store.steampowered.com/app/3350750/Amberspire/  https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 52m

  4. May 22

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 8

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 8 - the Finale! The Mole is finally unmasked. That's about it for tourist season in Portgual (though big wave season starts around November!) but we'll be back next week for the Ep 9 reunion in Belgium. Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Thanks Robin for our Mol guessing game website! Tip him here: https://ko-fi.com/rbnvi Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 31m

  5. May 15

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 7

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 7. Who is the Mole, and how does this elimination echo last season's Final Four? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Danny Hawk - Folk Games, Flash Communities and Tiktok https://newrules.website/2021/01/12/danny-hawk-folk-games-flash-communities-and-tiktok/ Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3giaIzONA Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 18m

  6. May 9

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 6

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 6. Who is the Mole, and who will play Juliet to Wout's Romeo? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 30m
  7. All Systems Brough - Corrypt

    May 3

    All Systems Brough - Corrypt

    We're joined by Naomi Clark (NYU Game Center, Consentacle, A Game Design Vocabulary) and Frank Lantz (Q-UP, Universal Paperclips, also NYU Game Center) to discuss Corrypt, a totally normal block-moving game where nothing weird happens. It's the fifth installment of All Systems Brough, our yearlong special series exploring the playable arcana of Michael Brough. This episode: Corrypt Next Month: VESPER.5 Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Corrypt https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/12/corrypt.html  868-BACK (Launching May 28, 2026! Wishlist now!!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  The Talk of Magicians – Liz Ryerson https://ellaguro.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-talk-of-magicians.html I Solved Klotski – 2swap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGLNyHd2w10  Corrypt Post-Cariem – Michael Brough https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2014/07/corrypt-post-cariem.html  Michael Brough: Going with the grain (A MAZE. Indie Connect 2013, Berlin) – A MAZE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYXInr3N5UQ  Game Title https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2258 Game Title: Lost Levels https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2268 Stephen Gillmurphy's definition of videogames https://www.harmonyzone.org/Videogames.html  Fractal Block World https://store.steampowered.com/app/1540570/Fractal_Block_World/  Road to the IGF: Michael Brough's Corrypt  https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/road-to-the-igf-michael-brough-s-i-corrypt-i-  Michael Brough - The Roots of Roguelikes in Fantasy Fiction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpX2wWwhKdE  Corrypt Speedrun (5:44) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BAVUc_2SEc  Donkeyspace (Frank Lantz's Blog) https://franklantz.substack.com/ NYU Game Center Spring Showcase https://gamecenter.nyu.edu/event/nyu-game-center-spring-showcase-2026/ https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 57m

  8. Apr 30

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 5

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 5. Who is the Mole, and how will this episode's big twist echo throughout the rest of the season? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1h 34m
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4.9
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About

Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.

Information

  • Creator
    The Secret Lives of Games
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    275
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Secret Lives of Games 2018-2026
  • Show Website
    The Secret Lives of Games

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