The Unofficial PopCap PopCast

Isaac Aubrey & Stephen Notley
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Video Games

Former PopCappers Isaac Aubrey and Stephen Notley chat about the Golden Age of classic indie game studio PopCap Games.

  1. 2d ago

    OG PopCappers: Tysen Henderson & Jeff Weinstein - Part 1

    Isaac and Steve talk to two of the earliest PopCap hires, artist/designer Tysen Henderson and programmer Jeff Weinstein, both of whom were at PopCap years before either of our gracious hosts arrived. Insane aquariums, anti-shark typing and flying pigs erupted soon after, along with one of PopCap's first fully polished action games, Astropop. Come, join us in the weeds with these two PopCap legends! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast00:19  Hello Greetings Bonjour01:02  Realest and Earliest02:14  Quest For Glory05:39  Free Stars07:00  How I Learned How to Program10:49  Insaniquarium12:49  Doing Digital Art17:47  Dinosaur Smut Porn18:45  GDC & George Fan24:46  Terrible Demo Disc27:57  What AMD Stands For29:53  When Pigs Fly35:18  The Only Team in the Office39:23  Typer Shark43:06  Vulgarity Filter47:35  Astropop52:27  Such a Crucial Part of Any Game58:34  Expermiental Stuff1:01:19  And On That...

  2. Jul 22

    Peggle, Valve & Skpow!: Eric Tams - Part 2

    Isaac and Steve continue their deep dive with programming/game design whiz Eric Tams. Topics include a ton of stuff about Peggle, working nights on homebrew projects, moving on when the time is right, accounting for failure as well as success, and a whole spew of other fascinating stuff.  LINKSStar Control: The Ur-Quan Mastershttps://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php

  3. Jul 15

    PopWar & Portals: Eric Tams - Part 1

    Isaac and Steve chat with former PopCap, now Valve programmer Eric Tams. Discussion touches on chess, growing up in Utah, figuring out where games go wrong, and the unreleased gem, Prince of Toys! Check it out... if you dare!

  4. Jul 8

    No Episode This Week!

    Isaac and Steve pop in to briefly explain that while there won't be a full episode this week, listeners and fans should rest assured more PopCast is well on the way! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast00:19  Hello Greetings Bonjour01:06  ...annnnnd we're out!

  5. Jul 1

    PopCap and beyond - Ed Allard pt2

    Steve and Isaac continue to converse with the omnitalented Ed Allard about PopCap Games and beyond. Ed co-founded Escape Factory & Sprout Games, founded Wayward Distractions, audio designed for TIVO, and directed games worldwide for PopCap... all before breakfast! We keep chatting about all of it in this second half of our conversation. Check it out! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast00:19  Hello and Welcome01:22  118 Direct Reports04:29  Platform Stuff05:06  Pvz2 Development07:10  The Siloing Effect10:36  Pig Up & New IP31:01  Wayward Distractions34:09  Space Otter Charlie41:04  Game Dev Triangle of Labor46:16  The Prairies of Possibility50:09  Prototyping on Robotics50:58  Time With AI55:12  Experience Organic Life56:17  Wrapping Up

  6. Jun 24

    Sprout Games and beyond - Ed Allard pt1

    Steve and Isaac welcome the multitalented Ed Allard for conversation about his tenure at PopCap during the golden age.  Co-founder of Escape Factory and Sprout Games, founder of Wayward Distractions, audio designer for the TIVO, and Director of Games Worldwide for PopCap Games around the time of the buyout. Ed has a very storied career and we get the privilege of talking with him about all of it. Join us!

    Sprout Games and beyond - Ed Allard pt1

  7. Jun 17

    Pour Another One Out for the Two Bells - Part 2

    Isaac and Steve continue to grill and be grilled by Rich Werner, Matt Holmberg and Julie Thomas regarding the nexus of nonsense known as the Two Bells pub.  Sandwiches are discussed, as are soups, billionaires and Narnia. Pull up a stool and join us! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast00:19  Hello and Welcome01:45  Previously on...02:27  Duck Hunt03:52  Pulse of Creativity07:19  Favorite Item15:56  Soups20:57  Covid 25:07  Pub at Piper's Creek34:16  We'll Never Be Billionaires38:59  A Two Bells Memory (or two)47:00  Narnia50:48  Cold Spots52:33  Life After Death55:38  This Beautiful Thing

  8. Jun 10

    Pour One Out for the Two Bells - Part 1

    Isaac and Steve push Zoom to the limit to babble about the legendary "PopCap South," otherwise known as the Two Bells Pub. Plants vs. Zombies artists Rich Werner and Matt Holmberg team up with bartending superstar Julie Thomas for an unflinching sprint down memory lane. We dig up old memories of a beloved bar, examine them, and shake our collective heads at the sort of nonsense we used to get up to, all while celebrating a special place that meant so much to so many. CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast00:19  Hello and Welcome02:27  Pop a Cap in Yer Ass03:39  Vechey04:50  Symbiotic06:56  Back Tables09:31  TTP12:37  Belltown14:02  Big Fish16:46  Human Thing19:22  Irish Noir Gangster23:05  Some Kind of Disturbance27:29  Meredith Storm29:41  Smart Drinkers Drink Water33:54  Two Bells Movie Night36:26  Punks and Party Animals40:05  Evil Disney Witch Ladies46:31  That Third Place49:30  Robo Dojo 52:01  Pure Daylight52:29  And On That

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Ratings & Reviews

5
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About

Former PopCappers Isaac Aubrey and Stephen Notley chat about the Golden Age of classic indie game studio PopCap Games.

Information

  • Creator
    Isaac Aubrey & Stephen Notley
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Isaac Aubrey & Stephen Notley