Pistol Shrimp Podcast Pistol Shrimp

Fred and Dan chat with Freehold Games about Caves of Qud and making an independent game that stands out. Jason and Brian share their love of classic space games, epic science fiction worlds, and the creative appeal of retro games. Hosted live, on Twitch.
0:00 - Theme Music
0:14 - Introductions
3:42 - Classic space games
7:30 - Making The Ur-Quan Masters
11:30.- Writing and character design
15:10 - Making a sequel
22:00 - Super Melee and combat
39:30 - Caves of Qud and tile-based gameplay
48:35 - Game controls
55:53 - Accessibility in a niche
1:08:25 - Multiplayer design
1:17:17 - Modding and player feedback
Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/theurquanmaster
Discuss with us on Discord - https://discord.gg/rasVCDmYKp
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/pistolshrimp
Learn more about Pistol Shrimp - https://pistolshrimpgames.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred and Dan chat with Charlie Cleveland about Subnautica, Natural Selection, and his leadership at Unknown Worlds. They discuss the influence of The Ur-Quan Masters, and fun is more important than game balance. Charlie highlights the power of multi-linear storytelling, early access, and getting player feedback as soon as possible. Hosted live, on Twitch.
0:00 - Theme music
0:14 - Introductions
2:15 - Charlie's first game
6:25 - Designing Super Melee
9:38 - Competitive multiplayer
17:31 - Game balance versus fun
21:57 - Multi-linear storytelling
27:13 - Open worlds and procedural generation
32:53.- Simulation and systems
36:45 - Games with multiple systems
40:45 - Cult classics
43:00 - Making a sequel
51:08 - Co-operative multiplayer
53:50 - The foundation for Subnautica
56:30 - Natural Selection to Moonbreakers
59:30 - Making of Subnautica
1:05:57 - Time and money
1:12:18 - Player feedback and perspective
1:19:14 - Creative success
1:24:08 - Open development
1:29:28 - Indie vs. AAA
1:40:14 - Designing game systems
1:51:28 - Multiplayer technology
1:59:30 - Game engines
2:05:05 - Game fans
2:07:06 - Subnautica vs. Below Zero
2:10:30 - Early access and story spoilers
2:22:35 - Zen of Soduku and casual games
2:27:22 - Live service games
2:40:10 - Crowdfunding
2:44:11 - Creative community
Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/theurquanmaster
Discuss with us on Discord - https://discord.gg/rasVCDmYKp
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/pistolshrimp
Learn more about Pistol Shrimp - https://pistolshrimpgames.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred and Dan talk with Mac Walters about his experience on Mass Effect and Jade Empire, plus his transition from his leadership at BioWare to his new studio, Worlds Untold. Mac breaks down his sci-fi inspiration, and how he approaches game writing, building a vision, and working as a team.
0:00 - Theme music
0:14 - Introductions
01:22 - Mac's path to BioWare
06:20 - Inspiration and nostalgia
09:20 - How to begin a game story
12:00 - Playing your own games
13:52 - Creative possibilities and wisdom
23:55 - Delivering on an idea
28:38 - Prototyping versus finishing
41:45 - Building a shared vision
47:23 - Distributed teams and remote work
59:14 - Individual styles and personalities
1:07:10 - Star Wars, Dune, and styles of sci-fi
1:15:28 - Sequels versus new stories
1:19:45 - Staying inspired
Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/theurquanmaster
Discuss with us on Discord - https://discord.gg/rasVCDmYKp
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/pistolshrimp
Learn more about Pistol Shrimp - https://pistolshrimpgames.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan and Fred talk to Richard Cobbett about writing for games, including The Long Journey Home, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, and Nighthawks. Richard shares his love for The Ur-Quan Masters, and explains how a good storyteller can draw the player into a game's story, setting, and characters.
0:00 - Theme music
0:14 - Introductions
1:56 - The Long Journey Home
4:15 - The Ur-Quan Masters
5:52 - Layers of sci-fi writing
10:28 - Likeable villains
12:33 - Where to start writing
21:14 - Narrative design in Sunless Skies
31:35 - Writing with a team
45:46 - Star Trek and self-referencing
50:42 - Changing from the first idea
55:33 - Ownership and project size
1:00:27 - Sci-fi and procedural generation
1:04:19 - Making of Nighthawks
1:09:00 - Starting a career in games
1:27:10 - Sketches and iteration
1:36:30 - Fusing story and gameplay
1:49:43 - The unique appeal of UQM
2:02:01 - The adventure game genre
Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/theurquanmaster
Discuss with us on Discord - https://discord.gg/rasVCDmYKp
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/pistolshrimp
Learn more about Pistol Shrimp - https://pistolshrimpgames.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred and Dan talk to Chris Taylor about leading a game production, including Total Annihilation, Dungeon Siege, and more. Chris talks about running a game studio, engaging the audience, and why it's sometimes better to be an employee than a leader.
0:00 - Theme music
0:00 - Introductions
1:16 - The UQM Team
11:48 - Chris's start in games
16:42 - Industrial Light & Magic
20:58 - Running a game studio
31:37 - Finding the fun
34:40 - The "Rock War" RTS
43:24 - Writing sci-fi factions
47:19 - Creating for an audience
56:54 - Fan feedback
1:05:35 - Making Dungeon Siege
1:21:24 - Development tools and multiplayer
1:42:20 - Nostalgia and classic games
Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/theurquanmaster
Discuss with us on Discord - https://discord.gg/rasVCDmYKp
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/pistolshrimp
Learn more about Pistol Shrimp - https://pistolshrimpgames.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred and Dan talk to Andrew Hume and Richard Clifford of MinMax Games, creators of Space Pirates and Zombies. The duo talk about building an indie game studio, the power of procedurally generated content, and the influence of The Ur-Quan Masters.
0:00 - Theme music
0:14 - Introductions
3:03 - Influence on Space Pirates and Zombies
10:14 - Discovering a game's focus
17:17 - Building an indie game studio
24:05 - Finding an audience
33:37 - Space combat
40:17 - Procedurally generated content
48:04 - Retro gaming
51:05 - The feeling of UQM
Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/theurquanmaster
Discuss with us on Discord - https://discord.gg/rasVCDmYKp
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/pistolshrimp
Learn more about Pistol Shrimp - https://pistolshrimpgames.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.