138 episodes

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

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

    • Leisure
    • 4.9 • 116 Ratings

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

    Playing in the Moment with Videogamo

    Playing in the Moment with Videogamo

    We're joined by Hernán Sáez of Videogamo (DOBOTONE, NAVE) to discuss his beautifully ephemeral party/arcade games, as well as Marie Foulston, a playful curator/creative director who commissioned Videogamo's latest work, GOL-E-GOL. We discuss site-specific experiences, and the slippage between hardware and software realms.
    Show Notes:
    Hernán Sáez
    Marie Foulston
    Videogamo
    Máximo Balestrini
    NAVE Arcade
    DOBOTONE
    Gol-E-Gol
    Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt
    Wild Rumpus
    No Quarter Exhibition 2022
    The Grannies
    Australian Centre for the Moving Image
    OUYA
    B.U.T.T.O.N.
    California Extreme
    Slick Shot (pool arcade game)

    • 1 hr 25 min
    Finding Your Groove with John Johanas (Hi-Fi RUSH)

    Finding Your Groove with John Johanas (Hi-Fi RUSH)

    We're joined by John Johanas, Director of Tango Gameworks' pitch-perfect rhythm action game Hi-Fi RUSH. We discuss the many challenges of creating a world and systems that stay on beat, while John and Sarah discuss the creation of the character she plays in the game (!), Korsica.
    Show Notes:
    John Johanas
    Hi-Fi RUSH
    Tango Gameworks
    Sekiro
    Skate's text-based prototype
    Everyday Shooter
    Tormentor X Punisher
    Patapon
    PaRappa the Rapper
    GuitarFreaks
    Guitar Hero Live
    Dyad
    Thumper
    Zwan - Honestly

    • 1 hr 15 min
    Making Friends with Madison Karrh (Birth)

    Making Friends with Madison Karrh (Birth)

    We're joined by Madison Karrh, the solo dev behind Birth, a curious new adventure puzzle game about building a companion to quell your loneliness. We discuss the density and voyeurism of exploring city spaces, embracing the aesthetics of death, and making games that respect your time on earth.
    Show Notes:
    Madison Karrh
    IndieCade: Canabalt's Adam Saltsman's Pursuit of the Infinite
    Cole Imperi (Thanatologist)
    Double Fine's PsychOdyssey
    Everyone I Know Keeps Breaking Things
    A Chat With the Creator of Birth - Eurogamer
    Feral Earth
    Solar Protocol
    Weiwei Xu's Multiverse
    Library of Babel

    • 1 hr 16 min
    Answering Your Questions without a Guest

    Answering Your Questions without a Guest

    No guest this week, so we chat about the motley selection of games we're playing, before hopping into some thoughtful listener questions. We talk reality shows, historical board games, our go-to podcasts, and the importance of making things for yourself.
    Show Notes:
    Betrayal at Club Low
    Noita
    Slice & Dice
    Hi-Fi RUSH
    Duolingo
    I Imported EDF6, And Here's Why You Should Too
    Boss Fight Books - Season 6 Kickstarter
    OODA loop
    Paolo Pedercini's Making Games in an F****d Up World
    Greening the Games Industry
    Homo Ludens Podcast
    Playing at the World
    Molly House
    Dead Eyes
    Rashomon
    Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV
    The Eleventh podcast
    The Worst Idea of All Time
    Guy Montgomory
    Lolita Podcast
    You Must Remember This
    A More Civilized Age
    Dr. Gameshow
    Hey Riddle Riddle
    Just Button

    • 1 hr 36 min
    Designing For Delight with Vectorpark (Windosill)

    Designing For Delight with Vectorpark (Windosill)

    Patrick "Vectorpark" Smith joins us to discuss his curious and inspiring oeuvre, the lost art of Flash games and DVD menus, and the pros and cons of keeping your art to yourself.
    Show Notes:
    Vectorpark
    Windosill
    Patrick's paintings
    Haunt the House
    Dorling Kindersley's 1995 Encyclopedia of Nature
    Daniel Clowes
    Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan
    Julie Doucet
    Jim Woodring's Frank
    "Playdate" by Chris Ware
    Richard McGuire
    TET
    Playables
    Hollow Ponds
    Noby Noby Boy

    • 1 hr 21 min
    Welcoming Laura!

    Welcoming Laura!

    We welcome Laura E. Hall (they/she) as a permanent member of the cast! Fresh off a session of their online escape game The Traveler's Guide to Little Sodaburg, we dig into its web-savvy design, how the last few years have impacted the immersive games space, and the inspirations behind a rad career of experience design.
    Show Notes:
    Laura E. Hall
    The Traveler's Guide to Little Sodaburg
    The Pop Star's Room of Doom
    Pursuit of the Assassin Artist
    Palace Games
    Sleep No More
    Meow Wolf
    I Love Bees
    The Beast
    Masquerade book
    The 11th Hour book
    Level99
    The Silence in Room 1258
    De Mol
    A Game Designer's Analysis of QAnon

    • 1 hr 18 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
116 Ratings

116 Ratings

happy_farts ,

Best Video Game Podcast

I’ve listened to way too many video game podcasts and none are as joyful or insightful to me as Eggplant. Absolute critical listening for anyone interested in the art of making games

Halirin ,

Great interviews, discussions, and insight

Some fine young men (and Sarah)making a difference one interview at a time!

Frankieg33 ,

Unique view into the world of games in general with fantastic hosts

Such an interesting perspective on video games unavailable anywhere else. The hosts are warm and knowledgeable and have excellent taste which makes listening to the discussions around game development and design extremely engaging.

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