Indie Devs Play

Indie Devs Play
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Join indie game developers Josh Watts and Jonathan Ridgway as they play video games to discuss what makes them work, why certain game design decisions were made and how they may have influenced the games industry in the past, present and future. Discord: https://discord.gg/qJAk72KS7p

Episodes

  1. Oct 15

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 9 - Streets of Rage 2 (SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis) & 1992 in Gaming

    In the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, hosts Jonathan Ridgway and Josh Watts dive into Streets of Rage II. They riff on 1992’s gaming landscape. Discussing new IPs (Super Mario Kart, Mortal Kombat, Kirby’s Dream Land, Virtua Racing), big releases (Sonic 2, Street Fighter II, Final Fantasy V), and the arcade-to-console transition that shaped design and difficulty. The conversation covers Streets of Rage 2’s improvements over earlier beat-’em-ups: distinct playable characters, combo and special-move systems (that cost health), tight audiovisual feedback, stage variety, and co-op appeal. The hosts discuss difficulty design, how older game genres influenced modern AAA action (from Arkham-style combat to modern hybrids), and the value of in-game signposting versus player discovery. Chapters 00:00:00 - Start 00:01:14 - Gaming in 1992 00:09:15 - Do Sequel Numbers Scare Players Away? 00:19:39 - From Arcades to the 3D Revolution 00:25:06 - How Streets of Rage 2 Took Shape 00:26:33 - Fighting-Game Depth in a Beat-’Em-Up 00:31:12 - Animation, Impact, and Game Feel 00:35:30 - Beat-’Em-Ups’ Influence on Modern Games 00:40:25 - Difficulty, Challenge, and Player Expectations 00:50:19 - Guiding Players Without Taking Over 00:55:13 - Exploration, Clues, and the Joy of Discovery 00:58:08 - What’s Next: Amnesia: The Dark Descent   Indie Devs Play Discord: https://discord.gg/qJAk72KS7p Indie Devs Play Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/indiedevsplay References: Streets of Rage, SEGA, SEGA Mega Drive, SEGA Genesis, Ancient, Yuzu Koshiro, Yu Suzuki, Super Nintendo, SNES, Super Famicom, SEGA Master System, Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy V, Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Nintendo Game Boy, Dragon Quest V, Chunsoft, Spike Chunsoft, Enix, Mario Paint, Sensible Soccer, WWF Super Wrestlemania, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, WWF Smackdown!, WWF Attitude, Ultima VII: The Black Gate, Ultima IV, Super Mario Kart, Shin Megami Tensei, Kirby’s Dream Land, Virtua Racing, Virtua Fighter, Virtua Cop, Virtual-On, Virtua Striker, Mortal Kombat, King’s Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow, Sierra Entertainment, Leisure Suit Larry, Half-Life, Valve, Vivendi, Activision Blizzard, Space Quest, Police Quest, Microsoft, Wolverine, Fable 2, Fable 3, Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter Rise, Rugrats Adventure Game, The Flintstones Fashion Cave Math, Penny Falls, Coin Pusher, OutRun, Super Mario 64, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Yakuza, Sifu, River City Girls, Double Dragon, Final Fight, Golden Axe, Capcom, Tecmo.

  2. Sep 26

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 8 - Super Mario 64 (N64/Switch) & 1996 in Gaming

    In the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, Josh and Jonathan discuss their playthrough of Super Mario 64, placing it in the context of 1996 gaming (from Tamagotchi to Tomb Raider and Pokémon). They break down what made Super Mario 64 revolutionary: the analogue-stick movement, camera and control innovations, hub-world level design, varied objectives and mechanics (ground pound, tail-spin, flying cap), plus moments of brilliant tutorialization and a few jarring design choices. References: Super Mario Brothers, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Switch, Nintendo, Wii, Super Nintendo, Game Boy Pocket, Tamagotchi, Pokemon Red/Blue/Green, Duke Nukem 3D, Street Fighter 2 Alpha, Mario Kart 64, Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, Shigeru Miyamoto, Resident Evil, Dead or Alive, Tomb Raider, Virtua Fighter 3, Soul Edge, Soul Calibur, Sakura Wars, Persona, Broken Sword, Atari Jaguar, 3DO, Sega CD, Virtual Boy, Gabe Newell, Dan Houser, Tim Schafer, Super Mario Brothers 2, Super Mario Allstars, Super Mario World, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Odyssey, Quake, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda, Portal 2, UFO: Unfortunately Fortunate Organisms, Kid Klown in Crazy Chase, Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer, Star Fox, Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes, Pokemon Trading Card Game, Duke Nukem Forever, Biohazard, Blockbuster, Choices, Netflix, Scooby-Doo! Classic Creep Capers, BLEACH, New Sakura Wars, Shounen Jump, Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars.

  3. Sep 12

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 7 - Fable: The Lost Chapters (PC/Xbox), RPGs 2000-04 & Morality Systems

    In the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, Josh and Jonathan discuss their playthrough of Fable: The Lost Chapters, as well as taking a look at RPGs released from 2000 to 2004 during the development of Fable and the challenges of designing video games with morality systems. Run of Show 00:00:00 - Start 00:01:54 - Gaming News Summary 00:03:00 - Fable Info 00:03:45 - RPGs released from 2000-2004 00:10:48 - Fable: The Lost Chapters 01:02:00 - Morality Systems Indie Devs Play Discord: https://discord.gg/qJAk72KS7p References: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, Nintendo Switch 2, Summer Game Fest, Nintendo Direct, Diablo II, Deus Ex, Baldur’s Gate II, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, Final Fantasy X, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Neverwinter Nights, Kingdom Hearts, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, Fable II, Fable III, Lionhead Studios, Big Blue Box Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Tangled, Mass Effect, State of Play, Orbitals, Super Mario 64, Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, Peter Molyneux, Zelda Direct, Ranma ½, YuYu Hakusho, Cowboy Bebop.

  4. Sep 1

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 6 - Halo: Combat Evolved (PC/Xbox) & 2001 in Gaming

    In the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, Josh and Jonathan discuss their co-op playthrough of Halo: Combat Evolved as well as taking a look at 2001 in gaming and the challenges with remastering or remaking an older game.   References: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, Final Fantasy X, Grand Theft Auto 3, SSX Tricky, Ico, Super Smash Bros Melee, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, Xbox, PlayStation 2, Animal Crossing, Super Monkey Ball, Devil May Cry, Jak and Daxter, Black & White, Pro Evolution Soccer, Red Faction, Game Boy Advance, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Sonic Adventure 2, Silent Hill 2, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Shenmue 2, Pikmin, Final Fantasy Chronicles, Baldur’s Gate II, Metacritic, Doom, Call of Duty, Alien,    Run of Show 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:58 - 2001 in Gaming 00:07:18 - Halo: Combat Evolved (PC/Xbox) 00:47:30 - Remasters and Remakes   Join the official Indie Devs Play Discord! https://discord.gg/qJAk72KS7p

  5. Aug 25

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 5 - Balatro (PC/Switch) & 2024 GOTY Nominees

    In the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, Josh and Jonathan discuss their experience playing the roguelike deckbuilding indie game Balatro, as well as some of the video games competing with Balatro for Game of the Year in 2024. Run of Show 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:49 - GOTY 2024 Nominees 00:08:52 - Balatro (PC/Switch) References: The Game Awards, DICE, GDC, BAFTA Games, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Golden Joystick Awards, Astro Bot, Black Myth: Wukong, Trauma Center, Nintendo Wii, Steam, Nintendo Switch, Slay the Spire, Risk of Rain, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Stellar Blade, Helldivers 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, LocalThunk, Playstack, LÖVE engine, Poker, Gambit, Chess. Indie Devs Play Discord: https://discord.gg/JdKmhpXmrU

  6. Aug 20

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 4 - Portal 2 (PC) & 2011 in Gaming

    In the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, Josh and Jonathan discuss their co-op playthrough of Portal 2 as well as taking a look at 2011 in gaming and designing puzzles for games that aren’t of the puzzle game genre. Run of Show 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:57 - 2011 in Gaming 00:09:04 - Portal 2 (PC) References: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Danganronpa, Mass Effect 2, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Pokemon Nintendo 64, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Mega Man Legends, Dead Island, God of War, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Minecraft, Dark Souls, Dead Rising, Doom, Limbo, Bastion

  7. Aug 11

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 3 - Bioshock (PC) Completed

    For the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, would you kindly make a cup of tea and have a listen to Josh and Jonathan as they share their opinions on Bioshock after finishing the game for the first time.   Indie Devs Play Discord: https://discord.gg/qJAk72KS7p

  8. Aug 4

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 2 - Bioshock (PC) & 2007 in Gaming

    In the latest episode of Indie Devs Play, Josh and Jonathan begin their playthrough of the original Bioshock on PC whilst also taking a quick look into other popular games that were released in 2007.   Run of Show 00:00:00 - Start and 2007 in Gaming 00:08:50 - Bioshock (PC)

  9. Jul 28

    Indie Devs Play: Episode 1 - The Legend of Zelda (NES)

    The inaugural Indie Devs Play episode, where Josh Watts and Jonathan Ridgway share their journeys into the games industry and how they became indie game developers, followed by the main event: a discussion about their first time playing the original The Legend of Zelda on the NES. Run of Show 00:00:00 - Start and Introductions 00:49:53 - The Legend of Zelda (NES)

  • 9 Episodes

About

Join indie game developers Josh Watts and Jonathan Ridgway as they play video games to discuss what makes them work, why certain game design decisions were made and how they may have influenced the games industry in the past, present and future. Discord: https://discord.gg/qJAk72KS7p

Information

  • Creator
    Indie Devs Play
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Indie Devs Play