openindie - your indie game podcast

by Sarah and iV

0.0 (0)
VIDEO GAMES

openindie - your indie game podcast

We love indiegames! If you are reading this, so do you. We tell the stories of passionate indie game developers across the world making them. We explore their motivations, goals, funding experiences, and valuable advice for aspiring creators. 🔗 You can find us here: https://linktr.ee/openindie Have fun listening and if you do, make sure to Follow us for updates on new episodes and tell your friends (and enemies) about us.

12/15/2024

#34 - Flocking Hell - Sextant Studios - Elli - USA

Before diving into video games, Elli created the successful board game "Worldbreakers: Advent of the Kani," which gained significant attention and praise from industry veterans. Now, discover how Elli's unique background in computational biology and board game design shaped their approach to game development. Get an inside look at "Flocking Hell," where players navigate fog-covered maps, manage resources, and prepare for inevitable demon invasions across 80 crucial turns. The game launches on Steam in March 2025, complete with nine language options. Episode Markers: What is Flocking Hell? (01:06) How Elli feels about the upcoming release of Flocking Hell (01:39) A typical run of Flocking Hell (02:32) Ideas that inspired Flocking Hell (05:19) Elli´s favorite feature in Flocking Hell (08:02) Feedback from the Demo (10:21) Playtesters? Wanted! (12:58) Long term plans for Flocking Hell´s development (14:09) Controller & Touch support? (17:24) From Bio Science to board game to video game (19:01) Elli´s life and research done during COVID (21:22) Reason to go develop an Indie game (23:31) A moment as indiegamedev Elli will always remember (24:47) The best part about developing your own game... (26:48) ... and the worst part about it (28:55) Elli´s advice for aspiring indie game developers (30:21) Are you a solodev? Who´s helping to make Flocking Hell (33:47) Story behind the Name Sextant Studios (39:50) Funding for developing Flocking Hell (41:57) Does Flocking Hell have a Publisher? (43:28) Elli´s take on the indie dev scene in the US (44:42) Challenges and chances of developing games in the US (46:40) Whether you're a strategy enthusiast or just love the idea of sheep battling demons, this episode offers a delightful glimpse into the mind of a talented and creative developer. As always, have fun listening! If you enjoy what we do, tell your friends (and enemies) about us.

50 min
11/10/2024

#33 - Ballionaire - newobject - USA

In this episode of openindie, we sit down with newobject, the indie developer behind the upcoming roguelike game Ballionaire. After spending two decades in the corporate world and experiencing the 2023 tech layoffs, newobject returned to his lifelong passion for game development. He shares his journey from corporate life to indie dev, the creative process behind Ballionaire, and the challenges of balancing work, family, and crunch mode. We dive deep into the unique mechanics of Ballionaire — a game inspired by Pachinko and Luck Be A Landlord — where players build chaotic synergies on a static board. newobject also opens up about his favorite features, the joys of watching players discover unexpected synergies, and his advice for aspiring indie developers: "Make weirder, shorter games and let's experiment more." Whether you're an aspiring developer or a fan of indie games, this episode is packed with insights, personal stories, and practical advice. Tune in to learn more about Ballionaire and why it’s set to be a standout in the indie gaming world! As always, have fun listening! If you enjoy what we do, tell your friends (and enemies) about us.

51 min
08/27/2024

#32 - AFK Chess - PlistA - Netherlands

In episode 32, we dive into the world of chess and Autobattlers with our guest, PlistA, a talented developer from the Netherlands. He is currently working on AFK Chess (check it out in ⁠here), an innovative game that seamlessly blends the strategic depth of chess with the laid-back mechanics of Autobattlers, all wrapped in a beautiful art style. AFK Chess offers a unique experience that you can enjoy for free on Steam and in your browser. Join us as we explore PlistA's journey, the challenges of solo development, and the inspiration behind this captivating game. In our talk we mention a Indie Developer Meetup in Amsterdam - you can find more infos here: ⁠Amsterdam Indie Developer Meetup⁠ As always, have fun listening! If you enjoy what we do, tell your friends (and enemies) about us.

37 min
05/15/2024

#31 - RollScape - Leonardo the Vinchy - Belgium

One topic we never expected to explore on openindie? The unlikely game dev origins of solo creator Leo, who used PowerPoint to craft point-and-click adventures way back in kindergarten! Today, that precocious creative spark has culminated in RollScape - Leo's dice-rolling adventure hitting Steam on May 22nd, just a week away from this recording. We're thrilled to sit down with Leo and unravel the inspiration behind this addictive indie gem. He'll share his motivation for RollScape's unique premise, his journey as a solodev before this debut release, and his ambitious plans for evolving the dice adventure concept. From PowerPoint tinkering to bringing RollScape's innovative dice gameplay to life, it's a path few could foresee. Tune in as we go behind-the-scenes with Leo on this rollicking ride through the challenges and rewards of indie game development in Belgium. As always, have fun listening! If you want to find more info about RollScape and our previous guests, visit us at www.openindie.eu and tell your friends (and enemies!) about our little indie podcast to help us grow.

22 min
12/17/2023

#30 - Thronefall - Grizzly Games - Paul Schnepf - Germany

In episode 30, we explore the development journey of Thronefall, a captivating kingdom builder/tower defense game seamlessly blending key elements from classics like Kingdom, tower defense titles, and real-time strategy games. Thronefall has taken Steam by storm since its early access launch in August 2023, garnering over 8,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews for its innovative hybrid genre approach. We sit down with Paul, indie dev and co-founder of Berlin-based Grizzly Games. We chart Thronefall's evolution from an overscoped fantasy card game to the tight, tactical experience winning acclaim today. Paul gives insights into Thronefall's design, his accidental origins in indie gaming, and the ups and downs of game dev life in Germany. Your host Iv engages Paul in a fascinating discussion unraveling the story behind this breakout indie hit. Learn about the creative process shaping the game, balancing life as a compact two-person studio, and Paul's hopes for the future of the German indie scene. As always, have fun listening :) If you want to find more info's about this game and our previous guests, visit us at ⁠www.openindie.eu⁠ and tell your friends (and also your enemies) about us to help our little indie podcast grow.

38 min
10/14/2023

#29 - Tiny Rogues - Pixlpunk - RubyDev - Austria

In this episode of our podcast, we delve into the captivating world of Tiny Rogues, a game that seamlessly blends gameplay elements from iconic titles like Hades, Dark Souls, Diablo, and Binding of Isaac. Tiny Rogues made waves on Steam, amassing over 3,200 reviews with a staggering 97% positivity rate. Join us as we sit down with Benji, the talented indiedev and founder of Studio Pixlpunk from Austria behind this gem. We explore the journey of Tiny Rogues from its Early Access debut to the highly anticipated massive update released just before the year (2023) ends. Benji shares insights into his gaming career, the challenges of game development, and what it's like crafting games in Austria. Iv, engages in a conversation with Benji, unraveling the story behind Tiny Rogues and the creative process that led to its success. As always, have fun listening :) If you want to find more info's about this game and our previous guests, visit us at www.openindie.eu and tell your friends (and also your enemies) about us to help our little indie podcast grow.

38 min
07/28/2023

#28 - Bish Bash Bots - CATASTROPHIC_OVERLOAD - James Letherby - UK

In this exciting episode of openindie, join us for an one-on-one interview with James Letherby, co-founder of CATASTROPHIC_OVERLOAD, an indie game dev studio located in Bristol, UK. Discover the fascinating journey of CATASTROPHIC_OVERLOAD, co-founded by James Letherby and Josh Burr, as James shares their passion for crafting captivating co-op experiences. Learn about their creation "Drink More Glurp," which was released in August 2020 during the pandemic as a unique co-op adventure. James gives us an insider's look into the upcoming release, "Bish Bash Bots," a fusion of casual tower defense and intense brawling action that promises an adrenaline-pumping delight and co-op fun. Join us as James shares his personal journey into game programming, the challenges he faced, and the triumphs that fueled his dedication to creating unforgettable gaming experiences. As always, have fun listening :) If you want to find more info's about this game and our previous guests, visit us at www.openindie.eu and tell your friends (and also your enemies) about us to help our little indie podcast grow.

42 min
02/02/2023

#27 - Favorites & Wishlists 2023 Special - with Ben, Sarah & iV

Three friends - Sarah, Ben and iV - share their top 3 favorite indies of 2022 and what game they are looking forward to in 2023 the most. #Indiegames from these awesome #indiedevs covered during this cozy talk: Darkest Dungeon 2 by Red Hook Studios Midnight Fight Express by Jacob Dzwinel Hellslave by Ars Goetia Retro Gadgets by Evil Licorice Vampire Survivors by poncle The Last Spell by Ishtar Games The Talos Principle by Croteam Dome Keeper by Bippinbits Disco Elysium by ZA/UM Tiny Rogues by Rubidev Stray by BlueTwelve Studio Replaced by Sad Cat Studios Universe for Sale by Tmesis Studio As always, have fun listening :) If you want to find more info's about this game and our previous guests, visit us at ⁠www.openindie.eu⁠ and tell your friends (and also your enemies) about

46 min

We love indiegames! If you are reading this, so do you. We tell the stories of passionate indie game developers across the world making them. We explore their motivations, goals, funding experiences, and valuable advice for aspiring creators. 🔗 You can find us here: https://linktr.ee/openindie Have fun listening and if you do, make sure to Follow us for updates on new episodes and tell your friends (and enemies) about us.

Creator

by Sarah and iV
Years Active

2021 - 2024
Episodes

37
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© by Sarah and iV
Show Website

openindie - your indie game podcast