The Red Tunic Podcast

In this episode I speak with Philip Tibitoski, co-founder and president at Young Horses developers of the Octodad series and Bugsnax

0:00 Intro

14:30 How Philip got into making games

21:30 Words of wisdom

28:30 Why Ocarina of Time got him into making games

35:30 Favorite games

43:40 Concept of game-feel

46:30 Hobbies outside of games

55:00 Last words and where to find Philip

In this episode I speak with Frederik Strom, developer of upcoming Combustion being published by 3D Realms

0:00 Start

17:30 How Fred got into making games

29:30 Words of wisdom and advice

40:00 Game that made Fred want to make games

50:00 What makes gaming enjoyable to Fred

01:08:30 Hobbies outside of gaming

01:24:00 Wrap up

In this episode of the Red Tunic Podcast I speak with Ty Brannan marketing assistant for 3D Realms, and Slipgate Ironworks, Producer on Call of Saregnar, Stellar Valkyrie and Event Coordinator for Realms Deep

0:00 - Introductions

9:00 - Ty talks about how he got into the game industry

13:30 - Ty expounds on what a Game Producer is

19:00 - Ty talks about his favorite game and why its Doom 1 and Doom 2

28:00 - Ty gives some recommendations for Doom mods (Eviternity), and Quake mods (Double Jump with Smile Scythe maps) eventually branching into mods and technology

45:00 - Ty talks about the game that made him want to get into the industry

01:10:00 - We talk about what Ty does outside of gaming

01:16:00 - We talk wrestling

01:25:00 - Closing time

In this episode I speak with Aikode solo developer Ace

0:00 - Introductions

16:15 - How Ace got into making games and words of wisdom from their experience

24:30 - The game that made Ace want to make games

34:00 - Game from their childhood that doesn't hold up today

40:00 - What does Ace enjoy about video games

43:30 - Game that doesn't get enough credit

01:07:30 - Hobbies outside of games

01:16:45 - Closing time

In this episode I speak with Pedro Guerra, creative director at Knight Shift Games, currently working on Elsie

0:00 Intro

2:15 How Pedro got into making games

7:15 Words of wisdom

13:15 The game that made Pedro want to make games

15:00 "Gold standard" of Megaman games

21:00 Why FF12 was his favorite FF game

31:30 What makes games enjoyable to them

38:00 Hobbies outside of gaming

46:00 Talking Elsie

52:00 The Completionist connection

56:00 Content creators getting into the games

01:09:15 Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Dante Douglas, Creative Advisor in the IP Strategy team at Riot Games, as well a writer and developer that has contributed to games such as Get in the Car Loser, and personal projects like Nightbloom, Solitary Spacecraft, and Space Wolf Tango

0:00 - Start

1:30 - What a "Creative Advisor in the IP Strategy team" exactly is

21:30 - How Dante got into the industry

24:00 - Words of wisdom

30:00 - The game that made Dante want to get into games

42:15 - What Dante enjoys about games

56:00 - Interests outside of games

1:17:00 - Graphic Novels and manga

1:28:00 - Recommendations & Where to find

1:30:15 - Top games of 2022

1:33:00 - Closing

In this episode I speak with Rittz, currently working on Electrokinetic and previously smaller titles like Death Roll Frenzy, Blazing Dynamo, and Stratosphere

0:00 - Start

1:30 - Who Rittz is and current projects

38:30 - Words of wisdom

48:30 - Favorite game

1:08:00 Life outside of games

1:30:00 Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Nix, designer and director at VA Studios currently working on Silent Santicado

0:00 Intro

5:45 Silent Santicado

14:45 Getting into making games

17:45 Words of wisdom

29:00 Why make games

31:00 Favorite game

36:00 Favorite Castlevania/Igavania

39:00 Game Nix enjoyed as a child, that doesn't hold up today

44:30 What makes games enjoyable to Nix today

51:00 Hobbies outside of gaming - We talkin' anime

01:03:30 Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Riv of Ahr Ech studios, developer of the upcoming game Pepper Grinder currently set to be released sometime in 2023 and published by Devolver Digital.

0:00 Intro

11:00 How Riv got into making games

26:00 Words of wisdom from their experiences

30:30 The game that made Riv want to make games

35:30 What makes gaming enjoyable to Riv

51:00 Non-Gaming hobbies

1:05:30 Wrap up

In this episode I speak with CEO of Foolish Mortals, Michael Long, creators of MMM: Murder Most Misfortunate, Lazer Cops, Radio General, and Kaiju Wars

0:00 - Intro

09:30 - How Michael got into making games and words of wisdom

18:00 - The game that made Michael want to get into the industry

22:00 - Favorite game(s)

27:45 - What Michael enjoys about gaming

30:00 - Strategy game recommendations

33:00 - Hobbies outside of gaming

36:00 - Game that Michael feels deserves more attention and the importance of those first 10 reviews

43:00 - Wrap

In this episode I speak with both Scott and Connor from Mega Wobble studios, creator of Lil Gator Game! My first multi-person interview!

0:00 Intro

4:00 Lil Gator Game

10:00 Lessons from the demo

14:00 Lil Gator Game intentions & features

24:30 Being a completionist

33:45 How Scott and Connor found themselves working on a game

43:00 More on the team making the game

1:00:00 The game that made them want to make games

1:16:30 Outside of games hobbies

1:29:00 On the topic of "sugar"

1:40:00 Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Zahid Ali Jeelani, combat designer at Ninja Theory and solo developer of the upcoming ENENRA game

0:00 Intro

1:30 ENENRA

7:00 Getting into making games

16:30 Words of wisdom

21:30 Game that inspired them to get into the industry

34:45 What makes enjoyable

44:00 Comfort game

53:30 Hobbies outside of gaming

55:00 Game that doesn't get enough credit

58:00 - Wrap up

Today I speak with Dave Oshry, runner of New Blood Interactive, publishers of titles such as Dusk, Gloomwood, Amid Evil, Ultrakill, and newly released Faith The Unholy Trinity.

0:00 Intro

3:30 The New Blood advertising approach

7:00 How Dave got into the industry

13:30 Beginning of the Boomer Shooter era

18:00 Words of wisdom

21:15 Talking Zelda LttP as favorite game

27:30 What makes gaming enjoyable

29:00 Platinuming Elden Ring

30:30 The kind of game Dave would love to make

33:30 The future of immersive sims

39:45 Hobbies outside of games

41:00 Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Zan, creator of Hedon Bloodrite, and currently working on 2 other upcoming titles

0:00 Intro

2:00 GzDoom as a foundation mixed with advice

13:00 Future projects

21:00 From architecture to game making

41:00 Favorite game as a child: Mil Sims, Serious Sam, Duke3D, car games

53:00 Recent and comfort games

1:05:00 Hobbies outside of gaming

12:30 Wrap up and info

In this episode I speak with Tim from Blue Key Games, currently developing "They Came From Dimension X"

0:00 Intro

3:45 How Tim got into making games and advice from his experiences

19:45 They Came From Dimension X

45:45 Most exciting trend: The Indie Space

54:15 Hobbies outside of games

1:04:45 - Shout Outs/Links/Winding Down

In this episode I speak with David Jalbert, creator of the upcoming first person shooter Extraneum currently available in Early Access.

0:00 Intro

3:00 The distinct style/aesthetic of Extraneum

15:00 Getting into making games and wisdom to share

29:30 Favorite childhood games

34:30 Games that don't hold up today

47:00 Favorite recent trend

53:00 Relaxing game talk

58:15 Non-Gaming hobbies

1:04:15 Where to find more about David and Extraneum

01:06:45 Trendy games that didn't click with David

01:12:45 Wrap Up

In this episode I speak with Phil Giarrusso, Pixel Artist and Designer at Tako Boy Studios and creators of the upcoming title Cross Blitz and previously Candies 'N Curses as well as Creatures of Aether. As well as a contributor to Flynn Son of Crimson and Shovel Knight Dig

0:00 Intro

05:35 How Phil got into working on games

10:00 Illustrator for pixel art

13:00 Advice for newcomers based on his own experiences

17:00 Favourite childhood games; Fate of Atlantis and other Point & Clicks

22:30 Follow up from point and clicks

25:00 Love of Kingdom Heart series

30:45 Outside hobbies; Working out, cooking, and a puppy

39:30 Cross Blitz and deck building games

48:00 Wrap Up and last thoughts

In this episode I speak with Josh Sullivan, Project Lead at Awe Interactive and creators of Bullets Per Minute

Start - 03:10 - Intro

03:10 - 6:45 - I ask Josh about a game he might have wanted to make as a child

06:45 - 14:00 - We talk about their BPM game and what looks like a newly blooming genre.

14:00 - 22:45 - Josh talks about what made him want to get into making games

22:45 - 31:45 - We talk about Josh's favourite games when they were younger

31:45 - 40:00 - We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Josh and and what kind of games he might relax with after a hard day

40:00 - 44:00 - Josh talks about what kind of hobbies and things he enjoys outside of gaming

44:00 - End - Wrap up and discussion about their suggested build to help with BPM

In this episode I speak with Trapp, a programmer at Communion Games and currently working on their first commercial game Iowa

Start - 9:00 - Intro and a brief discussion his busy/packed life

9:00 - 27:30 - We talk about how Trapp got into developing and making games and advice they might wish to impart from their experiences

27:30 - 32:45 - We talk about Trapp's favorite childhood games,  and what makes the Halo and Starcraft series some of his favorites.

32:45 - 44:00 - We discuss RTS games more, as well as Halo Wars as it is the cross section of two genres Trapp enjoys.

44:00 - 01:05:00 - We talk about Communion Game's upcoming game, Iowa.

01:05:00 - 01:10:00 - We talk about what other things Trapp enjoys doing outside of gaming

01:10:00 - End - Wrap up

Red Tunic Podcast Trailer  

In this episode I speak with Thomas Altenburger, game director at Flying Oak Games, creators of Scourge Bringer, and Neuro Voider.

Start - 08:45 - Intro and a discussion of game feel

08:45 - 22:15 - We talk about how and why Thomas got into making games and advice he can share to those looking to get into the industry based on his own experiences

22:15 - 32:45 - We talk about Thomas's first introduction to gaming and what kind of games he enjoyed with his favorite game from that era being Super Metroid.

32:45 - 45:40 - We talk about what Thomas finds enjoyable about gaming

45:40 - 53:00 - Thomas discusses non-gaming related hobby and pineapple pizza.

53:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode, I speak with Stephen Frost, head of production at Digital Eclipse, formerly Senior editor at PSM, and formerly producer at Sega.

Start - 17:00 - Intro and how they got into the industry

17:00 - 25:30 - Stephen shares some advice based on his experiences for those that might be looking to get into the industry

28:30 - 43:00 - We talk about Stephens favorite game(s) from his younger years. Starting with the Sierra games and other point and click/adventure style games, leading to platformers and action adventure platformers from the N64-era in his high-school days. Eventually leading to the fighters of his later high-school and college years.

43:00 - 48:00 - We talk about what it is that Stephen finds enjoyable about games

48:00 - 58:00 - We talk about what kind of things Stephen does and enjoys outside of making and playing games.

58:00 - 1:27:00 - We drift into talking about Digital Eclipse does

1:27:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Jason Mojica, part of the two man team working on the upcoming Prodeus game, formerly a level designer at Irrational Games and Raven Soft. Contributor to Black Out Club and Pay Day 2.

Start - 17:30 - Intro and talking about Prodeus

17:30 - 32:30 - Jason talks about how he got into making games, and what advice he might share based on his experiences

32:30 - 45:15 - We talk about what Jason's favorite game[s] as a child were.

45:15 - 53:00 - We talk about what Jason does outside of gaming and what other kinds of things he enjoys doing.

53:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Rubeki, developer of the upcoming Lorn's Lure, and previously Kill The K.O.T.H, DUE, Hatch, and Hollow Head.

Start - 4:45 - Intro

4:45 - 26:00 - Rubeki talks about how he got into the industry and what advice he might give to those looking to get into making games

26:00 - 39:45 - We talk about why Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is Rubeki's favorite childhood game. As well as other games such as Mario 64, Resident Evil 2, and Jet Force Gemini.

39:45 - 45:30 - We talk about what Rubeki enjoys in games, and what makes them enjoyable to him

45:30 - 50:00 - We talk about what Rubeki does outside of making and playing games.

50:00 - 58:30 - We talk a little more about Rubeki's games

58:30 - End - Wrap Up

In this episode I speak with David Bocek, Senior Game Designer at Gravity Well and previously worked on Apex Legends and Destiny 2

Start - 3:00 - Introductions

3:00 - 20:30 - David talks more about what he did as a weapon designer at Respawn while working on Apex Legends

20:30 - 31:00 - We talk about how David got into the industry and any advice he can share based on his experiences so far

31:00 - 37:15 - We talk about why David's favorite childhood games included Silent Hill 2, the Zelda series, Mario series, as well as horror-genre games. Which eventually lead to online shooters being what set him on the path to wanting to work on shooters.

37:15 - 39:30 - We talk about what it is about gaming that David enjoys

39:30 - 47:00 - We talk about the concept of flow state and what games David can feel that in

47:00 - 59:00 - We talk about what David does outside of gaming... Which often includes more video games. We also discuss what kind of comfort games David enjoys to relax

59:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Bruno Beaudoin from Blazing Bit Games, creator of Nightmare Reaper

Start - 6:45 - Intro

6:45 - 16:00 - We talk about how Bruno got into the gaming industry

16:00 - 31:00 - We talk about Bruno's favorite game as a child, Blood. As well as his revisiting of an old favorite Daggerfall.

31:00 - 37:30 - We talk about what it is that make games enjoyable to Bruno

37:30 - 47:30 - Bruno talks about kind of games he enjoys or plays to relax such as Subnautica and Vampire Masquerade

47:30 - 53:00 - We talk about what Bruno likes to do outside of playing and making games

53:00 - End - Wrap Up

In this episode I speak with Anton Hand, VR Dev, one of the creators of Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades (H3VR).

Start - 4:00 - Intro

4:00 - 7:45 - Anton asks the hard question of "Why hotdogs?"

7:45 - 17:30 - We talk about how Anton got started in the industry starting with modelling and older VR.

17:30 - 23:45 - Anton shares a little advice to get into the industry based on his experiences for 3D Arts with games

23:45 - 34:00 - We talk about why Descent 2 was his favorite game as a child and how all of that sort of bled into aspirations/inspired and such for H3VRs design principles and what not

34:00 - 47:00 - We talk about Escape from Tarkov, a game that Anton enjoys that he feels doesn't get enough credit/attention. Inevitably leading to a discussion about the game philosophy that focuses more on letting you, the player do whatever you would like.

47:00 - 54:30 - I find out what kind of game Anton would make if money and time weren't a concern

54:30 -  - Anton talks outside hobbies and what he enjoys unrelated to gaming.

In this episode I speak with David Szymanski, creator of Dusk, Iron Lung, contributor to Dread XP, Gloomwood, and several other projects.

Start - 7:00 - Introductions

7:00 - 34:00 - David shares how and where he got his start as well as advice he might give based on his experiences

34:00 - 40:30 - David talks about how his favourite game is Myst. We then spend some time talking about Myst

40:30 - 48:00 - I ask David if immersive sims are some of the things he enjoys about games which bridges into discussion of immersive sims as well as slav-jank games

48:00 - 52:00 - David talks about what he enjoys doing outside of making games. We also bridge into discussing children and [bad] parenting advice.

52:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Airdorf, horror game developer, and currently developing the upcoming FAITH trilogy

Start - 03:30 - Introductions

03:30 - 25:30 - I talk to Airdorf about how and why he got into making horror video games as well as video games in general

25:30 - 33:00 - Airdorf gives some indie dev advice based on his own experiences.

33:00 - 46:00 - We start talking about the internet and how its changed since we've started using it.

46:00 - 54:00 - We talk about why Links Awakening was Airdorf's favourite game as a child

54:00 - 01:07:31 - We talk about what Airdorf does outside of playing and making games and transition into talking about horror games.

01:07:31 - End - Wrap-up

In this episode I speak with Henry Faber, founder and community manager of Gamma Space

Start - 18:30 - Introductions and more about Gamma Space and how it came to be

18:30 - 50:00 - We talk about the Toronto gaming scene and the indie scene in general as well the importance of inclusiveness in the industry

50:00 - 01:13:00 - We talk about a game that Henry enjoys to relax

01:13:00 - 01:19:00 - I give Henry the floor to talk more about things he feels matters

01:19:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Lu Nascimento, art director and co-founder at Bunnyhug

Start - 8:00 - Introductions

8:00 - 27:30 - We talk about how Lu got into working on games and what advice she may give to those seeking to get into the field based on her experiences.

27:30 - 38:00 - We talk about Lu's favourite game as a child and why it was her favourite game. This inevitably leads to talking about Pokemon and Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons.

38:00 - 45:00 - We talk about what Lu's comfort game is, and what it is that makes it her comfort game.

45:00 - 58:00 - We talk about how Lu enjoys gaming now and what makes those games enjoyable

58:00 - End - Wrap Up

In this episode I speak with Zach Soares, co-founder for Bunnyhug, and creative director on Moonglow Bay

Start - 08:45 - Introductions

08:45 - 16:45 - Zach talks about how he got into developing and making video games and talk more about voxel art and voxel systems

16:45 - 23:45 - We talk about what kind of advice Zach can share with those looking to get into the industry based on his experiences

23:45 - 32:45 - We talk about Zach's favorite games from his childhood, which leads to a small discussion on the absurdity of Digimon evolutions

32:45 - 41:15 - We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Zach

41:15 - 43:00 - We talk about what Zach's best comfort game is

43:00 - 01:02:00 - We talk about Moonglow Bay and get into the history and politics that really inspired how the town of Moonglow Bay came to be. This essentially leads to a discussion on Canadiana

01:02:00 - 01:09:00 - I ask Zach why he wanted to make a Legend of the River King game

01:09:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Akabaka, developer of the upcoming visual-novel style games Chromatose and Sucker For Love: First Date

Start - 9:30 - Intro

9:30 - 14:30 We talk about how Akabaka got into developing games and advice he might be able to share based on his experiences

14:30 - 24:45 - We talk about Akabaka's favorite game as a child and why

24:45 - 34:30 - We talk about how Akabaka enjoys gaming now and what makes gaming enjoyable now

34:30 - 40:30 - We talk about what it is they enjoy about Hideo Kajima games

41:00 - 54:30 - We talk about what game Akabaka enjoys but doesn't think got enough credit

54:30 - 1:04:30 - We talk about what kind of game Akabaka would like to make if given the opportunity

1:04:30 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Tom Forsyth, a developer, chip designer, graphics coder, and so much more.

Start - 12:45 - Introductions and talking about what Tom does

12:45 - 25:00 - We talk about any advice Tom can give to those looking to get into what he does based on his experiences which eventually leads to discussing VR.

25:00 - 36:00 - We talk about Tom's comfort games that he can play to unwind and relax. We also wrap back to talking about good advice whilst developing games, or just doing anything really.

36:00 - 52:00 - We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Tom and about a personal project of his that combines some of his favourite genres.

52:00 - 1:00:00 - We talk about Dwarf Fortress

1:00:00 - 01:11:00 - I turn the floor over to Tom and we talk about his happiness that games are increasing in complexities

01:11:00 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with Dylan Gedig, developer of the upcoming peggle-rogue-like game Peglin with a demo currently available on Steam

Start - 4:00 - Introductions

4:00 - 19:00 - Dylan talks about how he got into working on video games and what his advice would be for those looking to get into the industry from his experience

19:00 - 24:45 - We talk about what Dylan's favourite game as a child

24:45 - 43:00 - We talk about what it is that makes games enjoyable to Dylan and eventually move to discussing the indie game scene

43:00 - 57:00 - We talk about what Dylan's comfort games would be, covering Slay The Spire, and then spiralling to games like Mario Party and Dokkapon Kingdom

57:00 - End - I turn the floor over to Dylan where I follow up with a question about the game development scene in BC

In this episode I speak with Jason Smith, solo developer of the currently in-development retro-shooter Cultic. Being published by 3DRealms with a demo currently available on Steam.

Start - 7:00 - Introductions, and talking about Cultic and being published with 3D Realms

7:00 - 11:30 - We talk about Jason's childhood and playing violent video games as a child that, like most from the core Melennial group, definitely should not have been playing.

11:30 - 26:45 - We talk about how Jason got into development and making video games and advice he can share based on his experiences.

26:45 - 32:45 - We talk about Jason's two current favorite games

32:45 - 38:30 - We talk about Jason's favorite games when they were younger/their favorite games of all time

38:30 - 41:00 - We talk about what Jason's comfort games are and what makes them a comfort game

41:00 - 46:45 - We talk Minecraft

46:45 - 1:09:30 - We talk popular games that just didn't click with Jason

1:09:30 - 1:27:15 - We talk about hard games as a casual player and his game, Cultic.

1:27:15 - 1:46:00 - We discuss Jason's favorite trends in gaming, with a little bit of VR talk as well

1:46:00 - Wind down and closing

In this episode I speak with Joseph Gribbin, an indie developer that has worked on such games as Magnibox, Turn Undead 2, Spike City, and is currently working on Grapple Dog.

Start - 2:00 - Introductions

2:00 - 15:00 - We talk about how Joseph got into making games, and then stray into discussing imposter syndrome and how it can be dealt with. We then get to talking about how you should take pride in the work you create even if it's not a huge success.

15:00 - 22:30 - Joseph shares some advice for those looking to get into the industry based off of his experiences, and just experience in general and how not all paths look the same and all examples and advice can be valid

22:30 - 39:00 - We talk about what Joseph's favorite game when he was younger and why

39:00 - 47:30 - We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Joseph, with the conversation shifting to indie-studios and games.

47:30 - 55:30 - We spend some time talking about Joseph's upcoming game Grapple Dog.

55:30 - 1:15:00 - I turn the floor over to Joseph and we talk about platformers

1:15:00 - End - Wrap Up

In this episode I speak with Benjamin Rivers, a developer with his wife under the studio BancyCo, makers of games such as Home, Alone With You, and Worse Than Death based out of Toronto, Canada

Start - 5:00 - Introductions and the Toronto game dev scene

5:00 - 19:00 - We talk about how Benjamin got into game development as well as their experiences getting their first game onto Steam and any advice he could offer to those looking to get into it based on his experiences

19:00 - 28:30 - We talk about Benjamin's comics (Or more specifically manga) and his love for them and how they have influenced him.

28:30 - 35:15 - We talk more about manga and what series Benjamin might recommend to people

35:15 - 42:30 - We talk about Benjamin's favorite game when he was younger

42:30 - 50:00 - We discuss what Benjamin enjoys with games

50:00 - 57:15 - We talk about Benjamin's favorite comfort games

57:15 - 1:03:15 - We talk about Act Raiser's new remake being announced

1:03:15 - End - Wrap Up

In this episode I speak with Marc-Andre Hetu, a level designer that has worked on many games, that has worked on Marvel Avengers as well as the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy and is now currently for Reflector Studios out of Montreal

Start - 3:45 - Introductions

3:45 - 12:30 - I ask Marc-Andre to explain level design to me, and those that might not really fully understand it as well as his views on it, why he enjoys it, and what he aims to do with it.

12:30 - 16:30 - Marc-Andre talks about how he got into level design and working on games and advice he might be able to share based on his experiences

16:30 - 23:30 - We discuss Marc's favorite video game from when he was younger, and we spend some time discussing that game.

23:30 - 29:00 - I ask Marc if there is a more recent game he's played that has absolutely wow'd him for it's level design and what game that might be

29:00 - 31:15 - We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Marc

31:15 - 42:30 - We talk about Marc's favorite role playing game

37:45 - 37:45 - I ask Marc if there are any level design things he sees that he isn't a fan of and we discuss what those are and why he feels they aren't the greatest

42:30 - 47:45 - I ask Marc if there is any level design things he sees that he really enjoys and thinks works well

47:45 - 52:45 - I ask Marc what his comfort game is and what he can always play and feel good playing

52:45 - 56:45 - I turn the floor over to Marc and he shares some recommendations on how to find/pick some games and suggests people look into indie games

56:45 - End - Wrap up

In this episode I speak with indie game developer and constant Game Jam jammer GammeFoxTBG

Start - 4:00 - Introductions

4:00 - 13:00 - Gamma talks about the game jam scene and how he got into it as well as the games he has worked on and the approach to them

13:00 - 26:30 - We talk about Gamma's favourite game as a child and what it was about that game they enjoyed, transitioning into discussing playing games with friends and how they are enjoyed, and other games they enjoy while also having a love hate relationship with them.

26:30 - 36:00 - We talk about what makes games enjoyable to Gamma and shift into discussing the joy that can come from solving an open ended problem in games like Factorio

36:00 - 42:15 - We discuss what kind of games Gamma is enjoying currently and what he likes about Rogue-Likes

42:15 - 57:30 - We talk about the Game Jam scene and why they enjoys participating in them and why they feel they are important to look into

57:30 - End - Wrap up with some words of encouragement from Gamma

In this episode I speak with Yacht Club artist, Sandy Gordon.

Start - 5:00 - Introductions

5:00 - 16:30 - Sandy talks about how they got into pixel art and his journey from the arts, to design, to living briefly in Japan, before finding and getting into pixel art.

16:30 - 21:15- I ask Sandy if he has any advice he can give those looking to get into pixel art and animation

21:15 - 26:00 - We talk about Sandy's favorite game from when he was younger and what makes that game so special for him.

26:00 - 32:15 - We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Sandy and how he enjoys gaming now

32:15 - 40:00 - We talk about what games Sandy has been enjoying now as well as what makes him enjoy games from From Software.

40:00 - 44:30 - Wrapping up

44:30 - End - Closing

In this episode I speak with Discrete Infinity, solo developer of Immaculate Drag, narrative designer, and contributor to many previous games and projects.

Start - 5:15 - Introductions

5:15 - 14:00 - We talk about his first real introduction to video games with Myst as well as his families involvement in gaming in the wake of Myst.

14:00 - 24:00 - Discrete Infinity explains how they got into narrative design... And how that influence really stems from DnD

24:00 - 34:00 - We discuss what people can do if they are looking to try and become narrative designers in the industry

34:00 - 39:30 - We discuss their favorite game as a child and why

39:30 - 51:00 - We discuss their current favorite games and then on to discussing games like Pathologic and what they like from Ice Pick Lodge.

51:00 - 1:07:00 - We discuss their view on the current landscape for fandom and interactions with fans. Their view on the indie development scene.

1:07:00 - 1:20:00 - We dig a little deeper and discuss the communities surrounding bigger and smaller companies and how there is a tendency to see people dehumanize those working at larger communities, disregarding them being just as passionate about their projects.

1:20:00 - 1:24:00 - We discuss their game a little more

1:24:00 - End - Closing up

In this episode I speak Freesphere studio head and Necropolis Suite developer Mark Gregory

Start - 3:45 Introductions

3:45 - 5:45 - We discuss Mark's transition from doing editorial work to video game development.

5:45 - 10:15 - We discuss Mark experimenting with modding if he found any learning experiences, as well as the benefit of constructive criticism from your peers and those looking to help.

10:15 - 18:45 - We discuss what kind of advice Mark would give others based on his experiences and what he's learned and related topics.

18:45 - 24:45 - We talk about Marks favorite game(s) when he was younger, and discuss Resident Evil

24:45 - 30:15 - We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Mark and how he came into liking the SoulsBorne games

30:15 - 37:30 - We talk about Mark just getting into the Rogue-Like genre and the genre as a whole.

37:30 - 43:00 - Mark answers my question on what immersive sim he might recommend to people.

43:00 - 55:15 - We talk the current state of the industry at the time of recording as the Blizzard Activision news had just dropped.

55:15 - 1:05:05 - We talk about the game Mark and Freesphere are currently working on

1:05:05 - End - Closing

In this episode I speak with Nikko, developer at EnHouse Studios currently working on the game Glitched.

Start - 2:00 - Introductions

2:00 - 7:30 - We discuss the essence system in Glitched and how it works and why he wanted to do this

7:30 - 16:30 - We discuss how, and what, got Nikko into game development, as well as advice he can share based on his experiences. We also touch on the Kickstarter projects that were used for the game.

16:30 - 23:00 - We discuss Nikko's favorite game from his childhood and why. We drift into touching on positive nostalgia and the benefits they have.

23:00 - 28:45 - We talk Pokemon

28:45 - 41:15 - We discuss what makes gaming enjoyable to him, and how he enjoys it now.

41:15 - 1:02:00 - We discuss the current landscape of games fandom, and interactions with the fans and community. As well as the topic of Steam reviews, and how it's easier to fall victim to being more negative about games instead of what is positive when it comes to discussing, or reviewing them.

1:02:00 - 1:06:45 - I turn the floor over to Nikko

1:06:45 - End - Closing

In this episode I speak with John Szymanski, developer of Rubber Ducky, Kyle is Famous, Charlotte's Exile (As part of the Dread X Collection), and currently working on MFN and EvoMorphs.

Start - 1:30 - Introduction

1:30 - 5:45 - John and I discuss odd jobs, and odd questions.

5:45 - 12:30 - We discuss Kyle is Famous and, basically, why it exists. As well as it's sequel/complete version has in store.

12:30 - 28:30 - We discuss what got John into making games and advice from his experiences he might have to share with others looking to get into the field.

28:30 - 38:30 - We discuss John's favorite video games and as a child and what they were and branch into a discussion about point and click games such as Myst.

38:30 - 46:30 - We discuss what makes gaming enjoyable to John and whether gaming as a family played any part of it

46:30 -  - I turn the floor over to John where we discuss some of his other projects in brief, specifically Evomorphs a tactics based monster collecting game, and his currently untitled MFN game that is better left to check out his Twitter for more information on.

Check out the below links for information about John and what his projects are

In this episode I speak with Kira, developer and founder at Kira, developer of Spooky's Jump Scare Mansion, Lost in Vivo, and contributor to the DreadXP series and maker of Uktena 64!

00:00 - 1:30 - Introduction

1:30 - 9:00 - We talk about what made Kira land on the horror genre and why they feel it is easy to them, what they enjoy about the genre, what they think makes a good horror game/movie

9:00 -14:30 - We talk about what got Kira into making games and advice they might give to those based on their experiences.

14:30 - 15:30 - We talk about Kira's favorite childhood game(s), and what it was about them that they enjoyed.

15:30 - 20:15 - We talk about what makes games enjoyable now

20:15 - 26:30 - We talk about horror games and how they view the genre as a whole currently.

26:30 - 30:00 - We talk about current favorite and enjoyed games

30:00 - 31:45 - We continue the discussion about tactics games

31:45 - 34:00 - We talk about popular games that just didn't really click for them

34:00 - 36:15 - We talk about other games that Kira will typically be able to enjoy no matter how many times they've played it

36:15 - 45:00 - We talk about a game they feel might not have been given as much credit as it deserves as well as Metroid/Igavania games, branching into difficult games.

45:00 - 47:45 - We talk about gaming trends they have been enjoying

47:45 - 50:00 - We talk Resident Evil

50:00 - 58:30 - I turn the floor over to Kira and we wrap things up

58:30 - End - Closing

In this episode I speak with Gwe Limpalaer, a developer at GrosChevaux that has made the game Unspottable. A game of hide and seek where you have to find other players among the robots before they find you.

00:00 - 1:30 - Introductions

01:30 - 5:40 - Discussion of work life balance as, currently, all members of GrosChevaux have day jobs and make games on the side.

5:40 - 9:10 - We discuss the potential future of Unspottable and what quantifies as "complete" when you still have aspirations of supporting the game.

9:10 - 11:45 - We discuss where the idea for Unspottable came from

11:45 - 13:50 - Gwe talks about how they had initially found a game with what they felt was a similar idea and we discuss how the game industry is much nicer to each other than some might give it credit for

13:50 - 18:40 - We talk about how Gwe got into making games, and how they formed GrosChevaux and started making games. As well as advice he can give based on his experiences.

18:40 - 22:00 - We talk about Gwe's favorite game(s) as a child and what it was about them that he enjoyed.

22:00 - 25:30 - I ask about multiplayer games that he may want to talk about and make sure people know exist and then we discuss our views on what makes a multiplayer game enjoyable.

25:30 - 30:15 - We discuss Unspottable.

30:15 - 35:45 - We discuss what makes gaming enjoyable to Gwe right now and managing with the current world we live in.

35:45 - 40:50 - Gwe mentions the difficulties about being a small dev and I accidentally go off on a small rant about the toxicity against developers, especially smaller ones. We also discuss the pressures of the community wanting more and how it is something that can be alright as long as it is presented positively.

40:50 - 43:15 - I turn the floor over to Gwe and follow up with comfort games.

43:15 - End - Closing

In this episode I speak with Becky Frost, Events Coordinator Special Effect. A charity organization based out of the UK that specializes helping those with physical disabilities play video games.

00:00 - 2:15 - Introductions

02:15 - 9:00 - What all Special Effect does and how Becky got working for them

9:00 - 13:45 - We discuss the kind of impact Becky has seen from the organization

13:45 - 20:00 - We discusse the hardware/software changes and the good it can all do from her perspective being in the industry.

20:00 - 25:45 - I ask a question about her opinion on accessibility. I also asked this question in a way that almost seems aggressive, and that is entirely on me

25:45 - 28:00 - We talk about what Becky got into gaming, what she enjoys about video games and how she enjoys them now.

28:00 - 33:15 - We talk about what her favorite games were as a child, and why she really enjoyed them.

33:15 - 37:00 - We talk about games that Becky feels might not hold up to today's standards, and discussing text based adventure games and their resurgence.

37:00 - 41:00 - We talk about what her current favorite games that she is currently enjoying

41:00 - 45:30 - We talk about what kind of trends in gaming she has enjoyed seeing over the last few years

45:30 - 50:15 - I turn the floor over to Becky and let her talk about how you can help the organization

50:15 - End - Closing

In this episode I speak with Shelby Moledina, co-founder and game director at Double Loop Games. A new mobile studio aiming to release their first game sometime this year.

00:00 - 2:00: Introductions

2:00 - 8:45 : We discuss their studios desire to make a game for people not self-identifying as gamers, and how trying to make a more friendly environment to better include them. We continue this discussion and talk about how you tailor this

8:45 - 24:45 : We discuss how Shelby got into developing video games and her history in the industry, skills, and experiences.

24:45 - 33:55 : Shelby shares her advice based on her experience for getting into the industry. She made a really interesting point about doing what you enjoy doing even if it is not entirely related to the process as you never know what skills will contribute to the process.

33:55 - 44:00 : We discuss Shelby's favourite game as a child and what it is about that game she enjoyed. We then transition to getting to her current all time favourite game, Stardew Valley, and talking about what it is about that game, and Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, that she finds enjoyable.

44:00 - 48:00 : Shelby brings up the a good point about how game design decisions, while may appear like they were made quickly or without thought, often have a lot of process behind them and are intentional and that it shouldn't be attributed to a developer being lazy or incapable.

48:00 - 51:00 : We talk about how Shelby enjoys gaming now and what makes it enjoyable to her while also balancing a busy schedule, and just life in general.

51:00 - 55:00 : I ask Shelby if she's the mom showing her kids how to install and run games, potentially inappropriate games in the same ways many fathers have in the past. She touches on how she introduces her kids to gaming as well as how to appropriately handle that.

55:00 -  : Closing

In this episode I speak with Dillon Rogers, one of the developers for the upcoming game Gloomwood. A first person immersive sim with a focus on stealth where you are trying to escape a cursed Victorian City.

(0:25 - 2:20) Introductions

(2:20 - 4:25) We discuss why he decided to make an immersive sim, and what made him want to create a game that has heavy influences from 90's first person games.

(4:25 - 9:30 ) We continue the conversation leading to my thoughts and views on having a better appreciation for games like Gloomwood in my older age (That I hope others can relate to), leading into how the game has evolved into a deeper immersive sim.

(9:30 - 12:15 ) We talk about how Dillon got involved with New Blood via Dusk Developer David Szymnanski.

(12:15 - 13:30 ) We briefly talk about STALKER

(13:30 - 20:15 ) We talk the potential future of immersive sims and whether the current climate is really ready for an indie resurgence of them

(20:15 - 30:45 ) We talk about Dillon's earlier favorite games and what first person shooter really helped him discover his love of the genre. As well as discussing older first person shooters in general.

(30:45 - 40:30 ) We talk about what makes gaming enjoyable to Dillon, and how he enjoys gaming now, and how modding and modded games play a primary role in that.

(40:30 - 46:35 ) We talk about advice he might give to those looking to get into the industry based on his experience.

(46:35 - 1:02:50 ) We wrap it up and I give Dillon the floor to talk about whatever he has on his mind and wants to share.

(1:02:50 - X:XX:XX) Closing

In this episode I speak with Awesreek, one of the lead developers/creators of Viscerafest. A first person shooter where you play as Caroline, a mercenary taking on a bounty so she can afford an engagement ring to propose to her boyfriend Athens.

Going to try the descriptions a little differently this time, and instead of trying to write it all out and risk not doing it enough justice (And at risk of bumping against character limits haha), I'm going to refer to the times and a little broader description of those times.

(2:15 - 9:45) In this conversation we discuss how he got into game development and advice he can give for other developers based on his experiences and what he might suggest not to do.

(9:45 - 16:00) We talk about some of his favourite games (And show) when he was younger and how he enjoyed the Battlefield series

(16:15 - 19:00) We touch on games, and tv shows, that didn't age as well as they could have. Especially kids shows and licensed tie ins.

(19:00 - 28:30) We go back to discussing the kinds of games he played when he was younger and how he remembers and feels about those games looking back on it, and how some older games seem to hold up better due to the scope of what they were trying to do when met with the limitations of the technology at the time.

(28:30 - 43:30) We shift to discussing current favourite games with that primarily being Doom Eternal and begin discussing Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal. Awesreek shares his opinions on what he feels Doom 2016 did, and didn't execute well and how he feels these things were improved upon in the next entry in the series.

(43:30 - 48:45) We then talk about a game called Powerslave also known as Exhumed which he feels is an rather unknown and older first person shooter.

(48:45 - 58:00) I ask about his view on the games fandom and how creators are able to interact with its fans, and how he interacts with his lively and active Discord server.

58:00 - 01:xx:xx) We wrap it up with Awesreek making sure everyone knows where they can find more information

To learn more about Viscerafest, or to join the Discord server, check out the links below

In this episode I speak with Liz MacDonell, community manager at Clever Plays. An indie game studio based out of Montreal, developers of Leap of Fate, and Operation Tango (Which as of this time, now has a release date of June 1st on the PC!)

In this conversation, I talk with Liz about the Clever Plays studio and having the company based in a city with a lot of other indie game dev studios and the kind of environment it creates

We discuss Liz’s background and how she got into her role at Clever Plays by initially creating an “unofficial stream team” with a collection of other streamers and getting her feet wet being a community manager for the group Jabroni TV where she learned how to juggle such roles of managing social media, and schedules, and video editing which prepared her for the opportunity at Clever Plays. She also touches on how important it is to have a great support group that is going to help push you to succeed

Liz also shares some advice on what she feels has helped her prepare for her role and that to always be willing to learn and polish your skills. She makes an important point as well about the difficulties of getting into the role as it requires having the right voice and passion for the studio, and that when looking for a role like this, to keep your motivation up as being the right fit is incredibly important and you’ll eventually find one that is the right fit for you and the studio

We then talk about how Liz got into video games and what her fond memories of her first console and favorite PS2 game, Dark Cloud. Having to share the experience with her brother and the two getting to experience the game together. As well discussing her experience with Dark Cloud and potentially enjoying its sequel

We move on to then talking about what she is playing and enjoying now, and Liz touches on the beauty of playing co-op games and how you can share and experience games together. One of the important things Liz brings up is the joy you can get from enjoying a game with friends and how it only enhances the experience, especially now during the pandemic when it’s harder and harder to actually spend time together with people

We briefly touch on a game she felt did not hold up well, in this case Harvest Moon Save The Homeland for the PS2, and while I can and will agree with Liz that it did a lot of things that paved the way for future Harvest Moon games, I will also agree with her that it really is not the best entry to start with in the series and quickly move on to discussing trends she has enjoyed seeing rise, and how she enjoys the rogue-like/lite genre and even enjoys watching other people play them more. We continue this discussion on rogue-likes, specifically Hades, and how even if you aren’t able to play at a high level, being able to enjoy it via another person, or playing it on its “easy” mode without having to struggle with some of the difficulties of the genre. This leads to the discussion of being able to enjoy watching video games on services like Twitch and being able to share their experience with them and the community

I also ask her thoughts on the landscape for being able to communicate with fans easier thanks to the technology as well as the importance of trying to create a welcoming community and try and foster its growth

We wrap it up with Liz giving some more information on their asymmetrical game, Operation Tango, what it’s about and where you can find more information for it (Links can be found below in the link tree!)

Click the links below for more info:

In this episode I speak with Max Mraz, developer of Ocean's Heart. A 2D  Zelda inspired game where you explore an archipelago as the game's  heroine Tilla.

In this conversation we discuss where some of his inspirations for the  game came from and the feeling he was looking to instill in the game,  and the satisfaction found while exploring forests.

We discuss some of his best advice being to start small with projects  that are going to be easier to learn from and iterate on with  experience. With this, it also allows to take what works best and better  integrate it from the very beginning in gameplay mechanics.

We discuss that some of his favorite games as a child being Pokemon  Crystal and Zelda Oracle of Seasons due to their emphasis on  exploration. This leading to the Zelda series meaning the most to him  due to their constant focus on exploration and discovery.

We briefly discuss older games having numerous platform releases,  leading to the learning experience there was a Tom and Jerry cartoon  movie in the early 90s and how it is, really not worth the time to chase  down or watch (No really, you're safe to ignore it and just move on).

We talk about some of his other favorite games, Wario Advance as well as the Bionicles series which was part of a sprawling series that had games, movies, comics, all interconnected across multiple different mediums... Including a flash game as a sequel to a Gameboy Advance game.

We also talk about how Max is able to get back to feeling the magic of his childhood with his Saturday morning ritual of being able to spend time relaxing, making cinnamon rolls and playing video games, finding the ability to be carefree even if for a few hours. As well, having a game with a set story and advancement creating his ideal gaming time.

We also talk about older games and their evolution of the narrative being expanded upon, and consistently becoming a primary focus of games with story being just as important as everything else. We also discuss the evolution of gameplay mechanics getting better, and in the case of older camera controls, just how far they've come over the last 20 years.

We also discuss how it is important to draw a line when engaging with your audience and fans can be fun, but it is still important to protect yourself against both ends of the extreme and avoid getting into a negative or positive feedback loop and not allow yourself to drown in what everyone is saying.

You can find out more about Max's game Ocean's Heart, as well as his smaller side project games at the links below, as well as follow him for more of his own updates via the Twitter link as well

In this episode I speak with Oscar Brittain, one of the developers at  Henry's House, currently working on the storefront management game  Kardboard King's.

In this conversation, we discuss what kind of game Kardboard King's is  and what the intentions behind it were, and how they were trying to  recapture the feeling of going to the card shop as a kid and getting to  enjoy that feeling.

We discuss how a surgery lead to him discovering video games, and then  how getting laid off from his job lead him down a path of going back to  school and then inevitably to him deciding to just go for it and take  the plunge to try and make a video game.

Oscar also had a unique approach to learning to make games by focusing  more on learning good design principles before trying to make something.

We also talk about how Oscar enjoys games can be completely unique and  deliver a new and surprising experience, and how games, such as Ubisoft  games, can deliver exactly what you expect and how those can create a  juxtaposition to entirely different games and help you appreciate new  and different elements all the more. With Oscar also not playing a lot  of games when he was younger, he shares how playing older games is  always surprising to see what great ideas older games were able to  deliver on, and what older game ideas are still present today.

You can find more information about Henrys House and their projects below:

So it seems I hit some more technical issues, however this time they are  on my end! I have a small echo that seems to come and go - I believe  these are related to the recording method and hopefully I am able to  correct them for the future episodes! Live and learn haha

In this episode I speak with Rich Vreeland, and as his website bio says, "ties the name Disasterpeace to the things he sends into the sonic ether. Disasterpeace has over 50 albums to its credit, in addition to having designed, scored and programmed sound and music related things in a number of mediums including games, film, television and theatre. Rich is particularly interested in creative novelty and lives in Los Angeles."

We discuss many things, such as how he got his start, advice on how  others can get into this field from his own experiences, and how pushing  forward regardless of how out of your element you are can lead to good  things.

From his start doing music on a role playing wrestling forum, to finding  and getting involved in the TigSource forums. How he came to enjoying  game music, what he liked, and spending way too much time for my mental  sanity talking about Marble Madness. As well as the kind of  newer/current game music he is enjoying.

We also touch on despite how easily accessible the gaming market is, it  also creates a situation where it's difficult to find a game to enjoy as  you're inundated with so many options (And how this isn't unique to  games, but most entertainment medians).

We also talk about his views on social media and how he chooses to  interact with it and how it works best for him, and a certain game he  can't quite get into.

You can learn more about Rich by checking out his website below, and I strongly encourage everyone to do so -

In this conversation, I speak with Matt Dabrowski, creator of Streets of Rogue, a top down rogue-like that provides a near endless amount combinations and a hilarious amount of freedom to play however you want.

We discuss where Matt got his start making games on the proto-Unreal engine, as well as starting his gaming journey with FPS titles like Wolfenstein and Doom... Interesting food for thought, but it's never the mothers that bought their kids Doom, it was always the fathers. As well as the evolution of the arcade/boomer shooter genre, point and click and adventure game.

We also touch on why Matt wanted to make a rogue-like game that he describes as an immersive sim rogue like. Matt also makes a very good point that investigating the market when making a game, that knowing the current market and what is going to be well received and potentially successful. As well as what to potentially look forward to in his next game.

If you have never played Streets of Rogue before, it is highly recommended and can be enjoyed alone or with friends.

You can find more information for Streets of Rogue via the information below:

In this conversation I speak with Tom Beardsmore, co-founder of the development studio and publisher, Coatsink.

In this conversation we discuss where and how Coatsink got its start, starting out as a mobile game developer, finding time to play games with a family and sometimes the sacrifices we have to make to do so. As well as other topics.

If you've never played any games developed or published by Coatsink, I highly recommend it. They have a variety of games you can read more about on their website, however two of their more recent games, Cake Bash and PHOGS, are both great games that are both fun and enjoyable and I can't help but recommend them enough.

You can find more information about Coatsink via the information below:

With the first episode of The Red Tunic Podcast, I had a conversation with Michael, one of the three brothers behind the Boneloaf development team and Gang Beasts.

In this conversation we discuss how Gang Beasts came to be, some of Michael's favorite games, some wild "show" ideas for Gang Beasts, and how Michael finds DOTA2 is a good way for him to relax.

However, one of the most important things I think Michael touches on is that we need to remember developers are people too, just trying to create what they feel is best for their game and that just because the product they are making is meant to be enjoyed, shouldn't create an atmosphere where we allow toxicity to bleed out when we aren't happy with some of their changes. Basically, we're all people and we have to be kind to each other, especially when the product is meant to bring joy and happiness.

If you have never played, or really heard of Gang Beasts, I encourage everyone to look into it. It is a great party game that never ceases to amuse me, and I recommend everyone check out their Twitter to see some of the wild GIFs they post up just to give an idea of what fun can come.

You can find more information about Gang Beasts via the information below