Game: Choices-matter genre Baldur's Gate 3 The Quarry Disco Elysium Diablo II and re-rolls Investment Develop: Immediate feedback Frustrating consequences Satisfying consequences Proving impact Repeat: What in-game choices do you find most satisfying? Do you prefer experiencing every option, or embracing one path? Roll with the consequences.Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv...
Game: Creating Space Emotions and Indie Games A quick note about practical skills Taking the training wheels off Game of thrones taught me about myself Develop: Just be open I'm not advocating for preaching Doesn't have to be a whole emotional journey Repeat: How do games help you? Start experimenting a little more.Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/anxiousbuddhagamesMy first game, "Sut" i...
Game: What does making games do for you? Love of the results Chasing some goal Fame and Fortune Develop: Love of the process Learning new skills Growing as a person Repeat: What is your favorite part of making games? Are you taking time to enjoy the process? Don't overthink it, just enjoy it.Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/anxiousbuddhagamesMy first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.ste...
Game: The Worms series Less story Goofball immersion Develop: Knowing your game's emotional impact Creating space for unintended fun Repeat: What is fun for you? Is your game idea fun? Should your game idea be fun? Goof around in games, game development, and life.Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/anxiousbuddhagamesMy first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2638880/Sut/Emai...
Game: How reality improves gaming Childhood love of gaming Childhood love of touching grass Develop: Incentives in Game Development Players need to digest Repeat: What games have you thought about during real life? How has real life made gaming more fun?Tip: "Touch grass" as often as possibleKo-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/anxiousbuddhagamesMy first game, "Sut" is out: https://store.steampowered.com/a...
Game: No bad ideas Insane concept First rhythm game Deeply beloved despite absurdity Just make games Develop: Art style Pure, goofy gameplay Stop being serious Design standards and preconceptions Repeat: What dumb idea can you think of right now? How could you make it interesting? Tip: It's about skills, not success.Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/anxiousbuddhagame...
Game: How a few games impacted me: Final Fantasy 7 Morrowind Starcraft Diablo II Warcraft 3 Stardew Valley Celeste Spiritfarer Develop: Don't be afraid to share You can't know what someone else will get from yo ur game Excessive Gaming Repeat: How has gaming impacted you at different points in your life? Notice the little positive thingsKo-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.t...
UPDATED CONTEXT: About half an hour after I finished editing this episode, Sony announced via twitter that they will not be moving forward with the update that initiated this controversy.Game: Incredible satirical propaganda Community controls the marketing Great lore, full commitment Accidentally creating a union Develop: "Everything is game design" - Jonathan Rogers Interview (PoE2) Communication is key, poor communication can become an unintentional scam&...
Game: Celeste - Confidence WoW - Investment JRPGs - Power Dark Souls - grit Develop: The spiral curriculum Small projects, footholds Acknowledging victories Velocity and Acceleration HealthyGamerGG Repeat: What footholds have you recently found? How might you build your current victories?Tip for myself: Be patient, work consistentlyKo-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/anxiousbuddhagames...
Game: My current project is bad Gameplay loops A sense of risk Develop: Overcoming Struggles Exploring new areas Leveling up Building a party/community Repeat: What type of gameplay is most motivating for you? What part of working on a project is most motivating for you? Tip for myself: Sort out priorities, filter for what's most important.Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/anxiousbuddhagamesTwitch Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/anxiousbuddhaga...
Game: No guarantees, just like creating Things that paralyze you Is there ever only one path ahead? Risk less, work patiently Develop: What power do we actually have? Notice, notice, notice The invisible work Considering trying might be harder than trying Repeat: What is the worst thing you can do for your creative energy? How can you get to know yourself better? Tip for myself: What version of the work, no matter how smal...
Game: Creature collector without the cuteness Creature Combinations A darker, otherworldly aesthetic Story is pretty good, but probably nostalgia Develop: A little bit of choice adds a lot of potential Allow players to explore systems Check-In: Still learning how much I have to learn. Looking into more formal education paths. Repeat: What game do you almost love, but something is off? What would you change in those games? ...
Game: I got a world record 246 way tie Awesome community Flowy, skill based speedrunner Satisfying skill development, significant space for mastery Incredible soundtrack Beautiful animations and art Develop: Navigating levels in game, alternative selections Blocking levels based on ability to reach them Leader-boards add a lot to the gameplay Check-In: Great programming progress, learning a lot from twitch finding out my blind s...
Eastshade Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCzhyUsDHPEGame: Backstory of my current project Full description of the project Getting stuck after the prototypes Develop: Eastshade Studios video: "Marketing is not why most indie games fail" Why I'm considering scrapping this project Scope realizations Too much stuff to polish Check-In: Godot Terrain system Ko-Fi and Twitch Repeat: If you remain on your current trajector...
Game: Different types of grinding Loot Grind Player Skill Grind Character Power Grind Video Game Grind vs Day Job Grind Develop: The obvious stuff Flashing lights, audio rewards Story with clear conclusion Near-guaranteed success No need to plan Check-In: Building up momentum Twitch has been a fun way to start working on art more and bonding with community Repeat: What is your most memorable video game accom...
Games: Chess as a psychological horror game Chess as a fast paced shooter How bad I am at chess Crushing failure Forcing you to recognize the inaccuracy of your own confidence. Develop: Chess - learning a theory, applying it, appearing worse at the skill Learning about lighting, making uglier art. "The next big step forward" will often make you worse before it makes you better. Don't just study. Do. Don't just do. Learn. Do not binge...
Games: Truly relaxing games: Eastshade A Short Hike Mountain Dragon Quest 11 Walking simulators Most games I play are stressful: Cook Serve Delicious Almost any Real Time Strategy game Almost any MOBA Chess Shooters and such Many games that we think of as relaxing can be quite stressful: Stardew Valley Roller Coaster Tycoon Develop: What makes a game truly relaxing? What amps up the stress levels in a ga...
Game: Front Mission 3 vs Front Mission 1st remake, initial impressions. Design Fundamentals The UI and maps in Front Mission 3 The difficulty tuning in Front Mission 3 RNG Damage sponges in Front Mission 1st Develop: Design Fundamentals Examples of bad vs good execution Things that age poorly Fine tuning the player experience Putting time into the bits that seem frivolous Long term, sustainable effort. Check-In: I have some...
Game: Deep and wide gameplay Practice does not make perfect Difficult learning environment What matters is hidden until you look for it Lot of misinformation Unwelcoming culture Develop: Discovering what matters by observing others "High Ranked" game developers Avoiding misinformation/misleading paths Finding a welcoming culture (avoid the doom and gloom) Actual practice involves experimentation and observation Repeat: Do y...
Game: What makes Incredible Crisis special? Ska soundtrack Completely absurd story Brutal button mashing (creates physical response) High pressure, simple minigames Develop: The utility of panic The utility of frustration How your players physically interact with your game Impact of emotional moments on gameplay My own development Keystone Habits Working through struggle My on/off switch Community Development, Twitch&n...