Join SA video game developers John Oestmann, Susie Emery and Jackson Michael as they hang out at Cafe Booleans and chat about culturally innovative games they’ve discovered and the development stories behind them ☕🎮

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For our final episode of the year, Alex and Kosta have sent in a heartfelt reflection on the history of Booleans, and now pass on the torch to John, Susie and Jacko.

We also use this episode to launch our new format, focusing on innovative and culturally interesting games as a springboard for conversation, rather than the current news cycle.

[Content Warning: One of the games discussed, Yume Nikki, contains some elements which reference death and suicide. Please see the timestamps below if you would like to skip our discussion around this game]

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Timestamps

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[01:13 ] Special Message from Alex and Kosta

[13:11 ] Yume Nikki - 2004 Surreal RPG Maker Proto-Walking-Sim developed by Kikiyama

[40:04 ] Community Messages

[44:04 ] Outer Wilds - 2019 Time-Loop Space Adventure developed by Mobius Digital

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Game Information Adapted From

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yume_Nikki

https://www.pcgamer.com/the-horrifying-legacy-of-yume-nikki-the-homebrew-game-that-became-a-phenomenon/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Wilds

https://www.gamesradar.com/the-making-of-outer-wilds/ 

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Community Messages

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GameMaker is now free for non-commercial projects: https://gamemaker.io/en/blog/gamemaker-free-platforms

SAGE Game Exhibition happening on 16/17 February 2024:

https://www.sagameexhibition.com/ 

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Other Mentions

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Toby Fox interviews Kikiyama (English Translation): https://chartcarr.neocities.org/secretbase_4 

Hokkikomori (syndrome): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4912003/ 

Welcome to the NHK (anime): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_the_N.H.K. 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (novel): https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58784475 

Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask 

Twelve Minutes (Netflix game): https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126637

Geocaching (activity): https://www.geocaching.com/play 

The Infinite Game (book): https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/ 

Slow TV (tv show genre): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_television