Matt Chat Thread

[grimace]

MC534 Isaac Otway, Developer of Sovereign Syndicate

Join Dr. Matt Barton as he sits down with Isaac Otway, the brilliant mind behind Crimson Herring Studios and the developer of Sovereign Syndicate. In this insightful interview, Isaac delves into his professional journeys, personal background, and the unique dynamics of the independent gaming industry.

@crimsonherringstudios
6 months ago
DE was definitely an inspiration for the team.

Disco-like

 

[Late Bloomer]

Oops, forgot to post this one.

MC535: Jordan Mechner, Prince of Persia

Jordan Mechner is a famous game designer best known for his games Karateka and Prince of Persia. He's also a renown graphic novelist, writer, and filmmaker. In this interview, we focus mostly on his epic Replay: Memoir of an Uprooted Family, which combines the story of his family's dramatic history interspersed with his own triumphs and challenges as a professional game designer.

 

[Late Bloomer]

All caught up now.

MC536: Michael A. Stackpole

Michael A. Stackpole is a bestselling fantasy and science fiction author. Whether it's Star Wars, BattleTech, or his own creations, Stackpole goes far beyond most authors in his research, attention to detail, and respect for the franchises in question. He's also famous for his work on the Wasteland series, which inspired the later Fallout universe. Finally, he's a pioneer of e-publishing and has a lot to say about the history and future of writing books and games. Tune in for an incredible chat with a spectacular dude!

Great stuff at 48:30 (brian fargo, wasteland, funny story about that iconic photo) Tunnels and Trolls talk took place right before this time.

 

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The Crimson Diamond is an awesome new retro-style graphical adventure game with a text parser! Oh, yeah! If you love Sierra's classics, you're definitely going to want to hear about Julia's project and what it took to achieve.

 

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Digital Eclipse's remake of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is a real treat for fans of the classic game as well as CRPG fans new to the franchise. Besides the graphical overhaul, there are great QOL features and options for some of the more controversial mechanics. You can buy the game here:

 

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Alan and Luke are Kickstarting an epic new Pathfinder game called The Dragon's Demand. If you like what you see, don't forget to pledge on their Kickstarter page. Let's make this happen!

 

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Joseph and Hannah Williams​

Oct 13, 2024 #banquetforfools #indiegaming #indiedev
56 views • Oct 13, 2024 • #banquetforfools #indiegaming #indiedev

The fabulous Joseph and Hannah join me once again, this time to chat about (amongst other things) their new Banquet for Fools game. These are some of my favorite devs, and it's always a great time when they drop in.

MC540: Joseph and Hannah Williams on Banquet for Fools​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1tgOmM8ZnA

 

[Late Bloomer]

I am looking forward to this one quite a bit.

MC541: Jeff Green

Jeff Green is a veteran of the video game industry with over 26 years of experience. He began his career in games journalism, spending 12 years at Computer Gaming World (CGW), Games for Windows, and GFW Radio. Jeff transitioned to the development side, working at EA and PopCap on projects including The Sims franchise.

 

[SixDead]

Jeff transitioned <... > working at EA

No doubt.

 

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Interview with RatTower:

Monomyth is one of the best indie CRPGs I've played in a long time. If you're a fan of classic dungeon-crawlers like Ultima Underworld and Arx Fatalis, you don't want to let this one stay under your radar. Did somebody say RATS? It's currently in Early Access on Steam and GOG for a mere $19.99. Get the details here:
http://rattowersoftware.com/

 

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This show takes a look at Caves of Qud, a strange hybrid roguelike with tons of great content and deep mechanics. You can get it from Steam or GOG:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/33...
GOG: https://af.gog.com/en/game/caves_of_qud?as=1649904300
NOTE: It's 15% off on GOG until 11/18/2024.

 

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This episode features Mat B-T and I playing the original and then the 3D remake of Colossal Cave. How well does the remake live up (or surpass?) the original game? Tune in to see for yourself.

 

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Get your double dose of Matt Chat goodness with me and Mat Bradley-Tschirgi as we explore GOG's 6000+ Winter Special sale. Looking for the perfect game to soak up your holiday gaming time? I'm sure you'll find plenty of great ideas here, and reminisce with us about several of our personal favorites, like Might & Magic and Rollercoaster Tycoon.

 

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Matt discovers timestamps!

In this Matt Chat episode, I sit down with Gabe Durham, founder of Boss Fight Books, to discuss the art of writing about video games and preserving gaming history. We explore Gabe’s work publishing in-depth, documentary-style books about beloved classics and the challenges of capturing the essence of games in nonfiction form.

Gabe also shares his insights on the evolution of the gaming industry, from the rise of MMORPGs like EverQuest and World of Warcraft to modern trends like games-as-service and creative stagnation. Plus, we discuss what makes a great game book, the process behind Boss Fight’s critically acclaimed series, and how these books inspire new ways to think about games.

0:00 – Introductions and holiday catch-ups
3:15 – From EverQuest to World of Warcraft: Lessons from MMORPG history
10:40 – Games-as-service and creativity challenges in the industry
20:10 – What is Boss Fight Books? Writing about games as history and art
30:00 – Preserving games and the importance of nonfiction narratives

 

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In this episode of Matt Chat, we dive into the world of Slay the Spire, a revolutionary deck-building roguelike that has become a genre-defining title. We’ll explore the game’s mechanics, strategic depth, and the challenge of adapting to ever-changing circumstances as players ascend the spire.

 

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Another Burger appearance:

Neuromancer is a trippy graphical adventure based on the famous cyberpunk novel by William Gibson. Hear the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from one of the great developers who worked on it, the fabulous Becky Burger Heineman herself! Is the game worth remaking for modern systems? Sound off in the comments!

 

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I’m joined by Bob Mackey, a veteran games journalist, podcaster, and gaming historian best known for co-hosting Retronauts, the long-running retro gaming podcast. He’s also behind Talking Simpsons and What A Cartoon!, deep-dive podcasts covering classic animation.

Bob has written for 1UP, US Gamer, and EGM, and in 2023, he authored a Boss Fight Books deep dive on Day of the Tentacle.

 

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This episode features an interview with my old pal Jay Barnson, designer of Frayed Knights and now an accomplished novelist. His latest read is called Dead to Rights, and it's set in the Steve Jackson universe of Car Wars. and part of the Autoduel Chronicles.

Ask him how he managed to screw up Frayed Knights 2.

 

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Chris Guin is the developer of Geo Mythica, an upcoming indie JRPG with unique combat and setting. He also released The Adventures of Chris.

 

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Agustín Cordes is the evil mastermind behind two of the scariest adventure games you'll ever play--Scratches and his newest terror, Asylum. These are masterclass games in terms of dread and anxiety-producing gameplay. Pick'em up and try them for yourself; you'll be terrified!

 

[Infinitron]

Hi, all! This video isn't game-related, but I still thought it might be of interest to some of you. It's about the impact of AI on the publishing industry and how it affects Matt's authors and beyond. He says a lot of things I haven't heard before about the issue.

Again, note that this isn't a typical Matt Chat with a gamer-focus. So skip this one if you're only interested in games. Otherwise, enjoy!

 

[Infinitron]

In this episode of Matt Chat, I sit down with Richard Murtland, the developer behind Splintered—a one-of-a-kind RPG that takes randomization to the next level. We dive into the creative process behind the game, how Richard strikes a balance between chaos and playability, and what makes Splintered such a refreshing experience for RPG fans. From gameplay mechanics and player feedback to upcoming features like new game modes and a Japanese translation, this interview is packed with insights into one of the most innovative indie projects on the scene.

 

[Infinitron]

I'm joined this week by Luke Hughes, the developer of Burden of Command. Ever wondered what it's like to wear those silver bars on a captain's uniform? Many games focus on strategy or battlefield tactics, but Burden focuses on the challenges of leadership. That requires a whole different set of skills, especially empathy, ethics, and staying cool when the s* hits the fan. Luke tells us about the game in this exclusive interview. If you're even remotely interested in history or leadership, you don't want to miss this one!