Explore every episode of the podcast The Indie Diarist
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Lunar Games: Chasing Dreams, From The Cradle of Civilisation - Indie Diary #63 | 10 Feb 2025 | 00:38:56 | |
New format, new questions, new show! The first episode I recorded in 2025 had to be something special – so welcome to the official start of Season 3 of The Indie Diarist! In this one, I welcomed Ahmed from Lunar Games, a good old friend of the show who's working on a puzzle adventure game called My Father Lied. As we journeyed through a revamped intro section and a whole new set of questions for his Indie Diary, Ahmed discussed his love for storytelling and the importance of creating positive stories for audiences all around the world, chasing his dream to defy misconceptions around his culture – the cradle of civilisation: Iraq and Mesopotamia. Hope you enjoy! 🎒💛 ------- Support Ahmed 🎒💛 Wishlist My Father Lied: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2488850/MY_FATHER_LIED/ Twitter: https://x.com/lunargamesUruk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunargames.sumeria/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lunargames.assyria Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lunargamesuruk.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LunarGamesBabylon Discord: https://discord.com/invite/83DqsNhBE7 ------ Support the show 🎒💛 Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist | |||
| Dire Kitten Games: Making Your Game Feel Unique, Finding Focus - Indie Diary #62 | 27 Jan 2025 | 00:52:41 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with an old friend of the show and someone I've been planning to host for a long time: Stephen from Dire Kitten Games! Stephen is developing Scholomatch, a matching game / visual novel, and he has a lot of advice on how to help games stand out in their niche. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------- Support Stephen 🎒💛 - Wishlist the game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2113350/Scholomatch/ - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@direkittengames - Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/direkittengames.bsky.social - Website: https://www.scholomatch.com/ --------- Support the show 🎒💛 Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist | |||
| Meaning Machine: Human-centric AI, Creativity & LLMs, Dead Meat - Indie Diary #54 | 30 Sep 2024 | 00:51:34 | |
What's your stance on using AI for game development? In this episode, I connected with the amazing team behind Dead Meat, a narrative investigation name I had the chance to try out at WASD, which uses a large language model as the basis for its narrative structure - but with a human twist. If you've been wondering whether AI is good or bad for the industry... this episode might change your mind! Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------ - Wishlist Dead Meat: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2628740/Dead_Meat/ - Say hi to Meaning Machine: info@meaningmachine.games ------ Support the show 🎒💛 - Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj - Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist - Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist - Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist - Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist | |||
| Rob Pigott: Of Visual Novels, Marginalised Communities, and Cowboy Bebop! - Indie Diary #53 | 16 Sep 2024 | 00:55:59 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Rob Pigott, a queer, non-binary game developer, writer and screenwriter from New York who's working on Bitter Silver, a love letter to Cowboy Bebop. Rob is a huge fan of narrative adventures, and their passion for stories shines through every minute of this episode. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------- Support Rob: - Back Bitter Silver on KS: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lookoutdrivegames/bitter-silver-a-cowboy-bebop-inspired-visual-novel - Wishlist Bitter Silver: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1906930/Bitter_Silver/ - Follow Rob and Lookout Drive Games: https://allmylinks.com/lookout-drive-games ----- Support the show 🎒💛
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| InkForge Studios: Developing for Charity, Working with Friends - Indie Diary #52 | 02 Sep 2024 | 00:38:36 | |
What happens when a bunch of friends come together to develop a game from shared experiences? Something like InkForge Studios, most likely! In this episode, I spent some time with Archie and Oli, two members of the team, who told me all about a delightful game I tried at WASD this year – I'll Be Brave Tomorrow. Trust me – this is going to pull at some emotional heartstrings. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ---------- Support InkForge: - Wishlist the game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2741070/Ill_be_Brave_Tomorrow__Indie_Narrative_Platformer/ - Check out the team: https://www.inkforgestudios.com/ ------------ Support the show 🎒💛
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| Only By Midnight: Inspiring Players, Building Worlds - Indie Diary #51 | 19 Aug 2024 | 00:57:11 | |
You know I always love talking to a fellow writer! In this episode, I spent some time with Amber Scott, head storyteller and lead writer for Only By Midnight – a Canadian indie studio about to release its dystopian darling, Ctrl.Alt.Deal. The episode touches on a lot of great topics, from burnout in the industry to inspiring players with your stories, and it's definitely worth a listen. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ----------- Support Amber 🎒💛 - Check out Ctrl.Alt.Deal on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2146390/ctrlaltDEAL/ - Website: https://www.ctrlaltdeal.com - Facebook: Only By Midnight - Twitter/X: @OnlyByMidnight - Instagram: onlybymidnight - Bluesky: @onlybymidnight.bsky.social - TikTok: @onlybymidnight ------ Support the show 🎒💛
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| Alex Burton: Of Vampires, The Meaning of Horror, and Developing for a Niche - Indie Diary #50 | 05 Aug 2024 | 00:56:10 | |
I don't get to say this often, but an exciting episode awaits! In this one, I spent some time with Alex, one of the very first members in The Indie Diarist's Discord server, who's working on both a vampire-themed visual novel and an RPG in his Harrowed World universe. We had the chance to discuss the meaning of horror, switching engines, vampires, and a lot more – for a packed episode with loads to discover. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ----- Support Alex: - Try the free visual novel: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2715020/Harrowed_World_Whats_Past_Is_Portents__Vampire_Visual_Novel/?curator_clanid=44405163 - Wishlist Portents In Red: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2529270/Harrowed_World_Portents_In_Red__Vampire_RPG/?curator_clanid=44405163 - Website: https://www.harrowedworld.com/ - Discord: https://discord.com/invite/ctwZzMcVne ------ Support the show 🎒💛
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| Kevin Messenhimer (Fiveamp): Finding Game Ideas, The Power of Execution - Indie Diary #49 | 22 Jul 2024 | 00:35:51 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Fiveamp Co-Founder Kevin Messenhimer, who's working with his team on a delightful survival roguelite shooter called NIMRODS. From validating your game ideas to finding a unique hook for your game, this episode is packed with little soundbites! Enjoy! - F.Godmom (DOS game Kevin mentions on the episode): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.Godmom ------ Support Kevin 🎒💛 - Wishlist NIMRODS: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2086430/NIMRODS_GunCraft_Survivor/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fiveamp - Discord: https://discord.com/invite/pXYBZ6DU ------ Support the show 🎒💛
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| Dave Sims: Developing Through Hardship, The Pain of Indie Game Marketing, and Googly Eyes! - Indie Diary #48 | 08 Jul 2024 | 00:45:22 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Dave Sims, a solo dev working on his chaotic multiplayer card game Bullcrap! and a longstanding member of The Indie Diarist's Discord! From making character eyes larger to discussing the passion of game development, this was a much cosy and warm episode to both record and re-listen to. Hope you enjoy! ------------ Support Dave 🎒💛 - Play Bullcrap! : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2123430/BULLCRAP/ - Website: https://loadeddeckgames.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoadedDeckGames - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loadeddeckgames/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bullcrap.guy ------------- Support the show 🎒💛
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| Sheldon "CyrusTheVirus Studios": Making a Metroidvania, Self-Taught vs. Formal Education, Becoming a Game Dev - Indie Diary #47 | 24 Jun 2024 | 00:46:38 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Sheldon "CyrusTheVirus Studios" to talk about his metroidvania Cold Lazarus and his path into game dev – which was all but conventional! Starting from a self-taught basis, Sheldon managed to get a degree in software development and is now working on his own game on the side. Enjoy! --------- Support Sheldon 🎒💛
--------- Support the show 🎒💛
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| Simon Trümpler: Making Bullet Hells, Indie Struggles, From QBasic to Game Dev - Indie Diary #46 | 10 Jun 2024 | 00:54:48 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Simon Trümpler, a German indie dev currently based in France and developing a top-down shooter called Cozy Space Survivors. Simon's journey into development started when he began exploring QBasic on his dad's computer, and he's never looked back since. Enjoy! ---------- Support Simon 🎒💛
---------- Support the show 🎒💛
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| Figerox: Getting Horror Right, Learning From Mistakes - Indie Diary #45 | 27 May 2024 | 00:32:20 | |
In this third and last episode in the collaboration with Indieverse, I spent some time with indie dev and content creator Figerox, who's currently working on a couple of horror projects to help bring his vision to life. Figerox is a super energetic dev, and I hope his story will inspire you! Enjoy! ----------- Support Figerox 🎒💛
----------- Support the show 🎒💛
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| Inkblack Interactive: Art & Video Games, Developing Mobile Games - Indie Diary #61 | 13 Jan 2025 | 01:08:41 | |
Welcome to the first Indie Diary of 2025! 🎒💛 In this episode, I spent some time with Alex and Emilee from Inkblack Interactive, a wonderful couple developing a mobile game called Art's Tiles. Enjoy! ---------- Support Inkblack Interactive 🎒💛 - Art's Tiles (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/arts-tiles/id6503178934 - Art's Tiles (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inkblackinteractive.artstiles&pli=1 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arts.tiles/?hl=en - Website: https://inkblackinteractive.com ------- Support the show 🎒💛 - Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj - Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist - Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist - Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social - Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist - Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist | |||
| Renee Gittins: Overcoming Challenges, Connecting People, Creative Problem-Solving - Indie Diary #44 | 13 May 2024 | 00:35:19 | |
In this last episode of the Women-Led Games mini-series, I spent some time with Stumbling Cat creative director Renee Gittins, a passionate advocate and connector for devs in the indie games community! Renee is developing her own game about overcoming challenges with her studio, and her background was incredibly interesting to discover. Enjoy! -------- Support Renee:
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| Villainous Games: Finding a Publisher, Making Horror Games, Listening to That "Itch" - Indie Diary #43 | 06 May 2024 | 01:00:00 | |
Finding a publisher is as much about you finding them as them finding you – and in this episode, I discussed this and more with Mark Drew and Valentina Chrysostomou from Villainous Games, a wonderful indie studio making "unusual" horror games. From Amnesia to Resident Evil, the namedropping of great horror examples was real for this one. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------ Support Mark & Valentina: - Wishlist Harvest Hunt: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2009620/Harvest_Hunt/ - Mark: https://twitter.com/markdrew - Val: https://twitter.com/valentinaChrys - Villainous Games: https://twitter.com/wearevillainous | |||
| Isa Hellström: Of Dreams, Chemistry & Soulmates - Indie Diary #42 | 29 Apr 2024 | 00:31:52 | |
In this last episode of my collaboration with the Indieverse community, I spent some time with Isa Hellström, a game developer based in Sweden who's currently working on a cosy/magical farming sim called Magical Harvest. Together we explored the meaning of chasing your dreams, moving from a decade-old career into games, soulmates, and why game development is so powerful. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ----- Wishlist Magical Harvest: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1906970/Magical_Harvest/ Find Isa online: - Game Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicalHarvest - Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/IsaVII_Games - Game Discord: https://discord.com/invite/8tXMkrMDyy | |||
| Past, Present and Future of the Korean Gaming Market, ft. Minimap - Footnote #6 | 15 Apr 2024 | 00:37:25 | |
Trying to market your games for a Korean audience? Or are you simply curious about the Korean gaming market? In this episode, I spent some time with George Jeong from Korea-based game management platform Minimap, to discuss the Big Three Ns and a lot of other incredibly interesting topics on gaming in the region – including the rise of new and talented indie studios! 🎒💛 ------- Find George / Minimap online: - Minimap website: https://minimap.net/ - Minimap Discord: https://discord.com/invite/cbNQMya8sG | |||
| Doot: Minami Lane, Cosy Gaming, Working With Your Partner - Indie Diary #41 | 01 Apr 2024 | 00:29:24 | |
In this episode I spent some time with Dorian "Doot", one half of a couple of developers who created the beautiful cosy masterpiece Minami Lane, where you manage a single town's street. As expected, this chat was incredibly cosy through and through, and we covered anything from the beauty of developing for the cosy niche, to creating games with your partner. Enjoy! ----
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| Lilliana Kendra: Being a Multipotential, Time Management, and Challenges to Diversity - Indie Diary #40 | 25 Mar 2024 | 00:47:30 | |
In this second episode of the mini-series in collaboration with Indieverse, I spent some time with writer, game dev, trailer editor (and more) Lilliana Kendra, an amazing and restless member of the indie game dev community with a passion for... having countless passions! As a tireless multipotential myself, I could really relate with her struggles. We discussed anything from the wonders of time management to being a queer developer in a still much old-fashioned industry. Enjoy! ------------ Find Lilliana online: - https://twitter.com/lillianakendra - https://www.twitch.tv/lillianakendra - https://www.youtube.com/@lillianakendratrailers (Trailers channel) - https://www.youtube.com/@lillikendra (Gaming channel) - https://lilliana-kendra.itch.io/ | |||
| Lorena Cáceres Arias: Designing Puzzles, Developing in Spain, Carving Your Own Path - Indie Diary #39 | 18 Mar 2024 | 00:28:15 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Mycelium Heaven developer Lorena Cáceres Arias, a game development and math student with a burning passion for developing engaging puzzle games that people will love to play. Lorena started playing all the way back in the Flash era, and her passion hasn't gone out since then. This is also a slightly shorter episode than usual, which will be a breath of fresh air to some! Enjoy! ------ Find Lorena online: - https://twitter.com/3DGoblinDev - https://3dgoblindev.itch.io/ Wishlist Mycelium Heaven: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2656520/Mycelium_Heaven/ | |||
| Falinere: Funding Your Passion, Developing For a Hyper-Niche - Indie Diary #38 | 11 Mar 2024 | 00:31:22 | |
In this first episode of a mini-series in collaboration with Indieverse, I spent some time with Falinere, a game dev / content creator who's developing interactive RPGs in a very specific niche: live-streaming chat games. We discussed the beauty of finding your own path, among other things. Enjoy! ------------ Find Falinere online: - https://www.falinere.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/falinere - https://www.twitch.tv/falinere - https://twitter.com/Falinere - https://discord.com/invite/6y9UJJ3 - https://ko-fi.com/falinere | |||
| Dear Games Industry, Please Name a Woman... ft. Women-Led Games - Footnote #5 | 04 Mar 2024 | 00:52:30 | |
It's International Women's Day week, and for this bonus Footnote, I wanted to get together with a very special guest from the indie game development community: Charmaine Duff, founder of Women-Led Games! In this episode, Char and I discussed the core challenges to diversity and inclusion in the industry, explored the ways in which we can all do better, and fortunately, named a few female developers! Hope you enjoy! ----------- NOTE: The name of the episode is inspired by (and a tribute to) a splendid Kotaku article by Senior Editor Alyssa Mercante, written shortly after PC Gamer's 30th anniversary controversy. You can read the full article here: https://kotaku.com/pc-gamer-30th-anniversary-women-games-1851021562 ------------ Find Women-Led Games online: - Website: https://www.womenledgames.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/womenledgames - Discord: https://discord.com/invite/ffGubbcPVd - Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/womenledgames | |||
| Tanja Lind Tankred: Making Games That Matter, Creativity On Sale - Indie Diary #37 | 26 Feb 2024 | 00:33:12 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Tanja Lind Tankred, co-founder of Other Tales Interactive and currently working on a beautiful narrative-led game anthology called Miniatures! Tanja tuned in all the way from Denmark, and together we discussed anything from the value of creativity to the power of meaningful game experiences. Enjoy! ----------- Find Other Tales Interactive online:
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| Rocking Toy: Making Games As Friends, Connecting With Players - Indie Diary #60 | 23 Dec 2024 | 00:43:27 | |
In this episode, I spent some amazing time with a group of three friends from the Czech Republic, developing games under the name of Rocking Toy. Martin, Tom and Ondrej have just released their Beyond The Wall point-and-click narrative adventure, and they have so much to share in this last episode of 2024. Enjoy! ------ Support Rocking Toy 🎒💛 Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2290010/Beyond_the_Wall App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/beyond-the-wall/id1642146415 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beyondthewall.game YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRmuuHWLpZ1ihjHqbOa1uug Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockingToyGames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocking_toy/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Rocking_Toy Threads: https://www.threads.net/@rocking_toy Webpage: www.rocking-toy.com ------- Support the show 🎒💛 Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist | |||
| Ashley 'Aemixx': Connecting with People, Writing Interactive Stories - Indie Diary #36 | 19 Feb 2024 | 00:33:00 | |
In this episode, I had a chat with Ashley 'Aemixx', developer of episodic CYOA game Gods of the Twilight, as part of a collaboration with Gentleland.net and Jacky Martin. Together we discussed all things narrative, as we dove into the details of her love for Sonic and beautifully written interactive stories. Hope you enjoy! -------
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| Andrea Saravia Pérez: Of Leadership, Representation and Role Models - Indie Diary #35 | 12 Feb 2024 | 00:59:42 | |
In this second episode in collaboration with Women-led Games, I spent some time with Andrea Saravia Pérez, a narrative designer from Colombia, to talk about her AAA experience and the struggles of developers from underrepresented backgrounds who reach for success in the industry. Enjoy! ––––––––– Find Andrea online: - Twitter: https://x.com/asaraviapt - Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/asaraviapt/commissions - Itch: https://asaravia.itch.io/ | |||
| Kay Anderson: Of Dreams, Ambitions, and Doing What You Love - Indie Diary #34 | 05 Feb 2024 | 00:38:29 | |
In this episode, I'm proud to kick off a mini-series in collaboration with Women-Led Games! Over the next month or so, I will feature some female developers from the WLG community – with the ambition to host even more in the future. The first one in the series is German narrative designer Kay Anderson, a former aspiring biologist turned game dev, who brings her empathy and passion for stories in everything she does. Enjoy! -------- Kay's email: kayandersonms@gmail.com -------- Learn about Women-Led Games: https://www.womenledgames.com/ | |||
| Jake Kordus (Nibble & Byte Games): Indie Aspirations, From Aerospace to Game Dev, Learning From Yourself - Indie Diary #33 | 29 Jan 2024 | 00:57:35 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Jake Kordus, Director and Founder of Nibble & Byte Games – working on The Fall of Aether Station. When he's not busy managing a team of developers in aerospace software, Jake dedicates most of his free time to a burning passion for game dev – one that clearly shines through this beautiful episode here. Hope you enjoy! 🎒💛 -------- - Wishlist The Fall of Aether Station: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2300690/The_Fall_of_Aether_Station/ - Subscribe to Jake's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4DQsoxIW7xNW2mmRIPPMKg | |||
| Alex Kanaris-Sotiriu: The Act of Creation, AAA vs Indie, and an Island of Myths! - Indie Diary #32 | 22 Jan 2024 | 00:41:52 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Polygon Treehouse co-founder Alex Kanaris-Sotiriu, an ex-Sony developer turned creative director of his own Scotland-based studio. Alex has discovered a lot about the joy of "finding your own balance" in life, and this episode explores these themes and more. Enjoy! ---------- - Wishlist Mythwrecked: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2000210/Mythwrecked_Ambrosia_Island/ - Alex's Twitter: https://x.com/kanaratron - Polygon Treehouse Twitter: https://x.com/polytreehouse | |||
| Rob Madden: Of Loss, Love, and Cherished Memories - Indie Diary #31 | 08 Jan 2024 | 00:43:32 | |
New year, new Indie Diary – with a new podcast theme made by video game and film composer Yuri Gore! 🎒💛 In this very special episode, I spent some time with Rob Madden, creative director of Hyperluminal Games and the mind behind the beautiful upcoming puzzle-adventure Pine Hearts. Rob has an incredibly personal connection to his game, and I feel incredibly grateful to him for having wanted to share his story with me. Plus, The Indie Diarist's new and shiny YouTube channel is now live! That's where you can find all the past, present and future episodes of the show – plus some extra content coming soon. Give it a follow here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist/ ------------- Find Rob online: - Wishlist Pine Hearts: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1781010/Pine_Hearts/ - Little Nook Twitter: https://twitter.com/LittleNookGames - Little Nook Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlenookpublishing/ | |||
| Tony Gowland: Creativity & Constraints, From AAA to Indie, Creating the Familiar - Indie Diary #30 | 11 Dec 2023 | 00:54:02 | |
Many indie developers "fall" into game dev, but for Ant Workshop's Tony Gowland, it was more a case of falling "out" of triple-A development.
In this 30th Indie Diary and last episode of 2023, I spent some time with a former Rockstar veteran turned indie, to discuss the value of familiar experiences, laughter, and creativity under constraints. What a beautiful way to end the first year of the show!
Hope you enjoy! 🎒💛
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Buy Dungeon Golf:
- Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2144040/Dungeon_Golf/
Find Tony and his team online:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntWorkshop
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonygowland.bsky.social
- Discord: https://discord.com/invite/P6NFbuf
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Rbt-MNHfYJt008xdlse4Q
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| Tom Curtis: Learning From Gamemaker, Trigonometry, and HopDodge Shenanigans! - Indie Diary #29 | 04 Dec 2023 | 00:49:18 | |
Remember the good old days when playing games wasn't a game dev exercise? 👀 In this episode, I spent some time with Tom Curtis, a US-based developer who's been thinking about games differently since he was 11. Tom has recently delisted his HopDodge to make it the best version of itself it can be. Get ready for a journey, folks – this one feels very intimate! Hope you enjoy! ---- Find Tom online: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/HopDodge - Website: https://blankgamesonline.com/ - HopDodge (Steam): https://steamcommunity.com/app/1965680/workshop/ | |||
| How to Promote Your Game With Influencers & Creators - Brought to You by Drope.me | 27 Nov 2023 | 00:48:37 | |
Influencers and creators can make a huge difference to bring your game to success. In this episode, I spent some time with Drope.me's CEO, Dima Okhrimchuk, to discuss the challenges of indie game influencer marketing, chat through the rise of micro-influencers, and share some practical tips to level up your creator marketing campaigns. Hope you enjoy! ------- Use the promo code INDIEDIARIST0 on Drope.me by 31 Dec 2023 to launch your first influencer campaign with 0% commission! ------- - Try out Drope.me: http://bit.ly/47pcZRR - Drope.me's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dropeme/ - Drope.me's Twitter: https://twitter.com/drope_me - Dima's email: dima@drope.me - Dima's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dima-okhrimchuk/ ------- [This episode was sponsored by Drope.me, an AI-enabled influencer marketing platform] | |||
| Jan Mysior (Yellow Dot Games): The Value of Simplicity, Developing Games for Your Loved One - Indie Diary #28 | 20 Nov 2023 | 00:51:51 | |
Jan Mysior is developing co-op games so he can play them with his wife and kids – and I think that's beautiful. In this episode, I spent some time with the co-owner of Yellow Dot Games, tuning in all the way from Poland to tell me about his story – and why he loves co-op games so much. Hope you enjoy! ------- Find Jan and his studio online: - Website: https://www.yellowdotgames.com/ - Studio Discord: https://discord.gg/Y7yAD9K4vY - Twitter: https://twitter.com/YellowDot_Games - Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/yellow_dot_games | |||
| How to Recognise PR Scams in Game Development , ft. Pirate PR - Footnote #7 | 16 Dec 2024 | 01:05:45 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Robby from Pirate PR, an expert in recognising PR scams and helping indie developers fight back against these terrible and harmful practices. This episode comes PACKED with great advice, including the most common types of PR, widespread challenges, best practices and common pitfalls, and it's worth a listen for anyone struggling with PR and marketing for their game. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------- Support Robby / Pirate PR 🎒💛 - Website: https://piratepr.com - Treasure Trove: https://piratepr.com/treasure-trove/ - Twitter: https://x.com/pr_pirate ------ Support the show 🎒💛 - Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj - Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist - Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist - Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.social - Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist - Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist | |||
| The Power of Detail in Sound Design, ft. Immersed Productions - Footnote #4 | 13 Nov 2023 | 00:54:17 | |
Sound design can be an incredibly powerful storytelling tool. In this episode, I sat down with Tony Wijs, owner of production studio Immersed Productions, to discuss the power of detail in sound design – and why great sound matters to create unforgettable game experiences. This episode is packed with sound design tips, so give it a good listen! Hope you enjoy!
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Find Tony online:
- Website: https://immersedproductions.com
- Twitter (Immersed Productions): https://twitter.com/ImmersedProd
- Twitter (Tony): https://twitter.com/TonyWijsVA
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| Far Owl Studios: Making Turn-Based RPGs, The Isolation of GameDev, Blending Narrative & Gameplay - Indie Diary #27 | 06 Nov 2023 | 00:37:25 | |
Being an indie dev can get lonely. In this episode, I spent some time with Kailoulou, Founder and Lead Creative Director of Far Owl Studios – an indie team working on turn-based RPG Ethereal Metropolis – to discuss the many faces of creativity as an indie game developer. Kai is a fellow writer and we had so much to discuss together! Enjoy!
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Find Kai online:
- Ethereal Metropolis Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/etherealmetropolis/ethereal-metropolis-intense-tile-based-combat
- Far Owl Studios (Twitter): https://twitter.com/far_owl
- Far Owl Studios (YouTube)
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| Peleg Harel: Of Meaningful Creations, Game Design and Puzzle Games! - Indie Diary #26 | 30 Oct 2023 | 00:24:49 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with one of the show's closest supporters, Peleg Harel – a solo developer from Israel who's making a beautiful little puzzle game called Exodus. Peleg is such an amazing member of The Indie Diarist community, looking to create meaningful games and experiences for his players – with a wonderful puzzle game to match. Enjoy! ------------- Support Peleg: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExodusPgame - Wishlist/try Exodus: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2293540/Exodus/ | |||
| Balcony Softworks: What If Your Indie Game Failed? - Indie Diary #25 | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:46:21 | |
If you've listened to the episode with Kelsey Beachum (Footnote #1), you'll know that the positive value of failure is one of the themes I hold dearest – but often, it's easier said than done. In this episode, I spent some time with Dodi and George from Balcony Softworks, who are currently working on a deckbuilder RPG called Deepest Chamber: Resurrection. And the story behind the development of this game is... an interesting and touching one indeed. Enjoy!
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Find Balcony Softworks online:
- Wishlist Deepest Chamber: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1552080/Deepest_Chamber_Resurrection/#app_reviews_hash
- Team's Discord: https://discord.gg/DeepestChamber
- Team's Twitter: https://twitter.com/BalconyTeam
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| Answering Your Indie Game Marketing Burning Questions with Alex Harding, Jacky Martin & Maren Sunderland - Footnote #3 | 16 Oct 2023 | 01:27:12 | |
How do you even start with marketing your indie game? What is the best approach to game marketing, and how do you find your audience? In this special episode extracted from a Discord-only event, I connected with three amazing professionals in the indie game marketing scene to help answer burning questions from the community! I hope you guys find it useful 🎒💛 --------- Connect with my guests! 👇 Alex: Personal TW: https://twitter.com/alexdharding TW: https://twitter.com/TheIndiEXP Website: https://theindiexp.com/ Jacky: TW: https://twitter.com/TheJackyMartin Website: https://www.gentleland.net/ Maren: TW: https://twitter.com/ManekiSocial Website: https://www.maneki.social/ | |||
| Bromantic Games - Being a Family Studio, Creating Connections, and Why That Card Game Is Probably a Bad Idea - Indie Diary #24 | 09 Oct 2023 | 00:39:46 | |
As someone who left his home country at 21, I can really empathise with stories of siblings living apart. That's why in this episode I spent some time with two brothers from the Bromantic Games bunch, Daniel and Simen, who are developing an amazing settlement builder called Folklands – and who are keeping close to each other thanks to their work as game devs. 🎒💛 Enjoy! ------ Find Bromantic Games online: - Wishlist Folklands: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2282890/Folklands/ - Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/folklandsgame | |||
| Chaz: The Flash Era, Game Jams, and... Final Fantasy Fun! - Indie Diary #23 | 02 Oct 2023 | 00:45:19 | |
What do you remember of the Flash era? In this episode, I spent some time with UK-based solo dev Chaz, an incredibly passionate developer who learned to code all the way back in the age of Newground and Miniclip. We also had the chance to discuss our shared love for Final Fantasy VII. Enjoy! ----- Find Chaz online: - Website: https://madebychaz.com - Try out Soulvester VS Lil' Beezey: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2368510/Soulvester_VS_Lil_Beezey/ ---- Support the show! Website: https://theindiediarist.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist | |||
| Eric Manahan - From Architecture to Game Design, Following Your Heart, LUCID Dreams - Indie Diary #22 | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:39:37 | |
Who would have thought architecture and game design had so much in common? In this episode I spent some time with Eric Manahan, game designer and founder of The Matte Black Studio, who's currently working on his dearly beloved "Celest-oidvania" LUCID. A former architect with a burning love for games, Eric made the jump to game dev just a few years ago – but he's been harbouring this passion for way longer. Enjoy! ----- Support LUCID: https://lucidkickstarter.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/matteblackstudio Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/_theMatteBlack Lucid Discord: https://discord.com/invite/PQYTsAZQZu | |||
| Adrian Spencer: Wormholes, Conventions and Chainmail Jewellery! - Indie Diary #21 | 18 Sep 2023 | 00:41:45 | |
Who knew chainmail jewellery and game development could go so well together? In this episode, I spent some time with Adrian Spencer, founder of Lakea Games and developer of Wormhole Adventurer (among other things), to discuss anything from getting into games to showcasing your project at conventions. Adrian used to stream online while making chainmail jewellery, and at some point, this passion turned into something a bit more game-related. ------ Find Adrian online: - Get Wormhole Adventurer: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1959940/Wormhole_Adventurer/ - Adrian's Website: https://lakeagames.co.uk - Adrian's Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lakea_gaming - Adrian's Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesLakea ----- Support the show: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist - Patreon: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist - Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist | |||
| Joe Sullivan: From Freelance to Indie, Imagination & Growth, Farming Spells (Literally!) - Indie Diary #20 | 11 Sep 2023 | 00:25:04 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with Joe Sullivan, a former freelance contractor who made the move to independent game development with his upcoming game – FloraMancer: Seeds & Spells. From the role of imagination in game dev to his vision for his game, Joe and I had such a lovely chat together! Enjoy! ------ Find Joe online: - Wishlist FloraMancer: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2259300/FloraMancer__Seeds_and_Spells/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/sullygamedev - Threads: https://threads.net/@floramancergame | |||
| VCD: Rookie Mistakes, Dealing With Anxiety, Creating Worlds - Indie Diary #59 | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:35:27 | |
In this episode, I spent some time with an old friend of the show: VCD, tuning in all the way from Nigeria, who's been following The Indie Diarist pretty much since its very early days! From rookie mistakes to dealing with discouragement and building metroidvania worlds, this episode is packed with good times and wholesomeness. Enjoy! 🎒💛 ------ Support VCD 🎒💛 - Wishlist The InBetween: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3050000/The_InBetween_Demo - Threads: https://threads.net/vcdgamer12345 - Twitter: https://twitter.com/theinbetweendev - Donations: https://buymeacoffee.com/vcdgamer/the-inbetween-support ------ Support the show 🎒💛
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| OKJOY Studio: Bringing Joy to People, Being a Developer/Publisher, Games & Culture - Indie Diary #19 | 04 Sep 2023 | 00:30:53 | |
In this episode I spent some time with OKJOY Studio, a developer/publisher tuning in all the way from Hong Kong, to chat about their games and what it means to both create and publish titles within the same team. Enjoy this slightly-shorter-than-usual episode and make sure to support the OKJOY team, so they can keep... bringing joy to people all over the world! :) ------ Find OKJOY Studio: - Check out their games: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/OKJOY - Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/okjoy_studio - Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/okjoy.studio | |||
| Jan & Sakura (RainLight): Steam Next Fest Learnings, Making Multiplayer Games, The Beauty of Play - Indie Diary #18 | 28 Aug 2023 | 00:55:11 | |
Is the Steam Next Fest worth it for an indie dev? What is it like to make a game that many people can play together? In this episode I spent some time with Sakura and Jan, co-founders of small indie studio RainLight and developers of Tricky Tracks – a hide-and-seek game with a twist! Sakura and Jan were just "recovering" from the Steam Next Fest when we recorded this episode – give it a listen for a lot of tips on the event! ------ Find RainLight online: - Try Tricky Tracks: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2122000/Tricky_Tracks__Early_Access/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/tricky_tracks - Tricky Tracks' Discord: https://discord.com/invite/EurYgCAYj4 | |||
| Lente: Life on a Boat, Flash Nostalgia, The Value of Nature - Indie Diary #17 | 21 Aug 2023 | 00:26:13 | |
As far as wholesome games go, Lente's "Spilled" is a great example of what happens when love for nature meets game development. In this episode, I spent some time with a talented indie dev living on a boat in the Netherlands, who's channelling her passion for the environment in her upcoming water-cleansing and oil-removing game. Enjoy! ------ Find Lente online: - Wishlist Spilled: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2240080/Spilled/ - Website: https://lente.me - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lentegamedev | |||
| The Rise and Impact of Indie Games on Video Game Culture (Ft. Still Loading Podcast) - Footnote #2 | 14 Aug 2023 | 01:23:09 | |
Indie games and developers are the foundation of our medium: they've always been around, and they will never leave. For this very special bonus episode, I invited over Josh from Still Loading podcast to chat together about the origins and rise of indie games, trying to figure out the impact they had on video game culture – and where we're headed next. The result is an amazing episode full of historical facts around indie games, and something I'm personally very proud of! Thank you Josh for being such a splendid guest. 🫶 Enjoy this little collab! ------ Find Josh and Still Loading online: - Facebook: https://facebook.com/stillloadingpod - Twitter: https://twitter.com/stillloadingpod - Instagram: https://instagram.com/stillloadingpod - Threads: https://threads.net/stillloadingpod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stillloadingpodcast/ - Website with podcast links: https://www.stillloadingpodcast.com/ ------ Support the show: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist - Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist - Patreon: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist - Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist | |||