Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch

Latest Episodes:

[Ep361] The Myth of Infinite Growth May 04, 2022

Show notes

This week, we talk about DVD choices, inkblot movies, and shutting out the world. When you’re exploring a paradigm shift, a big part of that upfront investment is learning and creating new processes. Skills and concepts might be transferable, and the mechanical parts can be reproduced, but the thing that’s going to take time is developing context fluency. Remember though, if you don’t disrupt yourself, someone else is going to.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

RoninGameDev: Given infinite resources, do you still feel like you would switch to 3D, and how will all the time spent on the Game Changer affect this decision?

Things mentioned:

Everything Everywhere All at Once
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net.

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[Ep360] Imperfect Balance Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss secrets, knowledge mastery, and buffing pawns. Gameplay loops keep players engaged, but it’s all too easy to only think about mechanical loops. Providing various levels of engagement allows players to meet the game at different breadths and depths. And when things change, make sure they can cascade.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

Mimmabip Gourkee: How do you balance your games?

Things mentioned:

Tunic
Adam Millard, Why Tunic Hides Its Tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzqv0bKLz2o)

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[Ep359] Oxi Clean of the Soul Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

This week, we talk about hidden information, player choice, and doing less. Things are often different than what you think they’re going to be, and that’s okay! But if you mistake activity for progress, you’ve fallen into a guaranteed trap. The discovery of the things you shouldn’t do might just be the most valuable discovery of all.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

RoninGameDev: Is LevelHead's full screen fake?
RoninGameDev: Does Adam being CEO change the pressure at all? In those moments of panic or doubt, does the fact that Adam is driving the direction of the studio help you not worry?

Things mentioned:

Elden Ring
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

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[Ep358] Training Montage Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss more fan poking, feeding the beast, and reframing productivity. We had our quarterly review, and it was, as usual, illuminating! Productivity isn’t just about making stuff, and having more stuff isn’t always better. Sure, you could walk from NY to LA and feel like you’re making progress the entire time, but is that the best way to get to LA?

No questions this week, but we'll hit some up next time!

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[Ep357] Metagame Playing Field Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

This week, we talk about the nightmare of incentives, design arms race, and price. Despite what economists tell you, you can’t assume a can opener. Or a spherical cow for that matter. And certainly not a can opener that can open a spherical cow. Pricing signals much more than just the price to the consumer, and supply/demand curves are more shapes than you think.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

Suavignon: How do you set the price of a game?

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[Ep356] The Paradox of Dave Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss opinion bludgeons, resource allocation, and quality time. By now, you know that we like to answer questions with questions. Context is important and you should always know why! In the long term, reducing cognitive load is the name of the game – everything else is a trap.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

JohnFlavin: Do you track your time? If so, how do you do it (tools, workflow, etc.)? If you don't, have you tried it and how did it go?

Things mentioned:

Register to watch our live interview on the Favro Learn From Leaders podcast on March 31! Check the registration page for the time! https://tinyurl.com/bscotch-favro
https://toggl.com/track/
https://www.rescuetime.com/

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[Ep355] Invasive Social Nicety Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

This week, we talk about beach funerals, clock shenanigans, and evaluating feedback. If you don’t understand why you’re doing something, you’re not engaging in best practices. In relationships, in the perception of time, and in understanding details. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Context is EVERYTHING.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

Jumpylumpa Leapylow: On average how many takes do you have for the podcast? Have you ever talked about something that had to be removed? How much time goes into editing?
Mimmabip Gourkee: When receiving feedback on a change players want to your game, how do you determine whether it's a change that a vocal minority want or something that the majority of players would enjoy?

Things mentioned:

Register to watch our live interview on the Favro Learn From Leaders podcast on March 31! https://tinyurl.com/bscotch-favro
That podcast episode from NPR: https://tinyurl.com/daylight-savings

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[Ep354] Normal Terrain Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss That One Game, invisible walls, and 30-dimensional space. When you’re trying to navigate unfamiliar territory, it’s useful to have a map. But you have to remember that the map is not the world; it’s a representation of multiple dimensions collapsed down to only two. Not only should you try to understand the thing you’re looking at, but you also need to understand HOW you’re looking at the thing.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

QuantumAnomaly: Do you believe you still follow your core values, are they brought up often, or have any of them changed recently?

Things mentioned:

Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais

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[Ep353] Laying Siege Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

This week, we talk about portable gaming, snow melt, and the low hanging fruit of web hacking. When the only problems you’re trying to solve are the ones that you created, it’s difficult to innovate. Your framework is stuck in what already exists, not what could be. There’s a difference between positioning yourself to win and positioning yourself to not lose.

Questions answered (abbreviated):

challosis: Has your web infrastructure ever been attacked?

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[Ep352] Get Parched, Scrubgrass Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss time travel messaging, UX problems, and a lifestyle lens. Whatever you measure is what you optimize for, and like all decisions, that choice has consequences. If you don’t design for something, you might find yourself fighting against it instead. Whether you pay it now or later, the cost comes due. The goal is to be able to look at your future self and say “You’re welcome.”

Questions answered (abbreviated):

ExakrowDapiff: What message do you want to give your future self?
hossimo: What is your favorite mobile or desktop app tool that you open without thinking and enriches your life?
Fraser_: Any CharaChorder updates?
challosis: Please tell us about how CharaChorder is whenever it shows up!

Things mentioned:

https://bearable.app/
CharaChorder (https://www.charachorder.com/)
ErgoDox EZ (https://ergodox-ez.com/) and the ZSA Moonlander (https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/)

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