The Indie Diarist (Anthony L. Wolf)

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! 🎒💛

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Find George / Minimap online:

- Minimap website: https://minimap.net/

- Minimap Discord: https://discord.com/invite/cbNQMya8sG

In this episode, I spent some time with Mario and Virginie, two lovely game developers and co-founders of eXplore Studio, tuning in from Germany. Mario and Virginie are working on The Kaiyo Mission, a space exploration game bringing together a range of cultural influences and planned for release in December this year. Mario and Virginie are pouring a lot of heart and soul into this project, and this episode shows that. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support eXplore Studio:

- Wishlist The Kaiyo Mission: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2248280/The_Kaiyo_Mission/

- Website: https://explorestudiogames.com/

- Twitter: https://x.com/thekaiyomission

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekaiyomission/

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekaiyomission

Get ready for one of the top episodes of this year! In this one, I spent some time with Jean Canellas, programmer and lead designer of Death's Gambit – a much beloved metroidvania that came out in 2021. Together, we touched upon some crucial and important topics for the industry, such as burnout, managing your own expectations, and the power of healing through a project's redemption. Truly a wonderful one. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Jean 🎒💛

- Death's Gambit: https://store.steampowered.com/app/356650/Deaths_Gambit_Afterlife/

- Deltarune: https://deltarune.com/

- Twitter: https://x.com/jeancanellas

- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/jeancanellas.bsky.social

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.socialFollow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristFollow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode I spent some time with Evin Oxley, a game development student from the UK who's just released Kiki's Here – a game she developed for her university programme. Evin is a self-driven student who loves horror and making people smile – which may seem two opposites on the surface, yet come together in Evin's incredible passion for game development. Listen to us chatting about anything horror, indie and gaming, then try out her game at the links below!

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Join the podcast's Discord! -> https://discord.gg/J84aPfSSvj

Find Evin online:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvinOxley

Website: https://evinikuyama.itch.io/

Play Evin's Game: https://evinikuyama.itch.io/kikis-here

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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• Wishlist Minami Lane: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2678990/Minami_Lane/

• Doot's Links: https://linktr.ee/dodoot

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! 🎒💛

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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

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!

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Find Chaz online:

- Website: https://madebychaz.com

- Try out Soulvester VS Lil' Beezey: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2368510/Soulvester_VS_Lil_Beezey/

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Support the show!

Website: https://theindiediarist.com

Patreon: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist

I spent some time with Out of the Bit, an indie studio based in Wimbledon (UK) for the very first LIVE recorded episode of the show! I was hosted by Ali Motisi, Rosalia Trupiano and Leo Halwart, for a fun hour chatting about their pixel art adventure game Full Void, vintage games, and what it means to chase your dreams and take risks for what you really love to do.

By the time this episode goes live, Full Void will also be ready to hit Steam in the same week – so hit that Wishlist / Buy button and support this lovely multicultural bunch of devs!

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Find Out of the Bit online:

Buy Full Void: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1859580/Full_Void/

Follow the team's Twitter: https://twitter.com/outofthebit

OotB Website: https://www.outofthebit.com/

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 🎒💛

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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/

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! ------ 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)

In this episode, I spent some time with Oli, Rachel and Phil from Kaizen Game Works, an independent studio working on open-world adventure Promise Mascot Agency. From trusting players and audiences to developing games as friends, this is another great and packed episode! Hope you enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support the team 🎒💛

Website: https://kaizengameworks.com
TikTok: tiktok.com/@kaizengameworks
Promise Mascot Agency Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PromiseMascotAgency/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/KaizenGameWorks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KaizenGameWorks
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kaizengameworks.com
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2585830/Promise_Mascot_Agency/
Epic Game Store: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/promise-mascot-agency-dd7a9c
PlayStation Store: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10008195
Xbox: https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/promise-mascot-agency/9p6gcj303k9b

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theindiediarist.bsky.socialFollow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristFollow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode in collaboration with Gentleland.net, I spent some time with Laurenz, an architecture turned solo game dev who's working on story-driven action RPG Edenfall: Legacy of the First Wardens. Laurenz ran an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign, and here he shares some tips for other developers wishing to do the same. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Laurenz:

- Wishlist Edenfall: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2249060/Edenfall_Legacy_of_the_First_Wardens/

- Website: https://www.everfluxgames.com/

- Twitter: https://x.com/everfluxgames

- Discord: https://discord.gg/tHWWuucahp

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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

How is it like to work with someone else's IP? In this episode, I spent some time with Kenneth ("Kenny") Engelsen, game director at Rain Games – a passionate Norwegian studio currently working on the video game adaptation of graphic novel Girl Genius. From the story of Rain Games itself to Kenny's current work at the studio, there's much to look forward to in this episode!

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Find Rain Games online:

- Kenny's Twitter: https://twitter.com/RainGames_Kenny

- Studio's Twitter: https://twitter.com/rain_games

- Website: https://rain-games.com/

- Get Teslagrad 2: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1698220/Teslagrad_2/

- Try Girl Genius: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1789370/Girl_Genius_Adventures_In_Castle_Heterodyne/

Product manager by day, indie game dev by night – Kevin Wu lives a double life, and his game dev work oozes with passion and creative love. In this episode, I spent some time with Kevin, solo developer and founder of Little Bear Studios, who just launched his turn-based RPG Magic & Machines on Steam at the end of June. From his experience developing his game to secret insights into his dream game, this episode is heartwarming and fun in equal measure.

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Find Kevin online:

- Get Magic & Machines: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2341800/Magic_and_Machines/

- Kevin's Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilbearstudios

- Kevin's website: https://www.littlebear.studio/

In this episode we meet Mateo Covic, a young developer from Germany who's just released his first game. That's one way to open the new year! Mateo is a great pixel artist and an amazing developer, who put his heart and soul into Maki's Adventure – a "fintastic sharkvania" where you get to swim, dash, dart, and bite your way to freedom. Enjoy! --- Wishlist/Buy Maki's Adventure: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1843110/Makis_Adventure/ --- Follow Mateo and his game: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Zoroarts_Dev Tiktok (German Account): https://www.tiktok.com/@makisadventure_official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoroarts18/ Website: https://www.makisadventure.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYSfJQbbUV8dw_JtkbD3ZA

In this episode, I had an amazing chat with a fellow compatriot from my country of birth: Ramon Bocca, a studio producer from Turin, Italy! Ramon and his team are working on a beautiful series of lovecraftian, story-driven games called Omen Exitio, and they're currently finalising their work on their first sequel - 1927. As you can imagine, it will feel very much noir indeed. :)

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Find Ramon and Tiny Bull Studios online:

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TinyBullStudios

- Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/tinybullstdios

- Wishlist Omen Exitio: 1927: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466520/Omen_Exitio_1927/

We can all name one or more video games destined to stick in our hearts forever. One way or another, many of my picks are indie games. This podcast is all about indies – and the amazing people who make them. Welcome to The Indie Diarist, a show on the most lovable, meaningful and inspiring indie devs and tales from the world of gaming. In this show, you’ll hear from game writers, designers, artists and more, from all parts of the world, to learn about their personal journeys – and why not? Maybe pick up a new game or two for your backlog. My name is Anthony L. Wolf, content manager and gaming writer. And this is The Indie Diarist. Music: The Pirate and the Dancer, by Rolemusic (freemusicarchive.org)

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! 🎒💛

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- Wishlist Dead Meat: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2628740/Dead_Meat/

- Say hi to Meaning Machine: info@meaningmachine.games

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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

In this episode, I spent some time with Romain Mesa, founder of KnightStudio and developer of Mama: Die and Retry, an old school platformer celebrating the heroes of the working class. A former lawyer, Romain is a dedicated believer of the argument of video games as a form of art – and as someone who did his dissertation on the topic, I couldn't miss the occasion to have a beautiful conversation around everything art, literature, aesthetic and game design. Enjoy!

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Try Romain's game:

Mama: Die and Retry on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2211800/Mama_Die_and_Retry/

Romain's Twitter: @KnightStudio1

In this episode I chatted with the developers of SILT, a beautiful indie puzzle-horror game created by Spiral Circus Games – a UK-based studio. Two explosive creative minds coming together, Tom & Dom met by chance and have started creating games together since. They're now working on their next big thing, and they spent some time to chat with me about their story, their biggest achievements and fears – in line with the mood of their lovely little game.

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BUY SILT (available on all major platforms): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1325890/SILT/

Spiral Circus Website: https://spiralcircusgames.com/

Spiral Circus Twitter: https://twitter.com/gamescircus

Spiral Circus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiralcircusgames/

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!

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Support Renee:

• Wishlist Potions: https://store.steampowered.com/app/378690/Potions_A_Curious_Tale/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rikukat?lang=en
• Insta: https://www.instagram.com/rikukat/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneegittins/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GinRyuChan

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Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj
• Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Leave a donation: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

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!

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Use the promo code INDIEDIARIST0 on Drope.me by 31 Dec 2023 to launch your first influencer campaign with 0% commission!

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- 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/

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[This episode was sponsored by Drope.me, an AI-enabled influencer marketing platform]

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! 🎒💛 ---- 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

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!

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Support Peleg:

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExodusPgame

- Wishlist/try Exodus: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2293540/Exodus/

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!

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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

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!

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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

In this episode we meet Thomas Kildren, a stay-at-home dad and VR developer who has a flair for turning his kids' works of art into games. Creator of Booper, Get Home!, Thomas is a hugely creative and dedicated person with an artist's soul, and someone who really puts his heart and soul into every game he works on. We discussed his current project, ambitions and personal story, in a cozy episode that is sure to warm up your heart this winter. Enjoy!

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Follow Thomas online:
- Support on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/fletcherstudios
- Website: http://www.fletcherstudios.net
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thomaskildren
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fletcher-Studios-105542046147996/

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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! 🎒💛

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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/

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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

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!

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Find Lorena online:

- https://twitter.com/3DGoblinDev

- https://3dgoblindev.itch.io/

Wishlist Mycelium Heaven: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2656520/Mycelium_Heaven/

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!

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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

Are you into cats and action RPGs? In this episode, I spent some time with the co-founders and directors of Astral Clocktower Studios, a mid-sized indie studio currently developing Kristala – a game of cats and magic. Together with Allie, Tiffany and Sarah, we touched upon many important topics, such as finding your way as an indie studio and what it means to be a women-led company. Unfortunately, the answer is precisely what you're thinking about.

Make sure to support the team with the links below!

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Support Kristala:

Back the Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kristala/kristala-dark-fantasy-arpg-for-pc-console

Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1206410/Kristala/

Find the team online:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACS_Games

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acs_games/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalagame

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ACS_Games

Website: https://astralclocktowerstudios.com

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! 🎒💛

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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

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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

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! 🎒💛

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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

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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

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/

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!

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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

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Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj
• Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Leave a donation: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

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.

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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

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Support the show:

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist

- Patreon: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist

- Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist

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/

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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/

Welcome to this very first episode of The Indie Diarist! For this very special occasion we meet Nina Freeman, creator of Cibele, Last Call and how do you Do It?, to learn more about her as a game developer and what drives her forward. From simply chatting about a bunch of great games together to the issue of visibility as an indie game creator, this first episode is already packed with tons of interesting topics – including whether or not we need a new term for "truly" independent developers. Enjoy!

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Follow Nina around the web:
- Twitch: twitch.tv/ninamarie (also found on twitch.tv/britkcaley)
- Twitter: @PersocomNina
- Website: http://ninasays.so

In this episode, I spent a beautiful hour with Manu from Crisalu Games - an Argentinian team working on Viscera Cleanup-inspired game Goblin Cleanup. Despite not even being in early access, the game already looks incredibly polished – to the point it feels like in the final stages of polish already! In this episode, I chatted with Manu about the game, being a game dev in Argentina, and a lot more. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Manu:

• Twitter/x : https://twitter.com/GoblinCleanup
• Wishlist & Follow on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2748340/Goblin_Cleanup/
• Back on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gentleland/goblin-cleanup

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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

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! -------- 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

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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• Wishlist Gods of the Twilight: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1528970/Gods_of_the_Twilight/
• Follow Ashley: https://twitter.com/godsoftwilight 
• Join Ashley's Discord: https://discord.gg/j9U5BCkn53

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

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!

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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

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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

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!

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Find Tom online:

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HopDodge

- Website: https://blankgamesonline.com/

- HopDodge (Steam): https://steamcommunity.com/app/1965680/workshop/

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! 🎒💛

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Support Robby / Pirate PR 🎒💛

- Website: https://piratepr.com

- Treasure Trove: https://piratepr.com/treasure-trove/

- Twitter: https://x.com/pr_pirate

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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

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!

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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

Remember all those Facebook games back in the day? In this episode, I spoke to the man who made the engine for Mafia Wars, among others: Aleksey Dmitriev, a once studio lead now gone solo, tuning in straight from Turkey. We chatted about creativity, successes, achievements and pride as a game developer – delving into the brightest and darkest sides of game development.

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Follow Aleksey: https://twitter.com/dekart1234

This episode was SO MUCH FUN to make! I spent some time with Steve Hollis, founder of Noisy Head Games, to learn more about his story and the development of Beyond The Long Night – a delightful roguelike published by Yogscast Games. What started off as an episode to learn more on Steve's game quickly became a chat about creativity, the beauty of roguelikes, and – like most conversations I have lately – the absolute masterpiece that is Outer Wilds. Also, the second longest episode of the podcast yet! Hope you enjoy :)

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Find Steve online:

- Buy Beyond the Long Night: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1730080/Beyond_the_Long_Night/

- Steve's Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoisyHeadGames

- "Very Badly Updated" Website: https://noisyheadgames.com/

In this episode, I spent some time with Sean Menzies, founder of Golden Horde Studios, who's working on a cosy sim / resource management game called Shoni Island. Our chat covered anything from the state of industry to the legacy of legendary god game Black & White, and I enjoyed every minute of it! Hope you like it! 🎒💛

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Support Sean 🎒💛

- Website
- Steam
- Discord
- LinkedIn

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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

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! 🎒💛

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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 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj
• Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Leave a donation: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

J Wesley isn't the first and won't be the last developer to use creativity as a form of relief, catharsis and purification. His story and amazing personality, though, make for one of the most powerful episodes of the show yet. In this new Indie Diary, J and I talked about our love for id Software, the importance of self-love and acceptance, and why everyone has the power to change – if they put their mind to it.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode focuses on the topics of addiction, rehabilitation and recovery through the power of creative arts.

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Follow J online:

Website: mindovermatterentertainment.com

Twitter: @MindOMatterEnt

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!

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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/

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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

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! --------- Find Tony online: - Website: https://immersedproductions.com - Twitter (Immersed Productions): https://twitter.com/ImmersedProd - Twitter (Tony): https://twitter.com/TonyWijsVA

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! 🎒💛

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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 🎒💛

• 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

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! 🎒💛

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- 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

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!

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Find Bromantic Games online:

- Wishlist Folklands: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2282890/Folklands/

- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/folklandsgame

In this episode, I spent some time with Trinket, an incredibly passionate and talented horror developer who's working on visual novel Veins Like Tapeworms, scheduled for release in February 2025. Trinket and I ended up discussing stories, creativity, and the secrets to a good horror game, in an episode that's as exciting as it's delightfully short! Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Trinket 🎒💛

https://store.steampowered.com/developer/AwesomeTrinket

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3106780/Veins_Like_Tapeworms/

https://bsky.app/profile/awesometrinket.bsky.social

https://trinket-games.tumblr.com/

https://x.com/Trinket_Games

https://awesometrinket.itch.io/

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!

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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/

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!

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Support Figerox 🎒💛

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Figerox
• Itch: https://figerox.itch.io/

-----------

Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj
• Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Leave a donation: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

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!

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Find Other Tales Interactive online:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/OtherTales
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/othertales/
• Discord: https://discord.com/invite/othertales

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!

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Support Simon 🎒💛

• Wishlist Cozy Space Survivors: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2657850/Cozy_Space_Survivors/
  
• Website: https://simonschreibt.de/cozy-space-survivors/
• Linktree: https://simont.de/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonschreibt
• Mastodon: https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@simonschreibt
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@simonschreibt
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/simonschreibt.bsky.social
  

----------

Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj
• Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Leave a donation: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

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!

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Support Sheldon 🎒💛

• Wishlist Cold Lazarus: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2766570/Cold_Lazarus/
• Website: https://cyrusthevirusstudios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyrusthevirus_studios/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctvStudios
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cyrusthevirusstudios

---------

Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj
• Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Leave a donation: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

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! :)

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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

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! 🎒💛

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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

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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

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

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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

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Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj
• Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Leave a donation: https://ko-fi.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
• Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

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!

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Kay's email: kayandersonms@gmail.com

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Learn about Women-Led Games:

https://www.womenledgames.com/

Ever wondered what a mix of Dungeons & Dragons and poker (yes, the card game) would look like? Wonder no further, for this episode's guest is Enrique Dryere, co-founder of Triple B Titles and developer of Aces and Adventures! From the secrets of creative inspiration to MMOs and fantasy RPG games, we had a great deal of fun in this episode.

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• Buy Aces & Adventures: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1815570/Aces__Adventures/
• Follow Triple B Titles: https://twitter.com/triple_b_titles

In this episode I chatted with US-based solo dev Erik Andersen, a fellow language geek who's now working on "So to Speak" – a game about the Japanese language. If you played and loved Heaven's Vault, you're going to love this one: the references were many, and Erik's passions led to a much relaxed conversation about the beauty of game development, how to learn to take risks, and more incredibly interesting topics.

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Support Erik:

- Wishlist So to Speak (Demo available): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1779030/So_to_Speak/

- Erik's Twitter: https://twitter.com/elander99

- Game's Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoToSpeakGame

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!

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- 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

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! 🎒💛

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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

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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

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!

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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

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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

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!

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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

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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

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!

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Find Lente online:

- Wishlist Spilled: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2240080/Spilled/

- Website: https://lente.me

- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lentegamedev

Happy 4-year anniversary Outer Wilds! In the longest episode of The Indie Diarist yet, I had the pleasure of spending an outstanding hour with Kelsey Beachum, Narrative Designer of Outer Wilds (plus DLC) and The Outer Worlds' DLCs among other things. We discussed anything from rewarding player exploration to NASA's missions in space – and of course, a lot of Outer Wilds (with way too much nerdage from my part). This episode features special questions from the Outer Wilds subreddit (r/OuterWilds), which I thank very much for being one of the most lovable communities on the whole internet. Also, Elwensa's stories may well be canon soon. Safe travels! ----- Find Kelsey online: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanKelsing - Website: http://kelseybeachum.com/ - Play Outer Wilds, you heretic: https://store.steampowered.com/app/753640/Outer_Wilds/

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! 🎒💛

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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