Where does Metal Gear Solid rank in the history of great video game opening sequences? This week John and Stace discuss the opening hour of the original Metal Gear Solid (1998), from the initial cut-scene to the Revolver Ocelot boss fight. The sequence is a masterclass of game design, narrative and originality, providing us with numerous concepts and ideas that have gone on to become commonplace across many games. Our discussion of Metal Gear Solid comes ahead of our look at Metal Gear Solid 2 which celebrates its 20th anniversary on 13 November 2021. --- A video version of this podcast is av ..read more

This week John Robertson and Stace Harman discuss what makes 'the best' video game weapon and talk through some of their favourite examples, from guns to bows and feet to summons. Does a great weapon need to make sense within the world it exists? Does it need to play a role in the narrative? Does it need to be unique? Should it involve spectacle? What does it say about the game that it is a part of? --- A video version of this podcast is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/indiebydesign Music by Ben Prunty. [Apple Podcasts] [Google Podcasts] [Spotify] [Direct RSS Feed ..read more

This week on Gaming: The Podcast we're talking Back 4 Blood, Turtle Rock's spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead. John Robertson and Stace Harman discuss where it sits in relation to Left 4 Dead's legacy, how well it balances its carnage, the nature of its progression and deck building systems and what our respective responses are emotionally and in terms of pure entertainment. --- A video version of this podcast is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/indiebydesign Music by Ben Prunty. [Apple Podcasts] [Google Podcasts] [Spotify] [Direct RSS Feed ..read more

Diablo 2: Resurrected is the topic of discussion on this week's Gaming: The Podcast, with John coming to the game as a new player and Stace having a perspective gained from having played the original release in 2000. We discuss whether or not the game is relevant and meaningful for those players coming to it without experience and nostalgia gained from playing it in past years and how different playing styles can result in wildly different interpretations of the core design. --- A video version of this podcast is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/indiebydesign Music by Ben Prunty. [Apple ..read more

How has Arkane Studios evolved its ideas and mechanics to make Deathloop a better game than Dishonored? In this week's Gaming: The Podcast John Robertson and Stace Harman discuss Arkane Studios' Deathloop: How does it combined stealth and action gameplay? What interesting things does it do with death and time? How does the game react to your presence? How interesting are the things it asks you to do? --- A video version of this podcast is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/indiebydesign Music by Ben Prunty. [Apple Podcasts] [Google Podcasts] [Spotify] [Direct RSS Feed ..read more

On this episode of Gaming: The Podcast we discuss and put forward the best video game settings and locations. Are there any concepts for settings that make us more interested in a game even if we know nothing more about it? What is it about some settings and locations that make them immediately more attractive and worthy of intrigue than others? Games mentioned include Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Yakuza series, Resident Evil 1, Dead Space, Persona 5, Catherine, Final Fantasy 7, Ghost of Tsushima, NEO: The World Ends With You and more. --- A video version of this podcast is available at https ..read more

In this episode of Gaming: The Podcast John Robertson and Stace Harman discuss what it is that they believe makes a great RPG. The very best roleplaying-games manage to grab and hold our attention for tens, if not hundreds, of hours and they stick with us for years after their credits roll. What, though, is it about them that gives them this incredible ability to court us and keep us for so long? Games and franchises mentioned in this episode include Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Witcher 3, Pokemon, Yakuza, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Baldur's Gate 3 ..read more

Welcome to our monthly roundup of the games that have occupied the free time of Indie By Design's John Robertson and Stace Harman. This August has been a month of variety, with Baldur's Gate 3, Operation Tango, Call of Duty: Vanguard and That Dragon, Cancer taking prime position as games discussed. --- A video version of this podcast is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/indiebydesign Music by Ben Prunty. [Apple Podcasts] [Google Podcasts] [Spotify] [Direct RSS Feed ..read more

Psychonauts 2 is finally upon us after a 16 year wait. We've played it, we like it and we've written the book on it. Informed by our two years of working with Double Fine to create 20 Double Fine Years, we dedicate this episode of Gaming: The Podcast to Psychonauts 2 and how it embraces the creativity of its developers to provide us something wonderfully unique, insightful and rewarding. If you would like to learn more about the making of Psychonauts 2, its creators, its art and the guiding principles behind it, then make sure to check out 20 Double Fine Years - our all-encompassing book of e ..read more

This week on Gaming: The Podcast John Robertson and Stace Harman discuss historical accuracy in games: Is it important? Does it change how we perceive certain games? What is the difference between accuracy and authenticity? What does 'historically accurate' even mean? Where do inclusivity and historical accuracy intersect? The episode begins with conversation on the newly released Humankind, a game which both John and Stace worked on in a consultancy capacity, and what it does differently to the genre-dominating Civilization series around historical accuracy. The show then moves on to histori ..read more