• Indie Diary #56: Everflux Games - How to Build Community, Successful Kickstarters, Architecture & Game Dev
    Oct 28 2024

    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

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    • Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

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    34 mins
  • Indie Diary #55: Crisalu Games - Goblin Cleanup, Developing in Argentina, From Simple Ideas
    Oct 14 2024

    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

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    • Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠

    • Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

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    56 mins
  • Indie Diary #54: Meaning Machine - Human-centric AI, Creativity & LLMs, Dead Meat
    Sep 30 2024

    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

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    52 mins
  • Indie Diary #53: Rob Pigott - Of Visual Novels, Marginalised Communities, and Cowboy Bebop!
    Sep 16 2024

    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
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    56 mins
  • Indie Diary #52: InkForge Studios - Developing for Charity, Working with Friends
    Sep 2 2024

    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/

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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
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    39 mins
  • Indie Diary #51: Only By Midnight - Inspiring Players, Building Worlds
    Aug 19 2024

    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
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    • Become a Patron: ⁠https://patreon.com/theindiediarist⁠
    • Follow on Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠
    • Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist
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    57 mins
  • Indie Diary #50: Alex Burton - Of Vampires, The Meaning of Horror, and Developing for a Niche
    Aug 5 2024

    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

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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
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    56 mins
  • Indie Diary #49: Kevin Messenhimer (Fiveamp) - Finding Game Ideas, The Power of Execution
    Jul 22 2024

    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
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    36 mins