Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch

Surprise! You’re getting your Coffee with Butterscotch a day early this week because the Crashlands 2 demo is going LIVE! Let’s talk ALL ABOUT IT! We dive into the origins, the journey, and also what’s to come in Crashlands 2. Check out the demo, and let us know your thoughts! Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4...

This week, we talk about corporate shenanigans, studio closures, and shareholder value.  Having a successful game and a great track record doesn’t protect a studio from closing if a corporation’s financial expectations aren’t met, and those expectations are always about maximizing shareholder value. The emphasis on short-term profit over sustainable development? That’s capitalism, baby! Support Cr...

In this episode, we discuss life lessons, game bundles, and constraints. When you first start out in game dev, early projects have more constraints. Your team might have limitations in technical skills or artistic ability or just general knowledge. But constraints aren’t a bad thing! Leaning into and embracing constraints can inject a distinctive style and personality into a game. Support Crashlan...

This week, we talk about the Crashlands 2 demo, Fallout TV, and meaningful dialogue. Engaging in discussion with thoughtful people who hold different views can expand your perspective and deepen your understanding of the world. But make sure the diversity of opinion you’re embracing isn’t just blatantly false or terrible. We’re talking pineapple on pizza here, not basic human rights. Support Crash...

In this episode, we discuss AI News, tech demos, and change management. It’s hard to unlearn old habits and adopt new practices. Resistance is natural when you disrupt the comfort of routine and commit to adaptation. It’s a truth universally acknowledged, that change requires challenge, and progress requires change. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2...

This week, we talk about childhood games, the Game Changer, and DIY podcast setups. You don’t need top of the line audio equipment to get a good audio recording. After all, it’s not about the cost of the setup, it’s how you use it. Decent equipment, proper mic placement, and some sound dampening hacks are all you need to charm a listener's ears. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www....

In this episode, we discuss an unexpected earthquake, Crashlands nostalgia, and keyboard accessibility. Making a game accessible to a global audience isn’t just about localizing the text. Like, have you ever thought about keyboard layouts? Correctly mapping the key presses in a game is critical for making sure nothing gets lost in translation. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bs...

This week, we talk about the Crashlands 2 announcement trailer, now in Chinese! Then we discuss web games and security measures. Platform review processes are like door locks. They won’t stop a skilled hacker from breaking in, but can thwart casual intruders. While dealing with these obstacles can be frustrating on the dev side, the presence of these kinds of security measures can reduce the numbe...

In this episode, we discuss developer preferences, reviews, and opinionated tools. External tools often have a lot of opinions on how, exactly, they should be used, which translates into opinions on how YOU should work. Staking your livelihood on someone else’s opinions is a dangerous gambit. A lot depends on the shareholder profit dictum. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotc...

This week, we talk about live service games, the door problem, and input design. How does a player interact with a game and how does the game interpret player action? This design constraint influences ALL the possible interactions in a game, making control schemes a fundamental pillar in game design. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https...

In this episode, we discuss ethical hunting, silent crashes, and iterative design. The process of iterative design is more than just tweaking code; it’s about creating a fast feedback loop between trial, error, and debugging. Without good tools, you can’t go fast, and if you can’t go fast, any experiment is going to be costly to do. If you want to boldly go where no one has gone before, you need t...

This week, we talk about achievement design, adapting video games, and robot wars.  In the flood of sponsored content and AI-generated clutter, large language models are now learning from the noise they themselves create. While these AIs are exchanging spam in their echo chamber, we humans can find peace by doing what we do best — creating! Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscot...

In this episode, we discuss localization nuance, trend cycles, and launch horror. Game launches require more than technical preparation; it’s about expecting the unexpected in player behavior and demand. No matter how many simulations you run or scenarios you anticipate, the true test emerges at launch. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: ht...

This week, we talk about working with family and game pricing. Deciding on a price point for a game is more than just a simple economic decision. Perceived value is influenced by perceived functionality, entertainment proposition, artistic merit, and emotional connection. So how do you hit the jackpot at the right price? Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashla...

In this episode, we discuss internationalization, localization, and implementation. Localization is much more than just translation. It’s a complex technical and artistic endeavor that captures the essence of your game and makes it accessible to a global audience. Lots of things can be open to interpretation, but loc will help you keep anything important from being lost in translation. Support Cra...

This week, we talk about staring eyes, mini-games, and integration issues. Supporting new tech like the Vision Pro or adding sneaky mini-games into bigger ones is all about snazzing things up without adding user-sided friction. Seamless integration is way harder than it sounds, but when it works, it's pure stealthy genius. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crash...

In this episode, we discuss Crashlands 2 update, onboarding, and malicious compliance.  Major tech companies, using their vast resources, can navigate regulations with ease and will sometimes exploit their advantages, following the letter but not the spirit. As tech companies become entities of critical infrastructure, the challenges of regulating them are prime examples of late-stage capitalism....

This week, we talk about shower thoughts, IPOs, and demos. Crafting a game demo is an art form. You need to strike the perfect balance between revealing enough to hook players while leaving them craving more. The effectiveness of a demo is also influenced by numerous other factors like the game’s genre, the timing of the release, and player expectations. So, do demos really boost game sales? The a...

In this episode, we discuss industry layoffs, intellectual property, and patent ethics. The mismatch between the static nature of the patent system and the dynamic evolution of technology can lead to a paradox where patents, intended to protect innovation, inadvertently hinder progress. A system from a different time, not quite in step with the pace of modern technology. Support Crashlands 2! Offi...

This week, we talk about this year’s theme, our predictions for what’s ahead, and the hardware of the moment. If you wanna be a tech wizard, you gotta find the right arcane focus. How about  a magical console that lets you control things with the press of a button? You won’t even need a pointy hat. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https:/...

In this episode, we discuss our predictions, our realities, and our potential futures. 2023’s moniker was “20-Jubilee: Stay Ahead of It” – what should 2024’s call to action be? We’ve got some ideas, but we want to hear your suggestions! Submit your taglines at podcast.bscotch.net or drop them in the discord.gg/bscotch thread. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/cr...

This week, we talk about game marketing, development challenges, and the tightrope of player expectations. In an industry where hype often overshadows reality,  it’s difficult to balance the promised vision with the technical limitations. Can developers turn dreams into reality without breaking player trust? Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Traile...

In this episode, we discuss the mobile gaming market, multiplayer engagement, and art of reflection. Early errors are essential stepping stones to proficiency. True expertise often looks effortless, but is the culmination of persistent learning, adaptation, and continuous self improvement. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be...

This week, we talk about Game Awards, patch notes, and tech integration. In the ongoing race for AI supremacy, tech giants are overlooking the crucial challenges of integrating AI tools with everyday personal applications like email and calendars. Instead of focusing on outperforming each other, companies should prioritize developing user-centric features that genuinely enhance practical use. Supp...

In this episode, we discuss bug hunts, player feedback, and fishing quirks. Diving into player feedback is a rollercoaster ride, with a lot of ups and downs and some risk of whiplash. The trick lies in decoding cryptic comments into actionable information you can use for improvement. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Op...