Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch

The wait is over, Shenanites! We are thrilled to (officially) announce Crashlands 2, coming your way in 2024! In this episode, we talk about returning to Woanope, keeping secrets, and wheels and deals. Check out the announcement trailer and head over to Steam to wishlist Crashlands 2 ! Official Website : https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands2 Trailer : https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4 Steam Wishlis...

In this episode, we discuss an abundance of ideas, a plethora of self-criticism, and a bounty of learning. Accessing the learner in you means getting curious, and getting curious means letting yourself free fall into rabbit holes. Hang out with the nerdiest nerds on a given subject. Seek feedback and figure out how to extract value from criticism. And always focus on the process instead of just th...

This week, we talk about brain chemistry, pushing boundaries, and perpetual busyness. A  culture obsessed with the productivity mindset creates a sense that any moment of idleness is a waste of time. The first step to overthrowing the tyranny of busyness is the recognition and prioritization of rest and self-care. Your secret weapon is giving yourself a break. 00:26 Intro 00:46 Thanks to our suppo...

In this episode, we discuss time-management, interconnectedness, and learning strategies. Instead of settling for the old cliché of blood, sweat, and tears as the sole keys to success, why not embrace the philosophy of working smarter, not just harder? Rewrite the script, and turn the road to success into a delightful stroll in the park! 00:21 Intro 00:44 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneyg...

This week, we talk about the programming problem, web jargon, and logistics. Game development may seem like a dream job, but the reality is that it’s a lot of hard work, decision making, and logistics management. Who knew making fun could be so complicated? 00:27 Intro 00:50 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net ) 03:36 Co-pilot Questions answered (abbreviated): 31:08 Teele: Wh...

In this episode, we discuss devlogs, content moderation, and neurodivergence. When players leave reviews and feedback for gamedevs, a lot of times they’ll come in guns blazing with inflammatory language because they’re frustrated and accustomed to being ignored. People sometimes forget that there are real humans on the other side of the screen. Plan ahead by setting guidelines for feedback and cre...

This week, we talk about existential questions, ADHD, and finding your art style. Who knew that an art style wasn't just a magical thing living inside of you?! Turns out, it's the end result of your particular process for visual problem solving. So if you wanna develop your own style, you gotta refine and expand your process. While you’re working on that, before you know it, you’ll see your style...

In this episode, we discuss scalability, complaints, and skill acquisition. Learning a new skill is daunting enough even before you get to self-doubt. Focus on progress instead of the current state of things to avoid falling into the comparison trap. Then enjoy the satisfying rush of seeing how far you’ve come from the early days of mediocrity - you’re leveling up! 00:29 Intro 01:24 Thanks to our...

This week, we spill the tea on designing for multiple platforms and devices! How do you create a flexible design that can accommodate a variety of different devices and inputs, especially when the parameters are always changing? It’s a complicated question, so grab a drink and get ready to slay those design challenges! 00:24 Intro 01:41 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net ) Q...

In this episode, we discuss time mysteries, content consumption, and burnout. It’s easy to end up in a position where all you can see are the things that other people expect of you. If you stay in that space long enough, you can lose sight of yourself and burn out. How do you balance meeting your obligations and taking care of yourself? 00:22 Intro 00:51 Time & Calendars 09:29 Diablo 4 Questio...

This week, we talk about artificial general intelligence, new programmers, and the pace of development. The rapid evolution of AI reflects our insatiable desire for progress and innovation but also highlights our limited capacity to fully comprehend the consequences of our own creations. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. 00:30 Intro 00:58 Thanks to our supporters! (...

In this episode, we discuss the tiny human, AI updates, and work-life balance. In our current capitalist structure, there is a literal cost to living. As technology evolves to the point where it can make those costs obsolete, it's time to reevaluate the structure. Changing the rules changes the trajectory of the future. 00:16 Intro 00:32 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net )...

This week, we talk about baby deets, bank run, and sequel names. When choosing the right title for a game, you need to consider the fuzziness of discovery algorithms. If incorporating humor into a game's name can make it more memorable, but if it's also harder to search for, is it worth the laughs? 00:36 Intro 01:20 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net ) 01:40 Happy Update 25....

In this episode, we discuss phased stories and the value of advertising. While a marketing campaign can boost visibility and increase wishlist numbers, how do those things translate into actual sales? The crux is that advertising is expensive to invest in and no one knows what the impact is. 00:31 Intro 00:50 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net ) 02:38 Phased Stories Question...

In this episode, we dive into motion, data conversion, and the power of AI. Motion is a big source of waste in DevOps. Converting information from one form to another and passing it between people creates the opportunity for mistakes to creep in. It's a messy situation. Could AI be the Marie Kondo of data? 00:25 Intro 00:49 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net ) 04:15 Bing Bet...

In this episode, we discuss constraints, AI systems, and consciousness. Constraints are limits or boundaries that are imposed on AI systems or on our own creative endeavors. There is a two-fold problem of identifying constraints: if they need to be there, and how to overcome them. Can we be creative while working within constraints? Can we be creative without them? Let's find out! 00:34 Intro 01:5...

This week, we talk about piercing alarms, CPU brains, and AI wars. People typically process one thing at a time when playing a game. If you give them two things to focus on simultaneously, the second thing may not even register. However, having only one thing to do can become tedious or feel like a grind. The key is to find the right balance in pacing and onboarding for players. 00:31 Intro 02:01...

In this episode, we discuss AI tools, infinite Seinfeld, and the consequences of volume. Economies and companies are built to handle infinite scale. The constant want for more has turned into the unending production of content. But what happens once there are tools that can generate output infinitely? If there’s infinite noise, how do you find something worth listening to?  00:28 Intro 00:54 Thank...

This week, we talk about happy news, early access, and collaboration. Tools make it possible to design and implement stuff directly without any other input. This might save you time, but you lose the chance to collaborate. As always, it’s about where to leverage the tools you have. Threading that needle requires communication. 00:22 Intro 01:31 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch...

In this episode, we discuss cashews, Project Zomboid, and knowing your audience. When you find people following along with your work prior to a game’s release, you might be developing in a strange bubble where your interactions are with an audience interested in game design rather than the players who will ultimately buy the game. The trick is to know who is giving you the feedback before you take...

This week, we talk about summoning a dragon and a stochastic parrot. If you give an AI some data, it can recognize patterns and generate output with selective randomness. But that doesn’t mean you always get something coherent or intelligent. Turns out the best Turing test is whether or not you know what a hand looks like. 00:32 Intro 01:20 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net...

In this episode, we discuss easter eggs, a snowy wonderland, and the brand-new tagline for the brand-new year! Legacy systems keep the current work going, but one catastrophic event and the whole system collapses. Clearing the tech debt not only prevents the big explosions but also makes every working moment better. When you don’t have any baggage then you don’t have to worry about losing your bag...

This week, we talk about old accomplishments, current predictions, and new themes for the new year! 2022’s moniker was “Twenty Twenty You. Take the nuanced view” – what should 2023’s call to action be? We’ve got some ideas, but we want to hear your suggestions! Submit your taglines at podcast.bscotch.net 00:22 Intro 01:38 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.net ) 03:17 WHAT HAPPE...

In this episode, we discuss giving experiences, autonomy, and gifts. Effective planning requires knowing what you want. If you’re entertaining, what kind of experience do you want from hosting? What kind of experience do you want to provide to your guests? You can’t create a specific vibe without thoughtful curation. Enjoy the holidays! 00:26 Intro 01:32 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygr...

This week, we talk about a scavenging cat, a punchy octopus, and a critical bug. Repeating the same process over and over doesn't change the outcome. And just pointing out bugs won’t solve the problem.  You need a feedback loop that allows you to address the root cause of an issue - that’s where a quality pipeline comes in. 00:29 Intro 01:09 Thanks to our supporters! ( https://moneygrab.bscotch.ne...