Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch

How’s it going, Shenanites? This week, we talk about the fractal universe, flippin’ bacteria, and urgent chaos. When you navigate by chemical receptors, the best you can do is to flip flop around until you find a nutrient gradient to pay attention to. Even a fancy flip is better than no flip when you’re trying to find new local maxima. Or maybe it isn’t. Everything is chaos. Questions answered (ab...

Good day, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss the torch problem, confetti cards , and table scraps. We’ve talked about project creep and scope creep - now let’s talk about complexity creep! People expand the fill the spaces that they’re in, whether those spaces are physical or virtual. You know you’re outgrowing your current systems if you spend most of your time handing off work instead of ac...

Hiya, Shenanites! This week, we talk about automagic, motion waste, and toothpaste mining. Sometimes when you use a robot that’s designed for someone else, you have to build another robot to undo some of the design. Better than doing it yourself probably. There are a lot of questions you should ask yourself when you’re investigating a new tool. Chief of these should be “but does it work though?” Q...

Good day, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss extraneous chats, what happens in the margins, and your house bones. It’s weird to think that we all live in a skeleton that we fill with personalized guts. And that, even though you and your life are changing constantly, that skeleton always stays the same. Well, at least until you decide to turn all your outlets right side up again, but who wants...

Hello, Shenanites! It’s a bit of a shorter episode this week because Sam got a new mic and it did NOT want to play nice. Even still, we talk about things that don’t exist, things that do exist, and CHAOS. There are infinite variables that influence what will happen, and you can’t predict them all. But once what happens happens, it’s already happened, so does it matter that you can't predict it? Ta...

Greetings, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss metajokes, how little people know, and bikeshedding. Sometimes figuring out the when for tackling a problem involves figuring out the why. You don’t wanna put Bandaids on poop piles. That solves nothing. Instead, consider putting on your fanciest boa and buying some avocados. We’re pretty sure that’ll bring us all one step closer to a better world...

Salutations, Shenanites! This week, we talk about Victorian treatises, invisible structures, and how people aren’t robots. People are also different from each other - who knew? As it turns out, when you acknowledge those two facts, you can construct a conscientious, flexible environment that actually prioritizes a person’s experience. Let’s make the implicit explicit. There’s no reason to have the...

Ahoy, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss dinosaur clipping, the purpose of ghosts, and perpetual impostor syndrome. Starting a creative project is like crossing a rickety rope bridge over a deep canyon -- if you think too much about the distance to the ground, you’ll never take the first step. And sometimes you need to prioritize the experience over technical perfection. After all, people wil...

Hello, Shenanites! This week, we’re all about listener questions! We talk about reality TV, fragile retention, and NFTs. Sometimes the hook is buried so deeply that it’s too hard to explain; you have to experience it in order to get enough context. Does that mean anything? Well. Anything can mean something if people decide it does. Questions answered (abbreviated): Beekie Boppaboop: Are there any...

Hi, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss degrading magical experiences, the dentist backlog, and inelastic demand. Are rooms defined by what’s within them or what’s without? Do they need walls, and if so, how many? Are roofs required or optional? It turns out that sometimes the simplest concepts are actually quite complex, and complex concepts are even more so. Basically, if you find yourself s...

Good day, Shenanites! This week, we talk about why ketchup is in the sink, weird replay value, and the ratcheting cost of rewards. Early commitments might mean turning down future opportunities. But hey, if it makes sense for you to do, then do it. After all, if it’s good enough for physics, then it’s good enough for us. Podcast recs: This American Life, Radiolab, The Cut, Syntax.fm, Darknet Diari...

Hiya, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss long weekends, ear bleeds, and managing noise. Everything that you do is about moving something from one place to another, whether you realize it or not. Recognizing the steps to the dance gets you that much closer to automation. It’s about cutting out the noise. Remember, the most powerful key at your disposal is the delete key! Questions answered (ab...

Hey there, Shenanites! This week, we talk about compounding actions, administrative creep, and the panopticon performance. The solution that works best on average is going to be suboptimal for everyone. Assuming you’re even solving the right problem. Knowing things is expensive. That’s why you should get robots to know things for you. Questions answered (abbreviated): Ockpop Haphop: Do your new st...

Hello, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss the human scale, the pros of catastrophic errors, and Sam’s squibbly baby hands. The easy answers are always the wrong ones, especially if you aren’t asking the right questions. It’s all too likely you'll overlook the three boxes of kiwis right in front of your face when you’re out there looking for grapes. Questions answered (abbreviated): Wigglyhonk...

Good day, Shenanites! This week, we talk about dad issues, honeymoon phases, and the other 300 things. It’s impossible to be aware of the things you’re not aware of. But once you become aware of them, it’s time to refactor. Sure, the structure is the culture, but the culture is also the structure. If you don’t ask why, you’re gonna have a bad time. Questions answered (abbreviated): Balbus hwispit:...

Hi, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss the unceremonious aftermath, interesting limitations, and 50% more money numbers. All the details are contingent, as ever, upon the bigger question of why. If you don’t even know the shape of the problem, how can you figure out the shape of the solution? Time for some reflection. Preferably while sitting at the edge of a flat blue sheet and looking out a...

Greetings, Shenanites! This week, we talk about herd immunity, the beauty of well designed choice, and a game for aliens. The more you learn, the more you should iterate, coming ever closer to that elusive (and illusive) plane of enlightenment. Sometimes that means flipping your design approach completely. And sometimes that means ascending to n-dimensional space and trying to find your shadow. Qu...

Hello, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss the black mirror effect, Adam’s waking nightmare, and a neck with legs. We’ve been making radio long enough to know what’s good, so let’s talk about visuals! Plus, Seth reveals what the biggest, coolest thing he’s worked on and made is. As it turns out, much like turtles, it’s QA all the way down. Questions answered (abbreviated): maximilio: Do you ev...

Salutations, Shenanites! This week, we talk about rest, shattering the earth, and the most complicated part of developing a game. It’s not what you think. Or maybe it is. We can’t read your mind. But if you find yourself up against a mental wall, it’s probably time to reevaluate your questions. Questions answered (abbreviated): Panit Powaacka: There are so few episodic games nowadays, but why? Tap...

Hello, Shenanites! In our 300th episode, we discuss swimming in quarters, the imaginary track, and the target audience problem. Just because something is visible doesn’t mean it’s good or right. Just because something is invisible doesn’t mean it’s bad or wrong. As it turns out, everything is a design problem, and there’s always more nuance to figure out. Questions answered (abbreviated): Gooigi:...

Hey there, Shenanites! This week, we talk about sweeping smear frames, off-the-shelf solutions, and the student mindset. You’re just a robot doing robot stuff, and your subroutines are doing the best they can to work together. So if you do something cool, even if it leads to failure, celebrate it! Don’t discount your dope Mars landing progress! Questions answered (abbreviated): challosis: Did y'al...

Hiya, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss the absence of blinking, flat planes of blubber, and the controllers of yore. Sometimes innovation is just realizing that people have fingers and getting the correct hand count. The details might seem small, but they could mean the difference between a midlife crisis and a midlife opportunity. So go ahead and grab some matcha with Bscotcha and listen i...

Hello, Shenanites! This week, we talk about less random randomness, floors and ceilings, and proper beverage production. Plans aren’t plans so much as they’re educated guesses. Adherence runs counter to adaptation, and it’s important to know when and where to switch modes. What we’re saying is, get those pillars! Questions answered (abbreviated): Flyhoppie Axerompa: Seth, could you please stream w...

Hey there, Shenanites! In this episode, we discuss the glockenspiel of the financial trade, robot price wars, and the golden rule of financial investments. Our human brains are wired to chase novelty, but boring stability is the real end game. That’s why you need to create your own chaos. Say, by making a game in a weekend using skills you don’t have. It’s 2021 -- let’s go dunk poorly! Questions a...

Hiya, Shenanites! This week, we talk about proximity to swears, game shaped objects, and one day monarchs. Sometimes it’s fun to jump into a project where you have no earthly idea what to do. That’s why being a side NPC is such a good time. You can do whatever you want because it’s all optional. In this unskippable cutscene, we’ll explain... Questions answered (abbreviated): challosis: If you were...