Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch

In this episode, we discuss optimal temperature ranges, the Diablo to QWOP scale, and bizarrely wholesome reading experiences. You don’t want too many cooks in the kitchen, but what about not enough cooks? Or enough strawbs? Or any sugar? How are you supposed to have your cake and eat it too if you can only make cookies? 00:00 Intro 03:20 Thanks to our supporters! 03:28 For Honor, Ubisoft Montreal...

This week, we talk about context shifts, the homework model, and vague help. It’s easy to feel like small incremental progress is worthless, but that’s an issue with perception rather than with reality. If you’re flailing around and generally overwhelmed and stuck, it’s time to take a step back and reexamine your context and your priorities. Those things can change without your noticing, and when...

In this episode, we discuss no scope game dev, independent levers, and readability. You’ve gotta think in the short term to survive, but the long term to succeed. Making that mental shift is hard when the world doesn’t want you to do it. But if something that used to take you a minute now only takes a second, you’ve stolen some time back from the void. 00:00 Intro 00:53 Thanks to our supporters! 0...

This week, we talk about social feedback loops, scalability, and having better problems. Change creates change, and you wanna be thinking about those changes at least two layers deep. Otherwise you might wake up one day to copious amounts of minor splash damage or be left wondering how a tunnel has stymied your spaceship. 00:52 Thanks to our supporters! 03:45 Podcast behind-the-scenes update 06:03...

In this episode, we discuss difficulty tuning, balance, and noises. When you’re designing an experience, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not just about your design – it’s about where your design meets each individual person. There’s no point in punishing the whole class because you’re afraid one person might cheat. Questions answered (abbreviated): Beekie Boppaboop: Do y’all have any musi...

This week, we talk about charlatans, circular definitions, and bunnywool. We revisit the idea of “You just gotta get in there.” If all you have are questions, getting in there is about figuring out some answers. HOW you do that looks different for different people for different goals. As it turns out, bunnywool isn’t one size fits all. Questions answered (abbreviated): TimConceivable: In the US, t...

In this episode, we discuss layers on layers on layers. It’s more useful to think of most things in terms of levels – of accessibility, of interaction, of knowledge. When you’re designing, design with those things in mind so that you can engage different people in different ways. That’s how you move beyond one note sweets to more satisfying desserts. (Though we still wouldn’t necessarily say no to...

This week, we talk about DVD choices, inkblot movies, and shutting out the world. When you’re exploring a paradigm shift, a big part of that upfront investment is learning and creating new processes. Skills and concepts might be transferable, and the mechanical parts can be reproduced, but the thing that’s going to take time is developing context fluency. Remember though, if you don’t disrupt your...

In this episode, we discuss secrets, knowledge mastery, and buffing pawns. Gameplay loops keep players engaged, but it’s all too easy to only think about mechanical loops. Providing various levels of engagement allows players to meet the game at different breadths and depths. And when things change, make sure they can cascade. Questions answered (abbreviated): Mimmabip Gourkee: How do you balance...

This week, we talk about hidden information, player choice, and doing less. Things are often different than what you think they’re going to be, and that’s okay! But if you mistake activity for progress, you’ve fallen into a guaranteed trap. The discovery of the things you shouldn’t do might just be the most valuable discovery of all. Questions answered (abbreviated): RoninGameDev: Is LevelHead's f...

In this episode, we discuss more fan poking, feeding the beast, and reframing productivity. We had our quarterly review, and it was, as usual, illuminating! Productivity isn’t just about making stuff, and having more stuff isn’t always better. Sure, you could walk from NY to LA and feel like you’re making progress the entire time, but is that the best way to get to LA? No questions this week, but...

This week, we talk about the nightmare of incentives, design arms race, and price. Despite what economists tell you, you can’t assume a can opener. Or a spherical cow for that matter. And certainly not a can opener that can open a spherical cow. Pricing signals much more than just the price to the consumer, and supply/demand curves are more shapes than you think. Questions answered (abbreviated):...

In this episode, we discuss opinion bludgeons, resource allocation, and quality time. By now, you know that we like to answer questions with questions. Context is important and you should always know why! In the long term, reducing cognitive load is the name of the game – everything else is a trap. Questions answered (abbreviated): JohnFlavin: Do you track your time? If so, how do you do it (tools...

This week, we talk about beach funerals, clock shenanigans, and evaluating feedback. If you don’t understand why you’re doing something, you’re not engaging in best practices. In relationships, in the perception of time, and in understanding details. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Context is EVERYTHING. Questions answered (abbreviated): Jumpylumpa Leapylow: On average how many takes...

In this episode, we discuss That One Game, invisible walls, and 30-dimensional space. When you’re trying to navigate unfamiliar territory, it’s useful to have a map. But you have to remember that the map is not the world; it’s a representation of multiple dimensions collapsed down to only two. Not only should you try to understand the thing you’re looking at, but you also need to understand HOW yo...

This week, we talk about portable gaming, snow melt, and the low hanging fruit of web hacking. When the only problems you’re trying to solve are the ones that you created, it’s difficult to innovate. Your framework is stuck in what already exists, not what could be. There’s a difference between positioning yourself to win and positioning yourself to not lose. Questions answered (abbreviated): chal...

In this episode, we discuss time travel messaging, UX problems, and a lifestyle lens. Whatever you measure is what you optimize for, and like all decisions, that choice has consequences. If you don’t design for something, you might find yourself fighting against it instead. Whether you pay it now or later, the cost comes due. The goal is to be able to look at your future self and say “You’re welco...

This week, we talk about nubless ears, the Andon Cord, and exploration. Productivity and efficiency are two separate concepts with a lot of overlap. What long term things are being sacrificed when the focus is solely on producing in the short term? What short term things are overlooked when it’s always the longview? There’s a cautionary tale in there somewhere about trees and planting them. Give i...

In this episode, we discuss snow folly, changing the game, and deliberate barriers. While we tend to put a lot of effort into eliminating obstacles, sometimes you want them in place. In those scenarios, as with the opposite, the barriers should be designed deliberately to serve the purpose you want them for. Otherwise, you’ll be jumping the worst kind of hurdles – arbitrary ones. Questions answere...

It’s a question episode this week, and we talk about illusory standardization, survivorship bias, and FOMO ad spend. Conformation may be necessary to make certain things easier, but is it possible to have conformation without harm? If you could name yourself whatever you wanted without fear of people being jerks, what would you name yourself? Would it still be Steve? Questions answered (abbreviate...

In this episode, we discuss inertia, indices, and inflation. As we already know, measurements are, at best, approximations of the thing you actually want to measure. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use a blunt instrument when that’s all you have. Sometimes an out-of-the-box solution still requires you to look in to the toolbox, ya know? To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subsc...

This week, we talk about seasons, toxic game dev industry bingo, and golden parachutes. The industry has gotten quite a shake-up with certain parties throwing unfathomable amounts of money around. What does this mean for game devs and consumers? Tune in for some lightly stunned speculation. To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1Lx...

In this episode, we discuss the space in space, beat frequencies of randomness, psychological overhead, and celebrate the launch of Crashlands+ onto Apple Arcade. We’ve been hard at work building THE FABRICATOR, so let’s talk about it – cold sweats, horrifying realizations, worry counters, and all! Punching into a new weight class requires a little bit of perspective. No questions this time, but t...

This week, we talk about inconspicuous consumption, selfism, and hierarchy. The people most aware of the problems that need to be solved are the ones that are confronted by those problems. Weird, right? The thing to remember is this: we’re all connected and we’re on the same side. Oh, and there’s a twist! Questions answered (abbreviated): Beekie Boppaboop: EXOK recently published a blog post talki...

In this episode, we discuss what we said was going to happen, what actually happened, and what might happen this year. 2021’s moniker was “Dunk on everyone” – what should 2022’s call to action be? We’ve got some ideas, but we want to hear your suggestions! Submit your taglines at https://podcast.bscotch.net To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podca...