Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch

This week, we talk about achievements, game modes, and getting older. With age comes creaking joints, a myriad of responsibilities, and the horrors. But getting older also grants you the freedom to let go of the nonsense, clarity on what truly matters, and maybe, if you’re lucky, even a majestic beard. Is that what wisdom is? Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/cr...

In this episode, we discuss beta testing, boss fights, and collaboration. Collaborating with other studios sounds like a dream: by our creative forces combined, and all that. But true, meaningful collaboration isn’t just a walk in the park. Finding a way for everyone’s quirks and constraints to mesh is not an easy task. And then after that, you still have a game to make! Support Crashlands 2! Offi...

This week, we talk about localized trailers, mundane tasks, and ads. In the attention economy, ads are tricky beasts. They’re expensive, algorithm-driven, and rarely pay off. But when they work, they can boost visibility and create momentum critical for a game’s success. It’s all about strategic spikes rather than an ongoing burn. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/gam...

In this episode, we discuss, drumroll please, the Crashlands 2 Launch Date! There's at least one rad thing happening in 2025: Crashlands 2 is finally going to be released into the world. And we know EXACTLY when! Check out the links to the brand new trailer and the beta test application below!  Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://www...

This week, we talk about premium mobile games, balance mechanics, and the theme of the year. It’s twenty-twenty-vibe: just do your thing. Find your rhythm, go with the flow, and keep your momentum up without getting bogged down by rigid plans. It's all about tuning in to what feels right and trusting that good vibes will follow. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games...

In this episode, we discuss our predictions for the consoles, Steam and mobile industry. 2024’s moniker was “20 2x4 (two-by-four): Nail it” – what should 2025’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...

This week, we talk about 2024 stats, community engagement, and integration. Making things work together is never simple. Small changes can cause big ripples, and keeping the machine running means constant tweaks, steady fixes, and the occasional facepalm. In the end, it all comes down to communication because nothing integrates without people staying in sync. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website...

In this episode, we discuss flying drones, design bibles, and subscription models. Subscription services for games are different from streaming services. The goal isn’t for the player to binge and bounce. These models favor replayability and retention, incentivizing live-service games while sidelining smaller story-driven experiences. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net...

This week, we talk about the shiny new trailer for Crashlands 2! Plus, Steam page changes and the magic of curiosity. A lesson we could all learn from cats: be curious. Every question you ask, and the way you ask it, changes your experience of the world. Add some weird, wild, and wonderfully unexpected moments to your life!  Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/cra...

In this episode, we discuss baby stories, “marriage language,” and analytics. Data might look like hard facts, but ultimately it comes down to interpretation. And what’s interpretation if not an opinion? Ask yourself: whose opinion are you listening to, and whose voice is missing from the numbers?  Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https:/...

This week, we talk about nostalgia, content moderation, and social media migration. The rapid migration to new platforms shows just how tired people are of algorithm-driven, ad-packed chaos. Decentralized spaces let users take control, curating their feeds and dodging the negativity baked into bigger networks. It’s not about chasing likes—it’s about finding a space for real connections and authent...

In this episode, we discuss GameMaker, social manipulation, and pre-production. Planning is a powerhouse for shaping an ideal outcome, but sticking to a plan? That’s a trap. The real magic happens when you adapt on the fly, tweaking and pivoting as reality throws its curveballs. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n...

This week, we talk about the game dev grind, curating social media, and health wake-up calls. Instead of extreme overhauls, small consistent habits are the name of the game. To make changes stick, they need to be reasonable and gradual. This applies to health and pretty much everything else too! It’s all part of staying ahead of those creeping issues before they start kicking down the door. Suppor...

In this episode, we discuss knowledge vaults, rhythm games, and automation tools. With the right leverage, automation doesn’t replace your skills, it amplifies them. You might lose a bit of hands-on practice, but you’ll be free to focus on bigger challenges and level up where it counts. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR...

This week, we talk about curiosity, nostalgia, and autonomy. In game dev, forward movement is a balance between bottlenecks and teamwork. That’s where autonomy shines! When everyone owns their piece of the work but syncs up when it matters, the whole machine runs smoother. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4 Stea...

In this episode, we discuss ear nightmares, mobile plans, and store management. Store management sounds simple, but it’s a time-eating beast. There are a million tasks from tweaking screenshots for every device to wrangling languages, and attention to detail is critical.  Making a game is just part one; selling it is where the hustle happens. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bsc...

This week, we talk about confidence, game balance, and walled gardens. Tech companies race to lock users into closed ecosystems to, theoretically, maximize their own profits. But as those walls go up, innovation slows down and users lose control over creativity and choice. It’s capitalism in action! Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https:...

In this episode, we discuss random brags, game launches, and game design. Launching a game is like preparing for a fireworks show. Timing is everything. Jump the gun, and you risk a fizzle instead of a bang. Fire off too late, and no one’s watching. Everything needs to be set before hitting the big red launch button! Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-...

This week, we talk about the healthcare system, space games, and parenting. Being a new parent is a lot like making games. Every kid comes with their own bugs and surprises, and you learn and adapt as you go. The second time around, you’re more fluent and less frantic, but that doesn’t mean crunch time gets any easier! Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashland...

In this episode, we discuss dad life, skinny jeans, and productivity. When your brain decides not to cooperate, even simple tasks can feel hard. Staying productive requires balancing long-term projects with smaller, manageable tasks. Break work into chunks, minimize task-switching, and don’t let three tasks in a trench coat trick you into thinking they’re easy. Support Crashlands 2! Official Websi...

This week, we talk about localization, “nail or whiff”, and streaming. Horror games are streaming gold. People LOVE watching other people get spooked! But stream views don’t always translate to sales since the audience might prefer watching the scares to playing them. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4 Steam Wis...

In this episode, we discuss Concord, live service games, and marketing. A promotional effort might briefly spike sales, but rarely changes a game’s overall trajectory. Game marketing is about cumulative effects. There’s no silver bullet! Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Trailer: https://youtu.be/yR_Opccn1n4 Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampower...

This week, we talk about red flags, risk management, and design patterns. Design isn’t just about making things work; that’s a baseline requirement. It’s also about how every interaction hits you in the feels. Let design pillars be your north star, aligning each decision towards the core experience you’re aiming for.  Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands...

In this episode, we discuss programming, hyperrealism, and story writing. In novels, the author controls the narrative and mostly guides the reader through a plot as a passenger. In contrast, video games often make you the protagonist and writers can’t always predict what you’ll do, so flexibly adapting to player choices and interactions is a challenge. It’s the essence of — we’re gonna say it, br...

This week, we talk about high school reunions, health tracking, and measurement fallacies. Tracking every metric can give the illusion of control, but data is often noisy, misleading, or just plain irrelevant. The challenge lies in finding meaningful, accurate interpretation without getting lost in the numbers. Support Crashlands 2! Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/ Tra...