In this episode I spent some time with Fred Hoffman, art director and co-founder of Newfangled Games – the studio behind an award-winning little puzzle game gem called Paper Trail!

This was my first time exclusively hosting an art director on an episode and all it told me is that I should definitely do it more! You will notice the questions are a little different which should help keep things fresh. Enjoy! 🎒💛

Support Fred and his team 🎒💛

• Buy Paper Trail: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1889740/Paper_Trail/

• Fred's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredthegremlin/

• Newfangled Twitter: https://x.com/NewfangledGames

• Newfangled Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newfangledgames/?hl=en

• Newfangled website: https://www.papertrailgame.com/

Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj

• Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist

• Twitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediarist

• Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

DISCLAIMER + APOLOGY: Audio issues on my track :( but Liza and Igor sound great!

In this episode, I spent some time with the SHARQ IT Labs team, the developers behind action-roguelike Ritualist, to talk about their unconventional paths into game development and how their backgrounds merged to found their incredibly passion-led studio. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Liza & Igor 🎒💛

- Ritualist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3179460/Ritualist/#app_reviews_hash

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent a lovely hour with Kate Killick, co-founder of Glowfrog Games and developer of the delightful cosy puzzle game Pieced Together! Which is apparently a game that makes many people cry. Can't say I don't love that as a writer. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Kate 🎒💛

- Buy Pieced Together: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2891370/Pieced_Together/

- Insta: https://www.instagram.com/glowfroggames

- Twitter: https://x.com/glowfroggames

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glowfroggames

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@glowfroggames

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Huw Millward, a super talented developer of a Steam bestseller (Warsim: The Realm of Aslona) who's now working on his next project: One of the most ambitious indie projects ever made. He's also a friend of Chaz, an old guest of the show! Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Huw 🎒💛

- Get Warsim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/659540/Warsim_The_Realm_of_Aslona/

- Learn about Slumbox: https://www.worldviper.com/

- Follow Huw: https://x.com/HuwMillward

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with the founder of O'Saurus Studios, a lovely (and beautifully-named) women-led studio based in Australia that's only just released its first game, Call of the Golden Valley. Maddy is a former Google software engineer turned game developer, and a breath of fresh air in an industry more globalised than ever! Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Maddy 🎒💛

- Call of the Golden Valley: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2131660/Call_of_the_Golden_Valley/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osaurus.studios/?hl=en

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@osaurusstudios

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

This is a special one! I spent some time with Chris Gardiner, Head Writer and Narrative Director at London-based studio Failbetter Games, to talk about the studio's approach to narrative, game design, community, and player engagement.

I've been a longtime fan of Failbetter Games and their work ever since the team released Sunless Sea in 2015, and it's always a pleasure to catch up with a member of their team.

Hope you enjoy!

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Support Chris and Failbetter Games 🎒💛

• All games: https://store.steampowered.com/search/?developer=Failbetter%20Games

• Wishlist Mandrake: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3710210/Mandrake/

• FBG Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/failbettergames.com

• Newsletter: https://www.failbettergames.com/follow

• Chris' Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chrisgardiner.bsky.social

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Timbo Johnson, a lovely solo developer from Wales with a burning passion for making small, fun, and beautiful games with amazing art. Though Timbo secretly has a dream... Will he make the game he's been dreaming of since childhood? Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Timbo 🎒💛

• Itch: https://timbojay.itch.io/
• Bubble Frog DX: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3262600/Bubble_Frog_DX/
• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@timbojay

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

Happy end of January! In this episode, I spent some time with Oswin (also known as Nimso), the developer of cosy platformer Shallow Pond, to talk about creative problem solving and how to approach some of the toughest challenges in game design / game development. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Nimso 🎒💛

Find Shallow Pond on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2950750/Shallow_Pond/
Play the Demo for free:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4183670/Shallow_Pond_Demo/
Follow the development of the game:
X: https://x.com/nimsodev
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@nimsodev
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nimsodev
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Nimsodev

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠