Shows
Kritiqal CareEpisode 89: q1q1 (he/him) is a musician, writer, and game developer who makes playful and sometimes haunted tiny games. In this short and sweet episode we discuss the curious social experience of riding the subway, the beautiful limitations of small game engines, and viewing the game creation process like writing a song.You can learn more about q1 on his website, follow him on Bluesky @quewon.bsky.social, and play his games on itch.q1’s Inspiring Thing to Share- Calling his mom everyday (maybe you should call yours?)Things Discussed- how...2025-07-0632 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 88: Sandy WeiszSandy Weisz (he/him) is a puzzle designer out of Chicago whose games focus on team-building, environmental clues, and wordplay. This year he began creating the daily puzzle game, RADDLE, and took some time to chat with me about its EnigMarch origins, how to write a good clue, and balancing puzzle difficulty. We also discuss designing puzzles for groups and an elaborate birthday hunt that went terribly wrong.You can learn more about Sandy’s puzzles on his website, follow him on Bluesky @pzlr.org, and sign up for his newsletter.Sandy’s Inspiring Thing to Sha...2025-06-0747 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 87: Claire MorwoodClaire Morwood (she/her) is an indie game developer whose work explores multimedia interactivity, handmade assets, and introspective narratives. She joined me to discuss her most recent project, Asterism, an interactive concept album about exploring the galaxy. We touch on writing music for play, how creating the game from physical objects impacted its design, and the value of a detailed dev log. Later we remember how good libraries are.You can learn more about Claire’s games on her website and follow her on Bluesky @shimmerglitch.bsky.social.Claire’s Cool Things to Share- Vi...2025-04-1337 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 86: Terry CavanaghTerry Cavanagh (he/him) is an Irish indie developer know for games like Super Hexagon and Dicey Dungeons. He joined me on the show to discuss developing ideas out of game jams, being drawn to new tools and platforms, and games as social spaces. Later we dive into his new collection, Terry’s Other Games, which compiles many of his small projects across more than a decade.You can learn more about Terry’s games on his website and follow him on Bluesky @terrycavanaghgames.comTerry’s Cool Things to Share- Anthology of the Ki...2025-03-0244 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 85: Mortally Moonstruck GamesAutumn Greenley (she/they) and Zaozoruzhna (he/him) are two members of the indie game studio, Mortally Moonstruck Games, who for the last few years they have been working on the mushroom girl cultivating game/RPG/visual novel,Mushroom Musume.They joined me for this episode to discuss the game’s origins, how it grew from a game jam experiment to a much larger project, adapting tabletop principles to a videogame, and their favorite mushroom girls. Later, I get some pointers on how to start foraging.You can learn more about Mortally Moonstruck’s games ontheir website and...2025-02-0941 min
Kritiqal CareThe End of 2024Content warning: brief mention of suicide around the 48-51 minute mark.
2024 has come and gone which means it’s time for our annual retrospective episode, where I ask former guests of the show to share their favorite gaming memories of the year. As always the responses were incredibly thoughtful, introspective, and touched on so much more than just the games we play but how they impact our lives. It’s always a joy to produce this episode and I want to give a big thanks to everyone that took part in it. Thanks for joining me for anot...2025-01-0457 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 84: Nevyn Holmes (Dinoberry Press)Nevyn Holms (any/all) is one half of indie tabletop studio Dinoberry Press, whose games explore collaborative crafts, asymmetric mechanics, and genre adaptation. They joined me to break down what draws them to physical objects as mechanics, creating shared buy in at a table, and the importance of fucked up little guys.
You can learn more about Dinoberry’s games on their website and on itch.
Nevyn’s Cool Things to Share- Doing game design deep dives on itch projects- Sharkula (Mark Polonia, 2022)
Things Discussed- Gun & Slinger (Dino...2024-12-0748 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 83: Ayu KoyamaAyu Koyama (she/her), aka sweetfish, is an interactive fiction writer and designer whose work explores religion, history, and digital play. In this episode we chat about what drew her to interactive fiction as a form, how that intersects with her experimental web design projects, and the ways a distant relationship with Catholicism influences her games. In closing we invite you to read old books.
You can learn more about Ayu’s projects on her personal website and play her games on itch.
Ayu’s Cool Things to Share- The Talented Mr. Ripley (Patr...2024-11-0234 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 82: Kyou SystemContent warning: this episode briefly discusses suicidal ideation
Kyou System (they/them) is an artist and game developer whose work explores the profound and incoherent world of dreams. We discuss the nocturnal origins of their first game, Remembrance, revisiting and remaking it half a decade later, embracing a more expressionistic writing style, and getting involved in visual novel game jams. Finally, we implore you to consider backgammon.
You can learn more about Kyou’s projects on their personal website and play their games on itch.
Kyou’s Cool Things to Share- The...2024-10-0545 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 81: rileylessthan9Content warning: this episode briefly discusses blood imagery
rileylessthannine (it/its) is a multimedia artist and game developer whose work explores the tension between abrasion and hope. In this episode we chat about its collage visual style, getting emotional over code, and the absurdity of people trying to ignore trans representation in itch games. Elsewhere, we collectively stare in befuddlement at Square-Enix’s various business ventures.
You can learn more about Riley’s games on itch and its personal website.
Riley’s Cool Things to Share- Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning (Kyo Sh...2024-09-1437 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 80: Kasey OzymyKasey Ozymy (he/him) is an indie RPG developer whose work draws from 16-bit classics and deep cuts. In this episode we chat about what interests him about RPGs, the design and writing philosophy behind modern classic Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass, and how the upcoming Hymn to the Earless God will be an even more complex project.
You can learn more about Kasey’s games on Steam, and follow him on Twitter @KaseyOzymy.
Kasey’s Cool Things to Share- Listening to entire Wikipedia music genre page discographies- Slay the Spire: The...2024-08-031h 00
Kritiqal CareEpisode 79: XiriXiri (he/him) is the creator of the sublime BL visual novel series, HITME, among other games exploring queer relationships and the end of the world. He took some time away from the upcoming HITM3 to chat with me about transitioning from music videos to games, how film influences his work, and a world where everybody is gay.
You can learn more about Xiri’s games on itch, and follow him on cohost @akaxiri.
Xiri’s Cool Things to Share- Meeting director Antoni Padrós (Pim pam pum revolución, 1970; Shirley Temple Story, 1976)
...2024-07-0641 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 78: Austin RamsayAustin Ramsay (he/him) is a tabletop RPG designer best known for Beam Saber, a Forged in the Dark game about mech pilots fighting an endless war. He joined me on this episode to talk about going from writing “imagination games” as a kid to 400+ page RPGs, creating rules that encourage player/GM collaboration, and how fun it can be to have a character go AWOL.
You can learn more about Austin’s games on itch, and follow him on cohost @AustinRamsayGames.
Austin’s Cool Things to Share- Unjust Depths (Madiha Santana, 2020-ongoing)
Th...2024-06-0844 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 77: SylvieSylvie (she/her) is a prolific creator of challenging platformers, action RPGs, and games about cats. She sat down with me to discuss her design philosophy based in constraints, games as conversations, and her esoteric entry into the year of bump combat. Later, she 1CCs an arcade cult classic.
You can learn more about Sylvie’s games and writing on her website, and follow her on cohost @sylvie.
Sylvie’s Cool Things to Share- The Tower of Druaga (Namco, 1984) and her 1CC playthrough
Things Discussed- Sylvie’s game spreadsheet- l...2024-05-0538 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 76: Meredith GranMeredith Gran (she/her) is a comics artist and game designer, best known for her webcomic, Octopus Pie and the adventure game Perfect Tides. She sat down with me to talk about her experience coming to games from a comics background, how Perfect Tides’ mechanics where influenced by teenage naivety, and why the 00s are such a rich period for coming of age stories. Finally, we wrap up with a teaser for the upcoming sequel, Perfect Tides: Station to Station.
You can learn more about Meredith’s games and comics on her website.
Meredith’s Cool T...2024-04-0647 min
Kritiqal CareBonus: Death of a WishFor the first Kritiqal Care bonus episode, returning guests Colin (he/they) of melessthanthree and Kevin Wong (they/them) join me to discuss their recently released action RPG, Death of a Wish. A more aggressive sequel to Lucah: Born of a Dream, Death of a Wish follows ex-antagonist Christian as he embarks on a revenge mission against the christofascist Sanctum. We discuss where the idea for a sequel came from, its themes emerging from contemporary anxieties and apathy, balancing thematic resonance with difficulty, and planning a coordinated marketing push for an effective team of two.
Death of...2024-03-1646 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 75: Cecile RichardCecile Richard (they/them) is a graphic designer, writer, and game developer known for their playful Bitsy projects and hypertext fiction. They joined me to discuss cyclical stories, the risk/reward of collaborating with close friends, and how cool underground tunnels are. We also take a moment to proselytize about editors, and I learn about a new, extremely fake sounding sport.
You can play Cecile’s games on itch, and follow them on cohost @haraiva.
Cecile’s Cool Things to Share- Australian sports season starting up soon (go Geelong Cats!)- Subterraneans Podc...2024-03-0352 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 74: David SuDavid Su (he/him) is a musician, audio programmer, and game designer who explores interactive music and performance art. He took some time off from his ballooning schedule to discuss how he got interested in making games from an audio background, the challenges and rewards of centering your game around sound, and the playful earnestness of a cloned sheep’s lament. Later, we wander into a video store.
You can play Davids games on itch, and follow him on Twitter @usdivad.
David’s Cool Things to Share- Visiting local video stores and buying DVDs...2024-02-0350 min
Kritiqal CareThe End of 2023It’s New Year’s Eve, which means 2023 has come and gone, bringing in closing our annual end of the year show. As is tradition, I reached out to past guests of the show to ask what their most impactful gaming memory was from the last 12 months. As this year has been particularly brutal to folks in and around games, I opened the prompt up to not exclusively focus on good memories, hoping instead to simply reflect on the year as a whole, positive and negative. The responses were as insightful, touching, and playful as ever, running the gamut from...2023-12-3148 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 73: Domino ClubDomino Club is a pseudo-anonymous internet collective that makes weird, horny, and genre perverting videogames. In this episode I’m joined by Domino Club card carrying members Emma (she/her), Nat (she/they), and Rose (she/her) to chat about the group’s origins, its unconventional approach to anthology projects, and how all these games are secretly just for them. We also dive into their latest jam, Humors & Humus, to discuss how each member approached the chickpea-less theme.
You can find all of Domino Club’s games on itch and their website, and the group on Twitter @club_d...2023-12-031h 10
Kritiqal CareEpisode 72: Sam Machell (Sand Gardeners)Sam Machell (he/him) is half of indie game studio Sand Gardeners, known for provocative and unconventional games like Dark Kitchen, Memphis, Bubbleland, and Brownie Cove Cancelled. We chat about the studio’s origins as a webcomic collaboration, designing hostile environments, and the tragedy and possibility of unarchivable games. Later, Sam gives a brief eulogy for the Wii U, sadly taken from us too soon.
You can play Sand Gardeners’s games on itch, and follow Sam on Instagram @sambehindglass.
Sam’s Inspiring Things to Share- The tragically misunderstood Wii U
Things...2023-10-1458 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 71: Lili ZoneLili Zone (she/they) is the experimental game designer behind works like Crypt World (2013) and Crypt Underworld (2023). She took some time to chat with me about Crypt World’s origins, the nearly decade long development of Underworld, and what she has planned for the future now the crypts are behind her. We also dig into the evolving conception of indie games, the “small games matter” PR amnesia cycle, and gaming’s ongoing embarrassment and adoration for Great Men™️.
You can play Lili’s games on itch, and her personal site.
Lili’s Cool Things to Share- The B...2023-09-0250 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 70: Canvas (bighandinsky)Canvas (he/she), aka bighandinsky, is the creator of crunchy, narrative driven scifi games A Forgetful Loop (2020) and A Day of Maintenance (2022). He’s collaborated with fellow writers and indie devs Freya Campbell and Elliot Herriman, and joined me on this episode to chat about integrating dense narration into mechanics heavy games, writing casual and circuitous conversations with robots, and the struggle of managing energy and stress during longterm projects.
You can follow Canvas on Cohost @peterrobot, and play his games on itch.
Canvas’ Cool/Inspiring Things to Share- Daily wordplay games Murdle and...2023-08-051h 05
Kritiqal CareEpisode 69: Leah CaseLeah Case (she/her) is a writer and game developer who specializes in absurd Twine hacking. In our chat, she digs into why she loves Twine so much, how she approaches writing branching interactive fiction, and how collaborating as part of snotwurm lets her focus in on system building (in Twine, of course). She closes the show out by teasing a forthcoming visual novel strategy game, and recommending some further listening.
You can follow Leah on Twitter @leahthecase, and play her games on itch.
Leah's Cool Things to Share- C. J. Cherryh’s sc...2023-07-0150 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 68: Autumn RainAutumn Rain (she/they/it) is a prolific game developer whose work explores religious trauma, non-linear exploration, and getting lost in a maze of rats. We discuss games as miserable piles of secrets, the importance of indie dev communities, and why it’s actually fine and good to troll gamers.
You can follow Autumn on Twitter @slitherpunk, on Tumblr @slitherpunk, and play her games on itch.
Autumns's Cool Things to Share- Lunacid (KIRA LLC, 2022)- Cartomancy Anthology (Compact, 2022)- The Owl House (Dana Terrace, 2020-2023)
Things Discussed- Se...2023-04-2952 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 67: Lily ValeenLily Valeen (she/they) is a game designer, writer, and artist who recently released BOSSGAME: The Final Boss is My Heart, a mobile action game about lesbian devil hunters. She joined me on the show to dive into BOSSGAME's development, the frustrating preconceptions around mobile games, and writing queer romance. Later on, we encourage you to befriend your cool mutuals.
You can follow Lily on Twitter @ItsMeLilyV, and play her games on iOS, Android, and itch.
Lily's Cool Thing to Share- Becoming friends with people on the internet (it's more likely than you...2023-04-021h 00
Kritiqal CareEpisode 66: Kate BarrettKate Barrett (she/her) is a game developer and comic artist best known for her playful, irreverent, and frequently copyright infringing design philosophy, best showcased by games such as Ready Player Fuck (2017) and Pottergame (2020). She joined me this episode to retrace her curiosity-turned-obsession with Earnest Cline’s novel, evangelize her suitably unorthodox commitment to Blitz3D, and discuss the freedom that comes with embracing Glorious Trainwrecks.
You can play Kate’s games on itch and Glorious Trainwrecks.
Kate’s Inspiring Thing to Share
- Playing more videogames (and learning to enjoy them again)
Thin...2023-03-0452 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 65: Kenzie Shores (Hardcoded)Content warning: this episode is primarily about porn
Kenzie Shores (she/her) is a game developer and artist best known for the pornographic visual novel, Hardcoded. Nearing the game’s full release, Kenzie joined me to chat about Hardcoded’s origins, the challenge of monetizing porn, and why it really sucks to work on the same game for seven years.
You can follow Kenzie on Twitter @yoplatz, support Hardcoded on Patreon, and download the free demo on itch.
Kenzie’s Cool Things to Share
- Using vegetable stock instead of water for rice...2023-02-0451 min
Kritiqal Care2022 WrappedThe year has come and gone in a Sonic hued blur, and as is now tradition, I reached out to prior Kritiqal Care guests to ask what their favorite gaming and/or gaming-adjacent memory was in 2022. The responses were truly incredible, spanning great games, communities, moments of personal growth, and surprising opportunities. This continues to be my favorite episode of the year, and I’m so glad to get to share it with you. Happy new year!
Featuring
Leo Bunyea | Aubrey Isaacman | Elaine Gómez | Kate Olguin | Kiki & Alicia of Transparency | Quinn K | Andrew of Indiepocalypse | Nic...2022-12-311h 22
Kritiqal CareEpisode 64: Dave HoffmanDave Hoffman (they/them) is the creator of Mixolumia (davemakes, 2020), an arcade puzzle game combining contextual soundtracks with diamond-based combos. They came on the show to dig into the spontaneous origins of the game, how it continued to evolve and incorporate player creations, and the difficulty of marketing puzzle games in a streamer attention economy. Later, they admit to having never seen Goncharov (Martin Scorsese, 1973).
You can follow Dave on Twitter @davemakes, on cohost @geometric, and purchase Mixolumia on itch, Steam, and Switch.
Dave’s Cool Thing to Share
Getting owned by Goncharov
...2022-12-031h 05
Zero ContextEpisode 4: Truth is Asleep, Post SantaThe end of our 999 playthrough draws near as we stumble into the last (for real this time) bad ending. We finally get some answers about who’s been knifing everyone, discuss how the game begins to assert itself as an independent actor, and lament Clover’s continued degradation. Also, where’s Santa??
Next Time on Zero Context:
The true ending, via doors 4 -> 7 -> 1. Also, make sure you:
- Accept the clover bookmark from Santa
- Listen to the Ice-9 story in the freezer
- Ask Seven about Ice-9
- Give Clover the bo...2022-11-061h 37
Kritiqal CareEpisode 63: Cosmo DCosmo D (he/him) is a game developer and musician whose work explores urban life, the creator economy, and giant pizza demanding buildings. Hot off the release of Betrayal At Club Low (2022), Cosmo D sat down with me to detail his dramatic pivot out of music into games, finding a medium that inspires you to keep growing, and chasing his space trucker sim white whale.
You can play Cosmo D’s games on Steam and itch, purchase the soundtracks on Bandcamp, and join his community on Discord.
Cosmo D’s Cool Thing to Share
The...2022-11-0657 min
Zero ContextEpisode 3: Thriving in Junpei's Mind PalaceThe last Bad End is upon us and it sure lives up to it! Axe and Nate continue their playthrough of 999 (Kotaro Uchikoshi, 2009), working through the ax ending and all its disappointing conclusions. Elsewhere, they discuss the different mechanics of mystery vs puzzle box media, continued disappointment at who Lotus could have been, and Nate makes a lot of predictions that are all true (even the ones that contradict each other).
Next Time on Zero Context
The Safe Ending, via doors 5 -> 8 -> 6
Things Discussed
- Accessing puzzle answers through the morphogenic field2022-10-171h 42
Kritiqal CareEpisode 62: Max Miller (Commonplace)Max Miller (they/them) is a composer, writer, and game designer. As part of new studio Pitter-Patter, they released Commonplace (2022), an ordinary adventure game about working in an office. For this episode, Max spent some time talking about the game’s experimental development, how they structured the soundtrack as a companion work, and a desire to make games that push against consumption driven mechanics.
Spoiler advisory: we do not discuss many specific moments in Commonplace, but do talk a lot about the general structure and tone of the game. I’d recommend playing the game before listening, if o...2022-10-0153 min
Zero ContextEpisode 2: The Death SubWe’ve made it to route 2 of our 999 playthrough, not far enough to escape the Nonary Games but able to glimpse the sub just out of reach. This time, Axe and Nate went through doors 4 -> 3 -> 2, leading everyone to a terrible end but a terrific route to get there. We dig in to what it means for this to be a failure route, lament frustrating character tropes, and get owned by bad puzzles.
Next Time on Zero Context
The Axe Ending, via doors 5 -> 8 -> 1
Things Discussed
- Thematic/structural significance of th...2022-09-282h 11
Kritiqal CareEpisode 61: Goldie Bartlett & Jason Bakker (Wayward Strand)Wayward Strand (Ghost Pattern, 2022) is an upcoming adventure game which follows Casey - a teenager and aspiring journalist - as she explores a hospital airship floating above the Australian country-side. Two of its developers, Goldie Bartlett (she/her) and Jason Bakker (he/him), joined me on this episode to dive into the game's origins, how the continuous in-game clock allows for new forms of storytelling, and how collaborating with indigenous and mental health advocacy groups helped the team write richer, more honest characters.
Wayward Strand releases September 15th, 2022 on Steam, Playstation 4/5, Xbox One/Series, and Nintendo Switch.2022-09-1054 min
Zero ContextEpisode 1: Is Podcasting a Death Game?Welcome to episode 1 of Zero Context, where we kick off our Zero Escape playthrough with the trilogy’s first game, Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (Chunsoft, 2009). We dive headfirst into the game’s lore-heavy exposition, speculate on how 999 fits within the death game media landscape, and, like all good podcasts, issue some corrections from episode 0.
Next Time on Zero Context
The Sub Route, via doors 5 -> 3 -> 2
Things Discussed
- What is 999?
- Why we are only playing the DS version
- How this show will be structured.
- Noth...2022-09-071h 55
Zero ContextEpisode 0: ContextWelcome to Zero Context, a show where Nate Kiernan (any/all) and Axe Binondo (they/them) play through the Zero Escape series. Join us as Nate learns what a visual novel is, Axe reveals the depths of their cursed fandom knowledge, and we try to figure out how exactly you podcast branching narratives. Enjoy this table setting before all hell breaks loose.
For Next Episode
Play through the knife route (4 -> 7 -> 6)
Things Discussed
- What is Zero Escape?
- Saw for anime sickos
- The Quinton Tarantino of visual novels2022-08-1125 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 59: spidersSpiders (they/them) are an alt game dev specializing in queer, grimy, anti-tech industry experiments. In this episode, we chat about their upcoming anthology game, The Museum of Radically Obsolete Futures, the tension between wanting to make shit that’s cool vs shit that sells, and how vital communities like The Queer Games Bundle are to the weird game scene.
You can find spiders behind you, play their games on itch, and follow them on Twitter @spiderszzz.
Spiders' Cool Thing to Share
Playing Disco Elysium (2019, ZA/UM) as a weekly social book club
...2022-07-0247 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 58: Son La Pham & Francis Tseng (Half-Earth Socialism)In collaboration with utopian collective Trust, designer Son La Pham (he/him) and developer Francis Tseng (he/they) created Half Earth Socialism (2022), a browser game companion to Troy Vettese and Drew Pendergrass’s book of the same name. As part of the game’s launch, Son La and Francis joined me on the show to discuss how the collaboration began, the challenge of building a global planning simulator as a browser game, and the importance of going beyond raw calculations to allow players to become emotionally invested.
You can play Half Earth Socialism for free and purchase the...2022-05-2851 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 57: Fantasia MalwareFantasia Malware - comprised of Jira Trello (she/her), Chloê Langford (she/her), and Gabriel Helfenstein (he/him) - are an experimental game label specializing in mega-maximalist un-game performance art. They crowded into KRITIQAL’s digital podcast booth to discuss grotesque beauty, games as instruments, and creating art that can’t be wiki-fied. Later, they recommend birds.
You can learn more about Fantasia Malware and subscribe to their mailing list on their website. Jira also hosts the podcast, New Genesis Online.
Fantasia Malware’s cool things to share
Jira: “somewhere between the 8th and 9th floor”...2022-04-3057 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 56: Dhruv Jani (Studio Oleomingus)Studio Oleomingus is an art practice and game studio based Chala, India, whose work explores magical realism, post-colonial landscapes, and redacted authorship. Studio founder Dhruv Jani (he/him) joined me to talk through his unique history with modern videogames, his skepticism at the necessity of systemic interaction, and how employing fictitious external authors connects Oleomingus’ work to a larger history of post-independence Indian storytellers.
You can learn more about Studio Oleomingus on their website, play their games for free on Steam or itch, and follow them on Twitter @studiooleomingu.
Dhruv’s Cool Thing to Share
...2022-03-261h 02
Kritiqal CareEpisode 55: Joel JordonJoel Jordon (they/them) is the solo game developer of Time Bandit (2022), a real-time anti-capitalist work sim about how our subjective experience of time is shaped by our relationship to labor and historical forces. With Time Bandit’s first part releasing soon, Joel took some time to join me in talking through the game’s themes, how effective games can be as political instruments, and the hazy ethics of games-as-work.
You can wishlist Time Bandit on Steam and play the free prologue on itch. Joel is on Twitter @pumbertop.
Joel’s Encouraging Thing to Share
Re...2022-02-2756 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 54: Karin MaladyKarin Malady (any/all pronouns) is a writer, poet, and occultist interested in the relationship between art and audience. Recently, they’ve contributed writing to apocalyptic photography game, Dear Future (Dear Future Production Committee, 2021), and videogame flesh realm DEEP HEEL DOT COM. In this especially free wheeling episode, we talk about growing up on the internet, metafiction, being Tony Hawk, and provoking readers.
You can find Karin on Twitter @SweetNAwful, and explore their many creative endeavors on their personal site.
Karin’s Cool People to Shoutout
Tildelta - dark electronic musician with a new albu...2022-01-2953 min
Kritiqal Care2021 WrappedSomehow, we’re at the end of 2021. It has been a strange, unpleasant, unpredictable year, but you know as much already. I won’t belabor the point as if we haven’t all been living with the same uncertainty, but I do want to say thank you for listening/reading/being part of KRITIQAL. The community that has grown around the site, the contributors I’ve been able to commission, and the friend’s I’ve made along the way have been so hugely important to me not spiraling off into the void. It is perhaps the smallest bit of hope to c...2022-01-0244 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 53: Breogán HackettBreogán Hackett (she/they) is an indie dev, community organizer, and creator of low-res horror anthology, The Haunted PS1. She set aside some time from Halloween spooks to talk about how The Haunted PS1 got started, moving beyond the Playstation, and forcing players to get lost. A likely contender for most games mentioned in an episode, and all good ones at that (a hearty recommendation for Bleakshore if you’ve yet to play it).
You can find Breogán’s many, many games on itch and follow them on Twitter @BreoganHackett. You can learn more about The Ha...2021-11-0658 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 52: Xalavier Nelson Jr.Xalavier Nelson Jr. (he/him) is a prolific videogame writer, producer, and internet poster, working on everything from An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs (Strange Scaffold, 2021) to Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator (Strange Scaffold, upcoming). He took some time away from creating every videogame to walk through how he moved from games criticism to development, the challenge and necessity of figuring out what you enjoy creating, and the existential dark comedy of a drunk puppy.
You can follow Nelson on Twitter @WritNelson, and find a sample of his games on itch.
Xalavier’s Go...2021-10-231h 07
Kritiqal CareEpisode 51: Heather FlowersHeather Flowers (they/she) is the non-existent creator of EXTREME MEATPUNKS FOREVER, a post-apocalyptic visual-novel beat-em-up about gay disasters meat mechs fighting facists. They didn’t join me on this episode to recap MEATPUNK’s origins as a spontaneous collection of sounds, adapting the series into tabletop form, and rejecting apocalyptic cynicism. I cannot stress this enough: Heather Flowers does not exist and therefore could not have been on this episode.
If Heather Flowers did exist, you could follow her @HTHRFLWRS and play her games on itch.
What Heather Flowers Good Thing Would Be, If They...2021-10-0942 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 50: Naphtali Faulkner (Veselekov)Naphtali Faulkner (he/him), AKA Veselekov, is the creator of IGF Grand Prize winning photography game, Umurangi Generation (ORIGAME DIGITAL, 2020). In this extra long episode, Naphtali elaborates on origins of Umurangi, confronting liberal apathy, and the hunger people have for explicitly leftist art. Many detours into Disco Elysium (ZA/UM, 2019) are made along the way.
You can play Umurangi Generation on Steam and Switch, and follow Naphtali @Veselekov.
Napthali’s Fun Things to Share
Disco Elysium (I promise I’m gonna play it soon)
The Hunt: Showdown (Crytek, 2018), with reservations
Things Disc...2021-09-251h 21
Kritiqal CareEpisode 49: Jeremy CouillardJeremy Couillard (he/him) is an artist and professor, whose games JEF (2020) and Fuzz Dungeon (2021) explore the weird, uncomfortable, and inexplicable aspects of life through humor and alien surrealism. In this episode, Jeremy details how he started creating games out of a frustration with animation, the importance of loitering in digital spaces, and finding community in alt games.
You can play Jeremy’s games on itch and Steam, and follow them @jeremycouillard.
Jeremy’s Inspiring Thing to Share
Alt games curators and communities (shout out to Indiepocalypse and Dirigitive)
Things Discussed
JEF2021-09-1158 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 48: lowpolis (rayzones & yaffle)Rayzones (they/them) and Yaffle (she/they) make up indie studio lowpolis, creators of cute games with surreal insides. In this episode we explore the inspiration for lowpolis’ latest game, co-open (2021), discus the complex politics surrounding “wholesome games,” and appreciate the most fundamental videogame act: crawling through vents. Closing out the show, I once again confess my shame of having not played some very good games.
You can follow lowpolis @lowpolis, @rayzones, and @Yafffle. Their games are available on itch.
lowpolis’ Good Things to Share
Yaffle: waking up and going to bed with the sun
...2021-08-2847 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 47: Ryan Rose AceaeRyan Rose Aceae (he/they) is a visual novelist whose games explore the messy, sometimes monstrous dynamics of queer identity through surreal characters and earnest writing. In this episode he recounts his nontraditional route into making queer games, collaborating with Heather Flowers on GENDERWRECKED (2017), and the necessity of complex and challenging queer art. Finally, Ryan ends the show with a surprise package from a friend.
You can play Ryan’s games on itch and follow them @gendervamp.
Ryan’s Nice Thing to Share
A surprise package of plant identification books from a friend (let me k...2021-08-1451 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 46: Jeff ChiaoJeff Chiao (they/them) is an indie game producer, designer, and rhythm game enthusiast currently working on upcoming rhythm action title, UNBEATABLE (D-Cell Games). They took some time away from production to discuss UNBEATABLE’s long pre-production, the importance of embedding composers within the dev process, and the thriving indie rhythm game scene. Then Jeff closes the show with an enthusiastic recommendation for Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Greg Lobanov, 2021).
You can follow Jeff @comet_melting and play the demo for UNBEATABLE on Steam and itch.
Jeff’s Inspiring Thing to Share
Chicory - See also...2021-07-311h 06
Kritiqal CareEpisode 45: Freya CampbellFreya Campbell (she/they) is an interactive fiction writer, designer, and game engine combiner. Her games focus on small interactions in fantastical settings, emphasizing character voices and being incredibly queer. They joined me on this week’s episode to discuss writing interactive fiction, putting engines inside each other, and using engine constraints to inform pacing. In closing, I am shamed for having not yet played a bunch of very good games (editor’s note: since recording I have played We Know the Devil and it is just as fantastic as Freya makes it out to be).
You can...2021-07-171h 01
Kritiqal CareEpisode 44: Elliot HerrimanElliot Herriman (she/her) is an interactive fiction author and developer who makes games about being queer and engines to help you not have to code. She spent some time chatting about falling into game dev, the struggle to get your writing in front of people, and the importance of accessible dev tools. We discuss many unspeakable games so make sure there aren’t any cops around before you pop this one on.
You can play Elliot’s games on itch and follow her @elliotherriman.
Elliot’s Unspeakable Thing to Share
Some Sword / Some Play...2021-07-031h 04
Kritiqal CareEpisode 43: Shane YachShane Yach (he/they) is a game designer and musician whose work combines crunchy, low-poly visuals with surreal internet horror. We spend some time breaking down what makes the PS1 great for horror, how found footage could be adapted for games, and why falling asleep in Proteus is the highest compliment. In closing, Shane reminds us that games don’t die on release and we should allow ourselves to take creativity breaks.
You can play Shane’s games on itch, find their music on Bandcamp, and follow them @tipsheda.
Shane’s Cool Thing to Share
Re...2021-06-1955 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 42: Kevin WongKevin Wong (he/they) is a game designer, producer, and scholar who has worked on projects as varied as Chambara, Lucah: Born of a Dream, and Manifold Garden. On this episode he recounts his experience as a student game designer and how anti-hierarchal art movements and Twitch Plays Pokemon inspired the apocalyptic photography game, Dear Future.
You can follow Kevin on Twitter @ThatKevinWong and keep up with Dear Future @DearFutureGame.
Kevin’s Inspiring Thing to Share
Umurangi Generation (ORIGAME DIGITAL, 2020)
Things Discussed
Chambara (team ok, 2017)
Dear Future (Dear Future Production Co...2021-06-0556 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 41: Nathan BladesNathan Blades (he/they) is a tabletop designer, streamer, and voice actor with a particular love for queer cyberpunk. He sat down with me to chronicle his introduction to TTRPGs, the rewards and frustrations of running an actual play show, and finding the line between passion projects and accidentally making yourself a second job. Afterwards, Nathan reminds us that no amount of Twitter arguing can substitute just sitting down and making the damn thing.
You can find Nathan’s games on itch, catch their streams on Twitch, check out their voice acting reel, and follow them on Tw...2021-05-081h 00
Kritiqal CareEpisode 40: Pixel a DayKat (she/her) makes video essays on games and pop culture as Pixel a Day. Her work seeks to diversify games criticism by invoking her knowledge of art and psychology, interrogating unexplored aspects of games and games culture. In this episode we discuss what drew her to video essays as a form, the importance of looking outside of games, and the challenge of getting noticed as a smaller channel.
You can find Kat’s videos on Youtube, her writing on Medium, and follow her on Twitter @pixel_a_day.
Kat’s Cool Thing to Share
...2021-04-241h 01
Kritiqal CareEpisode 39: Nilson CarrollNilson Carrol (he/him) is an archivist, MFA student, and ROM hacker working to preserve obscure and queer internet culture. His thesis project, Video Games Have Been Queer, chronicles his history with games and the queer culture within and around them which is often ignored. We talk about his early experiences with ROM hacking, the importance of preserving digital culture, and the earnest, wondrous possibility of glitches. In closing we fawn over Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (Analgesic Productions, 2019), a game which feels too good to exist.
You can find Nilson’s games on itch and at swampbabes....2021-04-031h 13
Kritiqal CareEpisode 38: Lena NWLena NW (she/her) is a multimedia artist, rapper, and game designer whose work touches on the messy, fraught, and darkly humorous effects of fringe internet culture. Her MFA project, Nightmare Temptation Academy (2020), crystalizes her experience growing up on the internet and becoming desensitized to shock content, while also exploring digital alienation and collage creativity. She joined me on Kritiqal Care to talk more about what drew her to games, the Neopets/Gaia Online/4chan pipeline, and trying to be an ethical edgelord.
You can find Lena’s work on her personal site, play Nightmare Temptation Academy on...2021-03-201h 16
Kritiqal CareEpisode 37: prophet goddessCassandra Lugo (they/them) creates compact procedural games under the name prophet goddess. Their work explores the unique abilities of generative content, the lack of win conditions, and glitchy digital aesthetics. We discuss the origins of their interest in procedural generation, the frequent pitfalls with how it is utilized, and the sorts of games prophet goddess wants to see more of. In the close, we remember that it’s never a bad time to listen to Prince.
You can follow prophet goddess on Twitter @prophet_goddess, play their games on itch, and catch their streams on Twitch an...2021-03-0657 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 36: Sandy Pug GamesNem (they/them) runs the leftist tabletop studio and occasional publisher, Sandy Pug Games, creating games exploring anti-capitalism, alternative forms of interaction, and what it would be like if DMC’s Dante was in Dungeon World. Recently, they have helped facilitate the Our Shores Kickstarter, allowing members of the South-East Asian TTRPG scene (RPGSEA) access to funds and exposure they had previously been denied. In this episode we discuss the contentious nature of Kickstarter, Twitter politics, and the limitations of aesthetic revolution in art.
You can find links to Nem’s work on their Carrd and on itch...2021-02-201h 23
Kritiqal CareEpisode 35: Colin (melessthanthree)Colin (he/they) of melessthanthree makes crunchy action games about catholic guilt and queer acceptance. He joined me to talk about early adventures goofing off in coding class, bucking publisher marketability, and Lucah: Born of a Dream’s intriguing and often confounding narrative structure. Later on we dig into the ethics of violent games and appreciate the eternal charm of Lord of the Rings.
You can find Colin on Twitter @melessthanthree and play Lucah on Steam, itch, and Switch.
Colin’s Good Thing to Share
Watching Lord of the Rings for the first time and...2021-02-061h 08
Kritiqal CareEpisode 34: Hyacinth NilIndie game dev and co-found of Abyssal Uncreations, Hyacinth Nil (they/them) makes games about cosmic horror, broken technology, and how the internet manufactures identity. They took some time to walk me through their early efforts of longform LARPs as a kid, looking back on Transfer (Abyssal Uncreations, 2017), and the ways systematized morality reveals the empty politics of many games.
You can follow Hyacinth on Twitter @Synodai, play their games on itch, and catch their streams on Twitch.
Hyacinth’s Good Thing to Share
Building small communities online within the noise of social media (co...2021-01-231h 11
Kritiqal CareEpisode 33: Taylor McCueContent warning for this episode: brief discussions of surgery complications, suicidal thoughts, and misgendering
Taylor McCue (choosing not to disclose pronouns) is a game developer whose work explores trans identities, bodily autonomy, and the dehumanizing impact of institutions. We discussed the flawed act of asking for pronouns, what led Taylor to make games, and the using Gameboy ROMs as a form of preservation. It’s a bit heavier than most episodes, but I feel well worth digging into.
Taylor’s games are available on itch and Steam.
Taylor’s Good Thing to Share
If...2021-01-0939 min
Kritiqal Care2020 WrappedKritiqal Care is taking a break for the holidays but I still wanted to put up one final episode to close out such a strange and intense year. Games took a lot of different forms this year and the way we approached them was even more varied than usual, so instead of a traditional games-of-the-year list I thought it would be fun to ask the guests of Kritiqal Care to look back on their favorite game related moments from the year - whether that’s something they played, read, created, or otherwise experienced. The responses were thoughtful, warm, and co...2020-12-2646 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 32: Dave Gilbert (Wadjet Eye Games)Dave Gilbert (he/him) is the founder and head of Wadjet Eye Games, creators of numerous modern adventure game classics including Unavowed (Wadjet Eye, 2018) and the Blackwell Saga. Dave stopped in to discuss the studio’s history, moving into publishing, and the emotionally intense experience of closing out Rosa Blackwell and Joey’s story with The Blackwell Epiphany (Wadjet Eye, 2014). Come for the indie lore, stay for Adventure Game Studio haystack hacks.
You can follow Dave on Twitter @WadjetEyeGames, join the studio Discord, and find all their games at wadjeteyegames.com
Dave’s Inspiring Thing to Sha...2020-12-0558 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 31: Kaile Hultner (No Escape)Kaile Hultner (they/them) created No Escape as a response to games media pretending video games are exempt from politics. They write about games as cultural objects, journalistic ethics, and the need to engage with the economic and labor forces which bring games about. Kaile joins me on this episode to dive into their philosophy of how to write about games, the need for games journalists to adopt ethics standards, and how good it is that you can pet the eagle in The Pathless (Giant Squid, 2020). It’s a longer episode, but well worth the time.
You ca...2020-11-211h 17
Kritiqal CareEpisode 30: Skeleton (DEEP HELL)DEEP HELL is a games crit portal focusing on the ways we engage with games and the troubling lessons games often teach us. I’m joined by the sites primary author, Skeleton (they/them), to discuss the site’s identity, our frustrations with the state of games writing (go away Kotaku), and the importance of building alternative media that is not embedded with advertising and a callous middle-class aesthetic. Later on Skeleton dives into what they’ve been playing, and we close on a more hopeful note about the many insightful writers who have begun appearing in recent years.
...2020-11-1447 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 29: Oma KeelingOma Keeling (they/them) is an experimental game designer and critic. Their work explores queer history, poetry, and punk art in ways that are messy, inspiring, and often hard to explain. Oma joined me to discuss their early games work at art school, the complicated relationship games have to history, and how they seem to keep making games about falling in love with vehicles.
You can follow Oma on Twitter @OKthanksgames, find their writing @GlitchOutMain, and play their games on itch.
Oma's Inspiring Thing to Share
Open Mike Eagle's Anime, Trauma and Divorce...2020-10-2450 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 28: The Off-Score ProjectThe Off-Score Project is an interactive album released track by track that transforms singer-songwriter jazz into playable vignettes. I've been intrigued by the project since playing the opening track, Copy Machine, and was so glad to have the opportunity to speak with its dev team trio: YenTing Lo (she/her) whose music forms the basis of each game, Vanja Mrgan (he/him) who produces art and contributes to design, Ferran Bertomeu Castells (he/him) who handles programming along with design. We dive into the origins of The Off-Score Project back in 2017, the trade-offs of having already recorded all the...2020-10-1747 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 27: Maria MisonMaria Mison (she/they) is a multi-disciplinary artist and tabletop game designer based in the Philippines. They makes games exploring identity, trauma, self-expression, and doing difficult things, as well as the form games can take and our relationship to cultural symbols. They join me to talk about their prolific first year as a game designer, the way games help inform their theater and dance practice, and the importance of taking care of your players, before enthusiastically closing out on our shared love of shōnen manga boys.
You can find Maria's games on itch, follow them on T...2020-10-1057 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 26: Girls Make Games (Isra Shabir)Girls Make Games is an annual summer camp that teaches middle and high-school girls how to create games. This year, due to Covid-19, they took the camp online and in doing so are reaching girls all across the world. I sat down with GMG’s communications director, Isra Shabir (she/her), to learn how the camp began, what the process was like shifting to online, and what they have planned moving forward with more online events.
You can learn more about Girls Make Games at girlsmakegames.com, follow them @GirlsMakeGames, and get in touch by emailing info@gi...2020-10-0352 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 25: Matthew Pusti (Makeup and Vanity Set)Matthew Pusti (he/him) makes synth-driven electronic music as Makeup and Vanity Set. He has produced numerous solo albums including Wilderness and 2020’s Endless Destiny, and his music has appeared in games like Brigador (Stellar Jockeys, 2015) and numerous podcasts from Tenderfoot TV (Atlanta Monster, To Live and Die in LA). He joined me to discuss how he began in music, the move to working in games and podcasts, and the inspiration for his latest album.
You can find Matthew’s music on Spotify, Bandcamp, and wherever you get your music, and follow him on Twitter @vanityset.
Th...2020-09-261h 04
Kritiqal CareEpisode 24: Nicholas O'BrienNicolas O’Brien (he/him) is a researcher and experimental artist who recently released The Last Survey (2020), a “visual novel essay” which explores the myth of equitable capitalism and modern technocracies. He joined me to talk about the inspiration for the game, the challenge of making anti-capitalist art within established models, and the stress of our own culpability.
You can follow Nicholas on Twitter @__nkO and play The Last Survey on Steam and Itch.
Things Discussed
The Last Survey
Tonight We Riot (Pixel Pushers Union 512)
The exploitative mining of rare earth minerals for el...2020-09-1952 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 23: Hannah NicklinHannah Nicklin (she/her) is a writer and narrative designer now working as studio head at Die Gute Fabrik, known for her work on 2019’s mutant soap opera, Mutazione. She joined me on Kritiqal Care to discuss how she went from being a playwright to a games author, how Mutazione approaches domesticity and time, and how she is building a more diverse team for Die Gute Fabrik’s next project. It was a wonderful discussion on narrative design across mediums, and stay tuned at the end for some teases for what the studio is up to next.
You...2020-09-121h 03
Kritiqal CareEpisode 22: Melos Han-TaniMelos Han-Tani (he/him) is a game designer, musician, and half of Analgesic Productions (together with Marina Kittaka). On episode 22 of Kritiqal Care he joined me to talk making games that recognize the humans behind them, why he likes writing music for games, and some of the musicians he looks (listens?) toward for inspiration. Finally, we close out with a quick tease of what Analgesic is working on next, and appreciate the ongoing efforts by protestors to fight back against the US police state. Stay safe out there, everyone.
You can find Melon on Twitter @han_tani...2020-09-0546 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 21: MadameBerryEx-game dev MadameBerry (she/her) joins me to talk creative burnout and becoming a Twitch painter. Having begun as an indie dev with games like Fragile Soft Machines and Visual Out, MadameBerry has since left games and is now pursuing live painting on Twitch, along with and helping others overcome their creative blocks. We dive into a lot of things surrounding creativity as a deliberate act and the nature of online audiences, then close out with a surprise album by Joey Batey of Netflix’s The Witcher fame.
You can catch MadameBerry’s streams Wednesdays and Saturdays on T...2020-08-2254 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 20: Matthew White (Whitethorn Games)Whitethorn Games is an indie publishing house focusing on “easy-going, bite-sized, stress-free games" for people who maybe don’t play them very often. Founder and CEO of Whitethorn, Matthew White (he/him), joins me on Kritiqal Care to talk what makes a Whitethorn game, appealing to non-gamers, and growing sustainably. Later on we talk about “the good groceries” and being awestruck by nature.
You can follow Whitethorn Games on Twitter @WhiteThornGames and learn more about them at whitethorndigital.com.
Things Discussed
Calico (Peachy Keen Games, upcoming)
Tinselfly (Flopsy Koala LLC, upcoming)
Matthew’s gamesind...2020-08-1556 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 19: Rachel TannerRachel Tanner (she/her) is a poet and prose author who writes the monthly column Extra Lives over at Video Dame. She joined me on this week’s Kritiqal Care to read a few of her poems and talk about how she got started writing video game poetry. It’s a nice, chill episode, so grab a cup of tea and nestle up under a blanket as this episode tucks you in.
You can follow Rachel @rickit, and find her writing on Video Dame.
Poems Read
Towering, after Firewatch
For River, after To The...2020-08-0845 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 18: Nathalie LawheadSomething new on this week’s Kritiqal Care, I’m joined by experimental software developer Nathalie Lawhead (they/them) to talk about the weird side of the internet. Nathalie specializes in small art tools with 90s sensibilities and lots and lots of potatoes, and recently released Electric Zine Maker for anyone looking to become an amateur publicist. It was a delight to have them on to reflect on where internet art has been and where it’s going, and I highly recommend checking out their essay on small tools which inspired this episode.
You can follow Nathalie on Twi...2020-07-2543 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 17: Andrew (Indiepocalpse)Very excited to have gotten the chance to this week to chat with Andrew (he/him), creator and curator of Indiepocalypse, a monthly zine featuring games, comics, and an assortment of other curiosities. Each month Indiepocalypse highlights the breathe of work happening in the indie games scene uncoupled from the expectations of major conventions or commercial appeal, packaging them up as an indie zine that is currently on its 6th issue. Our conversation touches on the challenges of curation, what it means to create a space for smaller artists, and some cool projects happening in other mediums.
...2020-07-181h 05
Kritiqal CareEpisode 16: ValiDate Dev TeamThis week on Kritiqal Care, I was so excited to talk to the core dev team of ValiDate (upcoming), a dating sim about the weird complexities of dating as a twenty-something that features an all people of color cast, queer characters, different body types, and challenging personalities.
I spoke to Dani (Head Developer, she/they), Percy (Head Editor, shethey), Kevin (Head Composer, he/him), Alexis (Head Designer, she/her), and Lisa (Head Programmer, she/they) about how the game began, what it’s trying to do differently within the dating sim genre, and if we will be ge...2020-07-1152 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 15: Quinn K. and KyraThis week’s episode is a little different, featuring Quinn K. (she/her, they/them) and Kyra (she/her) to discuss collaboration, the daily uncertainty of work during Covid, and old internet lore I somehow missed. Quinn and Kyra do not currently work on projects together but are a game dev power couple so I thought it would be fun to have them both on. There’s a lot discussed here, some of it games related, some otherwise, but it’s a good time so I hope you’ll join us.
You can support Quinn on Patreon, follow h...2020-07-0452 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 14: Eva KhouryOn episode 14 of Kritiqal Care I talk with artist and curator Eva Khoury (they/them) about their approach to different mediums and how they define themselves as an artist. Then we go way to deep on refrigerators and the complexities of our relationship with them, before ending on a short discussion of Eva’s local mutual aid efforts.
Eva Khoury is a multimedia artist who has worked with 3D, games, short films, and gallery installations. You can follow them on Twitter @eva_khoury_, check out their projects at evakhoury.com, and learn more about Baby Castles @Babycastles...2020-06-2749 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 13: Greg LobanovThis week I had the absolute joy of talking to the developer of the recent masterpiece, Wandersong, Greg Lobanov (he/him). Greg is an indie game developer known best for the musical adventure game Wandersong, and is currently working on the upcoming dog-with-a-paintbrush game Chicory. We talk the long lineage of painting games, Wandersong's atypical design structure, how to write cute well, and get the show's first musical rec.
Greg's Good Thing to Share
the first glass beach album | glass beach - just look at this tracklist, you're gonna have a good time.
Bon Appét...2020-06-1341 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 12: Kiki & Alicia (Transparency)Episode 12 of Kritiqal Care switches things up by having two guests! Kiki (she/her) & Alicia (her/she) of the Youtube channel Transparency join me to discuss how they approach video production, the differences in their writing styles, and how The Last Jedi is objectively the best Star Wars. Kiki also goes hard on LORE and why there’s so darn much of it.
You can find Transparency’s videos on Youtube, follow them on Twitter @transparencyboo, and support Kiki & Alicia on Patreon.
Kiki’s Good Thing to Share
Jucika, a Hungarian newspaper comic from the 19...2020-05-3055 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 11: Jay TholenOn episode 11 of Kritiqal Care, I was delighted to get to talk to Jay Tholen (he/him) the developer of one of my all time favorite games, Dropsy (2015). Jay is an indie game dev now based in Germany, who last year released the faux-internet moderation game Hypnospace Outlaw (2019). He joins me to discuss Dropsy’s storied history from boss-sprite to unlikely video game hero, how the internet has evolved (arguably for the worse), and how very good it is to have a dog right now.
You can follow Jay on Twitter @jaytholen, and play Dropsy and Hypnospace Ou...2020-05-2342 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 10: Kate OlguinIt’s episode 10 of Kritiqal Care and on this episode I talk to the delightful 3D artist and game designer Kate Olguin (all/any pronouns). Kate has worked on games such as Friend Sighting (Gungus, Wungus, & Jimmy, 2020) and joins me to discuss her upcoming project, Call of Karen (Trumbus Games, 2020), why games culture is so humorless, and the stigma around game design students.
You can follow Kate on Twitter @DragonDirigible and check out her work at kateolguin.com. You can also join the mailing list for Call of Karen at callofkaren.com which I highly recommend doing as...2020-05-1638 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 9: Elaine GómezOn the last of the single digit episodes of Kritiqal Care, designer and community activist Elaine Gómez (she/her) joins me to discuss E-Line Media’s upcoming BBC partnership Beyond Blue, which adapts the Blue Planet documentary series into an underwater adventure game. She also touches on the challenge of working on personal projects while at a full-time position, gives some updates on her independent game Cooking with Abuelita, and discusses how Latinx in Gaming is adapting its work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, she helps me pick out a plant neither myself nor my cat is likely to...2020-05-0942 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 8: Christina NeofotistouChristina Neofotistou (she/her) is an artist based in Greece who has been making pixel art almost since she was old enough to use a mouse. On episode 8 of Kritiqal Care, she joins me to discuss how she approaches a project, what she values in pixel art, and teases an upcoming project for the Playdate console. She also gives some backstory on the Steven Universe game that almost was (maybe some day).
You can follow Christina on Twitter @castpixel and find many of her games on itch.io.
Christina’s Good Thing to Share
Du...2020-05-0231 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 7: Aubrey IsaacmanFor episode 7 of Kritiqal Care, Aubrey Isaacman (she/her; they/them) comes on to discuss how her games approach intimacy and emphasize player emotion. She has worked on projects ranging from the card game Intimacy to the VR experience everybody’s sad, and is currently pursing an MFA in Games & Interactive Media at the University of Southern California.
You can find out more about Aubrey’s games on her site and follow her on Twitter @Lynnfactor.
Aubrey’s Good Thing to Share
Zoom Jam - A game jam of games you can play over video...2020-04-2537 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 6: Joe RussJoe Russ (he/him) is the founder of Mografi, the studio behind the Nancy Drew-meets-Cartoon Network puzzle mystery game, Jenny LeClue. He joins me on Kritiqal Care to discuss the release of Jenny LeClue: Detectivu last fall, how its structure evolved from episodic to a two part series, and how Apple Arcade influenced the game’s development.
Joe is on Twitter @Mografi_Joe and you can learn more about Jenny LeClue on its official site.
Joe’s Good Thing to Share
The Etherington Brothers online art classes
Massive collection of How to Think Whil...2020-04-2344 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 5: Jack King-SpoonerJack King-Spooner (he/him) is my guest on episode 5 of Kritiqal Care. We discuss the importance of seeing the people behind art, how queer has evolved (and is still evolving) from a derogatory term to one of self acceptance, and the way our desire to find a "silver-lining" in all of this might be blinding us to the real pain caused by the pandemic.
Jack is on Twitter @king_spooner and his games are available on Steam and itch.io.
Jack's Good Thing to Share
Looking out for one another
Herbie Mann, Memphis Under...2020-04-1849 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 4: Leo BunyeaLeo Bunyea (he/him) joins me on episode 4 of Kritiqal Care to talk the biases of game engines, how to make academia more accessible, and the joys of the Animal Crossing tag system. Leo is an independent game developer currently pursuing a masters in interactive media and game design at the Worchester Polytechnic Institute.
Leo is on Twitter @leopution, his games are on itch.io, and you can learn more about him and his work at leobunyea.com.
Leo's Good Thing to Share
@goodboyalfie - a very good cat account with gems such as "...2020-04-1540 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 3: Marina KittakaWelcome to episode 3 of Kritiqal Care. I'm joined by indie game dev Marina Kittaka (she/her), known for her work on Even the Ocean, Secrets Agent, and Anodyne 2. She joins me to discuss authenticity in art, returning to old projects, and how nice it is that we're (mostly) not in winter anymore.
Marina's games can be found on itch.io and she is on Twitter @even_kei.
Marina's Good Thing to Share
The end of winter and the return of the beautiful sun!
Games Discussed
Even the Ocean
Anodyne
Anody...2020-04-1138 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 2: Jammi of Sword Queen GamesEpisode 2 of Kritiqal Care features tabletop rpg designer Jamila "Jammi" R. Nedjadi (they/them) of Sword Queen Games. Jammi's games focus on queerness, Filipino culture, and accessibility, including the Filipino cyberpunk of BALIKBAYAN and magical girl anime inspired REINCARNATION REDUX. They join me to discuss their creative process, what life looks like in the Philippines during the Covid-19 pandemic, and why Bioware won't let us look at Garrus' butt.
Jammi's Good Thing to Share
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - the latest game in Nintendo's life-sim franchise
Kind Words - a low-impact game about sending letters and li...2020-04-0846 min
Kritiqal CareEpisode 1: Florian VeltmanOn episode 1 of Kritiqal Care, I speak to indie developer Florian Veltman, creator of Lieve Oma, The Endless Express, and previously of ustwo. He is currently working on The Other Side, a puzzle game about ghosts learning to understand life in the afterlife.
Florian's Good Thing to Share
Amazon Killer - A browser plugin that let's you find books from Amazon in your local bookstore
IndieBound - An online database and distributor for independent bookstores and creators
You can learn more about Florian at his website, florian.games, play his games on itch...2020-04-0440 min
Kritiqal CareTrailer & Intro: Hey folxHey folx, Nate here. The world is really grim right now. Most likely you are listening to this while quarantined in your home, and if you’re not practicing social distancing you really should be. Nobody knows what the world is going to look like once the pandemic is over, but what is certain is that things are going to continue to be challenging for weeks and months to come. It’s hard not to fixate on each new horrific update, which means more than ever we need to find ways to bring joy into our lives because otherwise this...2020-03-2501 min