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The Secret Lives of Games

The Secret Lives of Games

By: The Secret Lives of Games
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 Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.The Secret Lives of Games 2018-2026 Science Fiction
Episodes
  • 152: Walking Over It with Gabe Cuzzillo and Bennett Foddy (Baby Steps)

    152: Walking Over It with Gabe Cuzzillo and Bennett Foddy (Baby Steps)
    Feb 13 2026

    Rob, Doug, Andy, and Sarah chat with Gabe Cuzzillo (Ape Out, Despelote) and Bennett Foddy (Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, QWOP) about their (with Maxi Boch) latest game, the multi-IGF-nominated open-world hard-walking manchild simulator Baby Steps. We discuss the game's in-house approach to voice acting, balancing challenge with humor, creating (and hiding) a looping environment, telling an honest story about masculinity, including explicit content without getting banned from Steam, rock curation, secrets, and so much more!

    Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

    Discussed in this episode:

    Baby Steps
    https://www.babystepsgame.com/

    Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111942/

    My Summer Car
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/516750/My_Summer_Car/

    zk map (for stranger)
    https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/11388

    La belle noiseuse (1991)
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101428/

    Kelly Reichardt
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716980/

    Perfect Days (2023)
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27503384/

    The Taste of Things (2023)
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19760052/

    NYU Game Center Lecture Series Presents Jane Ng
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yWIoRuwpm0

    DESPELOTE: FIFTH TRAILER (now on nintendo switch)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXKlgMZ3Jc

    The Love That Remains (2025)
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33381401/

    Solo (Australian ad) 1983
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCkz0JsaU8k

    Solo Man ad, Australia 1986
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T3RS78Tp58

    Solo (Australian ad) 1984
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_1nZZrv8aU

    Frog Detective 3
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/1171320/Frog_Detective_3_Corruption_at_Cowboy_County/


    https://secretlives.games

    https://discord.gg/tslog

    https://www.patreon.com/tslog
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    2 hrs and 59 mins
  • All Systems Brough - Vertex Dispenser

    All Systems Brough - Vertex Dispenser
    Jan 30 2026

    We're joined by droqen (The End of Gameplay, Starseed Pilgrim), Darius Kazemi (Tiny Subversions, Harvard Applied Social Media Lab), and Tara Macalister (mathematician, composer) to discuss Vertex Dispenser, the second game in our year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough.

    Next Month: Kompendium

    Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

    Discussed in this episode:

    Vertex Dispenser
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/102400/Vertex_Dispenser/

    Michael Brough's Website
    https://www.smestorp.com/

    Four color theorem
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_color_theorem

    Graph coloring
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_coloring

    Starcraft II
    https://starcraft2.blizzard.com/en-us/

    Splatoon
    https://splatoon.nintendo.com/

    Dota 2
    https://www.dota2.com/home

    Droqen's rare color graph/explanation
    https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442554518092120186/1465039921147412510

    lots of michael brough games
    https://smestorp.itch.io/lots-of-michael-brough-games

    The Sense of Connectedness
    https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=16151.0

    Kompendium
    https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/kompendium.html

    The End of Gameplay
    https://droqen.itch.io/the-end-of-gameplay

    Utopia Clicker
    https://tinysubversions.com/game/utopia/

    A Jackpot of Skulls
    https://brainfruit.studio/games/jackpot

    _update() Jam
    https://adamatomic.itch.io/update-jam

    https://secretlives.games/

    https://discord.gg/tslog

    https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow
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    1 hr and 52 mins
  • 151: Games of the Year 2025

    151: Games of the Year 2025
    Jan 8 2026
    The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners. Happy new year! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Our GOTY Picks (SPOILERS!): ~~~~~~~~~ Rob 5. Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour 4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb 3. Skat - German Trick Taking Game 2. UFO 50 - Mossmouth 1. Caves of Qud - Freehold Games Zach Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Game Freak Dragon Warrior IV - Chunsoft (Bonus: CorgiSpace - Adam Saltsman) Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64) - Lucasarts 1. Kirby and the Forgotten Land - HAL Laboratory Doug 5. Don't Rank Cuomo - Robert Yang 4. Harold Holt Video Series (first episode) (YouTube uploads) - James Ward 3. Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy 2. Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers - Kart Krew 1. Slice & Dice - Tann Nick Tall Trails - Brady Soglin Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield The Attraction - Palace Games San Francisco Hot Streak - Jon Perry 1. Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi Sarah 5. Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al. 4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb 3. Slice & Dice - Tann 2. Tiny Bookshop - neoludic games 1. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes - Simogo Laura The Roottrees are Dead - Evil Trout Inc. Type Help - William Rous Monkey Around: the Wiggle and Giggle Game - Peaceable Kingdom despelote - Julián Cordero, Sebastian Valbuena Death Wears White - Guillaume Montiage/Asmodee Andy The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Nintendo Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry Hot Streak - Jon Perry Death Stranding 2: On The Beach - Kojima Productions The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark Other picks from guests and listeners: UFO 50 - Mossmouth Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al. Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry Blue Prince - Dogubomb Clues By Sam - Ad Artis Oy Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield Complex 629 - Lillex Studios Donkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo Final Fantasy V - Square Enix Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy Puzzmo Crosswords - Puzzmo Team & Collaborators Numberblocks RPG (developed in Izzy Kestrels mind) Lost Cities - Reiner Knizia Deadlock - Valve Hexadecipad NES Tetris Tournament - Patrick LeMieux and Stephanie Boluk Star Waspir (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth Lumines Arise - Enhance, Monstars Outer Wilds - Mobius Digital Zexion - Gallant Leaf PEAK - Landfall Writing essays Elden Ring Nightreign - FromSoftware Unfair Flips - HEATHER FLOWERS DISCOPUP - Parry Mechanics OVER/UNDER - Sam Sorenson Type Help - William Rous Rain World - Videocult Snekburd - Werxzy 2025 Pico-8 Advent Calendar - organized by Kevin Thompson and bikibird Mol Hunt for 2025 Season of De Mol - TSLOG Discord Q-UP - Everybody House Games Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour Vantage - Stonemaier Games The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark Hot Streak - Jon Perry Cave Noire - Konami Judo (martial art) Retro handheld hobby Clair Obscur | Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive Skin Deep - Blendo Games Peekaboo The Séance of Blake Manor - Spooky Doorway Minni & Max (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth Patapon - Pyramid, Japan Studio Promise Mascot Agency - Kaizen Game Works 10S Forever - owch Miscellaneous Honorable Mentions: Perfect Dark (N64) - Rare ACTION BUTTON REVIEWS Cyberpunk 2077 Party House of the Day (mod of UFO 50) - Mossmouth Cairn - The Game Bakers Other topics discussed this episode: Why We're Boycotting Xbox (and Maybe You Should Too) - People Make Games Cosmic Encounter - Fantasy Flight Games Upcoming games packed with hidden secrets! – FuryForged Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - Space Cowboys Klaverjas - Dutch Trick-taking Game 129: Reinforcing Worldbuilding through Gameplay with Spoils despelote - Official Nintendo Switch Trailer Immersipedia https://eggplant.show/ https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
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    3 hrs and 55 mins
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