We're joined by Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok), and Colin and Sarah Northway (Northway Games) to discuss Elfazar’s Hat, the 43rd game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Elfazar is hailed as a great magician, but his captive animals are ready to strike back!”

Next week: Pilot Quest

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2200580/Pocky__Rocky_Reshrined/

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
https://exocolonist.com/

Vancouver Game Garden
https://vangamegarden.com/

99: Charting the Future with Sarah Northway (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)
https://eggplant.show/99-charting-the-future-with-sarah-northway-i-was-a-teenage-exocolonist

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Star St. Germain (Aconite), Madison Karrh (Birth), and Zach Aikman (Chuhai Labs) to discuss Night Manor, the 42nd game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Trapped in a nightmare where you must use your wits to survive and escape!”

Next week: Elfazar’s Hat

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Into the Depths: Caves of Qud (Sidequests Special)

https://eggplant.show/into-the-depths-caves-of-qud-sidequests-special

Clock Tower: Rewind (remaster of original Clock Tower release)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1921490/Wild_Blue/

Déjà Vu: MacVentures Series

https://store.steampowered.com/app/343820/Dj_Vu_MacVenture_Series/

The Uninvited: MacVenture Series

https://store.steampowered.com/app/343810/The_Uninvited_MacVenture_Series/

Shadowgate (remake)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/294440/Shadowgate/

Moida Mansion

https://dukope.itch.io/moida-mansion

31 Days of Halloween

https://buttondown.com/31daysofhalloween/archive/31-days-of-halloween-october-1-5731/

Maniac Mansion

https://www.gog.com/en/game/maniac_mansion

King’s Quest

https://www.gog.com/en/game/kings_quest_1_2_3

The Legend of Kyrandia

https://www.gog.com/en/game/legend_of_kyrandia

Putt Putt Goes to the Moon

https://store.steampowered.com/app/294650/PuttPutt_Goes_to_the_Moon/

Blue Prince

https://www.blueprincegame.com/

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

https://annapurnainteractive.com/en/games/lorelei-and-the-laser-eyes

Inscryption

https://www.inscryption.com/

Crow Country

https://crowcountrygame.com/

Wild Blue

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1921490/Wild_Blue/

Star on bsky

https://bsky.app/profile/thisisstar.bsky.social

Star on itch

thisisstar.itch.io

Star’s website

https://www.thisisstar.com/

Birth

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1889040/Birth/

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

In this bonus installment of our current Into the Depths series, we continue diving into Caves of Qud. This sprawling open-world roguelike has been in development since 2007 and Early Access since 2015.

Doug and Rob - joined by special guest host Star St. Germain - chat about sidequests with one of the game’s narrative designers, Caelyn Sandel. This episode we talk about the Servidian Meadow, the Hindren, Bey Lah, the integration of political and cultural commentary into worldbuilding, writing workflows, Mamon Souldrinker, Warden Une, Fraying Favorites, Many Eyes, Caelen Sandshell, _, and the cyclical nature of influence on Qud’s world.

Don't forget to join our Discord and play along with the series!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Show Notes:

Buy Caves of Qud on itch.io:
https://freeholdgames.itch.io/cavesofqud

Caves of Qud soundtrack:
https://freeholdgames.itch.io/caves-of-qud-soundtrack

The Qud Survival Guide:
https://ectafoole.itch.io/the-qud-survival-guide

Star on bsky:
https://bsky.app/profile/thisisstar.bsky.social

Star on itch:
thisisstar.itch.io

Star’s website:
https://www.thisisstar.com/

Caelyn on bsky:
https://bsky.app/profile/ectafoole.bsky.social

Caelyn’s Fiction work
ectafoole.itch.io

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Trent Kusters (League of Geeks), John Axon (Capybara Games), and Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok) to discuss Lords of Diskonia, the 41st game in the UFO 50 collection.

“War has come to Land of Disks, and the red and blue armies are on a collision course!”

Next week: Night Manor

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

I Tried Cycling the Length of Japan: 3,000km and 27 Days on the Road | Long Way North https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpH8vt5WLV0

Carrom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrom

Crokinole https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/521/crokinole

How Tabletop Design Helped Shape ‘UFO 50’ https://gdcvault.com/play/1035154/How-Tabletop-Design-Helped-Shape

JTolmar - Disks Rogue https://noisyowl.com/disksrogue/

Crossbows and Catapults https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2129/crossbows-and-catapults

Catacombs (Third Edition) https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/195137/catacombs-third-edition

Beast Breaker https://vodeo.games/bb

Designing ‘MARVEL SNAP’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjhsY2Zuo-c

Into the Breach https://subsetgames.com/itb.html

Air, Land, and Sea https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/247367/air-land-and-sea

Hot Streak https://www.cmyk.games/products/hot-streak

BALL X PIT https://www.ballxpit.com/

Storytelling through Systems (requires GDC Vault membership) https://gdcvault.com/browse?keyword=storytelling+through+systems#

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Jay Ma (Into the Breach), Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV), Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok), and Zatoichi (Juggler/UFO 50 Enthusiast) to discuss Star Waspir, the 39th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“You are an elite member of the Star Wasps. Pilot your ship and battle the incoming swarm!”

Next week: Grimstone

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

ZeroRanger https://se-made.com/ (steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/809020/ZeroRanger/)

Ikaruga (Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/253750/Ikaruga/) (Switch https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ikaruga-switch/)

Stephen’s Sausage Roll https://www.stephenssausageroll.com/

Jay Ma on bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jarmustard.bsky.social

Fulcrum Defender (Jay Ma’s new game on PlayDate) https://play.date/games/fulcrum-defender/

Abnormal Mapping https://www.abnormalmapping.com/

Canonfire.net piece on ZeroRanger https://canonfire.net/post/743721139224838144/041-zeroranger

The Alters https://altersthegame.com/

Zatoichi’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Zatoichi1962-m6v

Ikaruga video essay (not discussed on the episode but recommended by Dylan!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbfZoDQhK_8

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Tonda Ros (Blue Prince) and doseone (Enter the Gungeon) to discuss Rakshasa, the 38th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Even death won't stop Jangi from avenging the destruction of his village by demons!”

Next week: Star Waspir

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

The Resurrection of Doseone https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/doseone-backwoodz-studioz-all-portrait-no-chorus-interview

Gainsworthy’s spoiler tagged guide for Rakshasa https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1286352161357299795/1380363338420060321

Connected map of Rakshasa’s levels (spoilers!) https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1286352161357299795/1381399766855843891

Never’s End https://www.neversendgame.com/

Escape Academy 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/3296060/Escape_Academy_2_Back_2_School/

SAMURAI GUNN 2 https://samuraigunn2.com/

Enter the Gungeon 2 https://www.devolverdigital.com/games/enter-the-gungeon-2

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

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Carolyn Petit (Kotaku), Xanagear (youtube.com/xanagear), and Glove (UFO 50 Historian/ska podcaster) to discuss Valbrace, the 37th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“No knight has ever survived the journey into Gnothrok Keep. What makes you think you'll be any different?”

Next week: Rakshasa

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

My Perfect Console Ep. 119: Bennett Foddy, philosopher, game designer (QWOP, GIRP, Getting Over It) https://shows.acast.com/my-perfect-console/episodes/bennett-foddy-game-designer-musician-philosopher-qwop-girp-g

Odd Object Game Studio https://oddobject.zone/

Hot Streak https://www.cmyk.games/products/hot-streak

Carolyn on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/carolynmichelle.bsky.social

Scott on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/impossible.bsky.social

Oak & Yarrow Web Design Studio https://oakyarrow.com/

Xanagear on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/xanagear.com

UFO 50 Fan Discord 50games.fans

Cherry Rush (UFO 50 Speedrunning Charity Event) https://www.cherry-rush.org/

The Rude Boys ska podcast https://www.youtube.com/@rudeboyspodcast

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow