155: GDC 2026 LIVE Special!

155: GDC 2026 LIVE Special!

Author: The Secret Lives of Games March 23, 2026 Duration: 1:29:33

Recorded live from the Game Developers Conference 2026! They gave us time in the Official Podcast Box, so we made the most of it discussing the process of writing for the IGF Awards, reflecting on the culture of GDC, and even having a couple surprise guests drop in. Let's get loose!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway


Discussed in this episode:

Scripto

https://scripto.live/

Starfriends

https://shop.brainfruit.studio/products/starfriends-card-game 

2026 Independent Games Festival Awards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoH4EmfB4Z4

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

https://store.steampowered.com/app/205730/Insanely_Twisted_Shadow_Planet/ 

Dustbiters

https://dustbiters.com/

Tooth and Tail

https://store.steampowered.com/app/286000/Tooth_and_Tail/

Brogue

https://sites.google.com/site/broguegame/ 

Caves of Qud

https://www.cavesofqud.com/

Monaco 2

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1063030/Monaco_2/


https://secretlives.games 

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog


Ever wonder what really happens between the initial spark of an idea and the final product you play? The Secret Lives of Games pulls back the curtain, offering a rare, unvarnished look at the creative journey. Each episode is built around a candid conversation with a game creator, moving far beyond simple promotion to explore the messy, beautiful, and often surprising realities of their work. You’ll hear about the late-night breakthroughs, the frustrating dead ends, and the personal philosophies that shape the games we love. This podcast is less about reviews or news and more about understanding the human effort behind the pixels and code. It’s for anyone who’s curious about the art and craft of game development, whether you’re a seasoned player, an aspiring designer, or simply fascinated by creative processes. Listen in for genuine stories about problem-solving, narrative design, artistic choices, and the intricate process of building interactive worlds. These are the detailed, behind-the-scenes discussions that reveal how games truly come to life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Secret Lives of Games
Podcast Episodes
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Ninpek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Barbuta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:45
We introduce Eggplant Presents: A Year of UFO 50 - our new 1-year weekly show covering every game in the UFO 50 collection. Join us! Next week: Barbuta, with guest co-hosts Xalavier Nelson Jr. and Gabe Cuzzillo.
Into the Depths: Slice & Dice - Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00:59
In this 3rd and final installment of our latest deep-dive miniseries, the crew continue to discuss "yahtzee roguelike" Slice & Dice, a host favorite that has made our GOTY list for two years running. We're joined once ag…
An otherworldly Eggplant announcement! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Sorry for the lack of new episodes! We have some big stuff brewing though, tune into this announcement for the details.
141: Challenging Orthodoxy with sylvie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:28
Doug and Zach talk to prolific game maker sylvie (love game), together with guest co-host Raigan Burns (Metanet Software). We talk about sylvie's design process, freeware games, subverting traditional orthodoxies around…
140: Minding Your Manors with Botany Manor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:32
We're joined by Laure De Mey and Kitt Byrne of Balloon Studios to chat about their Victorian first-person puzzler Botany Manor. We discuss building a space that feels the right amount of "real," letting history guide you…

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