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All Systems Brough - VESPER.5

All Systems Brough - VESPER.5

Author: The Secret Lives of Games June 2, 2026 Duration: 1:58:52
The Secret Lives of Games
LeisureGamesVideo Games

We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin, A Good Videogame) and Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games) to discuss VESPER.5; a durational, tile-based exploration game. It's the sixth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough.

This episode: VESPER.5

Next episode: Become a Great Artist

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.


Discussed in this episode:

868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/ 
https://finji.itch.io/868-back 

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

All Systems Brough - A Chat with Michael
https://secretlives.games/website/all-systems-brough-a-chat-with-michael 

VESPER.5
http://mightyvision.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vesper5.html 

THE LONGING
https://store.steampowered.com/app/893850/THE_LONGING/ 

Road to the IGF: Michael Brough's VESPER.5 (Article about GDC showcase of VESPER.5)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/road-to-the-igf-michael-brough-s-i-vesper-5-i- 

Super Friendship Club VESPER.5 Forum
https://web.archive.org/web/20160407200028/http://superfriendshipclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=618 

Meaning through repetition (reflection on releasing VESPER.5)
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/meaning-through-repetition.html 

GDC 2013 - Interview with Michael Brough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqSV6f137M 

Pippin Barr on VESPER.5
https://web.archive.org/web/20170711093026/http://www.pippinbarr.com/2012/08/14/you-should-play-vesper-5/ 

Michael Brouge's VESPER.6 by Joel Goodwin
https://www.electrondance.com/michael-brouges-vesper-6/

Gardens of Time: Design Problem Solving
https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2931 

Steve Reich - Section I (Slowed Down 800%) - Ambient / Minimalism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AMpfdbc7U 

EXPERIMENT 12 Anthology
https://www.geocities.ws/experimenttwelve/ 

145: Addressing Memory with Plunderludics 
https://secretlives.games/145-addressing-memory-with-plunderludics 

i heard you like videogames
https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2366 

scarfmemory
https://www.smestorp.com/scarfmemory.html 

Post-Future Vagabond
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/11/post-future-vagabond.html 

Bending the River
https://www.metabolicstudio.org/653 

The Old Timey Computer Show
https://otcs.minuspoint.com/ 

Inferno by Boards of Canada
https://boardsofcanada.bandcamp.com/album/inferno 

imagineNATIVE Festival
https://imaginenative.org/

STAY SHARP // Rogue Skin Reveal Trailer - VALORANT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1u1kUdDOys 

Rushing Beat Trilogy
https://www.chronocrash.com/forum/threads/rushing-beat-trilogy.5208/ 

THE GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE: The Thirty-Year Game
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023124/THE-GAME-DESIGN-CHALLENGE-The 

 


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: 50

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