EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Combatants

EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Combatants

Author: The Secret Lives of Games August 8, 2025 Duration: 2:14:09

We're joined by Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) to discuss Combatants, the 46th game in the UFO 50 collection.

"The evil Red Ants have taken your land! Fight Back and defend your queen!"

Next week: Quibble Race

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Starcraft: Remastered
https://starcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/

Pikmin 1+2 Bundle
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/pikmin-1-plus-2-bundle-switch/

Little King's Story
https://store.steampowered.com/app/390310/Little_Kings_Story/

Tinykin
https://www.tinykingame.com/

Patapon
https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/patapon-1-plus-2-replay

Tooth & Tail
https://www.toothandtailgame.com/

The Grasshopper: Games, Life, and Utopia by Bernard Suits
https://broadviewpress.com/product/the-grasshopper-third-edition/#tab-description

Manifesto: The 21st Century Will Be Defined By Games by Eric Zimmerman
https://kotaku.com/manifesto-the-21st-century-will-be-defined-by-games-1275355204 

Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change The World by Jane McGonigal
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reality-is-broken-jane-mcgonigal/1100817884?ean=9780143120612

Game Studies Study Buddies 51 – Suits – The Grasshopper
https://rangedtouch.com/2022/09/29/51-suits-the-grasshopper/

EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Mini & Max
https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-mini-max

Gio on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/gwishin.bsky.social


https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

http://discord.gg/eggplant

https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow


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 - Epilogue: Final developer interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:11:35
We're joined by (most of) the developers of UFO 50 - Derek Yu, Jon Perry, Eirik Suhrke, Tyriq Plummer, and Paul Hubans - to close out our series with a project-spanning discussion of their development process, how they'r…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Finale Eggstravaganza - LIVE! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:10:23
Full audio from our epic live series finale, packed with previous series guests, tarot readings, mad libs, touching listener letters, and so much more. Come laugh and cry with us, say goodbye to UFO 50, and hear what's n…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - [REDACTED] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:52:55
We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV) to discuss [REDACTED] hidden within the UFO 50 collection. Massive spoilers ahead! Next week: Eggplant: The Secret…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Cyber Owls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:32
We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Gexfeld, A Good Videogame), Shawn Alexander Allen (Treachery in Beatdown City), and the one and only Rand Hall (UFO 50 Voicemailer Extraordinaire) to discuss Cyber Owls, the 50th and final*…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Campanella 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:12
We're joined by Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything), and Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV) to discuss Campanella 3, the 49th game in the UFO 50 collection. "It's time for Pilot to r…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Seaside Drive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:59
We're joined by Daniel Mullins (Inscryption), Tonda Ros (Blue Prince), and Glove (UFO 50 Historian/ska podcaster) to discuss Seaside Drive, the 48th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Nothing's more relaxing than a nice lon…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Quibble Race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:16
We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Jackie Vecchitto (Trombone Champ), and Xalavier Nelson (Strange Scaffold) to discuss Quibble Race, the 47th game in the UFO 50 collection. "In the seedy world of Quibble racing, so…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Mini & Max [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:45
We're joined by Billy Basso (Animal Well), Ben Wilson (Saltsea Chronicles), Kayin (I Wanna Be The Guy), and Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything) to discuss Mini & Max, the 45th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Mini and he…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Pilot Quest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:07
We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Eileen Hollinger (Capybara Games) to discuss Pilot Quest, the 44th game in the UFO 50 collection. "The Campanella has crashed! Fix it by harvest…