EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Rock On! Island

EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Rock On! Island

Author: The Secret Lives of Games April 18, 2025 Duration: 1:48:25

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Gab Koenig (Tux and Fanny) to discuss Rock On! Island, the 30th game in the UFO 50 collection.

"Rally your cavemen and defend your cave from waves of attacking dinosaurs."

Next week: Pingolf

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.


Discussed in this episode:

Jon Perry – How Tabletop Design Helped Shape 'UFO 50'
https://gdcvault.com/play/1035154/How-Tabletop-Design-Helped-Shape 

Bloons TD 6
https://store.steampowered.com/app/960090/Bloons_TD_6/

PixelJunk Monsters 2
https://store.steampowered.com/app/749800/PixelJunk_Monsters_2/ 

Orcs Must Die!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/102600/Orcs_Must_Die/ 

Dungeon Defenders
https://store.steampowered.com/app/65800/Dungeon_Defenders/ 

Go Home Dinosaurs!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/216090/Go_Home_Dinosaurs/ 

Tillmonk Spreadsheet with Rock On! Island Maps
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SKJjhP__EzNfMxeaDgvVVizerLlmimvsrVh-z13CAlo/edit?gid=358915784#gid=358915784 

Brick101 Save Between Waves Mod
https://github.com/davidmpickett/ufo50-rock-on-island-save-state 

Tooth and Tail
https://store.steampowered.com/app/286000/Tooth_and_Tail/ 

Blood on the Clocktower
https://bloodontheclocktower.com/ 

A Year of UFO 50 - Mortol
https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-mortol 

Into the Depths: Kentucky Route Zero - Part 1
https://eggplant.show/into-the-depths-kentucky-route-zero-part-1 

A Year of UFO 50 - Party House
https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-party-house 

"Yes, And"-ing Your Design with Albert Birney and Gabriel Koenig (Tux and Fanny) https://eggplant.show/128-yes-and-ing-your-design-with-albert-birney-and-gabriel-koenig-tux-and-fanny 

 

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
Announcing: Eggplant Plays De Mol (2025 season) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:06
For the 2nd year in a row, we're recapping the new 2025 season of Flemish De Mol. And this time, we're posting the episodes to the main feed here. There's never been a better time to get into De Mol. Join us on the Disco…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Party House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:09
We're joined by guest hosts Billy Basso (Animal Well), Jack Schlesinger (Baby Steps), and Gab Koenig (Tux and Fanny) to discuss Party House, the 25th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Can you throw the best house party of…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Caramel Caramel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:44
We're joined by guest host Madison Karrh (Birth), Billy Basso (Animal Well), and Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV) to discuss Caramel Caramel, the 24th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Melon got a new camera and is going on a…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Onion Delivery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:11
We're joined by guest host Alfredo Barraza (Riot), plus Farbs (Wild Bastards), Dan Vecchitto (Trombone Champ), and Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything) to discuss Onion Delivery, the 23rd game in the UFO 50 collection. "…
Into the Depths: Caves of Qud (Part 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:10:19
In the 3rd installment of our current Into the Depths series, we dive 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 specia…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Porgy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:06
We're joined by Trent Kusters (League of Geeks) and Kayin (I Wanna Be The Guy) to discuss Porgy, the 22nd game in the UFO 50 collection. "Strange happenings near the coast! Dive deep and get to the bottom of what's fishy…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Waldorf's Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:34
We're joined by Liz Ryerson (Sounds from the Abyss) and Ben Esposito (Neon White) to discuss Waldorf's Journey, the 21st game in the UFO 50 collection. "Waldorf didn't go looking for adventure. He was just trying to enjo…
145: Addressing Memory with Plunderludics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:41
Doug and Rob chat with mut moochi, Jonny Hopkins, and Gurn Group about their experimental game and emulator hacking practice, which they call "plunderludics". We're also joined by special guest co-host Bennett Foddy. We…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Warptank [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:49
We're joined by Adam Saltsman (Finji), Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), and Bijan Stephen (Compulsion Games) to discuss Warptank, the 20th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Use your tank to regain control of the…
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Big Bell Race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:30
We're joined by Alfredo Barraza (Riot) to discuss Big Bell Race, the 19th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Do you have what it takes to become the Big Bell Race Champion?" Our show has been nominated for a 2024 Thinky Awa…