So Many Bits

The maturation of the video game industry includes the growth of game design education; this week, Bill is joined by Columbia College Chicago's David Antognoli to discuss it! We look at David's industry experience, his transition into the education field, and how he teaches such a rapidly developing field.  

Did you know there was a Beetlejuice TV show? Did you know it had 100 episodes? Shelby Mongan is on this week to educate Bill on this early-90's marvel for Screenwatching!

Screenwatching: Beetlejuice (1:20)
Interview: David Antognoli (38:38)
Bill's Magic Minute (1:11:30)

Once again it's time for games games games video games! Cliff and Bill discuss Terraforming Mars, accessibility options in Mario Kart, Titanfall 2, and Ringfit Adventure!

A potential standout in the Metroidvania genre, Starsoft's Savior is being made by an eclectic mix of people, and Weston Tracy explains to me the projects origins, his hopes for its story and message, and the scrapped (?) dancing mechanic!

In Screenwatching, Cliff Murphy and Bill go over an Emmy winner in the South Park episode Make Love Not Warcraft!

Screenwatching: South Park (3:45)
Interview: Weston Tracy (29:15)
Bill's Magic Minute (55:44)

For the 3rd year in a row Chicago's Logan Theatre held their Community Playtest Night, where local game makers are able to demo their work for indy game fans and theatre-goers alike. Listen in to this live event recording of several presenters on their amazingly unique work!

Sashimi Slammers (1:39)

Cold Calling (9:55)

TP (19:40)

Domesticate Hell (24:40)

We're back with Brandon to talk about the games we've been playing! We chat The Outer Worlds, Untitled Goose Game, Undertale, What the Golf?, Pinball Wizard, and Assemble with Care.

Chris Bashen has been a guest on So Many Bits several times to talk about video games, but did you know he makes them too? He's the guy behind the (digital) guy: he's been The Joker, Firestorm Shang Tsung, and more as a motion-capture actor with Netherrealm! We took a very cool look at the behind the scenes of the cutscenes in some of the past decade's most cinematically ambitious games.

The Amazing World of Gumball had their own ambitious take on Final Fantasy VII, and Brandon Shockney and Bill talk about it in this episode's Screenwatching!

Screenwatching: The Amazing World of Gumball (1:55)

Interview: Chris Bashen (25:05)

Bill's Magic Minute (59:16)

Di Billick is here to chat about some games! Games played: Habitica, Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Persona Q2, Trauma Team, Dicey Dungeons

Games were played and bits were made with Dan Schiffmacher! We talked about Gato Roboto, Box-Boy and Box-Girl, Resident Evil 0, and Fatal Frame.

Not one, not two, but six(!) unique movement mechanics are at the core of Zero Percent Juice's Worldline. The team's lead designer Trevor takes Bill through the team's formation, the plans for the game, and the challenges of a Kickstarter campaign.

Given the podcast's motto of Have a Great Summer, Di Billick's choice of Phineas and Ferb for Screenwatching is perfect!

Screenwatching: Phineas and Ferb (1:30)
Interview: Trevor (16:08)
Bill's Magic Minute (37:20)

Lucy Morris and Calliope Ryder are on this week to talk about the upcoming game Best Friend Forever from their studio Starcolt! Hear about the game design aspects of a relationship simulator, what it's like to be emailed by CNN at 3:30 in the morning, and the ethical consumption of Pokemon.

Plus, Dan Schiffmacher helps Bill grunt through an episode of Home Improvement for Screenwataching!

Screenwatching: Home Improvement (1:32)
Interview: Lucy + Calliope (19:48)
Bill's Magic Minute: (52:55)