Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.

Episodes

September 5, 2025 117 mins

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* game in the UFO 50 collection.

“A superweapon threatens to destroy the world, and it's up to the Cyber Owls to save the day!”

Next week: [REDACTED]

Audio edited b...

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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 return to what he does best -- flying the Campanella through deep space!”


Next week: Cyber Owls

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

 

Discussed in this epis...

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August 22, 2025 100 mins

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 long drive by the sea... Complete with plenty of gunfire!”

Next week: Campanella 3


Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

 

Discussed in this episod...

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August 15, 2025 118 mins

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, sometimes it takes shady tactics to get ahead.”

Next week: Seaside Drive

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Unity 6.2 Livestream
https://www.youtube.com/live/PmpUlbWD_mI 

Post Games: Big predict...

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August 8, 2025 134 mins

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/st...

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We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13). 

In this very special bonus episode, Laura, Jey, Doug, and Melissa sit down with Wouter Verstichel (Director/Showrunner of De Mol) to discuss the experience of working on the show.

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more.

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Links:

Eggplant's De Mol 2024 recap series, including ...

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August 1, 2025 125 mins

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 her dog Max are locked in the storage room. Harness the magic of shrinking to escape!”

Next week: Combatants

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in...

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July 25, 2025 114 mins

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 harvesting resources and exploring the wild zone.”

Next week: Mini & Max

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Collection of Mana 
https://mana.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/collection-of-mana 

Act...

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July 18, 2025 108 mins

We're joined by Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok), and Colin and Sarah Northway (Northway Games) to discuss Elfazar’s Hat, the 43rd game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Elfazar is hailed as a great magician, but his captive animals are ready to strike back!”

Next week: Pilot Quest

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2200580/Po...

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July 11, 2025 95 mins

We're joined by Star St. Germain (Aconite), Madison Karrh (Birth), and Zach Aikman (Chuhai Labs) to discuss Night Manor, the 42nd game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Trapped in a nightmare where you must use your wits to survive and escape!”

Next week: Elfazar’s Hat

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway


Discussed in this episode:

Into the Depths: Caves of Qud (Side...

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In this bonus installment of our current Into the Depths series, we continue diving 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 special guest host Star St. Germain - chat about sidequests with one of the game’s narrative designers, Caelyn Sandel. This episode we talk about the Servidian Meadow, the Hindren, Bey Lah, the integration o...

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We're joined by Trent Kusters (League of Geeks), John Axon (Capybara Games), and Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok) to discuss Lords of Diskonia, the 41st game in the UFO 50 collection.

“War has come to Land of Disks, and the red and blue armies are on a collision course!”

Next week: Night Manor

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

 

Discussed in this episode:

I ...

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June 27, 2025 138 mins

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Trent Kusters (League of Geeks) to discuss Grimstone, the 40th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Praise Biggan, the four of you survived the saloon fire. But somethin' tells me this story's just gettin' started...”

Next week: Lords of Diskonia

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

 

Discussed in this e...

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June 20, 2025 104 mins

We're joined by Jay Ma (Into the Breach), Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV), Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok), and Zatoichi (Juggler/UFO 50 Enthusiast) to discuss Star Waspir, the 39th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“You are an elite member of the Star Wasps. Pilot your ship and battle the incoming swarm!”

Next week: Grimstone

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in t...

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June 13, 2025 109 mins

We're joined by Tonda Ros (Blue Prince) and doseone (Enter the Gungeon) to discuss Rakshasa, the 38th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Even death won't stop Jangi from avenging the destruction of his village by demons!”

Next week: Star Waspir

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

The Resurrection of Doseone https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/doseon...

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June 6, 2025 86 mins

We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Carolyn Petit (Kotaku), Xanagear (youtube.com/xanagear), and Glove (UFO 50 Historian/ska podcaster) to discuss Valbrace, the 37th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“No knight has ever survived the journey into Gnothrok Keep. What makes you think you'll be any different?”

Next week: Rakshasa

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed...

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We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), and Alex Jaffe (Riot Games) to discuss Hyper Contender, the 36th game in the UFO 50 collection.
“The daring, desperate, and indebted fight for money in the pits of Phogon.”

Next week: Valbrace

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

 

Discussed in this episode:

 

Towerfall https://store.steampowered.com/app...

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Rob, Nick, Doug, and Andy chat with Jeff Dubbin, a lawyer and (at the time of recording and publication) Board Game Arena’s top-ranked international player of Reiner Knizia’s Lost Cities. Lost Cities is a two-player card game about staking bets and unearthing archaeological treasures. We discuss the tactics behind high-level play, the ins and outs of Elo leaderboard systems, and the emotional impact of striving to be t...

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May 23, 2025 84 mins

We're joined by Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), Russ Frushtick (The Besties), and Xanagear (youtube.com/xanagear) to discuss Campanella 2, the 35th game in the UFO 50 collection.

“Pilot's gone missing on a giant space station and his sister Isabell is determined to find him!”

Next week: Hyper Contender

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

 

Discussed...

Mark as Played

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13). 

Laura, Jey, and Doug break down Episode 9 (reunion) and try to rank and contextualize the season.

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more.

Links:

Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol)
https://eggplant.show/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol

Eggplant's D...

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