Erik joins Ben this week to chew the fat about… math? NOPE! We’ll just insert THAT version of the definition into the title graphic instead, thank you (sorry, Norah)! However, the fellas ARE going to discuss how the word "derivative" is used in positive and negative contexts, but first a warmup—talking about their “glory days” and high school experiences. In the obligatory “What Have They Been Up To" intro, Erik shares details about what’s going on in the development of Rogue Climber, and Ben offers details and opinions about the games Spacepunk Survival and Polterguys: Possession Party. FINALLY… they move on to the definition and etymology of the word, namedrop some video games and game designers, talk about Ben’s favorite movie, and engage in other assorted conversational shenanigans. In the bonus clip, Ben tells the story of the time he said something objectively strange in a job interview.
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00:00:20 - Sleepy spelling, parents trying too hard, verbs and a past participle, and high school 00:03:31 - Erik’s lunchtime cartography skills, book exchange story, and not for consumption 00:07:30 - High school emulation, going to shopping malls, and game release midnight events 00:12:23 - A coffee shop stock owner, and what’s new in the world of Imaginary Game Studios 00:16:43 - Belonging in the “think tank,” opinions on Severance, and Ben likes happy endings 00:18:47 - Thoughts on relatable characters, the Coen brothers, and Erik’s watch-along idea 00:26:34 - A couple of mini-reviews—starting with Ben’s thoughts on Spacepunk Survival 00:28:34 - Fundamental insights from Sid Meier, visual novels, and reflections on PAX feedback 00:31:56 - Ben’s spit and plosive-ridden thoughts on Polterguys: Possession Party 00:33:03 - Inverse Fall Guys on a smaller scale, Ben has a powerful mouth, and final verdict 00:35:50 - A math free definition of derivative, Ben probably wouldn’t notice, and the origins 00:39:23 - Practical Creativity at the GDC, fighting games, professional critics, and perspective 00:41:42 - cynical gamers, People Can Fly games, stakes not steaks, and Cyberpunk: 2077 00:47:02 - The “brain dance” game mechanic, Ben sells the movie Brainstorm, and the lore 00:53:24 - The futures market, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and a Cameron Frye callback 00:58:08 - Mediocre game experiences, clones, percolating, inspiration, and happy accidents 01:01:00 - The messy board, Ben’s final plea, Andrew’s one-sided feud, and the cooking show
BONUS 01:03:26 - Don’t try this at home kids—Ben’s job interview story… made entirely of butter
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