Episode 142 - Deck (Featuring StarVaders Designer Eddie Cai)

We have a combo episode for you this week centered around the amazing game StarVaders. In the introduction segment, Ben describes his game experiences to Norah and answers her questions. Spoiler alert: by the end of the conversation she is sold, so now she just needs to get a Steam Deck. In the second segment, Ben showers the StarVaders game designer Eddie with praise before getting into a fascinating discussion about a sandwich-centric philosophical debate on video game design and the odd assortment of definitions for the topic word.

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Pre-show discussion and review of StarVaders with Norah
00:00:20 - Norah’s trailer impressions, additional research, and previous deck-builder games
00:02:44 - Jumping the gun on describing game mechanics, and various trailer approaches
00:04:52 - StarVaders according to the Pengonauts website, and more details the game loop
00:06:54 - Mech types, an introduction to DOOM, junk cards, and a tremendous variety
00:10:23 - Norah’s question, the mysterious Overseer, level boss diversity, and the true ending
00:12:46 - The “grid,” Ben describes some boss encounters, Norah’s brain, and satisfaction
00:16:09 - Joystick Ventures, only on Steam for now, like playing chess, and LocalThunk teaser

Interview with Eddie, creator of StarVaders and all-around good guy
00:19:11 - Introducing game dev Eddie Kai, Ben loves StarVaders, and thanking LocalThunk
00:21:01 - Some Rogue Climber talk, unlocking the beach DLC, and getting great reviews
00:24:54 - On to the definition, sunbathing, not a baseball guy, and a couple of two-plankers
00:26:43 - Skis on ice, no memory of old media, packet of cards or narcotics, and decoration
00:28:25 - Old-timey verbs, origin mysteries, and a fictitious deli honors Eddie’s gaming legacy
00:31:40 - A sandwich called “The Burger,” rogue-like, defining a game, and playing burgers
00:35:48 - Definitions of food items, a Portal into game design, and the narrative condiments
00:38:41 - Dead authors, Ben’s burger discussion equivalent, and preferred genres of media
00:43:03 - Card collection and tabletop games, and Monopoly—deck builder or engine builder
00:47:01 - Extreme specificity, differences in instructional approaches, and being a blacksmith
00:49:54 - Art or product, traditional card games, the Star Wars bread, and changing rules
00:54:14 - Chopsticks, floating nausea malls, baseball haircuts, and Eddie’s final thoughts
00:56:49 - Literally, Parks and Recreation, Ben’s final thoughts, studio names, and Pengo

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References, Links, and Tags

Check out Pengonauts’ official page and StarVaders on Steam
https://pengonauts.com/
https://star-vaders.com/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/20...
   • StarVaders - Official Launch Trailer  

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