Funding Dreams & Crafting Stories: Lessons From an Indie Game Visionary
Indie-game luminary Tatiana Delgado joins Nate to trace her 20-year journey from drawing paper games as a kid to co-founding Madrid’s Out of the Blue Games. She explains how titles like Call of the Sea create emotional tension without combat, why early VR prototyping was both thrilling and nausea-inducing, and how small studios can balance artistic vision with funding realities. Tatiana also teases two new projects—Lovecraft-flavored sequel Call of the Elder Gods and branching visual-novel series The Vigilante Diaries—while sharing hard-won advice on user testing, team culture, and pitching in today’s crowded market.Check out Tatiana's Resources:https://www.outbluegames.comhttps://x.com/OutBlueGameshttps://x.com/arileaGames Mentioned:Portal 2 - Tatiana's favorite game to playWonder Boy seriesMystRivenAladdin VRWarhammer--(00:00) - to Call of the Sea
(00:32) - Tatiana Delgado
(01:32) - Gaming Journey
(02:15) - Career and Inspirations
(10:29) - Out of the Blue Games
(13:52) - Development Philosophy
(19:16) - in VR Game Development
(21:14) - on User Testing and Feedback
(25:52) - and Ethical Considerations
(26:50) - and Pricing Strategies
(31:22) - Projects and Final Thoughts
--Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com
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38:35
From Zero to Hooked in 20 Seconds: The Stopwatch Strategy for Sustainable Indies
What does it take to turn a minimalist text-based game into a global phenomenon?Indie developer and software craftsman Amir Rajan joins us to unpack his unconventional path from enterprise software to the top of the App Store with A Dark Room. In this episode, we explore how Amir built the DragonRuby Game Toolkit, why betting on hyper-niche communities pays off, and how rapid prototyping drives sustainable success in indie dev. From cracking console publishing to navigating the unpredictable App Store ecosystem, Amir shares hard-earned insights into the creative and financial realities of going solo in the game industry.Whether you’re a seasoned dev or just starting out, this episode offers an honest look at the intersection of craft, code, and commerce.Check out Amir's Resources:https://amirrajan.net/https://x.com/amirrajanhttps://github.com/amirrajanhttps://www.twitch.tv/amirrajanhttps://www.youtube.com/@amirrajanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amirrajan/https://www.reddit.com/user/amirrajan/Games Mentioned:Illusion of Gaia - Amir's favorite game to playSlay the SpireBalder's Gatemildly interesting RTSDark RoomDe Noble CircleInside VistaDragon Ruby Game Toolkit--(00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
(00:27) - Amir Rajan's Background and Achievements
(01:48) - Favorite Games and Gaming Nostalgia
(03:17) - Corporate Life and Transition to Game Development
(04:57) - The Inspiration Behind Dragon Ruby
(07:57) - Challenges of Mobile App Development
(11:01) - Creating Dragon Ruby Game Toolkit
(16:01) - The Success of A Dark Room
(20:35) - Sustainable Game Development Strategies
(22:49) - Indie Game Development Strategies
(23:38) - The Importance of Short Release Cycles
(24:38) - Cross-Platform Distribution
(26:56) - Navigating Console Releases
(31:16) - Monetization Strategies
(37:15) - Fail Fast and Iterate
(39:02) - Community and Networking
(43:40) - Maintaining and Updating Games
(44:51) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
--Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com
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46:06
Why Most Web Games Skip the Sound—and What They’re Missing
What does it take to create unforgettable game audio—from eerie soundscapes in Death Stranding to iconic branding in Mortal Kombat? Composer and sound designer Joel Corelitz joins us to talk about his path from writing music for pharmaceutical ads to shaping the sonic identity of major titles. We dive into the creative process, what good feedback really sounds like, the overlooked potential of sound in web games, and why sometimes doing the work is more important than waiting for inspiration.Check out Joel's Resources:https://joelcorelitz.com/http://twitter.com/joelcorelitzhttp://instagram.com/joelcorelitzhttps://joelcorelitz.bandcamp.com/https://www.youtube.com/@joelcorelitzmusicGames Mentioned:Dark Souls - Joel's favorite game to playHalo InfiniteDeath StrandingMortal Kombat OneThe Unfinished SwanNine SoulsThe Last ClockwinderHyperlight BreakerHyperlight DrifterLazy River--(00:00) - Introduction to Joel Kitz and Wave Plant
(00:56) - Joel's Favorite Games and Balancing Work and Play
(03:36) - The Journey from Advertising to Game Composing
(08:52) - The Creative Process and Musical Language
(15:51) - Feedback and Collaboration in Game Music
(19:30) - Budgeting for Game Music and Audio Branding
(25:30) - Exploring Sound Design in Games
(26:14) - The Role of Musicality in Sound Design
(30:02) - Challenges in Sound Design and Asset Management
(31:04) - Collaborations and Working Solo
(32:29) - Impact of AI on Creative Work
(35:30) - Teaching Game Music Composition
(38:23) - Starting a YouTube Channel
(41:46) - Formal Education vs. Self-Learning in Music Composition
(43:49) - Reflecting on Career Choices
(44:59) - Current and Upcoming Projects
(46:08) - Connecting with Joel Online
--Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com
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47:19
From Craps Tables to Sudoku Grids: A Microsoft Vet's Journey into Puzzle Setting
Meet David Workman, known in the puzzle world as "HalfBakedLunatic" - a Microsoft veteran who creates Sudoku puzzles so difficult he can't solve them himself.David shares the incredible story of how he invented TiVo's core technology in 1996, only to watch it slip away when his two-page concept paper got buried at Microsoft. He reveals his epic gambling simulation that proved why casinos always win (even with unlimited money, you'd eventually make bets exceeding the world's GDP), and explains the paradox of puzzle creation - building something is the opposite of solving it.With 64 puzzles published and 10 featured on the legendary Cracking the Cryptic YouTube channel, David has earned his place among elite puzzle setters. His masterpiece had viewers watching for 45 minutes before a single digit was placed. Plus: the hilarious tale of licensing Elvis for $1,200 while a cockroach photo nearly cost millions.Check out David Workman's Resources:http://www.halfbakedlunatic.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mediabizdev/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCkyCXQNZY5ZhoSy1dL8b1Qhttps://logic-masters.de/Raetselportal/Benutzer/eingestellt.php?start=0&name=HalfBakedLunaticGames Mentioned:Craps - David's favorite game to playPinochleSudokuKropki puzzles--(00:00) - Introduction to Puzzle Setting
(00:28) - Meet David Workman: The Prolific Puzzle Setter
(01:08) - David's Favorite Games and Betting Strategies
(01:46) - The Martingale Betting Strategy Explained
(07:22) - David's Journey in the Broadcast Electronics Industry
(09:30) - The Birth of TiVo: A Missed Opportunity
(10:55) - Licensing Elvis Presley and Other Fun Stories
(12:40) - David's Love for Sudoku and Puzzle Setting
(16:40) - Challenges and Joys of Creating Puzzles
(19:42) - Tools and Techniques for Puzzle Setting
(23:05) - Creative Puzzle Themes and Ideas
(28:11) - Monetization and Publishing Platforms
(29:27) - Corporate Events and Custom Puzzles
(33:12) - David's Favorite Puzzles and Their Stories
(39:06) - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find David's Puzzles
--Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com
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40:11
The Faceless Creator Behind One of YouTube’s Brainiest Channels
In this episode, we talk with Jason Todd—aka Timberlake—the faceless creator behind the YouTube channel Smart Hobbies. Jason shares how he turned Sudoku from a personal pastime into a thriving YouTube channel with over 900K views on a single video. We dive into the strategy behind his growth, why he stays off-camera, how he connects with an older audience, and the surprising power of Sudoku games in a fast-paced creator economy.Check out Timberlake's Resources:https://www.youtube.com/@SmartHobbieshttps://buymeacoffee.com/timberlakebhttps://www.instagram.com/timberlakesmarthobbiesGames Mentioned:Sudoku - Timberlake's favorite game to playWingspanScrabbleChess--(00:00) - Introduction and Top Videos Overview
(00:20) - Welcome to the Hey, Good Game Podcast
(01:12) - Meet Jason Todd, AKA Timberlake
(01:51) - Jason's Favorite Games
(02:22) - The Birth of Smart Hobbies
(04:04) - The Faceless Channel Strategy
(06:25) - Jason's Background and Career
(08:33) - The Journey to YouTube Success
(10:35) - Content Creation and Audience Engagement
(23:44) - Revenue Streams and Future Plans
(29:30) - Balancing Work and Personal Life
(29:49) - Overcoming Regret and Embracing Routine
(30:18) - Collaborating in the Sudoku Community
(33:35) - Growing Your YouTube Channel
(34:14) - Choosing the Right Platform for Courses
(39:15) - Understanding Your Audience
(41:51) - The Importance of Quality Content
(45:36) - Exploring the Benefits of Sudoku
(52:07) - Future of Sudoku and Community Building
(54:55) - Connecting with Timberlake
--Check out our brainy games:Sumplete - https://sumplete.comSqueezy - https://imsqueezy.com/Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.comMathler - https://mathler.comCrosswordle - https://crosswordle.comSudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.comHitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.comWordga - https://wordga.com
Hey, Good Game explores the stories behind your favorite brainy games. Each week, we interview game creators and dig into what it takes to build a successful indie game, how to monetize, and how to get traction.
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