186. Mike's New Game: VAMPIRIUM 1997!
Summary
The developer discusses *Vampirium*, an immersive sim where players act as a vampire assassin for Dracula. They explore the game’s modular design, ethical art creation using stock photos, and the use of the Godot engine. The episode highlights how player feedback drives mechanics, such as adding a "shove" verb, and emphasizes the importance of systemic consequences over reflex-based challenges.
Topics discussed
Introduction and Patreon support
Vampirium premise and immersive sim mechanics
Design philosophy: letting go of player control
Music composition and feedback loops
Ethical art creation and team structure
Rejection of the 'solo dev' label
QA challenges and Early Access strategy
Playtesting insights and mechanic iterations
Godot engine adoption and open source benefits
Non-gamer perspectives and tabletop RPG comparisons
Creating tension without reflex-based combat
Rewarding creative problem solving
Production metrics and shipping a simulation
Closed alphas and avoiding rushed releases
Marketing via serialized short story
Outro and sponsor message
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