Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators

World of Warcraft: Midnight revisits the old with housing, revamped zones and a massive middle chapter

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:40:00 +0000

How do you keep a game like World of Warcraft that has had ten previous expansions, fresh?

Paul Kubit is Associate Game Director and sat down with Seamus Byrne ahead of the launch of WoW's 11th expansion which promises revamped zones, a return to Quel'Thalas and the much coveted in-game housing.

It's a second chapter in a three part series which is also a first for the long running MMO.

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Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Adam Christou, Chris Button, Naomi Jackson. Cat Jahne is Social Producer, Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

Edmund McMillen on the making of Mewgenics, BIG Camdrome rumours and more!

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:02:24 +0000

How do you follow up on a massive hit like Binding of Issac? With piles and piles of cats fed into the mill to defeat your enemies and possibly solve every problem. Edmund McMillen joins Lightmap for an in depth chat about the cat breeding and battle simulator, plus we talk about the Camdrone Project.

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Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou, Chris Button, Naomi Jackson. Cat Jahne is Social Producer, Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades II & Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - The best soundtracks of 2025

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 03:05:59 +0000

Join us for a deep dive into the sonic worlds of 2025’s best sounding games with special guest Meena Shamaly - composer, bard, and host of Game Show on ABC Classic.

From the haunting choirs of Hollow Knight: Silksong to the mythic rhythms of Hades II, we explore how music shapes emotion, gameplay, and storytelling. Meena brings his unique perspective as both a composer and broadcaster to unpack the artistry behind these unforgettable soundtracks.

🎮 Featured Games & Tracks:

🌌 CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 – Lumière, Une vie à t'aimer

🐛 HOLLOW KNIGHT: SILKSONG – Lace, Choral Chambers

🔥 HADES II – Mountain of the Gods, Coral Crown

🌊 SWORD OF THE SEA – Sword of the Sea, The Perfect Wave

🐊 SOUTH OF MIDNIGHT – Hazel’s Story, Rougarou – Boss Fight

🗻 GHOST OF YÔTEI – The Yôtei Six, Ghost of Yôtei

🚀 THE OUTER WORLDS 2 – Hope Continues – Title Theme, Fibonnaci

⚔️ KINGDOM COME: DELIVERANCE II – Saint Barbara Theme, Nuptials

🌀 MALYS – Malys, The Strip

🧪 DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH – Should We Have Connected, To the Wilder

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Taking BABY STEPS to get over it: Bennett Foddy says his games aren't that difficult

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 20:30:39 +0000

I can hear the sounds of controllers being thrown from here. We spoke to Australian developer Bennett Foddy (QWOP, Getting Over It, Baby Steps) who is now based in New York about difficulty, the biggest misconceptions about his work and the time someone threw a controller at his museum exhibit, as well as many other fun topics.

You can catch Bennett Foddy In Conversation at ACMI on the 14th of January.

Nom sits down with him for this episode of Lightmap our interview show.

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Adam Christou, Chris Button and Naomi Jackson. Cat Jahne is Social Producer, Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

Where the heck is Morley? Good Games Morley on breaking the algorithm as Magic The Gathering stars

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:30:53 +0000

You've probably seen their videos, you might have even pondered where the hell is Morley.

Well its in our hometown and we travelled all the way across the country to chat to some people who are like a 20minute drive away.

Vi, Riley Aaron and Ricky from the Good Games Morley⁩ crew shared how they've actually defeated and consumed the algorithm, how people aren't super impressed when they actually visit Morley and how a little bit of promo for the shop has taken off.

Mitch and Roy sit down for this episode of Lightmap our interview show recorded at PAX Australia 2025.

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GAVIN VERHEY principal designer of MAGIC on gamebreaking FF8 Vivi, Universes Beyond & potential Australia set

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:50:40 +0000

The SIFTER team had a chance to talk to Gavin Verhey from Wizards of the Coast at PAX AUS 2025. Gavin is the principal designer of Magic: The Gathering and also the lead designer on many Magic sets including the record breaking Final Fantasy set.

We chat about the infamous Vivi Ornitier card and what it’s like designing cross over sets for Magic. We ask Gavin about points based formats like Australian 7 Point Highlander, his thoughts on Australia and if there will ever be Magic set inspired by Australian themes?

Finally we pitch Gavin a handful of ideas for Universes Beyond (crossover) sets, turns out some of them might just be his wildest dreams!

If you’re a fan of Magic: The Gathering or Final Fantasy you won’t want to miss this episode of Lightmap!

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou, Chris Button and Naomi Jackson. Cat Jahne is Social Producer, Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

Keeping the party going, the Jackbox developers share JACKBOX PARTY PACK 11 and what is coming next

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:52 +0000

Nom from the SIFTER team catches up with Allard Laban and Mike Bilder from Jackbox Games to chat about the upcoming The Jackbox Party Pack 11 at PAX Australia 2025. This new pack builds on everything fans love about the series and introduces five fresh games that will have you laughing, scheming and showing off your creativity.

But that’s not all. Mike and Allard also tease a new streaming service for Jackbox titles plus a few unannounced projects that sound very different from what we’ve seen before.

If you love party games, trivia battles and creative chaos, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.

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Behind Ghost of Yōtei: Quest design, Cinematic samurai influences & Designing around different play styles

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:00:26 +0000

In this interview recorded at PAX Australia 2025, we sit down with Rob Davis, Campaign Director at Sucker Punch Productions, to dive deep into the making of Ghost of Yōtei, out now on PlayStation 5.

Rob shares insights into quest design & player choice and how the team shapes quests, major fights, and designs with different playstyles in mind. How new character Atsu an Onryō compares to Ghost of Tsushima protagonist Jin Sakai the Samurai in both skill and approach when traversing the world and the story telling potential of a new perspective.

We also learn about Rob's Australian development history and the path to these major PlayStation Studios: Rob’s journey from working on Ty the Tasmanian Tiger in Brisbane for Krome and eventually joining world-class teams like Sony Santa Monica Studio and now Sucker Punch.

If you’re fascinated by game design, samurai storytelling, or the evolution of PlayStation's biggest titles, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

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Moving on from CELESTE and why cancelling EARTHBLADE felt right

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:45:08 +0000

Seven years on, CELESTE's impact is still felt on the gaming world. A hard but fair 2D platformer with a heartfelt story about self-acceptance, it's a game that lives on in the hearts of many.

Viewed by LGBTQIA+ players as a relatable trans allegory, Celeste also represents a deeply personal journey for its creators. Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry of Extremely OK Games spoke to Sifter where that journey took them, exploring identity, the struggles of cancelling an eagerly awaited follow-up game, and the joy of hardcore platforming.

Hear from Maddy and Noel on Lightmap, SIFTER's interview podcast, before they appear at an exclusive event at ACMI on the 6th of October 2025. Tickets for the event are available online.

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‍Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

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Pulpy point and click THE DRIFTER is one of this year's most stylish games

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:30:16 +0000

Dave Lloyd, co-founder of indie studio Powerhoof, returns to the show to talk about THE DRIFTER, a gritty point-and-click adventure set against a distinctly Australian backdrop. With evocative pixel art, sharp voice performances, and thriller-inspired storytelling, THE DRIFTER marks the studio’s first major narrative outing after the multiplayer chaos of 2018’s Regular Human Basketball and Crawl. We dig into the process of designing modern adventure games, how 1970s pulp fiction shaped the tone and structure, and the power of grounding stories in local context.

THE DRIFTER launches on Steam 17th July 2025, with a Switch release to come.

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The Sound of Indie Symphony II with Austin Wintory

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:15:35 +0000

Award-winning composer Austin Wintory returns to the podcast to discuss his work on Indie Symphony II, a concert series performed by Orchestra Victoria on July 3 and 4 2025.

Austin shares insights into the creative process behind scoring indie games like ABZÛ and Hades II, and how these soundtracks come to life in a live orchestral setting.

We also revisit his previous appearance, where he talked about composing for Stray Gods. Tune in for a deep dive into the artistry of video game music and its impact on storytelling.

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Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Cat Jahne is Social Producer, Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

TEMPOPO is the rhythm puzzle game from the makers of UNPACKING

Wed, 14 May 2025 22:00:00 +0000

The UNPACKING team return with their next game, the musical puzzle game TEMPOPO and composer and sound designer Jeff Van Dyck joins Lightmap for another episode.

Pick the right sequence, keep trying until you get it right and find the flowers to rebuild your garden, this puzzle game for all ages is colourful and joyful.

Find out what inspires Jeff to keep creating, the challenges and what he thinks about the future for aspiring video game composers.

Catch up on the last time Jeff joined us by checking out this - UNPACKING's music is a storytelling tool of colour and emotion, Jeff Van Dyck on his process.

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LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM ask you to open the lens and take in the beautiful isolation

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:30:00 +0000

LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM is all about the vibes and heavily inspired by developer Matt Newell's own treks around the world with camera in hand.

Originally starting as a project to create some fantastic scenery it morphed into a camera sim and featuring locations like Meelup and Castle Rock Beach in Matt's home state of Western Australia and his new home in Japan, this chill game is all about opening the lens and taking it all in.

Listen to Gianni and Matt talk about the joy of photography and what inspires them to take pictures.

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

Setting your own limits: CITIZEN SLEEPER 2: STARWARD VECTOR builds on the scifi roleplaying game

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 20:30:00 +0000

CITIZEN SLEEPER 2: STARWARD VECTOR is a special kind of game, one that builds so gently and thoroughly on its predecessor, with a bigger universe to explore for lovers of heartfelt science fiction.

Developer Gareth Damian Martin joins us again, to share design intentions about expanding this world, how players narrativise every choice they make, and why this might be the last video game in this world for a little while.

Listen back to our previous episode on the first game CITIZEN SLEEPER before you join us for this conversation.

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The best videogame soundtracks of 2024 - Meena Shamaly's top 21 tracks from 13 games

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:30:00 +0000

One of my favourite things each year is when Meena Shamaly host of Game Show on ABC Classic sends me the big list of tracks that have made a massive impact. These games might not be winning massive awards, a lot of them do of course, but you know every piece of music you’re going to hear has made an impact on Meena’s heart.

Meena Shamaly who is a composer, musician, Australia’s biggest Oud fan boy really loves game soundtracks.

So much so that every year I’ve asked, and this is the third time we’ve done this I say give me a top ten, and I get no joke double or triple that and here they all are plus bonus honourable mentions. Twenty one pieces of music from thirteen different games.

It's a lot of fun so take a step back through 2024's best soundtracks in this massive special episode.

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Valve's Steam Deck designers on the making of the groundbreaking handheld computer

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:42:00 +0000

It took a couple of years but the Steam Deck is officially available today for players in Australia. The reason? Well why don't we let designers Lawrence Yang, Jay Shaw and Yazan Aldehayyat explain.

Gianni sat down with Valve's handheld makers in Melbourne to learn how player behaviour has changed with the launch of the portable computer, what to expect from the next generation hardware, and what they are working on next.

256GB LCD A$649.00
512GB OLED $899.00
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You can add order a Steam Deck in Australia today , head to the Steam website to grab yours now.

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Making history anew with CIVILIZATION VII, the next game in the milestone series

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:30:00 +0000

With a game series as long running as CIVILIZATION, how do you keep reinventing and refining when you hit the seventh title? With long campaigns and countless hours for each play through, these games take on a life of their own for each player.

Recently at Melbourne International Games Week Firaxis Games developers Andrew Frederiksen (Lead Producer), John Fitzgerald (Lead Unit Artist) and Matthew Quickel (Senior Lead Environment Artist) shared their thoughts on the making of CIVILIZATION VII. We discuss how to update, add new features and maintain the features players love and how updated visuals add a new unique feel.

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Racing and liquid raves PHANTOM SPARK is precision racing without the pressure

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 22:30:00 +0000

If you love the feeling of racing until you perfect the line PHANTOM SPARK might be exactly what you're looking for. Joon Van Hove (NUTS) one part of Icelandic studio Ghosts shares how Torfi Asgeirsson nailed the gameplay before anyone else even came on board.

How subtle storytelling, but no plot, was an essential design element, that builds to competitive online leaderboards. Enjoy the retro aesthetic but don't put too much emphasis on Wipeout or F-Zero when you play.

Adam Christou guest hosts this episode of Lightmap.

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Comedy specials and a brand new Gameboy game, comedian Tommy Dassalo on SUPER DASSALO LAND

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 22:00:00 +0000

Comedian Tommy Dassalo who you might know from podcasts Filthy Casuals and Little Dum Dum Club, thought it might be too narcissistic to make a game about yourself and charge for it.

Lucky SUPER DASSALO LAND is a free prequel to his latest comedy special, so therefore not as narcissistic, and he teamed up with talented Gameboy creator Gumpy Function (GRIMACE'S BIRTHDAY, UNEARTHED).

It's a lot of fun so get on board as Kyle guest hosts Lightmap.

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Complexity is fun, designing the DISNEY LORCANA trading card game

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Have you every wondered what it takes to design one of those sprawling trading card games? It's not that often that a news series pops up, there are a few major series but one of the newest to hit the tabletops is DISNEY LORCANA by Ravensburger. Ryan Miller is the co-designer and brand manager and sat down to share how a childhood love of Dungeons & Dragons, time working at Wizards of the Coast and how The Princess Bride lead him to making this new game.

Find out more about Shimmering Skies the next expansion for the game, the fifth series and how to balance increasing mechanics in an ever expanding card set, design intentions behind this new expansion and why putting smiles on people's faces is Ryan's driving goal.

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SCHIM is a cute joyful stealth puzzle set in the shadows of the real world

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:20:00 +0000

Ewoud van der Werf had an idea. Could you combine Dutch folklore, shadowy stealth and his hometown to make a game that captures the cheeky joy of childlike fun? That's SCHIM, where you jump as a shadow frog interacting with this town as you move from shadow to shadow. Nils Slijkerman from Extra Nice noticed Ewoud's skill as part of an internship and a partnership was made.

Learn more about translating downtown Friesland into a game, capturing joyful fun, and making everything interactive.

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CAPES is a super heroic tactics game from the makers of HAND OF FATE

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 21:30:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to make the ultimate super hero teamup? Inspired by XCOM: CHIMERA SQUAD, CAPES is the new tactical super hero game where positioning and combo moves are the way to win. Want to put together your own fastball special? Squad composition and positioning is the way to win.

Cade Franklin one of the original team on HAND OF FATE joins Lightmap to share the design intentions, making it feel super and how the team who made one of the most interesting Australian made games is back together working on new titles.

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

COZY CARAVAN has cute stepped animations and chill lo-fi vibes

Wed, 29 May 2024 22:35:00 +0000

Chris Conte & Dean Ferguson from Queensland's 5 Lives Studios share COZY CARAVAN and ask you te enjoy lo-fi hip hop beats to open a market stall to. Learn why the team wanted to make something that was decidedly smaller than their previous titles, designing this cool stepped animation and why they still want to return to SATELLITE REIGN one day.

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BALADINS is a time-loopy RPG for up to four pals where you can't save everyone at once

Sun, 12 May 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Can't get your friends to come join you at your house for a night of tabletop gaming? BALADINS by French studio Seed by Seed takes the fun of rolling dice and playing a character and distills it to a cool timeloop adventure.

Jean Nicholas and Thaïs Arias join Lightmap to share their narrative game which was featured as part of Ludonarracon, their coop studio structure and prototyping this cute multiplayer adventure.

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League of Geeks almost shut up shop, their last big play is SOLIUM INFERNUM

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 03:30:00 +0000

It's been nearly eight years since Trent Kusters one of the co-founders of Melbourne's League of Geeks joined me on the podcast. Back in the Pixel Sift days, Trent was working through the early days of ARMELLO their groundbreaking digital board game, but the last twelve months have been some of the hardest for the company.

JUMPLIGHT ODYSSEY was shelved in order to limp along and get SOLIUM INFERNUM across the line. In a very candid interview Trent shares what went wrong and how it felt to have to bring crashing down what they had built over the last decade. We also chat about coming full circle with the tabletop boardgame version of ARMELLO being developed by King of the Castle Games.

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BERSERK BOY is a fast paced platformer with the soul of Sonic the Hedgehog

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Did you grow up blasting through Green Hill Zone or Casino Night Zone? Maybe you spent hours defeating the nefarious schemes of Dr Wily.

These colourful platformers hold a fond place in the hearts of many including Zu Ehtisham solo developer of the new BERSERK BOY where you blast through levels switching elemental powers as you go.

Learn how Zu build a modern platformer that is inspired by but isn't beholden to the past.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

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‍👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

‍💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

The enduring appeal of FRUIT NINJA, reinventing the game for Apple Vision Pro

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Queensland based Halfbrick have been making games for almost 25 years, and chances are if you’ve picked up a phone in the last decade you’ve played one of their games.

Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, Age of Zombies or maybe you’re a bit more oldschool and played one of their Gameboy Advance games or PlayStation or Wii titles.

In an industry that surges and wanes, Halfbrick has been one of the enduring stories of game development in Australia.

Shainiel Deo is CEO and one of the founders, and Maddy Annibale have just put out their newest title, SUPER FRUIT NINJA and Jetpack Joyride 2 for the Apple Vision Pro.

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Austin Wintory, Tripod, Montaigne on writing the Grammy Award nominated STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

The groundbreaking STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL is pretty unique and the very first Australian made game to be nominated for a Grammy Award, which will be awarded today.

Composers Austin Wintory (JOURNEY, ASSASSIN'S CREED SYNDICATE) Scott Edgar and Simon Hall from musical comedy group Tripod, singer-songwritter Montaigne aka Jess Cerro join Summerfall Studios Liam Esler to talk about what it was like to make this branching musical adventure.

The 66th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday 4th February 2024 (Monday 5th February in Australia)

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The best game soundtracks of 2023: ZELDA: TOTK, BALDUR'S GATE 3 & more

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 21:35:00 +0000

We listen back through this incredible year of games with our friend Meena Shamaly, musician, composer and host of ABC Classic's The Game Show. It's Shamaly Selects 2023 and boy are there some incredible pieces to listen to. Here is what delighted and made the top eight this year.

STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL - Adrift & Challenging a Queen (Red Edition)
TCHIA - Main Theme
BALDUR'S GATE 3 - Down by the River
MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 - Greater Together
ASSASSIN'S CREED MIRAGE - Mirage Theme
MORTAL KOMBAT 1 - A New Era (Main Theme)
VENBA - Raasa
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA TEARS OF THE KINGDOM - Main Theme

What made your soundtrack list? Leave us a review with your favourite soundtrack.

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KNUCKLE SANDWICH is an RPG inspired by best of GBA and Nintendo DS games

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 21:40:00 +0000

If you grew up playing the Gameboy Advance and the Nintendo DS, you might have missed the aesthetic those games created at the time, but you'd definitely remember the vibes. Those vibes are what Andy Brophy and Olivia Haines are trying to recapture in their weird and wonderful roleplaying game KNUCKLE SANDWICH.

With some kicking tunes and fun turn based battles, this is a game that might just inspire the next generation of video game creators. Learn how this project went from flash game to full release and how Olivia's love of PlayStation 1 era games also shaped the game for the better.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

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💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

A voice says SLAY THE PRINCESS. What you do next is up to you

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

SLAY THE PRINCESS is a horror narrative visual novel where you've got one task. You're here to slay a princess, but if you do is actually up to you. This game brings branching narratives and a style of roguelite gameplay to the visual novel genre where all your choices can lead to an ending.

Developers Abby Howard and Tony Howard-Arias join Lightmap to share how their small side project SLAY THE PRINCESS was made while developing episodic game SCARLET HOLLOW and how it's found them a brand new audience.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

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💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

THE PLUCKY SQUIRE jumps between 2D and 3D worlds and is a gorgeous homage to gaming's past

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 20:30:00 +0000

THE PLUCKY SQUIRE feels like a world of pure imagination. Jonathan Biddle and James Turner head up All Possible Futures a completely remote studio working on the gorgeous game that acts as a love letter to some of your favourite genres and games of the last 30 years.

Gianni sat down with Jonathon Biddle at PAX Australia to explore how this collaboration came together, inspirations from Nintendo games past, and what to expect when the game hits your consoles next year.

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Are video games causing climate change?

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:05:00 +0000

If you want to play a video game you have to plug something in, that power comes from somewhere and Dr Ben Abraham, has completed the second annual Net Zero Snapshot for the games industry.

Ubisoft is leading the charge dropping their emissions, despite being one of the world's biggest studios, but for many other Triple A game developers they just aren't making enough of a change according to Abraham.

You can read the full report over on the After Climate website.

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Orchestrating the CULT OF THE LAMB ritual, River Boy on making this catchy soundtrack

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:00:00 +0000

When you first hear the soundtrack for CULT OF THE LAMB it's immediately clear how much of a part it is to the experience of the game. Narayana Johnson who performs under River Boy made his first soundtrack when working on Massive Monster's smash hit, and it will be rearranged and performed this Melbourne International Games Week with Orchestra Victoria.

Narayana shares the origins of this work, some of the techniques used to make the music, and what it's like to be making all the sounds for the game now.

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Drop Rate - STARFIELD boldly goes, a compelling science fiction adventure among the cosmos

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:19:52 +0000

We've got some brand new episodes of Lightmap on the way, featuring some very cool guests but to get you there here is the latest episode of Drop Rate featuring Chris Button, SIFTER EP Gianni Di Giovanni and Player2.net.au writer Jess Zammit talking all about STARFIELD Bethesda's huge spacefaring roleplaying game.

Follow Drop Rate on your favourite podcast player here

New episodes of Lightmap next week.

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It's a massive universe to explore in STARFIELD a game that builds on many of the gameplay systems you've come to enjoy in Bethesda's roleplaying games.

Does it live up to the hype after years of development and delays? Well it depends on what type of player you are, but there is lots of fun to be had here.

Jess Zammit (Player2.net.au) joins SIFTER's own Gianni Di Giovanni for two pretty different galaxy spanning adventure.

A copy of STARFIELD on Xbox Series X|S was provided to SIFTER for the purpose of this review.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

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💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou, Omi Koulas and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

IMMORTALITY's Sam Barlow on why AI art could never really replace people

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 15:55:00 +0000

The first thing you notice when you see a game made by Half Mermaid the studio lead by Sam Barlow is that it doesn't really look like a game, the full motion video looks more like a TV show or movie.

For Barlow what initially started as a creative and budgetary constraint of being a small indie team has become a defining feature of his work, with his most recent title IMMORTALITY which explores three decades of filmmaking.

Barlow will be making his way to Australia for SXSW Sydney in October this year and spoke about his creative process, filmic literacy in the audience, and why he stands with the actors striking for a better deal in Hollywood.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

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Motorbike stunts and metrovania combine in stylish LAIKA: AGED THROUGH BLOOD

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:05:04 +0000

You know when you just look at a game and think, everyone is going to be talking about this? LAIKA: AGED THROUGH BLOOD combines some of the best motorbike tricks of TRIALS with a stylish story featuring some of the coolest anthropomorphic animals in game since CULT OF THE LAMB.

Ivan Papiol one of the artists from Spanish studio Brainwash Gang joins us to share the origins of their pirate collective studio, how Newgrounds flash games inspired the distinctive look & studio ethos and what it's like having to make games for a big foreign imperial culture that you've made the enemies in your game.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

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💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Omi Koulas. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

The history of video games, one year and one game at a time

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:10:00 +0000

How do you condense more around forty years of interactive history into one book? Games journalist Jordan Minor (PC Mag, The Escapist) has taken on this task, with a new beautifully illustrated book "Video Game of the Year" which charts the biggest moments in games.

Jordan shares his history as a games writer, the limit of a single game per year and why certain games were chosen over others. It's also an interesting insight into the politics of games over the last four decades.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

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Drop Rate SIFTER's new review podcast - STORY OF SEASONS A WONDERFUL LIFE

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 09:07:41 +0000

Subscribe to Drop Rate our new review podcast for free.

STORY OF SEASONS: A WONDERFUL LIFE revisits the 2003 farming simulator GameCube classic. In the years since its original release, farming games have risen in popularity: Stardew Valley, Wylde Flowers, and Disney Dreamlight Valley, just to name a few.

Ruby Innes (Back Pocket) and Courtney Borrett (Power Up, Kotaku Australia) join us this episode to explain why this modern take on the classic game is one of the best in the series to revisit.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou , Omi Koulas and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.

PLANET OF LANA has its own secret language and galaxy spanning story

Tue, 23 May 2023 16:28:53 +0000

It might not look like it, but PLANET OF LANA is actually Wishfully's very first game after a long career in TV and animation. Lead game designer Adam Stjärnljus and script writer Klas Eriksson who both co-directed the game have been working together creatively since they were thirteen years old and have always wanted to make a game.

We dive into the process of telling a story in an invented language, how composer Takeshi Furukawa (THE LAST GUARDIAN, STAR WARS CLONE WARS) fell in love with the game at first concept art and how it feels to be at the finish line after five years of development.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by
☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by KYLE Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Daniel Ang & Adam Christou. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Omny Studio for their support of SIFTER.

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators

World of Warcraft: Midnight revisits the old with housing, revamped zones and a massive middle chapter

Edmund McMillen on the making of Mewgenics, BIG Camdrome rumours and more!

Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades II & Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - The best soundtracks of 2025

Taking BABY STEPS to get over it: Bennett Foddy says his games aren't that difficult

Where the heck is Morley? Good Games Morley on breaking the algorithm as Magic The Gathering stars

GAVIN VERHEY principal designer of MAGIC on gamebreaking FF8 Vivi, Universes Beyond & potential Australia set

Keeping the party going, the Jackbox developers share JACKBOX PARTY PACK 11 and what is coming next

Behind Ghost of Yōtei: Quest design, Cinematic samurai influences & Designing around different play styles

Moving on from CELESTE and why cancelling EARTHBLADE felt right

Pulpy point and click THE DRIFTER is one of this year's most stylish games

The Sound of Indie Symphony II with Austin Wintory

TEMPOPO is the rhythm puzzle game from the makers of UNPACKING

LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM ask you to open the lens and take in the beautiful isolation

Setting your own limits: CITIZEN SLEEPER 2: STARWARD VECTOR builds on the scifi roleplaying game

The best videogame soundtracks of 2024 - Meena Shamaly's top 21 tracks from 13 games

Valve's Steam Deck designers on the making of the groundbreaking handheld computer

Making history anew with CIVILIZATION VII, the next game in the milestone series

Racing and liquid raves PHANTOM SPARK is precision racing without the pressure

Comedy specials and a brand new Gameboy game, comedian Tommy Dassalo on SUPER DASSALO LAND

Complexity is fun, designing the DISNEY LORCANA trading card game

SCHIM is a cute joyful stealth puzzle set in the shadows of the real world

CAPES is a super heroic tactics game from the makers of HAND OF FATE

COZY CARAVAN has cute stepped animations and chill lo-fi vibes

BALADINS is a time-loopy RPG for up to four pals where you can't save everyone at once

League of Geeks almost shut up shop, their last big play is SOLIUM INFERNUM

BERSERK BOY is a fast paced platformer with the soul of Sonic the Hedgehog

The enduring appeal of FRUIT NINJA, reinventing the game for Apple Vision Pro

Austin Wintory, Tripod, Montaigne on writing the Grammy Award nominated STRAY GODS: THE ROLEPLAYING MUSICAL

The best game soundtracks of 2023: ZELDA: TOTK, BALDUR'S GATE 3 & more

KNUCKLE SANDWICH is an RPG inspired by best of GBA and Nintendo DS games

A voice says SLAY THE PRINCESS. What you do next is up to you

THE PLUCKY SQUIRE jumps between 2D and 3D worlds and is a gorgeous homage to gaming's past

Are video games causing climate change?

Orchestrating the CULT OF THE LAMB ritual, River Boy on making this catchy soundtrack

Drop Rate - STARFIELD boldly goes, a compelling science fiction adventure among the cosmos

IMMORTALITY's Sam Barlow on why AI art could never really replace people

Motorbike stunts and metrovania combine in stylish LAIKA: AGED THROUGH BLOOD

The history of video games, one year and one game at a time

Drop Rate SIFTER's new review podcast - STORY OF SEASONS A WONDERFUL LIFE

PLANET OF LANA has its own secret language and galaxy spanning story

The video game industry does not exist

DROS is an alchemical platformer inspired by dark 80s fantasy like The Dark Crystal

Why DREDGE a cosmic horror fishing game is reeling people in

Why real rental horror stories are part of this spooky comedic game

What is Lightmap? Meet video game creators and hear their story.

Explore the heavens in JUMPLIGHT ODYSSEY and delve through hell in SOLIUM INFERNUM

Why aren't there more video game musicals like the upcoming STRAY GODS?

Has this developer nailed the modern 8bit JRPG? 8 BIT ADVENTURES 2, a love letter to classic Final Fantasy games

The best video game soundtracks of 2022 with Meena Shamaly

Games of the Year 2022 - ELDEN RING, CULT OF THE LAMB & more

How does morse code work? Learn in MORSE a tactical puzzle game set in World War 1

Meet vtuber Miltia, one of Australia's favourite catgirls

UNPACKING's music is a storytelling tool of colour and emotion

WE ARE OFK is a band, a TV show, a visual novel and some of the best dialogue writing in games

Chill narrative game WAYWARD STRAND has 20,000 lines of spoken dialogue

What happened to post-apocalyptic deer game WAY TO THE WOODS?

CURSED TO GOLF is a roguelite golf platfomer that works way better than you'd think

CULT OF THE LAMB developers Julian & Will share the secrets of building their roguelite cult simulator

Every piece of art in CARD SHARK was hand printed, here's how it was made

How Xalavier Nelson Jr realised WITCH STRANDINGS was the next "strand-type" game

NEON WHITE's Ben Esposito on expanding the game, dealing with cheaters and aesthetic inspirations

V RISING is a breakthrough indie hit, why this vampire survival RPG is selling like hotcakes

TUNIC is a "Zelda-like" adventure that's packed with secrets

CITIZEN SLEEPER is pure dystopian science fiction with a hopeful heart

CHINATOWN DETECTIVE AGENCY makes searching online for answers essential to complete the game

Credit where credit is due: Game developers call for simpler, consistent creative credits

Designing an indie real time strategy game TFC: THE FERTILE CRESCENT

MINI MATCHES is a greatest hits of multiplayer couch games by a Lara Croft and Hitman developer

Screen Australia announces $6M fund for game development, here is how it all works

Set forth for multiplayer adventure in CONAN CHOP CHOP a chibi cartoony roguelite

The beauty and tragedy of post-apocalyptic adventure SUBMERGED: HIDDEN DEPTHS

Nintendo Direct recap, HALO composers sue Microsoft, SIMS 4 expansion pulled from sale in Russia

KARDBOARD KINGS is a cool new card shop simulator from the maker of DESERT CHILD

Paper House will count the climate cost of developing their game WOOD & WEATHER

2021 Games of the Year Part 2 - THE FORGOTTEN CITY, SABLE & HALO INFINITE

NEKOGRAMS is a cute cat arranging puzzle game that hides the maths behind cats

2021 Games of the Year Part 1 - MUNDAUN, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY & UNPACKING

UNPACKING is an indie puzzler with heart and a personal story for developers Wren and Tim

BOOK OF TRAVELS is a multiplayer world with a storybook design