The Dialog Box

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Conversations on game development hosted by game developer Gwen Frey (Bioshock Infinite/The Molasses Flood/Kine).

Gwen Frey


    • Oct 5, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 117 EPISODES

    5 from 13 ratings Listeners of The Dialog Box that love the show mention: gwen, chris, industry, game, knowledge, lot, great.



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    Latest episodes from The Dialog Box

    Ep. 119 Why does Game Dev take so long?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 34:31


    Gwen and Chris talk about game production, pipeline iteration, audio workflows, cutscenes in games, and trailers that maybe don't have much to do with the game.

    Ep. 118 Game Writing & Production Woes!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 51:02


    Gwen and Chris catch up on: Lab Rat's development, comedy writing, writing in games, Psychonauts 2, BioShock Infinite, and much more!

    S2 - 02 - Business and design decisions in Darkest Dungeon /w Tyler Sigman

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 100:09


    This week we chat with the Design Director of Darkest Dungeon - a brilliantly designed and wildly successful indie game. Tyler dives into his backstory and explains how he gained the experience both designing games and running companies before he co-founded Red Hook. He's the only indie developer I've met with an MBA, and he highly recommends it!

    S2 - 01 - Designing Highly Systemic Games With Narrative /w Tom Francis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2021 84:52


    This week Tom Francis outlines the difficult decisions he has made while developing Tactical Breach Wizards, and why he made them. We also talk about what he learned designing hit indie games Gunpoint and Heat Signature. Afterwards we are joined by accomplished game writers Matt Seiji Burns and Karla Zimonja for a roundtable conversation about writing and VO in indie games.

    Ep. 115 w/ William Chyr on transitioning between projects

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2021 51:07


    William Chyr spent 7 years developing the hit puzzler Manifold Garden and then another 1.5 years porting it and releasing it on every known platform. Now he's reflecting on how far he's come and what comes next for him and his team.

    Ep. 114 Last Year In Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 41:51


    2020 was a weird year! Gwen and Chris have a casual chat about what we played and why. ___ Follow the podcast on @DialogBoxCast Follow Gwen @diregoldfish Follow Chris @chrisslight

    Ep. 113 Crunch, Cert, & Cyberpunk 2077

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 40:42


    Gwen & Chris chat about what went wrong with Cyberpunk 2077 - the "edgy" marketing, the way it was developed, the launch issues, the rabid gaming fandom, how this is going to impact console cert for the rest of us, & more.

    Ep. 112 What We Learned From Playtesting

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 24:51


    This week Gwen & Chris chat about game shows in 2021, the Lab Rat playtest, the value of playtests, and how Gwen is approaching marketing in 2021.

    Ep. 111 Collaborative Game Dev During Covid-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 35:23


    Gwen & Chris chat about Kine's Steam launch and Gwen's upcoming game, Lab Rat. They specifically discuss how her micro-studio is collaborating remotely. There is definitely room for improvement!

    Ep. 110 Puzzle Game Devs Nerding Out w/ Corey Martin & Alan Hazelden

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 60:53


    Three puzzle developers chat about about pacing in puzzle games, puzzle difficulty, the puzzle genre, the indie game market in general, and what we are playing right now. Guests: Alan Hazelden @draknek (A Monster's Expedition, Cosmic Express, etc ) Corey Martin @mytoboggan (Bonfire Peaks, Pipe Push Paradise) Gwendolyn Bond @diregoldfish (Kine, The Flame in The Flood)

    Ep. 109 The Importance of Passion

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 38:58


    Is it important to love the game genre for the game you are working on? That depends on the studio size and your role, right? This week we chat about passion and how important it is for marketing in particular.

    Ep. 108 Finding Inspiration & Staying Motivated As An Indie Dev

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 45:10


    Chris grills Gwen on how she finds motivation to develop games, how she plans her work, why she does it, and more.

    Ep. 107 Online Game Festivals, Streaming Platforms, & Dis Respect M.D.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 42:38


    Dr Disrespect is thrown off Twitch. Mixer shuts down. Steam adds live streaming to their store. Online game festivals are bad for indies. Gwen and Chris chat about all this and more!

    Ep. 106 Star Trek: PS5

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2020 52:54


    Star Trek! Gwen's next game! The PlayStation 5! All of it is discussed on this episode! PSA: If you want to skip Star Chat skip to 14:28.

    Ep. 105 Unreal Engine 5? Sounds Epic!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2020 29:11


    Gwen and Chris discuss the recently revealed Unreal Engine 5 from Epic, GTA 5 and Civ 6 going on the Epic Store for free and more.

    Ep. 104 New consoles and a new puzzle game!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2020 28:34


    This week Gwen & Chris have a quick chat about new console reveals, or lack thereof. We also cover the new game Gwen is working on.

    Ep. 103 Producing games for over 30 years! w/ Mike Arkin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2020 83:51


    Long-time veteran Mike Arkin and I talk about his his career and his wartime stories shipping games across each console generation. Topics include working with licensed ip, being the bad guy (publishing producer), his game-dev redemption arc, and his current work remastering System Shock.

    Ep. 102 Human Connection Through Video Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2020 42:44


    Gwen and Chris discuss online multiplayer experiences and how they, along with streamers, are bringing people together and giving them something fun to do.

    Ep. 101 w/ Xalavier Nelson Jr

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020 50:33


    Gwen and Chris are back from PAX East and are joined by the creator of An Airport For Aliens Currently Run By Dogs Xalavier Nelson Jr! We discuss, exhibiting at PAX, getting satisfaction from your work and balancing that with living a comfortable life and YOTELL.

    Ep. 100 Coronavirus, PAX East and Personal Brands

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2020 36:53


    Chris & Gwen discuss the impact the Coronavirus could have on the industry at large as well as PAX East, which they have to prep for. They also touch on having a personal brand and the difficulty of figuring it out and having the time to get one. Also, 100 episodes! Yay!

    Ep. 99 How Tom Francis designs and builds games w/ Tom Francis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2020 90:32


    Tom crafted Gunpoint, Heat Signature, and soon Tactical Breach Wizards. In this episode we chat about how he got into games, how he staffs his projects, where his game design inspiration comes from, how his new game is coming along, and more!

    Ep. 98 Wrapping up one game and lookin' forward to the next one

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2020 50:37


    We talk about what Gwen is working on next, transitioning between projects, problems with multi-platform launches, porn in games, and the upcoming new consoles.

    Ep. 97 Interviewing Freya Holmer the dev behind Shader Forge & Budget Cuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2020 56:56


    This week Gwen interviews Freya Holmer. We talk about Freya's self-started career, why she only works on things that interest her, burn out, how she funds her ventures, and her goal to craft an online mathematics book with a visual focus. Freya is fascinating! Listen in!

    Ep. 96 Streamers & Indie Devs have a lot in common

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2019 58:26


    Chris Slight is back! He moved to America, lost everything in a layoff, and then moved back to the UK. We'll cover that, and also: How is streaming similar to indie development. What is Mixer up to? And a quick chat about next gen consoles!

    Ep. 95 All about VR, Halo, Ubisoft, and more w/ game director Scott Warner

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2019 55:40


    This week Gwen chats with Scott Warner, game director at Ubisoft, about his 20 year career, Halo, how he got into VR, why he left VR and went to Ubisoft, what game dev is like at Ubisoft, and more!

    Ep. 94 Game devs talk about game dev /w Jason Mojica

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 59:51


    A meandering conversation: making art for FPSs, visual language in games, why puzzle games are fun to make, the puzzle game genre, what we are excited about in game dev, and why VR is coming back!

    Ep. 93 What is it like at Valve? /w Chris Remo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2019 56:56


    Chris Remo has worked at studios large and small, and in teams of all sizes. This week we chat about his move from San Francisco to Seattle, why he'll never go back, and what is it like to work at Valve.

    Ep. 92 WE SHIPPED OUR INDIE GAMES! 24 hours after launch /w William Chyr

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2019 60:00


    24 hours ago William Chyr launched Manifold Garden. A game 7 years in development!! 18 hours before that Gwen Frey launched Kine. A solo passion project and obsession. Fresh off the launch-time afterglow these two devs talk about what comes next.

    Ep. 91 Finishing and shipping an indie game after 7 years! /w William Chyr

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2019 61:06


    William Chyr returns to chat about launching Manifold Garden on Apple Arcade and EGS! This game has been seven years in the making and the reality of launching it soon is finally sinking in. Gwen is on the path to shipping as well - Kine launches in two weeks!

    Ep. 90 Puzzle Designers Talk About Puzzle Games /w Alan Hazelden

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2019 82:27


    Award winning puzzle game designer Alan Hazelden joins Gwen for a low-key chat about game design. Topics include: difficulty curves for puzzle games, puzzle overworlds/layouts, non-linear puzzle structure, ideal team size, and more.

    Ep. 89 Porting indie games ain't easy! /w Jason Mojica

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2019 76:42


    Gwen and Jason talk about porting to different platforms, why Stadia is difficult, how localization complicates things, why the new storefronts are important, and more!

    Ep. 87 Mock Interview: Let's talk about Kine!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2019 43:35


    Words are hard. Today Chris gives Gwen interview tips as she prepares to talk to some press at Gamescom. Then they chat about subscription services, EGS, and the future.

    Ep. 85 w/ Jason Mojica - Yet Another Ex-Irrational Indie Dev

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2019 79:45


    Two ex-Bioshock turned indie devs have a long, cheerful chat about their lives after Irrational Games shut down. We cover Jason's love of modding and how it has driven him to Co-found an indie studio and Kickstart a highly moddable indie shooter of his own.

    Ep. 84 Sexy New Hardware

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2019 31:27


    Nintendo is launching a handheld Switch, so Chris and Gwen chat about consoles and console development.

    Ep. 83 Outsourcing art ain't easy!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2019 34:54


    Now that Kine is in the last few months Gwen and Chris chat about the end of development, and what went right and what went wrong during Kine's production.

    Ep. 82 Utilikilts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2019 34:48


    Kine is approaching content lock and we might get some promotional utilikilts.

    kine utilikilts
    Ep. 81 E3 was super quiet this year.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2019 32:02


    Gwen and Chris talk about the E3 conference highlights: what was there and what wasn't.

    Ep. 80 Death Standing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2019 31:58


    Gwen and Chris discuss the new Death Stranding trailer, Kojima and more as we stand in the shadow the three E's.

    Ep. 79 Launch timing matters & this year is PACKED with games!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2019 33:24


    Gwen and Chris talk about all the game and platforms launching later this year. Other topics include cloud gaming, E3, British accents, and streaming conferences.

    Ep. 78 The Epic Game Store Controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2019 51:59


    Gwen and Chris catch up and there's a lot! GDC had loads of announcements. Also Kine is coming to the Epic storefront and is getting closer to launch!

    Ep. 77 w/ Jason Schreier

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2019 49:12


    Gwen talks to Jason Schreier, editor of Kotaku, about GDC from a journalists perspective, the recent reporting on ArenaNet job layoffs and his approach to clicks vs content.

    Ep. 76 Back On Our BS

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2019 55:15


    This is peak Dialog Box, Dialog Box Classic, Kiss 1996 Reunion Dialog Box. Gwen and Chris talk store fronts, streaming, game engines, GDC and laugh a lot.

    Ep. 75 w/ Joe Mirabello: Globalization in the Games Industry

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2019 67:54


    Joe Mirabello, developer of Tower of Guns and Mothergunship, discusses the controversy around 38 studios, how he started his indie studio, how he developed a game with a team spread across the planet, and what is next for him and his studio. UPDATE: Joe mentioned that Pete Paquette joined 38 two months ago, he meant to say two years ago. Pete, Joe is very sorry, please don't yell at him.

    Ep. 74 w/ Alan Hazelden: How do you pay your indie team?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2019 44:45


    Gwen & Chris are joined yet again by developer Alan Hazelden to discuss profit sharing at indie studios.

    Ep. 73 w/ Rami Ismail

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2019 51:43


    Rami Ismail of Vlambeer joins Gwen and Chris this week to discuss his latest project, Meditations, his work, his influences and what drives him!

    Ep. 72 Marketing and Publishers in 2019. Who Is Anna?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2018 34:07


    Gwen talks about her fears marketing an indie game in 2019 while Chris asks the question on his own ignorant lips "who is Anna?"

    Ep. 71 An Epic Store

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2018 37:23


    The Epic Store is here and Gwen and Chris see big changes coming to the PC landscape! We also discuss video game streaming services again because, well, we think it's the future!

    Ep. 70 w/ Alan Hazelden: Steam's Doing New Splits!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2018 56:52


    This week we chat with Alan Hazelden: His lifestyle, his games, and his perspective on Steam's new tiered revenue split.

    Ep. 69 Fortnite Dancing In To A New Store

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2018 37:21


    Gwen and Chris talk the confusing issue of who owns a dance in Fortnite, gaming entering mainstream culture and if selling games outside of a storefront is viable.

    Ep. 68 Chump Squad

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2018 24:39


    Gwen and Chris return after a long break! Find out about Gwen exhibiting her solo game, Kine, at EGX in the UK and forming a new company, Chump Squad. Chris has moved to the USA and works for Meow Wolf! Exciting times!

    Ep. 67 Subscription And Streaming Services For Videogames

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2018 24:11


    Gwen and Chris discuss Microsoft recently announcing a subscription bundle of an Xbox One with Game Pass and Xbox Live. Is this the future for games distribution?

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