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PODCAST

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators

Lightmap is an Australian Podcast Award winning show that explores the creative process of making videogames and interactive media, and introduces you to the creators of some of the most exciting titles. You'll meet developers, musicians, artists, journalist and more, so come join us here and on SIFTER.com.au

leisure video games

All Episodes

32:35

Moving on from CELESTE and why cancelling EARTHBLADE...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2025/09/30

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

en-AU

33:00

Pulpy point and click THE DRIFTER is one of this...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2025/07/14

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

en-AU

32:15

The Sound of Indie Symphony II with Austin Wintory

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2025/06/18

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

en-AU

35:01

TEMPOPO is the rhythm puzzle game from the makers of...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2025/05/14

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

en-AU

24:11

LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM ask you to open the lens and...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2025/04/07

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

en-AU

43:07

Setting your own limits: CITIZEN SLEEPER 2: STARWARD...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2025/03/23

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

en-AU

61:33

The best videogame soundtracks of 2024 - Meena...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2025/01/23

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

en-AU

22:17

Valve's Steam Deck designers on the making of the...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/11/18

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$649.00512GB OLED $899.001TB OLED $1049.001TB OLED White

en-AU

31:34

Making history anew with CIVILIZATION VII, the next...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/11/04

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

en-AU

40:07

Racing and liquid raves PHANTOM SPARK is precision...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/09/17

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

en-AU

46:56

Comedy specials and a brand new Gameboy game,...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/08/21

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.Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200

en-AU

23:55

Complexity is fun, designing the DISNEY LORCANA...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/08/08

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

en-AU

27:00

SCHIM is a cute joyful stealth puzzle set in the...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/07/10

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.Ewoud van der

en-AU

25:12

CAPES is a super heroic tactics game from the makers...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/06/13

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

en-AU

29:59

COZY CARAVAN has cute stepped animations and chill...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/05/29

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. 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

en-AU

35:59

BALADINS is a time-loopy RPG for up to four pals...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/05/12

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. Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no

en-AU

44:58

League of Geeks almost shut up shop, their last big...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/03/29

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

en-AU

24:30

BERSERK BOY is a fast paced platformer with the soul...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/03/06

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☕ Tipping us on

en-AU

30:39

The enduring appeal of FRUIT NINJA, reinventing the...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/02/27

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

en-AU

41:43

Austin Wintory, Tripod, Montaigne on writing the...

Lightmap - Conversations with video game creators ·

2024/02/04

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

en-AU

272 results

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