Show notes
Video games have been a defining influence on me since I was old enough to twiddle my thumbs (really about four years old). The stories, the art, the music, it all comes together for some of the fondest memories. But as games and the development of them has become more accessible to indie developers, they also have broken away from catering to as broad of an audience as they can. My guest this week happens to be one of those indie game designers who marries the subject with his life involved in music.Cosmo D (Greg Heffernan), has brought a universe to life that can easily be filed under "Offbeat." His world set in a city named Off-Peak is layers of characters who's narrative ranges from troubled to devious, atop jazz and electronic composed by Cosmo D himself. Enter a semi-open world of problems to solve, dystopian corporations, decisions to make, pizzas to bake, and outlandish characters all designed to cause some level of discomfort.With Saturn V, Off-Peak, The Norwood Suite, and Tales from Off-Peak City Vol 1, there are four titles to enjoy, with Off-Peak being free in the Steam store. We'll cover some of the processes behind developing his games in Unity, what could've been in Unreal, and where he's planning on taking the player in his work-in-progress fifth entry. We also talk about his time spent in music as a classically trained cellist and being an instructor for game development at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Naturally, we go off the rails as well, so prepare for more than all of that! Follow Cosmo D on Steam, Twitter, check out his website, and join the Discord.Follow Nonethelesser wherever you wish!Music used in this episode with Cosmo D's approval:Intro - Tales From Off-Peak City Vol 1 - Theme22:30 - Young Bruce in 30845:34 - Jan and Clarice1:01:13 - Caetano’s Joint1:17:56 - The Final Look