Lightmap
Lightmap
SIFTER
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 video games. Previously known as Pixel Sift. Established in 2015
TUNIC is a "Zelda-like" adventure that's packed with secrets
What if Link was a cute fox? At first glance TUNIC looks like a beautiful spiritual successor to THE LEGEND OF ZELDA franchise, but as lead developer Andrew Shouldice shares with us in this interview, it also embraces modern "souls-like" gameplay.  TUNIC is filled with lots and lots of secrets, the game was at one time called Secret Legend, and Shouldice said it's all about capturing that feeling of playing a game in the pre-internet Nintendo era where a game feels like limitless exploration.  SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord to be part of the conversation Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 26, 2022
31 min
CITIZEN SLEEPER is pure dystopian science fiction with a hopeful heart
CITIZEN SLEEPER is a tabletop inspired roleplaying game from Gareth Damian Martin (IN OTHER WATERS) that puts you in the shoes of person trying to escape their digital enslavement in the far future. If it sounds grim, in parts it is, but quickly you discover your place in the world where you can make a life. Each day you've got just the dice you've been dealt, as you choose how to fulfill your goals or avoid negative countdowns, in a stylish visual novel with stunning artwork byGuillaume Singelin and a kicking scifi soundtrack by Amos Roddy. SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord to be part of the conversation Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 12, 2022
30 min
CHINATOWN DETECTIVE AGENCY makes searching online for answers essential to complete the game
Inspired heavily by the CARMEN SANDIEGO series, CHINATOWN DETECTIVE AGENCY is a contemporary take on the format set in a cyberpunk Singapore in 2037 where social and government support has languished. Creative Director Mark Fillon from Singapore's General Interactive Co shares the authentic design and characters you'll meet as you jet off around the world in search of answers as ex-cop Amira Darma in this glorious pixel art game. SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord to be part of the conversation Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 30, 2022
28 min
Credit where credit is due: Game developers call for simpler, consistent creative credits
If you work in the games industry it can be surprisingly complex to get your name into the end credits, that ending sequence often doesn't include everyone who helped to ship that video game. Project based work and short contracts, and inconsistent recognition makes it more complex than you'd think for developers to get the acknowledgement of the work put in. It's something that Alexander Swords, one of the members of the Games Credit Special Interest Group (SIG), part of the International Game Developers Association wants to change with a standarised system of creative credits. Read a written version of this story on our website:Credit where credit is due: Game developers call for simpler, consistent creative credits SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord to be part of the conversation Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 24, 2022
8 min
Designing an indie real time strategy game TFC: THE FERTILE CRESCENT
André Read always wanted to make a real time strategy game. A huge fan of the genre, it was many years working in the industry before he got his chance with TFC: THE FERTILE CRESCENT set in the plains of Mesopotamia. Teaming up with Anders Grønningsæter the two person team at Wield Interactive have crafted a multiplayer RTS game built with their Discord community that reimagines the classic format. They dive into the world of historical RTS games, the influence of Age of Empires on the genre, and the ways in which The Fertile Crescent works to streamline elements of the genre to create new systems and frameworks. SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord to be part of the conversation Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 15, 2022
32 min
MINI MATCHES is a greatest hits of multiplayer couch games by a Lara Croft and Hitman developer
Philip Buchanan from It's Anecdotal was part of the teams that made the awarding winning LARA CROFT GO, HITMAN GO and DEUS EX GO mobile games, and had has just released the charming multiplayer party game MINI MATCHES. It's a collection of Philip's favourite genres with excellent visual design and something for everyone. Learn more about how making 39 DAYS TO MARS and other games have shaped the development of MINI MATCHES. SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord to be part of the conversation Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 2, 2022
29 min
Screen Australia announces $6M fund for game development, here is how it all works
After seven years without any federal government support for the games industry, a new grant program called the $6 million Games Expansion Pack from Screen Australia was announced on Friday last week. This program replaces a successful but prematurely cancelled fund called the Australian Interactive Games Fund which was axed when this government came to power in 2014. Our guests on this episode are Paul Turbett of Black Lab Games, one the original recipients of the AIGF, speaks of the huge impact this small funding had on his business Ron Curry of IGEA, Australia's peak game development body, shares the campaigning and lobbying it took to bring this fund to life Lee Naimo, Head of Online at Screen Australia, runs through why it happened now and how it all works and John Daskalopoulos, CEO of Not Doppler, who was part of the funding announcement with Minister Paul Fletcher shares how much of a difference this funding could have made, and what opportunities it'll allow now SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord Support SIFTER by buying our Australian made T-Shirts Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 18, 2022
19 min
Set forth for multiplayer adventure in CONAN CHOP CHOP a chibi cartoony roguelite
CONAN CHOP CHOP is a reimagining of the world of Conan The Barbarian that sees the rippling oiled muscles replaced with cartoony top town aesthetic reminiscent of Flash games or kids cartoons.  It's the first console title for Mighty Kingdom, a studio that is more well known for their mobile titles, but it was an excellent creative challenge for Kim Forrest, Creative Director and Jeff Wong, Producer to reimagine this world for a new audience. Learn more about the inspirations behind this fun multiplayer top down rogue-lite and why announcing it in on April Fools day meant lots of people thought it might be all a joke. SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, 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. Join the SIFTER Discord Support SIFTER by buying our Australian made T-Shirts Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 5, 2022
31 min
The beauty and tragedy of post-apocalyptic adventure SUBMERGED: HIDDEN DEPTHS
Explore a drowned society, a city that has sunk beneath the waves and discover how life has continued after people in non-combat adventure game SUBMERGED: HIDDEN DEPTHS. The sequel to 2015's SUBMERGED might not exist if not for Google Stadia, it was an exclusive title for the streaming service, which meant it couldn't be played in the Uppercut Games' home country. Ed Orman (FALLOUT TACTICS, BIOSHOCK, CITY OF BRASS) is a cofounder of Uppercut Games and said that the upcoming Playstation PC, and Xbox releases wouldn't even be possible without the Stadia team's help. Learn more about why this beauty of exploration in this game offsets the tragedy of a world struck by cataclysm. SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Daniel Ang & Adam Christou. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Join the SIFTER Discord Support SIFTER by buying our Australian made video game inspired shirts Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 17, 2022
29 min
Nintendo Direct recap, Halo composers sue Microsoft, Sims 4 expansion pulled from sale in Russia
Welcome to Walkthrough SIFTER's brand new weekly news recap show. Each Sunday we'll highlight some of the biggest stories in video games to keep you up to date. Your host on each episode of Walkthrough is Kyle Pauletto, an accomplished journalist with a keen interest in bringing you the best gaming stories each week  THIS WEEK: Nintendo outlines 2022 and beyond in it's first Direct - Fire Emblem Warriors, Mario Kart 8 DLC, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Earthbound GTA V sells 160 million copies ahead of PS5 Xbox Series X re-release Activision Blizzard games will remain on Playstation after Microsoft acquisition EA won't release Sims 4 My Wedding Stories in Russia due to restrictions on LGBT+ content Halo composers try to requst injuction on release of Halo TV series due to remuneration dispute Inside the Team17 after announced then cancelled Worms NFT project Indie video game marketplace calls NFTs "a scam" SIFTER is produced by Nicholas Kennedy, Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Daniel Ang & Adam Christou. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Join the SIFTER Discord Support SIFTER by buying our Australian made video game inspired shirts Support the show: https://sifter.store See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 13, 2022
10 min
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