Podcasts
Here is where it all began, the podcast is the core of what we do here at Pixel Sift, where we break down the news, and speak to creatives all over the world about why they create.
Episode 164: Henry Mosse and the Wormhole Conspiracy (Ezra Artman)
Adventure and family walk hand in hand, in Henry Mosse and the Wormhole Conspiracy
Mainstream Episode 21: The Medium & Monster Sanctuary
Gianni isn't afraid of no ghosts in The Medium, while Adam collects critters and traverses platforms in Monster Sanctuary.
Episode 163: Doors of Insanity (Logan Branjord)
What do you get when you make a game based on purgatory inspired by your dreams? Rogue-like card based roleplaying game Doors of Insanity.
Episode 162: The Alto Collection (Harry Nesbitt & Jair McBain)
What comes next when your first games were huge hits? Harry Nesbitt and Jair McBain on following up Alto's Adventure with their new studio Land & Sea.
Mainstream Episode 20: Games of the Year 2020
Here are our favourite games released in 2020, instant classics which will stand the test of time.
Episode 161: Dune Casu and Adrian Tosello (Art of Rally)
Jump back into the golden era of Group B rally with Dune Casu and Adrian Tosello
Mainstream Episode 19: Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity & Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Head into the in-game past with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and actual past with Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Episode 160: Meredith Hall (HoloVista)
Explore the meta social world of HoloVista with Meredith Hall from Aconite
Mainstream Episode 18: Assassin's Creed Valhalla & Hades
Time to go a-viking in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla and *try* escape from the underworld in Hades
Episode 159: Josh "Cheeseness" Bush (Hive Time)
Josh Bush made a bee themed Real Time Strategy game called Hive Time and let players pay what they want... did it pay off?
Episode 158: Matthew Cassells (Path of Titans)
Become a terrible lizard in dinosaur MMO Path of Titans by Australian modder and developer Matthew "deathlyrage" Cassells
Episode 157: Simon Boxer (Ring Of Pain)
Friend or foe? You soon shall find, the Ring of Pain has much to hide in this spooky tactical card game.
Episode 156: Brigitta Rena (When The Past Was Around)
Brigitta Rena started her career wanting to be an illustrator, but making the games she wants to play has now become her passion.
Episode 155: Mitch Clifford (Windbound)
Mitchell Clifford of Brisbane’s 5 Lives Studios shares the making of the nautical survival game Windbound
Episode 154: Tali Faulkner (Umurangi Generation)
Grab your camera and document the end of world in Umurangi Generation
Mainstream Episode 17: Fall Guys & The Last Campfire
Helping lost souls in The Last Campfire and jumping rolling and striving for that crown in Fall Guys.
Episode 153: Paul Kopetko (Boomerang Fu)
It's a food fight to the death in Boomerang Fu a local multiplayer brawler for six players on Switch, Xbox One and Steam.
Aussie scientists use Minecraft to build a replica gravitational wave observatory for National Science Week
And you can visit LIGO in Minecraft yourself to learn about the physics of gravitational waves.
Episode 152: Ashleigh Starmer-Lee (Crossy Road Castle)
Crossy Road Castle is the sequel to one of the biggest Australian games ever made and Lead Artist Ashleigh Starmer-Lee brought the colourful characters from the first game to the new multiplayer platformer.
Episode 151: Julian Ball (Len's Island)
Build, fight, farm and explore in Len's Island by Flow Studio
Mainstream Episode 16: Ghost of Tsushima & Ooblets
Spring stealthily from rooftops in Ghost of Tsushima, and make pals with heaps of cute dancing critters in Ooblets
Daniel Harrison has found balance and a strong support network
Learning to externalise worries and seeking support is how you survive online according to YouTuber Daniel Harrison.
Episode 150: Matt Ditton (Shooty Skies Overdrive)
Matt Ditton on converting mobile "shoot em up" Shooty Skies into a VR experience in Shooty Skies Overdrive
Mainstream Episode 15: The Last of Us Part II & No Straight Roads
Dan experiences the emotional and dark story in The Last of Us Part II and Gianni uses the power of rock to take down the Man in No Straight Roads.
Episode 149: Daniel Hindes (Wildfire)
Everything burns is a motto and a challenge to the player in Wildfire by Sneaky Bastards.
Episode 148: Ben Chandler (Nighthawks)
Seize the night by its throat in this modern vampire roleplaying game by Wadjet Eye Games.
Mainstream Episode 14: Minecraft Dungeons & Ring Fit Adventure
Gianni defeats the Arch-Illager in Minecraft Dungeons, and Viv works her way through the reps in Ring Fit Adventure
Episode 147: Christopher Galea (Brimstone Brawlers) & Hacking in Single Player Games
Head into a a dark Victorian era battleground in Brimstone Brawlers by Ategig.
Mainstream Episode 13: XCOM Chimera Squad & Gears Tactics
Get a new top down perspective on the beloved Gears of War series in Gears Tactics & XCOM: Chimera Squad mixes up the tactical experience in a surprising new take.
Episode 146: Brendan Watts (Fledgling Heroes) & who protects the history of games?
Get ready to spread your wings and take flight in the side-scrolling adventure Fledgling Heroes by Subtle Boom.
Mainstream Episode 12: Persona 5 Royal & Fallout 76 Wastelanders
Put on your mask and fight for your freedom in Persona 5 Royal, and sometimes war actually does change in Fallout 76 Wastelanders.
Episode 145: Ash Ringrose (Moving Out) & Keeping games going after launch
Grab your mates and get ready to move in chaotic multiplayer game Moving Out by SMG Studio.
Jordan Mays "Elfishguy" & Brandon Langiano "Raven" on how to level up to competitive esports
Do you want to play games professionally? Elfishguy and Raven can give you some pointers on how to make it in esports
Episode 144: Ben Chevalier (Butter Royale) & The myth of the lone gamer
Have the food fight of your life in the family friendly Butter Royale by Singapore's Mighty Bear Games.
Mainstream Episode 11: Final Fantasy VII Remake & My Friend Pedro
Equip your materia and head into battle with Adam and chat to a banana with guns akimbo with Gianni in Mainstream Episode 11!
Episode 143: Theo Kipen (Kana Quest) & franchises back from the dead
Take your very first steps into learning Japanese with Kana Quest!
Mainstream Episode 10: Doom Eternal & Animal Crossing New Horizons
Adam has been ripping and also tearing in Doom Eternal and Gianni has been chilling out in an island paradise in Animal Crossing New Horizons
Episode 142: Ron Curry (IGEA) & Developers pull games from GeForce Now
Ron Curry CEO of Australian games industry peak body IGEA shares why they've merged with Game developer organisation GDAA
Mainstream Episode 9: Crossy Road Castle & Rainbow Six Siege
Sarah is picking the right operator for the job in Rainbow Six Siege, and Gianni is climbing higher and higher in Crossy Road Castle
Episode 141: Josh Sacco (Nom Nom Apocalypse) & COVID-19 virus impact on the games industry
"Hey have your seen a sandwich that could take a bite out of you?"
Mainstream Episode 8: Two Point Hospital & Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Viv is trying to keep at least some patients alive in Two Point Hospital, and Mitch keeps missing those frames in Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
Episode 140: Callum Harrington (Warhammer Underworlds: Online) & The end of Flash
Callum Harrington talks about meeting player expectation in a franchise with a lot of history in Warhammer Underworlds: Online
Mainstream Episode 7: Dirty Bomb & Left 4 Dead 2
Sarah is pushing the generators in Dirty Bomb and Daniel has a keen ear out for witches in Left 4 Dead 2.
Episode 139: Kris Antoni (Coffee Talk) & the future of E3
Sit down, put the kettle on, as Kris Antoni of Indonesia's Toge Productions shares how narrative visual novel Coffee Talk was made.
Mainstream Episode 6: Temtem & Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Gianni journeys into a new world of monster collecting in Temtem, and Adam is watching the patterns to take down giant beasts in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Episode 138: Michael Wentworth-Bell & Nick Acciarito (Espire 1 VR Operative) & the #gamedevsforfireys campaign
Michael and Nick from Melbourne's Digital Lode share the challenges and victories of making VR spy game Espire 1: VR Operative.
Mainstream Episode 5: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt & Pico Tanks
Scott is following the Witcher around like Jaskier, and Mitch commands a cute little tank in Pico Tanks
Mainstream Episode 4: Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order & Halo Reach (Halo Master Chief Collection)
Adam visits a galaxy far far away in Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, and Gianni finishes the fight in Halo: Reach.
Episode 137: Shawn Toh (BattleSky Brigade: Harpooner) & gaming franchises forever
Battle your way through the sky then reel in your loot in BattleSky Brigade: Harpooner!
Mainstream Episode 3: Metro 2033 Redux & Borderlands 3
Daniel heads to Russia in the newly shiny Metro 2033 Redux & Mitch finally gets round to trying Borderlands 3.
Episode 136: Dan Golding (Untitled Goose Game Composer & Video Game Academic)
Dan Golding knows a lot about the craft of making music for video games, such as his work on Untitled Goose Game and how we identify personally as players of games.
Introducing MAINSTREAM: a brand new podcast from Pixel Sift
What has been happening in the world of triple A games, blockbusters and those cheeky indie smash hits? Join us for our brand new podcast, Mainstream.
Mainstream Episode 2: Pokémon Shield & The Outer Worlds
Gianni tries to catch them all again in Pokémon Shield, and Adam heads out in search of adventure in The Outer Worlds
Episode 135: Matt Trobbiani (Wrestledunk Sports) & Pokémon's impossible legacy
Wrestling, Vollyball and Fencing in Wrestledunk Sports, their first game after smash hit Hacknet from Adelaide's Team Fractal Alligator!
Mainstream Episode 1: Sayonara Wild Hearts & L.A. Noire
Daniel has dug back into LA Noire, and Gianni has been playing Sayonara Wild Hearts!
Episode 134: Muhammad Hanif Bin Ghazali & Tan Kang Soon (Songbird Symphony) & is GDC out of reach?
Rhythm, Platforming and One Small Birb in Songbird Symphony by Singapore's Joysteak Studios
Episode 133: Party Sift 3 LIVE at PAX Australia 2019 with Party Loaded
Pins, lines and heaps of amazing video games, this is Party Sift 3 our Western Australian collaborative episode with Party Loaded.
Episode 132: Josh Tatangelo & Alex Perrin (Heavenly Bodies) & NFSA adds videogames to national archive
Hurtle through space in as you work with your cosmonaut partner to solve problems on you spacecraft in Heavenly Bodies
Episode 131: Maize Wallin & Jason Bakker (Wayward Strand) & Is Kickstarter busting union efforts?
A story set in a floating hospital ship in 1970s rural victoria, Wayward Strand is a game that's all about empathy.
Episode 130: Thomas Janson (Death Hall) & why wishlisting matters
Thomas Janson shares his PAX AUS indie showcase winning game Death Hall. I feel like this might be dangerous...
Episode 129: Jay Armstrong (Never Give Up) & the days are numbered for random loot boxes
MASOCORE! That's the genre for Massive Monster's new game Never Give Up!
Episode 128: Adventures in Interactive Writing - Live at XR:WA
How do you write a narrative when your audience can change the way they experience it? Recorded live at XR:WA 2019
Episode 127: Paul Jakovich (Pico Tanks) & IGEA's "Power of Games" Report
Team up with friends and battle it out in the cute Pico Tanks by Melbourne's Panda Arcade.
Episode 126: Ellie Balson (Crime Scene Finvestigation) & indie devs petition G2A
Ellie Balson designs games from an artist's perspective, making quirky and charming adventure games.
Episode 125: Anthony Sweet, Cabalia & Pika Pi (How do you keep creating? Live at Supanova Perth)
Recorded live at Supanova Perth 2019, how do some of your favourite creators keep creating?
Episode 124: Leon Zawada & Simon Rance (Amid Evil) & the future of gaming is a subscription
What happens if you try to make the perfect 90s shooter with modern technology? Leon & Simon from Indefatigable tried to do just that with their game Amid Evil
Episode 123: Kate Raynes-Goldie & Sof Mather (XR:WA Festival) & have indie games stagnated?
Western Australia gets its very on interactive media festival with XR:WA, Kate Raynes-Goldie & Sof Mather are here to break it down.
Episode 122: Dean Walshe (Void Bastards) & controversy and excitement for Play Date
It's stylish, its tactical, it feels like you're inside a very dangerous comic book, it's Void Bastards by Canberra's Blue Manchu!
Episode 121 Greg Dziemidowicz (VR Regatta) & the return of the Australian Interactive Games Fund
Feel the thrills of tearing through the waves and sea without ever leaving the shore in VR Regatta by Melbourne's MarineVerse.
Episode 120: Hamish Wagstaff (Double Shot) & two very different approaches to crunch
Head back to a past that never was in Double Shot, an 1980s inspired neon cyberpunk VR bartending shooter.
Episode 119: Neil Rennison (Table of Tales) & Neil's storied career in games
Jump inside the gameboard with Tin Man Games' Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown a Playstation VR tabletop game.
Episode 118: Katie Stegs (Critter Clash) & should all games have an easy mode?
How do you turn the ship from marketing & consulting company to full time game developer? Katie Stegs and the team at Lumi Interactive know how.
Episode 117: Matt Sanderson (Mars Underground) & parents spending 34% more on games than last year
What do you get when you combine Earthbound, Monkey Island and Groundhog Day? Mars Underground, a timelooping retro adventure.
Episode 116: Owain Bolt (Dismantle: Contruct Carnage) & game developer job losses around the world
Can you survive in this multiplayer brawler, where every part of your body can be knocked off?
Episode 115: Ian MacLarty (JUMPGRID) & working as a solo developer
It's fast, frantic and a little bit hypnotic, join us as we learn how Ian MacLarty developed his new space action game JUMPGRID!
Episode 114: Aidan McKeown (Paperville Panic) & More than One Way to Launch a Game
Fight fires and more in a town where EVERYTHING burns in Paperville Panic!
Episode 113: Daniel Elston (Guile & Glory: Firstborn) & Hbomberguys massive marathon for Mermaids UK
Tactical strategy game Guile & Glory: Firstborn is the first project for Melbourne based Elston Studios and it's built on a love of tactical and tabletop games.
Episode 112: Brigitta Rena (She and the Light Bearer) & the Great Server Divide
She and the Light Bearer is a storybook tale filled with Indonesian plants, history and culture from Surabaya based Mojiken Studio
Episode 111: Ellen Jurik (Storm Boy: The Game) & Epic's store changes the game
Ellen Jurik of Sydney's Blowfish Studios shares their adaptation of the classic children's novel Storm Boy.
Episode 110: Clinton McCleary (Infliction) & the Australian Senate loot box inquiry
Clinton McCleary's first game Infliction isn't for the faint of heart, but it's definitely a powerful piece of horror storytelling.
Episode 109 Greg Louden (STONE) & Obsidian and inXile - from indie to Acquired
STONE: Is this the first Ozploitation game? Greg Louden of Convict Games thinks so.
Episode 108: Party Sift 2 LIVE at PAX Australia 2018 with Party Loaded
We're teaming up with Party Loaded once again to share some of our favourite parts from PAXAUS 2018!
Episode 107: Zamfir Dumitru (Dawnblade) & Red Dead Redemption 2's 100 hour work weeks
A mobile Diablo style game? It works better than you think according to Zamfir Dimitru who is working on Dawnlade, a game that is just that.
Episode 106: John Robertson (The Dark Room) & participatory culture
John Robertson, comedian and performer joins us this episode as we learn about the Dark Room, his video game adaptation of the YouTube & stage show of the same name, a collaboration with Stirfire Studios.
Episode 105: Locky Betts & Jeff Hayes (Torque Drift) & in game licencing of real products
Jeff and Locky from Grease Monkey Games take us on a ride with Torque Drift, their mobile competitive drift game.
Episode 104: James Koehne & Daniel Spiteri (Hunt 'n Sneak) & crazy lengths to unlock in-game content
Daniel & James from Melbourne's Pixel Engineers join us to share Hunt 'N Sneak their asymetric local multiplayer game of light and shadow.
Episode 103: Aladar Apponyi (Eatvolve) & Audiences make gaming better
Chomp your way to the top in Eatvolve by Melbourne's Aladar Apponyi, and how hard games with an audience are better than hard games on their own.
Episode 102: Sean Simon (Snake Time) & a launcher for every game
What if snake was a turn based puzzle game with time travel? Well now it is with Those Six Faces AKA Sean Simon's Snake Time!
Episode 101: David Lloyd (Regular Human Basketball) & Pre-Order Game Changer
Climb into your giant robot for a normal game of basketball just like humans always do in "Regular Human Basketball" by Melbourne's Powerhoof!
Episode 100: Tim Colwill (Point & Clickbait + Game Workers Unite)
Tim Colwill joins us to talk about how writing satire for his comedy games site Point &Clickbait, and working as a union organiser for Game Workers Unite Australia, both aim to get us to demand a better games industry.
Episode 99: Abi Rahmani (Project Wingman) & Sony's "Epic" Fortnite Lockout
Take to the skies with Abi Rahmani as your co-pilot, as we jump into the cockpit of Project Wingman made in Perth, Western Australia.
Episode 98: Matt Kelly (Molemen Must Die!) & Valve opts out of moderation on Steam
The president is mad about something and he's gone for the nuclear option, luckily Matt Kelly is here from Mokomoto to talk us through it.
Episode 97: Justin Ng (Muffled Warfare & Stifled) & Fortnite's $100,000,000 tournament fund
What you can't see might just kill you, Justin Ng of Singaporean developer Gattai Games is our guest this week as we learn about his echolocation style first person games Muffled Warfare and Stifled.
Episode 96: Ian MacLarty (Dissembler) & the curse of mobile gaming timers
Ian MacLarty makes small fascinating experiential games, and he's here this week to share his puzzle game Dissembler.
Episode 95: Nick McDonnell (The American Dream) & are games are too long?
A gun in every hand, bullets for any and all situations. Nick McDonnell of Samurai Punk takes us on a journey to "The American Dream"
Episode 94: Mike Blackney (Dead Static Drive) & cheating in games
It's described as Grand Theft Cthulhu by its creator and we're digging it. Come for a cruise down the highway with our guest Mike Blackney and keep an eye out for monsters.
Episode 93: Lachlan Juzva (Nova Flow) & Game developer unionisation
Jump through a geometric world at breakneck speed in Nova Flow a speedrunning platformer from Melbourne's Wrecked Angle Studios.
Episode 92: Tim Bermanseder (Witch Thief) & archiving extinct online games
It all started with a Witch, Tim Bermanseder of Cardboard Keep shares with us his upcoming magical bullet (spell?) hell game Witch Thief!
Episode 91: Ally McLean (RUMU) & The Working Lunch mentorship program
Lovable robots of the near future just trying to find a place in this world. Listen to our conversation with Ally McLean of Robot House as we discuss RUMU and "The Working Lunch"