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 141: Josh Sacco (Nom Nom Apocalypse) & COVID-19 virus impact on the games industry
What happens if your lunch tried to eat you? That's exactly what happens in new multiplayer shooter Nom Nom Apocalypse by Melbourne's Deadleaf Games.
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"
Episode 90: Nico King (Rainbow Reef) & Facebook pivots to game streaming
Build a beautiful underwater garden and learn more about our precious reefs in Rainbow Reef by Chaos Theory Games.
Episode 89: Matthew Clark (The Gardens Between) & the Aus Senate inquiry into game development
Take a journey with Arina and Frendt as the explore surreal nostalgic worlds in The Gardens Between!
Episode 88: Roman Maksymyschyn (Hyper Jam) & esports leagues, and partnership with traditional sport
Strap into your DeLorean we're heading to the neo soaked retro eighties inspired streets of Hyper Jam with Roman Maksymyschyn of Melbourne's Bit Dragon.
Episode 87: Morgan Jaffit (Hand of Fate 2) & couch co-op games don't sell
Combining RPG, Tabletop and action elements Hand of Fate 2 builds on what Morgan Jaffit and the team at Defiant Development achieved when creating the original game.
Episode 86: Live at Perth Games Festival 2017 - Exhibiting your very first game
We're back for another live episode at Perth Games Festival and this year we're speaking with some early career developers from our home state of Western Australia.
Episode 85: Travers Dunkinson (HEIST) + Domestic Violence In Games
Travers Dunkinson of Melbourne's Atomizer Games joins us this week to talk all about his stealth cat burglar game, HEIST.
Episode 84: Dylan J. Walker (Elden: Path of the Forgotten), lootboxes ruined Battlefront II
Dylan J. Walker, Creative Director and developer from ONERAT GAMES joins us this week.
Episode 83: Ed Orman (City of Brass) + neural networks, AI & gaming
Ed Orman from Uppercut Games joined us to discuss his latest game, City of Brass, a Rogue-lite FPS that pays tribute to the Arabian Knights tale of the same name.
Episode 82: Pixel Sift & Party Loaded live from PAX Australia
We hit the floor of PAXAUS 2017 to record a special collaborative episode with fellow Perth podcasters, Party Loaded!
Episode 81: Simon Boxer (Bounce House) & Loot Boxes and Crates: Games as a service
Simon Boxer of Twice Different joins us this week to talk about making his brand new mobile game, Bounce House, a colourful endless runner style side scroller.
Episode 80: Peter Curry (Mini Metro), Sony holding back on cross platform play & gaming skill elitism and toxicity
We sit down with Peter Curry, a Programmer & Designer from Dinosaur Polo Club, developers of Mini Metro. Mini Metro is a subway planning puzzle game, that puts the fun in fundamental transport logistics, with a great procedurally generated soundtrack and a fantastic minimalist design.
Episode 79: Michael Chu (Projection) & should reviewers be good at games?
Michael Chu of Sydney’s Shadowplay Studios joined us to discuss his upcoming game Projection, being selected for the PAX Australia Indie Showcase, and rebuilding from scratch.
Episode 78: Jak Gem & Matthew Sear (Collateral Damage) & indie dev steam pricing is too low
Collateral Damage is a multiplayer area brawler featuring a cast of unique characters and diverse fighting styles and Perth’s very own Matthew Sears and Jak Gem from Artisans Games joined us this week.
Episode 77: Interview with Christy Dena (Crafting Intangibles Event) & Remakes over risky new IPs?
Christy Dena a writer, designer and director at Universe Creation 101 joined us to talk about her online event “Crafting Intangibles“, a free online interactive writing event which you can watch online now.
Episode 76: Interview with Ian Gregory (Masquerada: Song & Shadows) & esports on Australian TV
Ian Gregory, Creative Director at Singaporean based Witching Hour Studios, speaks to us this week about his newest project Masquarada: Songs and Shadows.
Episode 75: Anthony Sweet & Paul Turbett (Battlestar Galactica Deadlock), Netflix for games, playing as not intended
Paul Turbett and Anthony Sweet from Black Lab Games who are based in Perth talked to us about their latest project Battlestar Galactica Deadlock and we asked what it is like to be responsible for the new game adaptation of one of the most beloved science fiction series ever and how to write a game in an established universe.
Episode 74: Joel Styles & Cheryl Vance (Yonder: The Cloudcatcher Chronicles), console marketing & demographics
Cheryl Vance & Joel Styles of Brisbane's Prideful Sloth join us to talk about Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles their peaceful exploration game.
Episode 73: Adric Polkinghorne (Think of the Children), completionism & the end of GTA V mods?
Adric Polkinghorne has to spend a lot of time thinking about how kids can get themselves into strife, and he joins us this week to talk about his new game Think of the Children!
Episode 72: Jay Armstrong & Julian Wilton (The Adventure Pals), Steam Direct and right to repair.
International team Massive Monster's Jay Armstrong & Julian Wilton jump on the line to talk about their game The Adventure Pals which has grown out of the flash games of Newgrounds.
Episode 71: David Clark (Ori and the Blind Forest), Bad Guy Valve? & You’re playing it wrong
David Clark programmed the indie darling Ori and the Blind Forest right here in Western Australia while working as an international team spread throughout the globe.
Episode 70: Interview with Dr Jennifer Hazel: Checkpoint, games & mental health
Games and how they relate to mental health has always been a hot topic and this week we speak to Dr Jennifer Hazel about how her organisation Checkpoint aims to help promote positive outcomes.
Episode 69: Sean Gabriel & Travis Avery (DESYNC), customisation vs story & frustum culling frustration
Jump into this synthwave shooter designed for score attack and emulates competive online shooters for a singleplayer environment.
Episode 68: Nick Smith (Forts), G2A 💔 Gearbox & Persona 5 Streaming and Intellectual Property
Build higher and stronger in Forts by Brisbane's EarthWork Games, a vertical real time strategy game.
Episode 67: Andrew Freeth (Brief Battles), exclusivity effect & games that endure
Pull on your comfy underdacks and join us for a fun chat with Andrew Freeth of Adelaide's Juicy Cupcake.
Episode 66: “Why do you create?” – Live at Oz Comic Con 2017
In our second live episode from Oz Comic Con Perth we ask some local developers why they create games, and what drives them to finish them.
Episode 65: Ash Ringrose (Death Squared), Rumblemonkey P2P Gambling & the power of INFLUENCE
Ash Ringrose of Sydney's SMG Studio talks all about making his cooperative puzzle game Death Squared.
Episode 64: Daniel Sun (Armed With Wings: Rearmed), Nintendo Switch DOA or dynamite & dangers of marathon gaming
Armed With Wings; Rearmed is a black and white fast paced platformer that draws from and builds on the legacy of games that were featured on legendary game site Newgrounds.
Episode 63: Justine Colla (A Township Tale), US travel ban & games and Steam Direct
Join us as we speak to Justine Colla of Alta as she tells us all about their new multiplayer VR sandbox game A Township Tale.
Episode 62: Yosha Noesjirwan (Inflatality), the end of Good Game & sequels that change direction
Wacky wobbly noodlemen deathmatches in Inflatality by Hojo Studios and Deepforged Studios
Episode 61: Jack Knobel (Kieru), the last console generation & online platforms to success
Move through light and shade in ninja deathmatch game Kieru, Jack Knobel joins us this week to share how he and Pinefire Studios made it.
Episode 60: Alberto Santiago (Goat Punks), Twitch IRL + the end of region locking
Bounce your way to the top of the tower with Alberto Santiago developer of Goat Punks a hilarious local multiplayer game where you battle to see who is king of the mountain.
Episode 59: Sam Izzo (Resynth), licence liquidation & the value of “Game of the Year”
Step sequence puzzler Resynth is our feature and developer and musician Sam Izzo joins us this week to talk all about it.
Episode 58: Ellen Jurik (Siegecraft Commander), contractor pay disputes & loot box odds
Ellen Jurik of Sydney's Blowfish Studios joins us this week to talk about producing games and their new title Siegecraft Commander an innovative console real time strategy game.
Episode 57: John Kane (Mallow Drops), social media fandom & the last days of the game over
Rotate the world in John Kane's Mallow Drops a sokoban style puzzle, and he joins us this week to tell us all about them.
Episode 56: James Cook (Crazy Coasters: Rainbow Road), Starcraft 2 and AI development & game localisation
Guide cute critters to their death on the worst carnival ride of their lives in Crazy Coasters: Rainbow Road, and developer James Cook joins us this week.
Episode 55: Jack Condon (Kept), streamer sponsor transparency & trade sanction shutdowns
Enter the immersive narrative world of Kept with lead developer Jack Condon from Sydney's S1T2.
Episode 54: Tom Booker & Lincoln Flintoft (Barking Irons), Facebook’s Gameroom & “Australia Tax”
Quick draw swipe shooter Barking Irons is a pixelly western adventure perfect for playing on the go, and Tom & Lincoln from Sleepyhead Studios join us this week to talk about how it came together.
Episode 53: Gustav Seymore (Goblins of Elderstone), SAG-AFTRA Strike & Nintendo Switch announcement
Build your own village of goblins and use them to take over the world in Goblins of Elderstone and Gustav Seymore of Lost Goblin joins us this week to tell us all about it.
Episode 52: Ken Johnson (Starlost), game currency laundering & mysterious treasure hunts
Blast your way through space with Western Australian made shooter Starlost, and developer Ken Johnson joins us in the studio live!