It's easy to assume that amazing indie games like Gunpoint, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Ape Out, and Into the Breach were designed in a flash of inspiration. But that's not true - find out how these games came to be in this episode of Game Maker's Toolkit.

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Sources

[1] Ape Out: The Story of an Indie Game | Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/126966205

[2] Into the Breach Design Postmortem | GDC Vault (Free)
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1025772/-Into-the-Breach-Design

[3] Crashlands: Design by Chaos | GDC Vault (Free)
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1025346/-Crashlands-Design-by

[4] The Rhythms and Layers of Ryan Clark (Crypt of the Necrodancer) | The Spelunky Showlike
https://thespelunkyshowlike.libsyn.com/website/38-the-rhythms-and-layers-of-ryan-clark

[5] Game Design Deep Dive: Rocket jumping in Rocket League | Gamasutra
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/251633/Game_Design_Deep_Dive_Rocket_jumping_in_Rocket_League.php

[6] Electronic Gaming Monthly Issue 149
No scan available

[7] Dealing with Scope Change in Heat Signature and Gunpoint | GDC Vault (Free)
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1024932/Dealing-with-Scope-Change-in

[8] Truth in Game Design (Braid) | GDC Vault (Free)
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1014982/Truth-in-Game

[9] Luck and Listening in Game Design (Spy Party) | Chris Hecker on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvcm3uUbzAw

[10] The Design of Subnautica | GDC Vault (Free)
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1025745/The-Design-of-Subnautica

[11] Game Developer Magazine Volume 19 / Number 12 | Archived at GD Archive
http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_December_2012.pdf

[12] Baba is You creator, Arvi Teikari | The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook
https://podbay.fm/podcast/1313004515/e/1590984000

[13] Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Iwata Asks
http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/supermariogalaxy2/1/3

[14] Don't Starve: Creating Community Around an Antisocial Game | GDC Vault (Free)
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020547/Don-t-Starve-Creating-Community

[15] An Experimental Approach to Interactive Entertainment (Journey) | GDC Vault (Free)
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1019683/An-Experimental-Approach-to-Interactive

Games shown in this episode (in order of appearance)

Ape Out (Gabe Cuzzillo, 2019)
Dead Cells (Motion Twin, 2018)
Furi (The Game Bakers, 2016)
Into the Breach (Subset Games, 2018)
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic, 2020)
Untitled Goose Game (House House, 2019)
Crypt of the NecroDancer (Brace Yourself Games, 2015)
Spelunky (Derek Yu, 2012)
Rocket League (Psyonix, 2015)
Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars (Psyonix, 2008)
Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo, 2013)
Team Fortress 2 (Valve Corporation, 2007)
Onimusha: Warlords (Capcom, 2001)
Devil May Cry (Capcom, 2001)
Gunpoint (Suspicious Developments, 2013
Braid (Number None, 2008)
SpyParty (Chris Hecker, 2018)
Subnautica (Unknown Worlds Entertainment, 2018)
Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions, 2020)
Heat Signature (Suspicious Developments, 2017)
Thief: The Dark Project (Looking Glass Studios, 1998)
Hollow Knight (Team Cherry, 2017)
Superhot (SUPERHOT Team, 2013)
Titan Souls (Acid Nerve, 2015)
Snake Pass (Sumo Digital, 2017)
Baba is You (Hempuli, 2019)
Katana Zero (Askiisoft, 2019)
Dreams (Media Molecule, 2020)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo, 2010)
Don't Starve (Klei Entertainment, 2013)
Journey (thatgamecompany, 2012)

Music used in this episode

Music provided by Music Vine - https://musicvine.com/
Credits music by animeistrash

Other credits

Ape Out - Launch Trailer | Nintendo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSMp4DRDqgQ

#11 Crashlands I.H.O. | [TLX] byElmerox1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxHdzDEjziQ

Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars | Stranno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2YJzP_35Lg

The BEST Way To Improve Your Aerial Car Control In Rocket League | Thanovic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_7VLNiHgY8

Meet the Spy | Valve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR4N5OhcY9s

Onimusha: Warlords All Samanosuke Weapons | D3PY Gaming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ3cHbcnYnM

Devil May Cry HD - Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 | Shirrako
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGiqJYjiaAk

the_usual_toaster vs. YtterbiJum: Week 4 | SpyParty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGiqJYjiaAk

Making Baba Is You,what is this? by Arvi Teikari Hempuli | Gamelab Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eTFea_UZcc

Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 4K 60FPS [HD Texture Pack] | ItsLui
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhQP0JTZJOI

Subnauticas PROTOTYPES! | Aci
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwWkAxzXxeQ