Making Animal Well as a Solo Game Developer | AIAS Game Maker's Notebook Podcast

[@templeislandriven]

Amazing talk. I don't know why but at times I got emotional just for the success of Billy with this game that is one of the most earnest games I've played. Animal Well is the type of game that makes me love this medium so much. Video games is an industry, but it's also expression, creativity, discovery and INTERACTIVITY. Thanks Billy and thanks Trent for the great interview!

[@ah_fascinating]

I bought the game after the interview, both because the game looks brilliant, and I respect Billy's design values so know the game will be a substantially rich experience.

[@FilthyCasualPleb]

Thanks for the long talk! Always nice to hear Billys insights on the creation of Animal Well, it's such a gem of a game.

[@DanSanderson]

This is great! I didn't expect to watch all of a four-hour interview, let alone enjoy it so much. Thank you!

[@reapicus557]

Thank you so very much for this interview! From 5 minutes into the game I wanted to know how the single dev did it. I’m so grateful. 😀

[@mattp8665]

Excellent excellent interview. Billy is an inspiration, what clout to stick to it for such a long period of time and bring out the amazing game that is Animal Well. Really comprehensive interview too, I think Trent did a wonderful job here... I got everything I wanted from this one. Thanks gents, well done!

[@JetSimon]

I appreciated that you guys had a good back and forth. Not sure what Brian is on about. Thanks for uploading such a long and interesting talk!

[@metalgunnerapoorva]

Billy is charmingly modest but exudes such a sense of calm self-assuredness and competence that I'm confident this will be the first of many successes. Loved the game, and delighted for him. Great interview. Also 'Trent Kusters' and 'Billy Basso' sound like names for crude stereotype characters for your respective nationalities in an 80s arcade fighting game.

[@vampeluso]

Amazing interview! Loved the talk, big fan of Billy's work!

[@FlatThumb]

I just completed Animal Well (not 100% - sue me) and highly recommend. I am sad the adventure is over and look forward to more Billy Basso games. Congrats!

[@23edsa]

Apparently Ive been working with Billy as a part of an outsource team, both for mobile fighting games AND level X, I wonder if thats through him or through his friend that invited him there. No offence to host, I barely listened for an hour so far, but you need to learn not to interrupt people you interview. So far your bits would have had same value if they were a comment after Billy finishes his thought, but interrupts stop him half way and then you guys switch to the next train of thought

[@KhalilArafan]

Thanks for the, well, well of insights haha super happy for Billy, can't wait to have at it.

[@thetuningroom]

An hour in, and this is a great interview so far.

[@Cainenghis]

You did a fantastic job at keeping the guest engaged, loved the interview!

[@nintendude794]

1:41:41 would love to know Billy’s thoughts on Furnace tracker and the possibility of implementing support for its tracker files as opposed to MIDI or OGG

[@nintendude794]

1:53:53 I think ConcernedApe also uses Reaper for Stardew and Haunted Chocolatier

[@Jegber]

Hey Trent, I really want to like this podcast! But please stop interjecting on _every_ _single_ _question_ ! It's getting painful to listen to at some points because you won't let your guest just talk and finish his thoughts. Billy is such a wealth of insight and you keep talking over him!!!!! Your strength as an interviewer should be in getting the other person to talk and bringing out THEIR thoughts. You're obviously great at getting really awesome and interesting guests on your podcast, so please let them shine! Thanks!!!

[@SR-ti6jj]

I heard he wrote Animal Well in Assembly with no macros

[@maxelized]

I tought one of his main inspiration was Knytt Story, turns out it is house on the rock

[@toneffx]

Wow! 🎉🎉🎉

[@scoundrel_studios]

3:40:50 till the end… That Part 🙏

[@luqnotperfect]

Who is the interviewer here? Let billy talk pleaseeee

[@briankelso8885]

Trent you need to let the FEATURED guest talk. At least give them 10 seconds unimpeded.

[@trentkusters]

Appreciate the feedback! Thanks! Will definitely take that on board.

[@nintendude794]

@@trentkusters noticed the same thing in the Penny’s Big Breakaway interview

[@JakeCollinge]

didn't feel as bad as this comment implied, tbh. It is longform.

[@trentkusters]

@@nintendude794 Cool, thanks Hunter! Will have a relisten to that ep too. :)

[@Grogeous_Maximus]

He does, though. The back and forth seems pretty well balanced to me.

[@thenamelessdev]

So many ads, really breaks the flow of listening

[@MerryMac1000]

There's some good stuff in here but holy shit that host is making me put this in the "Do not recommend channel" column. The channel sounds like it's trying to hold onto the coattails of GMTK but missing the point entirely.

[@radikalbeats]

the fake laughing is so annoying

[@myselfayush007]

It's a necessary skill and a very natural skill people learn to keep the vibe and the conversation going and not make things awkward. It comes from a place of understanding.

[@DD-co1zn]

10 mins in ... Does the host calm down at some point ? Dude keeps busting his hole laughing at the tiniest little references to pretty common gamer stuff. "I drew sonic when i was a child" - HAHAHA ... "I played mario when i was a child" - HAHAHA .... jesus wept.