The Secret Lives of Games

We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Funomena, No Goblin, A Good Videogame) and Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games) to discuss VESPER.5; a durational, tile-based exploration game. It's the sixth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough.
This episode: VESPER.5
Next episode: Become a Great Artist
Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:
868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/ 
https://finji.itch.io/868-back 
Michael Brough's Website
https://www.smestorp.com/ 
All Systems Brough - A Chat with Michael
https://secretlives.games/website/all-systems-brough-a-chat-with-michael 
VESPER.5
http://mightyvision.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vesper5.html 
THE LONGING
https://store.steampowered.com/app/893850/THE_LONGING/ 
Road to the IGF: Michael Brough's VESPER.5 (Article about GDC showcase of VESPER.5)
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/road-to-the-igf-michael-brough-s-i-vesper-5-i- 
Super Friendship Club VESPER.5 Forum
https://web.archive.org/web/20160407200028/http://superfriendshipclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=618 
Meaning through repetition (reflection on releasing VESPER.5)
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/meaning-through-repetition.html 
GDC 2013 - Interview with Michael Brough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqSV6f137M 
Pippin Barr on VESPER.5
https://web.archive.org/web/20170711093026/http://www.pippinbarr.com/2012/08/14/you-should-play-vesper-5/ 
Michael Brouge's VESPER.6 by Joel Goodwin
https://www.electrondance.com/michael-brouges-vesper-6/
Gardens of Time: Design Problem Solving
https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2931 
Steve Reich - Section I (Slowed Down 800%) - Ambient / Minimalism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AMpfdbc7U 
EXPERIMENT 12 Anthology
https://www.geocities.ws/experimenttwelve/ 
145: Addressing Memory with Plunderludics 
https://secretlives.games/145-addressing-memory-with-plunderludics 
i heard you like videogames
https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2366 
scarfmemory
https://www.smestorp.com/scarfmemory.html 
Post-Future Vagabond
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/11/post-future-vagabond.html 
Bending the River
https://www.metabolicstudio.org/653 
The Old Timey Computer Show
https://otcs.minuspoint.com/ 
Inferno by Boards of Canada
https://boardsofcanada.bandcamp.com/album/inferno 
imagineNATIVE Festival
https://imaginenative.org/
STAY SHARP // Rogue Skin Reveal Trailer - VALORANT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1u1kUdDOys 
Rushing Beat Trilogy
https://www.chronocrash.com/forum/threads/rushing-beat-trilogy.5208/ 
THE GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE: The Thirty-Year Game
https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023124/THE-GAME-DESIGN-CHALLENGE-The 
 

https://secretlives.games/ 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14). 
Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 9 - the Reunion / Reveal! How did The Mole do it?
Thanks for listening this season!
Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more.
Links:
Thanks Robin for our Mol guessing game website! Tip him here:
https://ko-fi.com/rbnvi
Every Game in this City podcast (S1, which includes Laura, Jey, Doug)
https://soundcloud.com/idlethumbs/sets/every-game-in-this-city
Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol)
https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol
TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel
https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel
TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series
https://www.patreon.com/tslog
 
https://secretlives.games 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by Michael Brough himself for a bonus chat on the thrilling occasion of 868-BACK's release day. Don't worry, we don't spoil the new game at all (except to say it's fantastic! Go buy it now on Steam!!) We discuss Michael's journey to this launch day, how his process for making art has and hasn't changed over the years, how he's learned to care for himself creatively and otherwise amidst periods of illness, how he does (and doesn't) draw connections between artistic mediums, and his impressions of our series so far, among other reflections from his development career. 
This (bonus) episode: A Chat with Michael!
Next episode: VESPER.5
Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.
Discussed in this episode:
868-BACK (Out now!! Just go buy it!!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/ 
Michael Brough's Website
https://www.smestorp.com/ 
Quinns Quest Reviews: Stonetop!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH5-uQj4uOA
Forbidden Solitaire
https://greyaliengames.com/forbiddensolitaire/index.php 
Titanium Court
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/Titanium_Court/ 
Amberspire
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3350750/Amberspire/ 

https://secretlives.games/ 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14). 
Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 8 - the Finale! The Mole is finally unmasked.
That's about it for tourist season in Portgual (though big wave season starts around November!) but we'll be back next week for the Ep 9 reunion in Belgium.
Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us.
Links:
Thanks Robin for our Mol guessing game website! Tip him here:
https://ko-fi.com/rbnvi
Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol)
https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol
TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel
https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel
TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series
https://www.patreon.com/tslog
 
https://secretlives.games 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14). 
Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 7. Who is the Mole, and how does this elimination echo last season's Final Four?
Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us.
Links:
Danny Hawk - Folk Games, Flash Communities and Tiktok
https://newrules.website/2021/01/12/danny-hawk-folk-games-flash-communities-and-tiktok/
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3giaIzONA
Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol)
https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol
TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel
https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel
TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series
https://www.patreon.com/tslog
 
https://secretlives.games 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog