Episode 774: Bitsummit Punch (Patreon)

Hi folks! Diamond here, juggling columns and recording sessions as I plan my summer excursion to New York for family time and Long Island Retro Gaming Expo. In that spirit, here's a podcast all about BitSummit Punch, the 14th* annual indie game festival in Kyoto, Japan.

As with previous BitSummit episodes, I serve as host and interviewer, talking to developers about their upcoming projects and sharing my thoughts about all the games that made an impression on me at the show. Here's a list of my guests this year:

Mason Smith aka Airdorf

Andrés Borghi, creator of Tenebris Somnia

Haley MacLean and Sarah Podzorski at MinnMax

Nolan Joseph at DDDistortion

Liam Berry at Extremely OK Games

Phil Larsen at Unclear Games

And here's a list of all the titles I mention on the air:

Route-16 (Turbo/R)

Hard Edge War Zone

Magical Blush from Brazilian developer Alkacer Game Studio

Digital Exorcist by Cool Beans Productions

Lone Chef by Project Moreum

Inkblood by Hey Bird!

Artis Impact by Mas (solo dev!)

Debug Nephemee by Nephemee Studio

Thanks, Light by Lightersgames

Dreadmoor by Dream Dock

The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time by Lucas Immanuel

There Are No Ghosts at the Grand by Friday Sundae

Escape from Moriarty Mansion by The Men Who Wear Many Hats

Towel Survivors & other Vampire Survivors spinoffs

パクパクれ！NO MORE お菓子泥棒 4DX

that's "Pakupakure! NO MORE Okashi Dōrobō 4DX"

Nowhere Umbrella by WOW

Pain Pain Go Away by Lorebard

FEAR FA 98 by Celery Emblem & Jacob Jazz (from Madrid)

My photos of mascots in attendance inspired John Pading to draw some extraordinary cover art, and I extend my deepest thanks to editor Greg Leahy for stitching together my many recordings into an actual podcast. Music heard in this episode:

12:20 - Faith: The Unholy Trinity: Main Theme

20:15 - Tenebris Somnia: Demo BGM | Route-16 Turbo: Normal Stage

33:00 - Artis Impact: Silverlake Woods

44:15 - Fields of Mistria: Something's Brewing | Thanks, Light.: Teaser

52:28 - There are No Ghosts at the Grand: Skeletons in the Closet

1:01:59 - Nightmare Operator: BitSummit PUNCH Teaser

1:12:16 - Nightmare Operator: Indie Live Expo '24 Trailer | Vampire Survivors: Forest Night Fever

1:25:25 - City of None: Title Theme

1:34:39 - City of None: Teaser

1:46:31 - The Florist: Gameplay Teaser

Closing - Punch-Out!! (2009): Donkey Kong

*technically they had one in 2020 but it was just an online livestream with zero guests so should that count? I say no.