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42 – Cryptmaster – Paul Hart & Lee Williams – UK & New Zealand openindie – your indie game podcast

Sarah sits down with Lee Williams, one half of the duo behind Cryptmaster, the word-based dungeon crawler that mixes 80s gamebook visuals with dark humor into one of the year’s most original RPGs.Lee talks about his journey from teacher to game writer, voicing the Cryptmaster himself, and collaborating remotely with co-developer Paul Hart across time zones. Expect behind-the-scenes stories such as the placeholder voice that became permanent, a bug that turned into a sea witch summoning feature, and a collectible card game that unexpectedly became a fan favorite.He also offers advice for fellow indie developers, and gives a sneak peek at what is next: a wizards’ tower simulator packed with puzzles and twisted humor, along with possible updates for Cryptmaster including a New Game Plus mode.Episode Timestamps:Intro: 0:00 How Lee feels about the release of Cryptmaster: 1:12 The gameplay of Cryptmaster: 2:07 How Paul and Lee came up with the idea: 5:39 The voice and character of the Cryptmaster: 10:34 Why talking with the Cryptmaster feels natural: 15:17 Choosing the art style of the game: 23:12 Lee's favorite feature: 26:03 It's not a bug, it's a feature!: 29:38 How Lee got started as a game developer: 33:41 Magic moment in game development: 41:05 Best part / worst part of making your own game: 42:05 Lessons learned while being a game developer: 44:37 How Paul and Lee organize their work together: 46:17 Are there plans for a game studio?: 49:48 Game development scene in the UK: 51:38 How the Cryptmaster found its publisher: 53:27 Lee's advice for fellow game developers: 55:45 First details about Lee's and Paul's next game: 57:27 Outro: 1:00:32As always, have fun listening! If you like what we do, tell your friends (and enemies) about us.
  1. 42 – Cryptmaster – Paul Hart & Lee Williams – UK & New Zealand
  2. #41 – qualia – CMY2K – USA
  3. #40 – Skogdal – Kirkebøe Brothers – Norway
  4. #39 – Desktop Explorer – Recurring Dream – Mexico
  5. #38 – Lily's World XD – SonderingEmily – USA
  6. #37 – The Old One – Creative Waste – USA
  7. #36 – Keep Driving – YCJY Games – Sweden
  8. #35 – Favorites & Wishlists 2024 – with Sarah & iV
  9. #34 – Flocking Hell – Sextant Studios – Elli – USA
  10. #33 – Ballionaire – newobject – USA

Games we played and talked about on our show

Explore our podcast episodes featuring handpicked indie games, endorsed wholeheartedly by the openindie team. Click on the game covers to delve into the developers’ stories, and don’t forget to share your thoughts with us. Your voice matters in our indie gaming community!

About Us

Hey, it’s Sarah and Iv! Thrilled you stopped by our gaming hub, openindie!

We’re lifelong gamers on a mission: uncovering the secrets of game creation. Join us as we dive deep into indie developers’ journeys, sharing their triumphs and challenges.

Ever wondered how they overcome hurdles or if they receive support from their countries? We’re finding out!

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