Hm!

Fortune’s Foundation from the Zachtronics Solitaire Collection is my most recent, so I guess it’s no surprise I’m the happiest with it. I was trying to get a sound that was mysterious but still mildly upbeat. I like how it ended up with a twisty turny feel that goes well with its tarot-themed solitaire variant.

As a run-up I think I’d pick Patience (Shenzhen Solitaire) from SHENZHEN I/O. It was the first “solitaire track” I did. Listening to it now, it’s a bit simple, but I do still like how airy and clear-headed it is.

I had been corresponding with a friend who’d been playing a recent version of No Man’s Sky and comparing it to my experience playing it just after it’d been released. We both talked about how the added layers of “gaminess” or game mechanics affect the overall feeling of the game, and then we talked about Noctis, a much older series of exploration-only games created by a man named Alessandro Ghignola, who has since apparently become a recluse, I suppose in keeping with the dream of being utterly alone in a vast universe.

I have played Tyrian! At least, a long time ago. I wasn't thinking about it specifically when writing 20th Century Food Court, but it likely informed me subconsciously, since we were absolutely going for that certain offbeat 90's feel that a lot of games from this time featured. It's also possible Kyle, the artist who drew the portraits, was influenced by Tyrian more directly. I could ask him. In general it's always good to have a portrait of a funny little guy next to some words... that's my pro game dev tip.

I don't personally have a favorite, though I did enjoy this one, where a working therapist played Eliza and reacted to all the bogus AI therapy the game makes you do.

I asked Zach if he has any, and the one that came to mind for him was an old-school forum style Let's Play of SHENZHEN I/O, completely in character as the engineer you play in the game, with lots of explanations and interaction from other posters. It's called (Warning: Something Awful link) Shenzhen I/O: The Engineer's Blog, and it's also archived here if you just want the main thread (and/or don't want to go to SA): SHENZHEN I/O by Quackles