Get to know the people that make great videogames
I’d like to pay Richard Hofmeier to talk to me about videogames. During last week’s Sup Holmes (now on iTunes), he told me about so many great things, like the free online “game” Geoguessr, surrealist interactive text auteur Porpentine‘s plans to “destroy everything” at the next GDC, design deconstruction delight Candy Box, and loads of other neat junk. In my mind, he is a Ph.D in Interesting Videogame Things, sort of in the same way Bill Cosby is a Ph.D in… something maybe. He’s make a great sweater Dad.
Though Richard seemed more interested in talking about other things than himself, I did manage to wrangle some self disclosure out of the man. We talked about his humble beginnings as a fan of Little Computer People, his days designing phone book ads, the surprise the success of Cart Life, his guilt over bugs that may actually be features, including his brother in the game, the budding social class distinctions in gaming culture, and tons more.
He also showed off some of his his next release, an adventure into fine dining called Blood of the Ortolan. It sounds like an exploration of the concepts of economy, social class, value, sensuality, and self-disgust are all on the menu, though that’s just my interpretation. It could be that the game is just about eating and talking to people. You’ll have to play it yourself to find out.
Thanks again to Richard for joining us on the show, and tune in this Sunday at 1pm PST/4pm EST when we welcome Lone Survivor‘s Jasper Byrne back to the program. It’s going to be terrifying.
