Hello again! This is a continuation of a series of audio podcasts, featuring myself and other independent developers.
Each episode will feature a different developer, and the format will be more like a sprawling conversation than a formal interview. Topics covered will vary depending on the developer in question, but some of the same topics will pop up with many of the guests. I’ll also interject some of my own opinions and views into the discussion.
Why am I doing this? Personally, I’m very interested in how other developers work. What motivates them? How do they deal with criticism? What do they find meaningful about games? (if anything?) What are the stories behind the development of their projects? I hope to learn a lot, and also help spread more knowledge around.
Chris Van Yperen is an unusual guest for a couple reasons. He’s the first guest on the show who I haven’t met in person yet, and he has worked (and still works) in the mainstream game industry.
Chris actually works both the indie and mainstream angles simultaneously. Seeing as he was torn between two worlds, I was curious to find out what startling differences and striking similarities he had observed.
Chris also brings up the topic of MMOs, providing a slightly different perspective from the one usually heard on the show. He discusses his initial approach to marketing his indie game and how it didn’t work out the way he had hoped. (at least, not at first) We launch into a lot of other interesting topics on game design and personal stories.
We also talk a bit about Marian, touching on the 3D to 2D post and the ideas of “self-doubt” and “validation.”
Developer Name: Chris Van Yperen
Location: Vancouver, BC
Website: http://www.timetrap.se/
You can listen to the podcast here:
Podcast Download → Episode 10 – Chris Van Yperen [2:20:15]
WIP RSS feed up here:
http://infiniteammo.ca/podcast.rss
Feedback Welcome!
Please post your thoughts below, or on the brand new Podcast thread. Thanks! 
Interested in being on the podcast? Post in the comments and let me know what you’ve been up to. 
Tweets that mention Infinite Ammo » Blog Archive » Podcast 10 – Chris Van Yperen -- Topsy.com wrote a Pingback on February 23, 2011 at 6:00 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Infinite Ammo, kyle pulver and Alex Camilleri, Chris T Geehan. Chris T Geehan said: RT @infinite_ammo: Hey ladies and dudes, there's a new #InfiniteAmmoPodcast up http://bit.ly/eyIgpF with a dude who works in MAINSTREAM … [...]
Christian Knudsen wrote a Comment on February 23, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Awesome! Looking forward to listening to it!
esque wrote a Comment on February 24, 2011 at 3:39 am
it doesn’t show up in the iTunes feed.
mrKaizen wrote a Comment on February 25, 2011 at 2:28 am
it doesn’t show up also in the rss.
Please make it available on iTunes as soon as possible
Alec Holowka wrote a Comment on February 25, 2011 at 3:32 am
Updating the RSS feed now.
Thanks for the reminder.
Plaid Phantom wrote a Comment on February 25, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Really insightful podcast, guys. What you said about Western ideas of company responsibility were right on the mark. I suspect that those attitudes are behind a lot of the problems in our economies and corporate cultures.
Also, I would TOTALLY play a musical game. I’m imagining something a bit like the Final Fantasy VI opera scene expanded to a whole musical with branching song lyrics.
Plaid Phantom wrote a Comment on February 25, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Actually, I would love to write that game, too.
ExciteMike wrote a Comment on February 25, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Hmm. Didn’t you guys say that people shouldn’t keep doing sequels just moments after you were saying how you hate GDC talks where people tell other people how they should make games?
I don’t bring it up to be like “hey you’re a hypocrite”. I know you aren’t actually trying to tell people how to make their games, you’re just lamenting something you are a little tired of and encouraging a direction that you’d prefer people to go. I’m thinking that the people who annoyed you only meant to do that same thing?
Marlene wrote a Comment on February 26, 2011 at 12:20 am
Way to go Chris!
Alec Holowka wrote a Comment on February 26, 2011 at 7:57 am
8: You may be right, although I’m pretty sure I wasn’t trying to say “don’t make sequels” in this podcast. I actually like a lot of games that are sequels.
I think there are some types of games that I would discourage people from making, but only if I was thinking of a particular project.
e.g. I wouldn’t want to tell someone with 100% certainty “you should never ever make an MMO” but if we’re talking about someone who is making their first game ever, I’d really want to ask them some questions to see if they understand what might be involved in making an MMO and that it might not be the best idea for a first project. Why? Because you can learn a lot by finishing a project and releasing it, and full-scale MMOs are really hard to finish. MMOs also involve a lot of tech and setup that take away time from just messing around with game play mechanics and trying out new stuff.
However, if they’re idea of an MMO was something they could finish (or if it turned out they had the capability of producing such a game) I wouldn’t be interested in trying to dissuade them just because I don’t particularly like that genre.
Cool wrote a Comment on March 5, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Hello,
I was wondering do you have any plans on bringing Marian to PSN? I think it would make for a great NGP or PS3 game. I have no idea how hard it is to bring games to PSN. So I am not sure if it is possible to bring that game to either those systems or not. But if you could I would really enjoy that. Because it would be great to be able to play the game on the go or at home. Also if you ever do decide to make PSN games too would you ever bring out the past games Infinite Ammo brought out before?
Thanks & have a great day.
Gabriel Verdon wrote a Comment on March 9, 2011 at 1:39 am
Regarding the MMO discussion, I have three words: Haven and Hearth. Indie as shit, and the most compelling MMO I have ever played in my entire life.
Kyle wrote a Comment on February 29, 2012 at 10:53 pm
This is the most insightful episode I’ve listened to yet. I really think you and Chris jelled together, you should totally invite him on again!