The Original Peggle Master: Ace Rothstein - Part 1

Ultra Extreme Peggle Grand Master: Ace Rothstein - Part 2

Steve, Isaac and Ace return for a scorching Part 2 discussion about Magic Powers, Zen Balls, game names, art styles, wild adventures and more Peggle and video game programming nerd stuff than a stick can be shaken at -- all these and more are talked about in this astounding episode. Rejoice! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast 00:19  Hello and Welcome 01:25  Previously On... 02:15  We Got a Hit On Our Hands 03:57  Magic Powers Need Identities 05:06  Zen Ball 07:39  Pego Mastery 11:28  Controlling the Bucket 13:53  A Game Called Peggle 14:24  Our Peggle's Better 15:53  How To Create A Peggle Level 24:24  White Room 25:13  Walked Out 30:59  An Original Idea 34:39  Art Style - Walter Wilson 39:12  Wild Adventuers and Stories 49:40  GoBit.com 50:10  Basically Burger Shop 54:43  Scoring Systems 56:33  Speedrunning 58:38  Ultra Extreme Grand Master 59:31  Replays 1:00:45  Everything Is Feeling Good 1:02:59  It's Better When Other People Like It LINKS Gobit Games http://gobit.com

The Original Peggle Master: Ace Rothstein - Part 1

Isaac and Steve are hyped to chat with original Peggle programmer Ace "Brian" Rothstein. Chatstuff includes working for Sierra Online, how Ace and the various PopCap founders met, several unpublished games, and a goodly chunk of a deep deep dive into the glory that is Peggle. Check it out! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast 00:19  Hello, Greetings and Bonjour 00:50  Ace "Brian" Rothstein 03:39  I Call Myself a Programmer 10:53  Sierra Online 13:53  How I Became Ace 17:46  Early PopCap 21:32  Ready to Join the Good Guys 25:00  Circle Shoot (Zuma) 34:16  Deep Thoughts 37:32  Punch Patrol 42:38  Foxy Poker 44:57  Peggle 54:06  That Fever Moment 1:02:20  The Brilliance of Peggle 1:02:39  Until Next Time

Producing Plants vs. Zombies: MLJ - Part 2

Isaac and Steve circle back to more salty goodness with Producer Matthew Lee Johnston.  Discover how PvZ2 made the transition to Fremium, what EA CEO John Riccitello said to MLJ, plenty about game jams and indie games inside indie games, Make-a-Wish projects and oh so much more. Tune in... if you dare! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast 00:19  Greetings and welcome 00:39  Previously on... 03:11  PvZ2 Rapid Iteration Mode 05:32  Time Travel 07:53  Plant Food 11:59  Consumables 13:34  Fremium 16:57  My Kid Had This Great Idea 19:32  "Matt's really kinda f**kin' up, right?" 21:23  Business People Masquerading as Creative People 24:01  Back-stabby Ladder Climbing 27:47  Knock a Muthaf**ker Out 30:22  When 4th and Battery Got Killed 30:32  What Is 4th and Battery 35:41  Allied Star Police 39:18  Pop Camp 43:41  Imperfect Segue 45:30  Positive Mental Attitude 51:08  All Things Become Possible LINKS https://getthatpma.com

Producing Plants vs. Zombies: MLJ - Part 1

Isaac and Steve welcome skater, entrepreneur and former PopCap and Plants vs Zombies producer Matthew Lee Johnston to the show.  Learn what a first day at PopCap was like, discover interwoven webs of perfectly hand-balanced dependencies, attend to the differences between "porting" a game and "adapting" it, and be apprised of the many ways that folks can fail to see eye to eye on the very same adaptation process. All that and a fair bit more on this week's episode of The Unofficial PopCap PopCast! CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast 00:19  Hello, Greetings 00:48  Introducing Matthew Lee Johnston 01:41  Tricked Into Interviewing 07:41  What's a Producer? 10:08  Most Noteworthy Games 12:42  First Day at PopCap 24:07  PvZ Xbox 27:04  Controlling PvZ 30:37  Fundamental Disagreement 38:23  Couch Co-op 41:16  Perfectly Hand-Balanced Dependencies 45:06  Working "with" George Fan 48:55  Plants vs. Zombies 2 56:18  MLJ Part 1 Wrapup LINKS PMA Magazine https://www.getthatpma.com/

The Girl with the Popcorn Dragon Tattoo

Isaac and Steve greet a very special guest: writer and former PopCap Customer Support agent, Dana Sweeney! Dana dishes dirt on how she got into PopCap, what life in the CS trenches was like, how a manager in Ireland stepped up, how she branched out from Customer Support, why she got one game-related tattoo but not another, and much, much, MUCH more! Oh, and we get a glimpse at a cat! Check it out... if you DARE. CHAPTERS 00:00  The Unofficial PopCap PopCast 00:19  Welcome and Bonjour 01:02  PopCap Community 02:41  Temping Into PopCap 04:41  Free Games 06:02  Supporting Customers 07:09  Kitty Break - Lovey! 07:37  Bonkers Emails 11:43  Surviving CS 19:40  Career Development 21:16  Stuck in a Role 22:21  Special Memories 23:17  Great Place to be a Nerdy Person 25:49  Double Down 27:39  Undead World 29:03  In a Band 29:59  Tattoos 31:00  PopCorn Dragon 31:41  Cancelling Games 33:39  Shift to Mobile 34:48  Dumped in a Trash Can 36:00  Lust For Tomorrow 40:34  Writing Advice 41:35  Final Thoughts  LINKS The Stronghold (Lust for Tomorrow & Trust In Tomorrow) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW4V2YCR